There aren't many options that time of year. If you were hoping for a small stream, they will all be closed by then. If you want trout, Fish Lake or the Yakima River are your two closest options. The Wenatchee will hopefully still be open for steelhead but check the Emergency Regs to ensure it's still open and to learn the special requirements (ie. special endorsement, hatchery retention requirement, etc.) https://fortress.wa.gov/dfw/erules/efishrules/erule.jsp?id=950 Have fun; it's a very pretty time of year in Leavenworth, there just aren't many fishing options.
Leavenworth Fishing
I am going to be in Leavenworth the last 10 days in October. What are the fly fishing options looking like in the area? All the posts on the topic are a little old.
I looked at the regs and it seems all the stuff I was interested in is closed.
Any info is much appreciated.
I looked at the regs and it seems all the stuff I was interested in is closed.
Any info is much appreciated.
1 - 12 of 12 Posts
Bring the lederhosen, Dragen, but Sue's on the money here. Even if the stream was still open, once the water temp goes below 50, the fish go to Tahiti. Fish lake, the Yak, which is about an hour and a half from Leavenworth, the Wenatchee and the Methow for steelhead, but most of us are out hunting by this time.
Hunting for a place to fish.
The little lakes up on the Heights are open until the 31st of Oct. Tigers and RB's, poachers and who knows what else.
An hour from Leavenworth.
RF about an hour and half.
A friend was up at Fish lake last weekend and caught some hatchery hogs, rent a little boat from the "Cove" and troll or cast a black leach or buggers.
An hour from Leavenworth.
RF about an hour and half.
A friend was up at Fish lake last weekend and caught some hatchery hogs, rent a little boat from the "Cove" and troll or cast a black leach or buggers.
Thank You for the info. What are the "Heights?" How do I get to them?
"When in Rome....." Leavenworth + October= Octoberfest
Too true, Split Bamboo, but us locals will be elsewhere! They advertised on the wet side at all the colleges beginning last year, so all we had was a bunch of drunk college kids screaming "YEAAAAA!!!" at the top of their lungs. Not fun. This year, Chelan Co. Sheriff's office will enforce the new noise ordinance rigorously outside the Festhall venue, and if they wander off into the rest of the town, we'll sic the bears on `em.
Get yer map out and take a look south and west of Wenatchee.
There is Beehive and H off the road to Mission ridge.
The others are off to the south off the Heights road.
Or from down town Wenatchee head south on Chelan St. follow the Mission ridge ski signs (Damn, I can't remember the forest road #) pass the Forest Ridge Rd. there is a hair pin turn and take the forest rd to the right, ya can't miss Beehive.
I was up there yesterday eve until dark and the fishing was good.
The lake is being drawn down so the shore line is muddy, easy casting to risers from shore.
There is Beehive and H off the road to Mission ridge.
The others are off to the south off the Heights road.
Or from down town Wenatchee head south on Chelan St. follow the Mission ridge ski signs (Damn, I can't remember the forest road #) pass the Forest Ridge Rd. there is a hair pin turn and take the forest rd to the right, ya can't miss Beehive.
I was up there yesterday eve until dark and the fishing was good.
The lake is being drawn down so the shore line is muddy, easy casting to risers from shore.
Thank you for the great info! I found it on the maps and marked it on my places to try list. I just read this news release too. I am not holding my breath thought that the Wenatchee will still be open when I get there...
Upper Columbia and selected tributaries to open for hatchery steelhead fishing
Action: Open the Columbia River from Priest Rapids Dam to Chief Joseph Dam, including the Wenatchee, Entiat, and Methow rivers on Sept. 8, 2010; the Okanogan River on Oct. 1, 2010; and the Similkameen River on Nov.1, 2010 to fishing for adipose-fin clipped hatchery-origin steelhead until further notice.
Species affected: Hatchery adipose fin clipped steelhead and trout.
Mandatory retention of adipose fin-clipped steelhead, daily limit four (4) hatchery steelhead, 20 inch minimum size.
Selective gear rules are in effect for all anglers fishing in these areas, except bait is allowed on mainstem Columbia River from Priest Rapids Dam to 400 feet below Chief Joseph Dam.
Night closure in effect for all steelhead fishery areas.
