Lake Chelan fishing

[robodad]

So we are here trying to catch something, have the boat with downriggers and various lures but have no clue where to begin, i have heard of fishing "The Bar" but dont know where to find it, also fishin off the yacht club but don't know its location either.

Anyone willing to point out some places to drop our lines with a decent chance of catching something

[lokidog]

We caught a bunch of lakers in 200 feet, kind of in the middle  of the south end.  We trolled wiggle warts right off the bottom.  Not sure how fast we were going as it was a charter trip.

[grade-creek-rd]

Here you go (my Dad is a "retired" guide on the lake...)
 
Lures: U20 flatfish in glow green (top chioce), otherwise any plug that is 4 to 5 inches long (I would stay away from diving plugs...see tactics below for why). long spoons work well too. smear herrring smelly jelly on them for a little extra help. The idea is that the mackinaw (lakers) are predator fish and will hit on anything that resembles a small fish.
 
Tactics: hope you got lots of downrigger cable...fish 5 to 10 feet off of the bottom, and once in a while bounce the ball off of the bottom where it's flat (not on serious drop offs as that signals rocks and you don't want the ball to get hung up). Put your lure about 50 feet behind your ball (no need for flashers and crap to get tangled...just the lure to the mainline, 50 feet back). Drop the ball to the bottom and reel up 5 to 10 feet...watch the sonar and keep adjusting your ball so its 5 to 10 feet off the bottom (15 is ok, but any higher and that and your catch rate goes down). troll 1.2 to 1.5 mph...slow is the ticket, as at that depth the water is cold, and you want the mack's to not have to chase after the lures...
 
Where to fish...a good starting point is on the line outside of Mill Bay (there is a launch there too) watch the sonar and you will see where the "bay" drops off, almost even with the end of Wapato Point. Troll the 160 foot line and go with the length of the lake towards Wapato Point. Keep an eye on the sonar, as you approach Wapato Point go around it about 100 to 200 yards from shore, heading uplake. The water will get "shallow" about 110 feet, and then a steep drop off as you round Wapato Point headind up lake...work the ledges along the north shore from Wapato Point going uplake...if you look across the lake towards the south shore you will see the "yatch club" (this is the area you read about).
 
As far as "the bar"...is actually called "Mack Bar"...look on a map, draw a point from the tip of Wapato Point towards "sunnybank" and this line will go right across Mack bar, which is just off shore from Sunnybank (on the south shore) and runs lengthwise with the lake. Watch your sonar and you will find the "bar" or underwater island...which is still deep.
 
Also try the deep trough in the middle of the lake...you will see some condos at Minneapolis beach with a blue roof....then look east towards Chelan and you will see Chelan Shores condos (red roof). There is a trough that runs in a line from the blue roofs to the red roofs (or visa versa) in about 200-250 feet of water...right in the middle of the lake...fish that...if all else fails...get out the bikinioculars, and look around...before you know it you will have forgotten all about fishing anyway...
 
G-C-R
 
PS. if you want to learn exactly how to catch them, and all these spots mentioned above, hire Anton Jones with Darrell and Dad's Family Guide Service for the day...money well spent...and they fillet the fish at the end of the day and you just go play...

[grade-creek-rd]

Oh, and if your just wanting to catch something...try for the bass around the docks and rocks near and in the town of Chelan...swimbaits are the ticket there...get a copy of Northwest Sportsman's June issue...should be on the newstand for another week (try Walmart if your in Chelan, or Hooked on Toys in Wenatchee)...there is an article in there on Chelan bass...
 
G-C-R

[quacksmoker]

X2

Great info! My parents live in Chelan, so I have fished it a few times and everything mentioned above is spot on. 150-160 ft is the magic number. I have good luck with white flatfish. Many of the larger macs I have kept had whole kokanee in them. I fished with Anton once before, he answered all my questions and I would highly reccomend him.

[PolarBear]

I'll be there trying for bass but don't have the gear for macs.

[grade-creek-rd]

If you got a boat, and a rod...you got gear for macks...you can also jig fish for them...use a 2 oz jig head hook with a large white power grub...tip it with herring (or squawfish fillet) and jig the same spots mentioned above...the "best" area to jig is off of the tip of Wapato Point since it is not as deep as the other spots...
 
G-C-R

[HighCountryHunter88]

thats good info! we catch lakers in those spots all the time! right off the bottom, work it slowww

[robodad]

Thanks a million for the information, we put a bunch of it to use and here is the result, i really appreciate the tips, it made the trip much more fun!!
 

[goosegetter79]

NICE!!!!

[PolarBear]

The place I am staying is almost behind the cameraman's right shoulder.  I threw  few 2 and 3 oz grubs in the boat and will give them a try tomorrow.  If you see a big dude in a black and red Skeeter, please don't shoot me!  LOL!

[robodad]

The place I am staying is almost behind the cameraman's right shoulder.  I threw  few 2 and 3 oz grubs in the boat and will give them a try tomorrow.  If you see a big dude in a black and red Skeeter, please don't shoot me!  LOL!

Are you renting a house, or staying in an RV park, just curious! !

[lokidog]

Nice job Robo!  Great info Grade Cr.  BTW Grade Cr is where my ex and I used to go fish for rainbows back in the 90's.

And yes, Darrel and Dad is a top notch guide.  They also have a place to stay sometimes, used to anyways.

[PolarBear]

The place I am staying is almost behind the cameraman's right shoulder.  I threw  few 2 and 3 oz grubs in the boat and will give them a try tomorrow.  If you see a big dude in a black and red Skeeter, please don't shoot me!  LOL!

Are you renting a house, or staying in an RV park, just curious! !

Staying with my wife's Uncle.  They have a huge house with their own dock.  It is about halfway between Minneapolis Beach and Sunny Bank.  It is a brown 3 story with white trim and a short, black cyclone fence along the bulkhead.  Are you staying in town or at the park? 

[robodad]

We rented a huge house just up the hill from the casino, the mill bay boat launch is only like 2 minutes from here which is great so were up early and fishing within 20 minutes!

[PolarBear]

Sweet!  Maybe I'll see ya on the water.

[grade-creek-rd]

Glad I could help...come on Karma Points...(I drew a Toutle "Quality" rifle bull tag)...
 
G-C-R
 
 

[robodad]

OK were home now and was a fantastic vacation thanks to all your tips, We really appreciate all the shared information here, it made this vacation great instead of just good !!! Here are some of the fish we caught !!!

[PolarBear]

Sweeeet!  Nice catches!  I hope you weren't the guy I accidentally cut off around Wapato Point on Friday evening.  Damn women distracting a guy when he is trying to drive his boat.   
I just walked in the door from over there.  I didn't go after mac's but did knock the snot out of the smallies on homemade dropshot worms and rat-l-traps.  Most were around 12-15" but got a couple in the 3-4 pound range.  All of the bigger fish were on the rat-l-traps in fire tiger and in 20'+.

[carpsniperg2]

Some good looking fish!!!

[robodad]

I hope you weren't the guy I accidentally cut off around Wapato Point on Friday evening.

Nope, Wasn't me, we were already back in Port Angeles by friday evening, too bad we couldn't hook up somewhere out there though, I would have liked to learn to catch some smallmouth. I'm sure we will be vacationing there again next year though.