Wenatchee River

[EastWaViking]

The stupid fishing regs are impossible to figure out.  The Wenatchee River is closed from the bridge at Leavenworth up to lake Wenatchee.  What about from the Highway 2 bridge at Leavenworth down to the mouth?  Is it whitefish only?  I can understand how people get tickets in this state, it would be easier to learn Chinese than decipher these regs.  

[BigGoonTuna]

yep, looks like it's open for whitefish only from the mouth to the highway 2 bridge, december-march.  that one's worded kind of weird.

[alanger]

I hate the way they explain the regs too. they should either open it all or close it all.

[Guy]

Pretty simple, can only fish for whitefish, and only in the winter months. Otherwise, closed. Some of it's closed period.

I really don't like the regs though - used to enjoy both trout and steelhead fishing on the Wenatchee. From what I can tell, there are still plenty of trout, steelhead and salmon in that river... But year after year it's closed. Grrrrrr....

[jackelope]

the wenatchee has been open for steelhead fishing the last 2 years for sure...if i remember correctly it was open for a winter fishery, i'll find some more details and post them.

[jackelope]

here you go...from red's fly shop...

Wenatchee River Guided Steelhead Trips

(the Wenatchee is currently closed for Steelhead but we are hoping for an opener soon!)

The Wenatchee River has long been regarded as one of the best fly fishing steelhead streams in Washington State, but it has been closed for more than a decade.  2007 has been the grand reopening and we are excited be guiding fly fishing float trips on the Wenatchee River.

It is open from Leavenworth down to the confluence of the Columbia River in Wenatchee.  We like to refer to this trip as "steelhead fishing in the Alps" due to the amazing mountainous backdrops and the Bavarian feel of the Leavenworth area.  The only thing better than steelhead fishing, is steelhead fishing followed by some great German food and a stout ale in Leavenworth! 
The river itself runs very clear and offers great opportunities to swing for steelhead on spey rods.  It is a broad stream and all of our guided adventures are float style trips in drift boats or rafts.  It is a very unique opportunity to fly fish the Wenatchee River and hopefully in years to come it will remain open for us all to enjoy.

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYP1S7PWK5s[/youtube]

[boneaddict]

I think they have treated it just like the Methow,a nd you have to watch the net to know when they open it.  The Methow has been closed for years in the regs, but every October, usually about a week before hunting season, they open it.  I believe they did that for the Wenatchee the last two years as well. 

[jackelope]

spot on, bone.

[EastWaViking]

thanks guys.  I'm at my in-laws and they live right by the river.  Dang it looks good.  I wish it was open!

[Dipsnort]

thanks guys.  I'm at my in-laws and they live right by the river.  Dang it looks good.  I wish it was open!

I hear you loud and clear.  I want to fish the Wenatchee River in the worst way!  Your only local option for river fishing (besides the Columbia) is Icicle Creek above the hatchery.  It's a great stream with plenty of (small) fish.  Not suitable for fishing when the Spring runoff is in full swing but I would guess it has dropped into shape by now.

[7mmfan]

Almost 100% correct but they did not open it last year. I had to cancel 5 trips i'd booked based on info I got from the biologist. Then they decided 2 days before they were going to open it to keep it closed.

[boneaddict]

are you sure someone didn't lie to you......I do suffer time loss, but could swear I heard alot of reports from those fishing it. LOL

[7mmfan]

There were a lot of people fishing it, and a lot of people got tickets. one of them was my instructor at CWU haha. It was a bad deal because they posted that it was going to be opened and then backtracked last minute and a lot of people jsut assumed it was open like the year before.