I had an awesome walleye fishing trip last week. It was a new experience as we were fishing at night! It was a great way to beat the heat and the fishing was great. I am hoping to spend more time on the water this summer—when it cools down a bit!
Last winter, when my fishing buddies and I were fishing for steelhead on the Snake River, we were spotted by Leon Stafford the 3rd of Riverlife Guide Service. He sent me a note saying that he would like to have us come down and do some walleye fishing. We did just that in May and had a great time pulling crank baits below Little Goose Dam. He said that he has even better success doing the same thing fishing at night. So, we arranged to meet him at the Texas Rapids Recreation Area last Sunday night and gave it a try. It didn’t take long for the first walleye to hit one of the crank baits we were trolling just below the dam. It seemed like the darker it got the better the bite got, and we were busy for the next four hours. The fish ranged in size from small “eaters” of 13 or 14 inches to some real dandies of over 20 inches. Leon had some small lights that fit on the rods that showed the tips vibrating when the plugs were running right and really danced when a walleye was on the line. We kept 16 fish and had a ball! This week’s photo is of Leon and me on our trip.
I wanted to let anglers know that there is still time to enter and win $50 dollar gift cards with the Rufus Woods Roundup fishing derby. The event started in April and will end on July 31st, so it’s not too late to turn in your catches to win. Although many think that the contest is dedicated to catching triploid rainbow trout, there are many other ways to win. There are prizes for smallmouth bass, kokanee, whitefish, burbot and walleye. You can learn more about the fishing derby, register and even turn in your catches by downloading the free Anglers Atlas app. I have had reports of anglers catching every species that I listed above, and you will notice that there are prizes awarded for just catching the longest fish turned in. I talked to some anglers yesterday that are planning to fish upper Rufus Woods and may launch at Seatons Grove rather than the Colville RV launch site, due to the fire in the area. I would check in advance to see which launch is recommended. So, don’t miss out on the fun of the Rufus Woods Roundup and win some cash!
When it hits over 90 degrees in Leavenworth I head up the Icicle, way above the Snow Lakes trail head. I grab my 3 weight fly rod and a small box of flies and drive to one of the places that I have found to hold small rainbow trout. It’s a great way to beat the heat and have fun doing it. Earlier this summer I talked to a couple of friends that had tried fishing the Icicle and were disappointed. They couldn’t find any fish and thought they were fishing in good water. I always wait until mid to late July to fish this small stream. By then it has dropped to easy wading depths, and when it is this low it is easy to know where the trout are hiding out. I fish in areas where there are lots of big rocks and these create pockets and small pools where the fish are holding. I have also learned to avoid obvious pull outs and areas near campgrounds. These usually have easy access to the river and get hit frequently. I have discovered good water and good numbers of trout by bushwacking.
People may forget that although the Columbia River flows settle down in the summer, there can still be some significant fluctuations. The areas near Rock Island and Rocky Reach dams in Chelan County are popular with anglers and recreational boaters, and they can be surprised by the changes in flow and depth. There is an easy way to find out if you can safely fish, boat or even hang out on your favorite sandbar. Chelan County PUD introduced the free Currents App several years ago, and it has saved the day for many boaters. They have just introduced an updated and improved version of the popular app. It will give you river lows, boat launch status, and water depths. The new app is still free and easy to upload to your smartphone. Just go to chelanpud.org/app to get it. Also, Chelan PUD customers can apply for free parking and boat launch access. Just log onto ChelanPUD.org/parkingpass. The Columbia River offers great fishing and boating throughout the year but is particularly busy in the summer months. The Currents App is a great tool to help plan your days on the water.
Once again, the Wenatchee Sportsmen’s Association is hosting an event to help celebrate National Hunting and Fishing Day, on August 8th at the Gun Club in East Wenatchee. The activities are focused on introducing youth to the enjoyment and conservation of fish and wildlife. Those who attend can visit educational displays and conservation booths. There will be hands-on activities that include rod and reel casting and art and crafts. Youth under the age of 18 who attend with an accompanying adult can shoot firearms, including archery equipment, 20 guage shotguns, 22 caliber and 223 caliber rifles and air rifles for free. This is a great opportunity to receive training, guidance and encouragement from certified hunter education instructors, master hunters and range safety officers. Participants will also learn the importance of hunter safety. Youth attendees will receive door prizes with several safety-related items. There will also be door prize drawings and giveaways donated by local and national businesses, including a guided fishing trip on Lake Chelan. There will be free hot dogs and chips for those who participate in the event. The Wenatchee Sportsmen’s Association is a local organization dedicated to the health and welfare of the area’s fish and wildlife.
