I have been hearing about good fishing for kokanee on Lake Chelan for a while. Hardy anglers fish all through the winter, and with some warmer weather their numbers increase. Last year there were pretty good catches of kokanee that were 13 to 14 inches, and I am hearing of 15- to 16-inch kokanee being caught this winter. We may be in for a great season this year. My strategy in the early season is to head up lake above the Yacht Club, even as far as 25-Mile Creek, if the wind allows. There has been days that I worked my way down from just above the Yacht Club found fish in the lower basin, off Rocky Point and the Blue Roofs. Even when the lake is low, launching at the State Park is not a problem and the same is true for Mill Bay. I use my downriggers and chase schools and also put out a couple of rods on lead balls. It always surprises me how many kokanee I get on the lead ball rigs, even when I am marking schools down deep. My favorite set up year-round is a bright orange Kokabow blade and an orange spinner or squidder.