The Lake Chelan Valley has been known for its world-class fishing since the first settlers arrived in the late 1800's. A new Washington State Record Lake Trout was caught in the lake - 35 pounds, 7ounces! This out-weighs the previous record, also caught in Lake Chelan, by over 4 pounds! Thanks to the Lake Chelan Sportsman Asso­ciation, Department of Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Forest Service, and other agencies, Lake Chelan has become one of the top fisheries in the northwest. Each year stocking programs release 100,000 Chinook Salmon, 60,000 Lake Trout, 100,000 Rainbow Trout, and 600,000 Kokanee into the cool, clear waters of Lake Chelan. The fish in Lake Chelan do not migrate - they are landlocked. The Lake Chelan fish­ing season is open year around, but please check the Washington De­partment of Fish and Wildlife fish­ing pamphlet for license requirements and limits. Fishing Regulation pamphlets, fishing license, and fishing supplies can be obtained at Kelly’s ACE Hardware/Sporting Goods Store in downtown Chelan or The Village Market in downtown Manson.

Game in LAKE CHELAN
1- MACKINAW or LAKE TROUT
2 - CUTHROAT TROUT
3-KOKANE or LANDLOCKED SOCKEYE SALMON
4- BURBOT or FRESH WATER LINGCOD
5- SMALLMOUTH BASS
6- RAINBOW TROUT
7 - CHINOOK or KING SALMON Remnant

FISHING TIPS
Rainbow and Cutthroat Trout, open year around. People of all ages fill the shoreline in pursuit of Rainbow & Cutthroat Trout. These fish can be easy to catch and make great eating. Rig split or slip sinker on your line two or three feet above your hook. On the hook itself, use power bait or marshmallow and red eggs. These fish average 8 to 12 inches but are often caught up to 22". These are a popular catch from the shoreline of Riverwalk Park, Old Mill Bay, Lake Chelan State Park, and 25 Mile Creek State Park.

Kokanee: Landlocked Sockeye Salmon - Each year anglers from all over the state come to catch these great eating fish. In the months of May and June, the Ko­kanee will fill the waters around Lakeside Park before moving up the lake. The best way of catching these fish are by trolling, pop gear, or small dodgers with a small rubber snuber fol­lowed by a wedding ring spinner tipped with white corn. Kokanee average 9 - 13 inches.

Burbot: Fresh Water Lingcod – Are good fishing all year long in Lake Chelan. Jig with a ½ oz to 3 oz jig; glow in the dark jigs work best. Setlines are also used. Check the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife pamphlet for regulations.

Smallmouth Bass - Cast from a boat or off the shore … these fish tend to hang around struc­tures like docks, rocky areas, and trees that over­hang the water. Grubs, plastic worms, spinners, and crank baits are most often used to catch bass that have a weigh-in of anywhere from 1 to 6 pounds. The best months to catch these fish are May through October.

Chinook Salmon and Lake Trout are the two largest species of all the game fish in Lake Chelan. Although the average weight is 3 to 6 to pounds, some weigh a hefty 20 plus pounds. Trolling is the best method of catching these large fish, using downriggers anywhere from 50 to 300 feet deep. The most popular baits are dodgers or flashers followed by a 2 or 3 foot leader with a whole or a cut plug herring.

Stehekin River Fly-fishing - Located at the head of Lake Chelan, in the heart of the North Cascades National Park Complex, the Stehekin River offers some of the finest fly-fishing in the Northwest. Artificial bait only, please check current regulations.

Other Area Lakes
Wapato Lake
Located 10 miles from Chelan, this local favorite is stocked with Rainbow, Large Mouth Bass, Bluegill, and Crappie.

Antilon Lake
Just up the road from Wapato Lake, great catches of German Brown Trout and Crappie keep anglers returning every year.

Roses Lake
Located 10 miles from Chelan, this popular lake has Rainbow Trout, Bass and Catfish.. Roses Lake is a popular spot for ice fishing in the winter.

Alta Lake
Located 20 miles from Chelan, Alta Lake has Rainbow Trout, Large Mouth Bass, Bluegill and Crappie.

Fishing the Rivers

Stehekin River
At the head of 55 mile Lake Chelan the Stehekin River offers some of the best fly-fishing in the Northwest.

Catch & Release Season: Opens March 1 in the lower river - bait prohibited. How to catch: Only a single, barbless hook, and no bait is allowed. Regular Season: July 1st through October 31st for Native Cutthroat and Rainbow Trout. Check current regulations - artificial bait only.

Columbia River 
Three miles from Chelan, down the scenic Chelan Falls Gorge Road, the Columbia River is a favorite for Rainbows, Sturgeon, Walleye and Catfish.

BOAT SERVICES
Boat fuel is available by water in these loca­tions: downtown Chelan along the north shore at the Lake Chelan Marina near Chelan Airways; on the south shore at Watson’s Resort, Kelly's Resort, Twenty-Five Mile Creek State Park, which is the last fuel stop until you reach Stehekin Landing at the head of the Lake. Pump out stations are located at the City Park Marina, Old Mill Park, Manson Bay Marina, and Stehekin.

More than a dozen boat in public campgrounds have been constructed between Field's Point and Stehekin All are first come, first served; some offer tent sites, picnic tables, outhouses, and fire rings. Many are adjacent to trailheads. For maps and additional informa­tion about boat—in camping, contact the Lake Chelan Chamber of Commerce.

BOAT LAUNCHES
Public boat launches can be found along Lake Chelan's south shore at both 25-Mile Creek and Lake Chelan State Parks; along the north shore at Manson Bay Marina and Old Mill Park, & in Chelan at the Riverwalk Park and City of Chelan Marina. Boats can also be launched onto the Columbia River at Chelan Falls and Beebe Bridge Parks. Please help keep Lake Chelan blue by checking both your boat and trailer for milfoil prior to entering Lake Chelan.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Lake Chelan is a unique body of water, often serving as a natural conduit for weather pat­terns building high in the North Cascade Mountains, which rush through the narrow canyon to the down lake region. This can re­sult in sudden choppy conditions, especially in the middle section of the Lake referred to as the "straits" from Chelan up lake to Twenty-Five Mile Creek State Park. There are many safe harbors, bays, and moorage areas to take shelter in case of bad weather.

Cellular phone service is available in the lower one-third of the lake.
Up Lake Marine Channel: Police Station ... BC 8 for emergencies or 19 general and Forest Service ... Marine Frequency (MF) 16 (Radio Wave 172.50)

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