Wild steelhead (adipose fin intact) must be immediately released unharmed and cannot be removed from the water prior to release.
On the mainstem Columbia River only floy tagged rainbow trout retention allowed.
Effective dates and locations:
1) The mainstem Columbia River from Priest Rapids Dam to 400 feet below Chief Joseph Dam; Sept. 8, 2010 until further notice. Floy tagged rainbow trout may be retained. There is no limit or minimum size on floy tagged rainbow trout.
2) The Wenatchee River from the mouth to the Icicle River Road Bridge; Sept. 8, 2010 until further notice.
3) The Entiat River upstream from the Alternate Highway 97 Bridge near the mouth of the Entiat River to 800 feet downstream of the Entiat National Fish Hatchery outfall; Sept. 8, 2010 until further notice.
4) The Methow River from the mouth to the confluence with the Chewuch River in Winthrop; Sept. 8, 2010 until further notice. Fishing from a floating device is prohibited from the second powerline crossing (about 1 mile upstream from the mouth) to the first Highway 153 bridge (about 4 miles upstream from the mouth).
5) The Okanogan River from the mouth to the Highway 97 Bridge in Oroville; Oct. 1, 2010 until further notice.
6) The Similkameen River, from the mouth to 400 feet below Enloe Dam; Nov. 1, 2010 until further notice.
Other information: Anglers should be aware that fishing rules are subject to change and that rivers can close at any time due to impacts on natural origin steelhead.
Release any steelhead with one or more holes (round, approximately 1/4 inch diameter) punched in the caudal (tail) fin. These fish are part of a study and have been anesthetized; the FDA requires a 21 day ban on consumption of these fish.
Anglers are required to release all adipose-present steelhead, which cannot be totally removed from the water prior to release.
Whitefish anglers are reminded that under selective gear rules, bait is prohibited.
Anglers are required to possess a Columbia River Salmon/Steelhead Endorsement as part of their valid fishing license. Check the fishing hotline at 360-902-2500 or the webpage at https: //fortress.wa.gov/dfw/erules/efishrules/rules_all_freshwater.j
Reason for action: The fishery will reduce the number of excess hatchery-origin steelhead and consequently increase the proportion of natural-origin steelhead on the spawning grounds. Higher proportions of naturally produced spawners are expected to improve genetic integrity and stock recruitment of upper Columbia River steelhead through perpetuation of steelhead stocks with the greatest natural-origin lineage.
Information contacts: Jeff Korth, Region 2 Fish Program Manager, (509) 754-4624, Bob Jateff, District 6 Fish Biologist, (509) 997-0316, Art Viola, District 7 Fish Biologist, (509) 665-3337.
Fishers must have a current Washington fishing license, appropriate to the fishery. Check the WDFW "Fishing in Washington" rules pamphlet for details on fishing seasons and regulations. Fishing rules are subject to change. Check the WDFW Fishing hotline for the latest rule information at (360) 902-2500, press 2 for recreational rules. For the Shellfish Rule Change hotline call (360)796-3215 or toll free 1-866-880-5431.
Upper Columbia and selected tributaries to open for hatchery steelhead fishing
Action: Open the Columbia River from Priest Rapids Dam to Chief Joseph Dam, including the Wenatchee, Entiat, and Methow rivers on Sept. 8, 2010; the Okanogan River on Oct. 1, 2010; and the Similkameen River on Nov.1, 2010 to fishing for adipose-fin clipped hatchery-origin steelhead until further notice.
Species affected: Hatchery adipose fin clipped steelhead and trout.
Mandatory retention of adipose fin-clipped steelhead, daily limit four (4) hatchery steelhead, 20 inch minimum size.
Selective gear rules are in effect for all anglers fishing in these areas, except bait is allowed on mainstem Columbia River from Priest Rapids Dam to 400 feet below Chief Joseph Dam.
Night closure in effect for all steelhead fishery areas.
Wild steelhead (adipose fin intact) must be immediately released unharmed and cannot be removed from the water prior to release.
On the mainstem Columbia River only floy tagged rainbow trout retention allowed.
