Wenatchee Sturgeon

[cohoho]

Has anyone fished for them around Wanachee with much success, just thinking of running somewhere different (especially to enjoy the heat and sun and when the friends invite us over for wine trips, I can sneak out and fish).  I have never fished on that side for my favorite fish...  Any areas that would be recommended over another?  Good launches close to town or within town? Thanks

[alanger]

Hydro is probably the best launch in wenatchee. Dont know any sturgeon holes, i know people fish right below rocky reach but i've never fished sturggeon, just another thing on my list to catch. Hope you have a good trip.

[bowhunterforever]

I know some people who fish for them under rocky reach and catch a few.Good luck

[DOUBLELUNG]

Below Rock Island Dam.  Best launch is at Crescent Bar.

[woodywsu]

Crescent bar is not that great of a launch for a large boat unless the water is high. If it is low you will be hurting. Also, that stretch of river is pretty narly between crescent bar and rock island dam. PM me if that is where you are going to go, I'll fill you in on all the hazards. I think the sturgeon fishing is pretty good below rock island though. Spawn is about to kick on soon.

[uplandhunter870]

if you are going to fish below rocky reach there are a couple of good launches other than hydro, hydro is a pretty good stretch from rocky reach.  theres a good launch at confluence park and another at the foot of Orondo street.  id use the confluence launch its easier to find and get in and out of, orondo street launch is pretty tricky to find if you dont know exactly where its at, PUD did a really good job of hiding that launch plus side is your rig is out of view and that launch is pretty dead until salmon season opens on the river

[teal101]

As stated above watch out for hazards below rock island dam.  If you do plan on going over i could probably mark out all the ones I know of on google maps and send it to ya, just let me know.  I'd also be willing to go along with ya and point em out to ya   I spent most of my childhood duck hunting that stretch of river and guiding my dad down the river at 5am in the boat from the clockum launch   Not many hazards going from crescent bar until you round the bend at spanish castle and head up towards the dam.

Crescent bar has two launches open to the public.  One on each side of the bridge.  The first one you come to is the shallower one and only usable when the water is up if you have a larger boat.  The other is pretty much right across from it.  This one can be used when the water is lower.  You CANNOT park on this side though, you must go to the first launch and park your vehicle there.

[alanger]

if you are going to fish below rocky reach there are a couple of good launches other than hydro, hydro is a pretty good stretch from rocky reach.  theres a good launch at confluence park and another at the foot of Orondo street.  id use the confluence launch its easier to find and get in and out of, orondo street launch is pretty tricky to find if you dont know exactly where its at, PUD did a really good job of hiding that launch plus side is your rig is out of view and that launch is pretty dead until salmon season opens on the river

In the summer and this time of year that launch isnt that quiet, Ski boats and jet ski crazy, i think thats the most popular launch other than confluence. Problem is the water is low at orondo many times, but if you have a jet sled it aint bad.

[woodywsu]

Crescent bar has two launches open to the public.  One on each side of the bridge.  The first one you come to is the shallower one and only usable when the water is up if you have a larger boat.  The other is pretty much right across from it.  This one can be used when the water is lower.  You CANNOT park on this side though, you must go to the first launch and park your vehicle there.

But when the water is extremely low, you cannot access either of these launches small boat or not.

[teal101]

Crescent bar has two launches open to the public.  One on each side of the bridge.  The first one you come to is the shallower one and only usable when the water is up if you have a larger boat.  The other is pretty much right across from it.  This one can be used when the water is lower.  You CANNOT park on this side though, you must go to the first launch and park your vehicle there.

But when the water is extremely low, you cannot access either of these launches small boat or not.

Extremely low and I doubt theres a single launch in that stretch of the river that can be used (besides the clockum for SMALL boats).  The closest one with the best chance for a low water launch is the whiskey dick launch and thats one hell of a trek up river.  The launch on the other side has planks that extend farther out than the closest one and allows access when the water is too low to use the close launch.

The easiest way to check is check the flow levels before heading out.  We've launched our 17' LOWE from the first launch at 1-1.5ft below required level before.  As long as you're above the blue line you should be good to go with most boats at either launch.
http://www.gcpud.org/resources/resRecreation/boatlaunch.htm

[woodywsu]

You can always launch at crescent bar, but if its too low, there is no way you can make the river in a big jet boat.

No matter of what water level, the wanapum state park on kittitas county side is always launchable. Plus you get to enjoy the scenery for the 40 mile cruise. It's a long ways, but your always guarenteed to see plenty of wildlife and cruise by some excellenty beaches  some where the tops are on and some where the tops are off.

[teal101]

You can always launch at crescent bar, but if its too low, there is no way you can make the river in a big jet boat.

No matter of what water level, the wanapum state park on kittitas county side is always launchable. Plus you get to enjoy the scenery for the 40 mile cruise. It's a long ways, but your always guarenteed to see plenty of wildlife and cruise by some excellenty beaches  some where the tops are on and some where the tops are off.

Depends.  Theres quite a nice dropoff after the planks on the first launch and I've seen rigs get stuck there before spinning tires.  In the winter don't even think about it, the ice ends that quick.  I've never seen the river "too low" for a jet boat to navigate.  All you need to do is follow the natural channel up, it's way deeper than the river will ever be lowered to.  Now getting out to the main channel from the launch is a different story

Ah yes Quilomene bay   Good "scenery" up that way.  Of course I'm talking about the bighorns

[ducks55]

There is also a launch at Spanish Castle. Its a bit primitive but I've seen a few people with bigger boats launch there.

[teal101]

There is also a launch at Spanish Castle. Its a bit primitive but I've seen a few people with bigger boats launch there.

Ya that's the colockum launch I mentioned.  It can be pretty hair with a big boat, especially if the water is down.  It's akin to launching in a large washout