Annual Silver Run Attracts Anglers to Lake Chelan

Every spring the return of the schools of silvers (kokanee) to the lower basin of Lake Chelan sends anglers scrambling. First they’ve got to find a date that is clear for a trip to take advantage of the hot action, and second to check over their specialized gear that they keep just for this fishery.
 

The arrival of the large schools of silvers varies a bit each year, and it’s usually the guides that are out fishing for mackinaw that notice their appearance. Word spreads quickly though, and soon there is a small flotilla trolling along the highway near Lakeside Park, which is the first park that you see when you near the town of Chelan.
 

This is where the action starts with the annual fishery, and then the fish will spread out and success can be had along the north shore of the lake. Anglers will first try the shoreline near the Spanish tiled roofs of the condos of Lake Shore, and then further up lake at Mill Bay.
 

I have found that although the exact location of the schools of silvers may change, the basic techniques employed to catch them haven’t. I have lived through some experiments and some tackle advancements, and have now settled on a method that consistently brings fish to the net. Getting in the net is another story, but I’ll save that for latter.
 

Start with a fairly long rod with a soft tip. Use a spinning or bait-casting reel loaded with 8- to 10-pound line. Add a two-or three-ounce kidney or cannon ball sinker to the rod end of your set up, two feet of leader material, and then a “Flash Lite” gang troll. A Flash Lite is a Mylar-bladed gang troll, that is just as effective by creates much less resistance in the water when trolled and retrieved. Behind this troll tie on a Wedding Ring spinner. I prefer the chartreuse, egg pattern or orange fluorescent colors.
 

Now, when you have all this tied together and are ready to lower it over the side, don’t forget to put a piece of white, shoepeg corn on the hook. Yep, it’s got to be white, shoepeg corn. Don’t ask why, just buy some and use it! Just call it “one of those Chelan things”.
 

The common depth on the flat that people fish off Lakeside Park is about 20 to 30 feet, and gradually drops to 50. You’ll want to try to get your Wedding Ring five to ten feet above the bottom, and I usually just “count pulls” and occasionally touch bottom to keep my bait in this range. Remember to ease your rig down. Don’t go too fast or your sinker will tangle with your troll.
 

Oh, the netting thing. Silvers will follow your bait right up to the boat and then go crazy. They are very soft mouthed and expect to lose about half your catch right next to the boat. There are a couple of things I do to try get more fish in the net. One is to clip off the size 4 or 6 hook that comes on the Wedding Ring spinner and replace it with a size 10 or 12 treble. Another is to add a rubber band as a shock absorber. The most effective of all though, is to add about six feet to your net handle. As you bring the fish to the boat, sweep the rod forward and keep the fish moving until you can reach out with the long handle and get it behind the fish.
 

The silver fishing has pretty much just got into gear at Lake Chelan, and there are several weeks of good fishing ahead. Sometimes it may take a bit of looking for the schools, but when you find them, get ready for fast action.
 

I’m a catch-and-release kinda guy for most fish, but when it comes to Lake Chelan silvers—they go in the cooler. When you get some from the lake to the table, you’ll understand why.