If you haven’t already heard, the Icicle River in Leavenworth has opened to fishing for hatchery spring salmon. This was actually quite a surprise as the spring salmon return to the Columbia River has been low for several recent seasons. However, the number of fish that are showing up in the National Fish Hatchery in Leavenworth has given the WDFW fish managers the confidence to open the river to fishing. I have been blessed to have participated in this fishery many times over the years, and it is one of my favorites. Many different anglers have taken me down the river and it is a very special experience. We usually are launching in total darkness to get to our fishing spot, and to watch the world wake up around us as the sun comes up is always awe inspiring. There are few fisheries in the state that offer the same quality of scenic beauty as this one on the Icicle. I hope you can get a change to experience this sometime. It reminds us of how important it is to keep our fisheries on a path to recovery so we can enjoy this for many years to come.
Floating the Icicle for Spring Salmon offers wonderful scenic views, which add greatly to the experience.