I talked to someone the other day that asked me if I had heard anything about walleye fishing in the area. It only took me a minute to think about it and say no. Everyone is so focused on salmon fishing right now that reports on the walleye fishing are as rare as hens teeth. (My wife called me an old geezer for using such an old fashioned saying).

I have been the same way, although I haven’t managed to get up to fish the Brewster Pool, I am hearing reports of good fishing for sockeye and some kings are being landed. I have been busy this past week, not fishing but getting ready to hit it hard. Sockeye season on Lake Wenatchee is about to start. There were just over 38,000 sockeye over Tumwater Dam on the 20th, so I know there will be plenty of fish waiting for me.

I have my rods pretty well set up. I use the same rods when fishing for kokanee on Lake Chelan or Lake Roosevelt. Rigged for sliders and lead balls, with line counter reels. These rods already have a long leader from the slider swivels to a swivel that attaches to the dodger. This is important as the dodger needs to be able to swing properly and must be a distance from the lead ball. Next is having a good supply of leaders ready. When sitting down to tie leaders, start with 20-pound fluorocarbon. This material absorbs light, doesn’t reflect it so it’s invisible in the water. Lake Wenatchee is a barbless hook and no bait fishery, and I have a good supply of 1/0 barbless hooks. I found my leader boards from last season and there is a good variety of different types of leaders. Some have hoochies. Some have Smile Blades. Many are two-hook rigs, but on Lake Wenatchee a three-hook rig is very effective.

I even remembered to put a net in the boat, in fact I put two in, figuring it will be handy to have one ready if we are taking the hooks out of the other one. I don’t want to waste any time when the bite is on. I will be moving my boat up to the dock at Rollie Schmitten’s, and I have some extra-large bumpers to tie to the dock. A boat could take quite a beating with the wind on Lake Wenatchee, so I am prepared. This week’s photo is of anglers returning from sockeye fishing on Lake Wenatchee. I advise caution when moving through channel to the lake as there are some large rocks that need to be avoided. I use my bow mount or tilt my motor up when passing through here.

We are just a couple of weeks away from the biggest salmon derby in Eastern Washington. It’s the 17th Annual Brewster King Salmon Derby starting August 4th, and it’s shaping up to be a good one. The thermal barrier at the mouth of the Okanogan River is keeping kings and sockeye in the cooler water of the Columbia River, and more and more fish are showing up every day. This accounts for the fact that thesederby anglers have the best success of any salmon derby in the state. Once again, derby organizers have attracted a long list of sponsors for the event, and that’s what makes it possible for the big cash prizes and the huge amounts of tackle and other products that people can win. Also, there continues to be an emphasis on making sure the kids that participate don’t go home empty handed. Fishing families can really appreciate this. There is still time to get tickets and register for the derby. Just log onto www.brewsterkingsalmonderby.com.

I came across an article written by Rob Phillips for the Yakima Herald Republic newspaper. I have known Rob for years, and in fact he is going to join my brother Rick and I to fish for sockeye on Lake Wenatchee. I share his enthusiasm for fly fishing rivers and thought fellow fly fishers would be interested in what he had to say. There is more to this piece and can be read in total by searching the newspaper’s web site. “As anglers we are pretty lucky here in the Central Washington area to have so many fishing options available to us. The upper Yakima River has become world famous for its excellent trout fishing, but there are several other streams in the area that also provide some very good fishing. And now, when the temperatures are pushing the upper 90s, there is no better way to cool off then to head up toward White or Chinook Pass and do some wade fishing in one of the streams that flow out of the Cascades. Plus, there are several creeks in the area, including Ahtanum and Cowiche creeks, that provide some good summertime fishing. In the higher elevations, the Tieton, Naches, Bumping, Little Naches, and Rattlesnake Rivers offer all kinds of places for an angler to step into the cool waters and drop a fly or lure behind a rock and hook a hard-fighting trout or two. As is the case with the Yakima, each of these other streams has certain regulations regarding the use of bait, catch limits and size limits, so be sure to check the rulebook for whatever river or creek you want to fish.”

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's (WDFW) National Hunting and Fishing Day celebration is a great, family-oriented way to introduce youth to target shooting, hunting and fishing. It's also an opportunity to recognize that hunters and anglers continue to be among the most active supporters of wildlife management and conservation. This year's event will take place on Sept. 30, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Camp Cowles located at 4161 N Shore Diamond Lake Rd, Newport WA 99156. Youth 17 years and younger who attend the event with an accompanying adult can shoot WDFW firearms, archery equipment and air rifles for free. Agency staff and WDFW hunter education instructors will be on hand to teach shooting safety and provide instruction and guidance.  

If you aren’t a salmon angler there are plenty of other opportunities for anglers in our region. I point out several excellent fisheries in the Summer issue of my free E-Letter. To get a copy, go to my website at www.fishingmagician.com and click on the E-Letter button at the top left hand corner of the Home Page.