Effective dates and locations:
1) The mainstem Columbia River from Priest Rapids Dam to 400 feet below Chief Joseph Dam; Sept. 8, 2010 until further notice. Floy tagged rainbow trout may be retained. There is no limit or minimum size on floy tagged rainbow trout.
2) The Wenatchee River from the mouth to the Icicle River Road Bridge; Sept. 8, 2010 until further notice.
3) The Entiat River upstream from the Alternate Highway 97 Bridge near the mouth of the Entiat River to 800 feet downstream of the Entiat National Fish Hatchery outfall; Sept. 8, 2010 until further notice.
4) The Methow River from the mouth to the confluence with the Chewuch River in Winthrop; Sept. 8, 2010 until further notice. Fishing from a floating device is prohibited from the second powerline crossing (about 1 mile upstream from the mouth) to the first Highway 153 bridge (about 4 miles upstream from the mouth).
5) The Okanogan River from the mouth to the Highway 97 Bridge in Oroville; Oct. 1, 2010 until further notice.
6) The Similkameen River, from the mouth to 400 feet below Enloe Dam; Nov. 1, 2010 until further notice.
Other information: Anglers should be aware that fishing rules are subject to change and that rivers can close at any time due to impacts on natural origin steelhead.
Release any steelhead with one or more holes (round, approximately 1/4 inch diameter) punched in the caudal (tail) fin. These fish are part of a study and have been anesthetized; the FDA requires a 21 day ban on consumption of these fish.
Anglers are required to release all adipose-present steelhead, which cannot be totally removed from the water prior to release.
Whitefish anglers are reminded that under selective gear rules, bait is prohibited.
Anglers are required to possess a Columbia River Salmon/Steelhead Endorsement as part of their valid fishing license. Check the fishing hotline at 360-902-2500 or the webpage at https: //fortress.wa.gov/dfw/erules/efishrules/rules_all_freshwater.j
Reason for action: The fishery will reduce the number of excess hatchery-origin steelhead and consequently increase the proportion of natural-origin steelhead on the spawning grounds. Higher proportions of naturally produced spawners are expected to improve genetic integrity and stock recruitment of upper Columbia River steelhead through perpetuation of steelhead stocks with the greatest natural-origin lineage.
Information contacts: Jeff Korth, Region 2 Fish Program Manager, (509) 754-4624, Bob Jateff, District 6 Fish Biologist, (509) 997-0316, Art Viola, District 7 Fish Biologist, (509) 665-3337.
Fishers must have a current Washington fishing license, appropriate to the fishery. Check the WDFW "Fishing in Washington" rules pamphlet for details on fishing seasons and regulations. Fishing rules are subject to change. Check the WDFW Fishing hotline for the latest rule information at (360) 902-2500, press 2 for recreational rules. For the Shellfish Rule Change hotline call (360)796-3215 or toll free 1-866-880-5431.
Just to be clear, Icicle closes on September 30th. My guess is the Wenatchee will be open during OctoberFest. The last time they opened it for steelhead it remained open until well into the winter. All the other streams that look really nice as your driving over (Pershastin, Nason, upper Wenatchee) are closed waters even during the summer.
Outside of Leavenworth, off Icicle Creek Road, there are also some nice lakes including Colchuck. A bit of a hike, but some great fishing and spectacular high alpine views.
I ditto the comments about OctoberFest and Leavenworth in general. Last year it was filled to the gills (sorry) with college kids. Ostensibly someone was checking id, but my guess is the Chelan Co Sheriffs, who love to ticket, will be out in force. Even if you're sober, take care to not weave! Traffic can get to be as congested as Seattle.
Outside of Leavenworth, off Icicle Creek Road, there are also some nice lakes including Colchuck. A bit of a hike, but some great fishing and spectacular high alpine views.
I ditto the comments about OctoberFest and Leavenworth in general. Last year it was filled to the gills (sorry) with college kids. Ostensibly someone was checking id, but my guess is the Chelan Co Sheriffs, who love to ticket, will be out in force. Even if you're sober, take care to not weave! Traffic can get to be as congested as Seattle.
Right on, Kim; if you're at the stop signs, get out of the car, run completely around and get back in. No "Hollywood stop" tickets!! And there's no place to park, either. Thank God I live up on Ski Hill!!
1 - 12 of 12 Posts
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