Lake Chelan?

[coriantonk]

My family is having a big campout at Lake Chelan State Park over the Labor Day weekend.  I have never been to the lake before and could use some general places to try.  We will be using a 12 foot aluminum boat with an electric trolling motor, so our range is limited somewhat.  We are mostly just looking for Trout, but anything that tastes good in the frying pan works for us.  I apreciate your input.

[Big D]

Lake Chelan is huge, 50+ miles long with lots of fishing opportunities for several different species of fish. Lake Trout, Kokanee, Small & Large Mouth Bass just to name a few. Right now if I was fishing with the boat that you describe I would recommend that you target the Small Mouth Bass along the shore line. I hear tell that they are knocking them dead. Keep an eye on the weather...The wind comes up rather quickly in the afternoons and can become very dangerous if you're not prepared.

[ICEMAN]

Keep an eye on the weather...The wind comes up rather quickly in the afternoons and can become very dangerous if you're not prepared.

Totally agree. Fear the lake. Calm to whitecaps very quickly with not much protected shoreline to retreat to.

[DOUBLELUNG]

Put that 12' boat with the trolling motor on Roses Lake for rainbows and spiny rays.  That is a perfect set-up for Roses Lake (just N of Manson).

[boneaddict]

Good advice.  I'd be very leary of that boat in any of the upper reaches of Lake Chelan.  I have more respect for that lake than even the Columbia Bar.

[shedcrazy]

Totally agree, Roses lake should be just fine for what your after. Plenty of different fish to catch.

[runamuk]

We spent a ton of time up that lake 25 mile creek to steheiken and that lake gets scary rough even in a saltwater cabin cruiser....they almost lost the boat one year I told them it was getting to rough to run....dumb boyz never listen to me....they came back white as ghosts seems they fell in a deep hole and thought for sure they were gonna sink it   good fishing and fun but when that wind starts to pick up head for shore

[uplandhunter870]

12' with an electric troller does not belong on that lake, been there done that , as said that is the perfect set up to do some trolling on roses. theres a bunch of trout and perch in there as well as bass, crappie and bluegill. trolling wedding rings seems to work on everything there, trout and perch tend to hang out in the middle of the lake and the spiny rays cling more toward the reed filled bank.  theres some catfish in there too we pulled a 5 pounder out on a perch patterned rattle trap one summer.

if youre bent on fishing lake chelan i would go downtown and either fish between the bridges or go just above the bridge by cambells and fish off some of the docks there, there are usually a good number of bass and cutts that hang out in that area, insect pattern rooster tails have worked for me in the past there 

[JackOfAllTrades]

Leave that boat home... Really.  If you're camping at 25mile, then as said, that boat is too small, and under powered for Chelan except for early calm mornings. " so our range is limited somewhat. " No, your range is VERY limited. You COULD use it to fish that 25mile creek shoreline but you'd be pushin your luck if a light breeze comes up.  And from there, it's ~40 mile run to go fish Roses.  That's not to say that I wouldn't fish the shore with Kayak or Canoe. But that 12'er is nothing to be crossing that lake at all.  As has been said, That lake can get scary nasty in a flash. Now.. Fishing from a nice 3 seater jetski if you have one, that's do-able.

-Steve

[Skillet]

He said "Chelan State Park" - not the 25 mile campground, specifically - but I'm thinking the one across the lake from Wapato Point.

Bring the boat.  If you're staying at the state park across from Wapato, I'd say you shouldn't have any trouble fishing and having fun if you pay attention to weather.  Get your fishing done in the morning to avoid the afternoon winds.  No matter what time of day it is, be smart and get off the lake when wind starts howling.  Fish along the shoreline in the bay for planter trout and bass.  If you are staying at 25 mile, use a good dose of common sense and caution regarding the wind.  It just gets dangerous pretty fast for a boat that size up that way - you would be taking a very real risk by straying any significant distance from the cove/launch up or down-lake at 25 mile.  That water gets hairy pretty fast.   I'd vote you plan on spending more time on Roses than Chelan if 25 mile is where you're staying, though...

[JackOfAllTrades]

He said "Chelan State Park" - not the 25 mile campground, specifically - but I'm thinking the one across the lake from Wapato Point.

I stand corrected.

Staying near the SW shoreline would still be advised though.   Staying there lessens the trip/mileage to Roses then too.

-Steve

[coriantonk]

Thanks for the input, and your concern.  It sounds like the best plan would be to stay close to shore and pay strict attention to the winds.  We will be Camping at the park just off of 971 where it meets Lakeshore drive.  Unfortunately a trip to Roses will probably not happen.  If I were to take my dad and go to another lake and leave my wife to deal with our three kids and the drama my family can create I would be in big trouble.    

[JackOfAllTrades]

Make the run to Roses!  Fishing is best at dawn. That's four to five hours before mama and the kids that are snuggled in sleeping bags even think about stiring.  So you fish until 8am. You're back at camp for breakfast with the rest of the famdamily.

Go spend some time on the water with your dad.  (trust me, You'll thank yourself later)

-Steve

[boneaddict]

AMEN

[high country]

here is what I hd for dinner the day I took my boat up to stehikin for the hunt


here is what I used for bait


this guy had a waterpump go out 12 miles from stehikin. he left me a pile of cash for towing him up, dispite me telling him it was ok. he is familiar with the lake and knew what could happen out there w/o a motor

[Dustin07]

under the bridge, in the actual town of lake chelan, where the water stays around 20-30ft deep and you are protected from waves and whatnot, that 12ft boat could keep you busy all day long chasing bass on the shoreline.  But as everyone else pointed out, the lake is like a wind tunnel in those hills and picks up waves very quickly. still, you could do fine bass fishing in by the city.

[Dustin07]

also, these guys have AWESOME luck on Chelan:

http://www.darrellanddads.com/