Lake Wenatchee opens for sockeye fishing on July 26

[CP]

 

Lake Wenatchee opens for sockeye fishing on July 26
Action: Opens sockeye retention.

Effective date: One hour before official sunrise July 26, to one hour after official sunset Aug. 31, 2023.

Species affected: Sockeye salmon.

Location: Lake Wenatchee (Chelan County). (Catch Record Card Code 670).

Rules:

Daily limit is four sockeye. Minimum size is 12 inches. Release all Bull Trout, steelhead, and Chinook salmon unharmed and without removing the fish from the water.
Selective gear rules are in effect (up to three single barbless hooks per line, no bait or scent allowed, knotless nets required).
Two-pole fishing is allowed with a valid two-pole endorsement.
Night closure in effect.
Reason for action: Based on current sockeye passage analysis at Tumwater Dam and mainstem Columbia River Dams, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) projects a surplus of harvestable sockeye destined for Lake Wenatchee, well above the natural spawning escapement goal of 23,000 fish.

Additional information: During the sockeye fishery, Lake Wenatchee State Park will modify park hours from 6:30 a.m. until dusk to 4 a.m. until dusk. Only registered campers are allowed in the park between dusk and 4 a.m. during the sockeye fishery.  Please review the Lake Wenatchee State Park alerts for more information.

This fishery will be monitored closely and may close on short notice depending upon angler participation and harvest rates. Anglers are advised to check the emergency rules change on the WDFW’s website. If you would like to be notified of rule changes as they are announced, please sign up for the agency rule emails at https://wdfw.wa.gov/about/lists.

Information contact: Region 2 Office (Ephrata): 509-754-4624 or email TeamEphrata@dfw.wa.gov.

[Angry Perch]

Such a fun, beautiful fishery. I miss having a place over there... but I sure don't miss that boat launch!
Good luck to anyone that goes out!

[pickardjw]

Didn't get a campsite at Baker this year, but I got a great one for Lake Wenatchee the first weekend of August. No boat launch woes for me this year. Might go out for the opener too if the reports are good.

[Angry Perch]

Didn't get a campsite at Baker this year, but I got a great one for Lake Wenatchee the first weekend of August. No boat launch woes for me this year. Might go out for the opener too if the reports are good.

Nice. One year we had access to a friend's dock to leave the boat in. Man that made it a lot more enjoyable!
Good luck!

[Henrydog]

With the Cougar Inn and Temla closed now for 25 years...if you have 4 wheel drive and your boat does not require a lot of water to launch you can put in at Glacier View campground and avoid the nut jobs at the State Park.  Only downside is if the wind comes up, it does almost every afternoon in the summer, getting your boat back on the trailer could be cold and wet because the wind is hitting your port side

[h2ofowlr]

I am tempted, but with the cluster at the boat launch, I probably won't fish it.  Sh*t show is the best way to describe it.

[pickardjw]

Yeah the parking at Glacier is sketchy and the ramp is very tight.

No one should launch there except me

[Henrydog]

I grew up with my boat being moored at Telma each summer.  I love fishing but, sockeye season always drove me nuts because it stopped skiing and beer drinking on the lake for 10 day. 

[pickardjw]

Probably a question best answered via PM. Does anyone know a spot one could dispersed camp on the lakeside? Considering going up for the opener, but don't want to deal with the ramp traffic. Can hammock camp if there's a spot to pull the boat up but no flat ground for a tent. Preferably on the west end of the lake.

[Bullkllr]

Probably a question best answered via PM. Does anyone know a spot one could dispersed camp on the lakeside? Considering going up for the opener, but don't want to deal with the ramp traffic. Can hammock camp if there's a spot to pull the boat up but no flat ground for a tent. Preferably on the west end of the lake.

All of the west end from just short of the north shore road and the far western part of the south shore are owned by the forest service. I don't know why it couldn't be done. It is really thickly vegetated with scrub alder and willow to the water in most places, and really buggy in my experience.

[pickardjw]

Anyone else struggle yesterday? Only had two bites in 6 hours of trolling. Gear was going right through all the schools I marked, same depths as Saturday, same gear.