Dr. Richy J. Harrod is a PhD ecosystem scientist who has uniquely bridged academic research with outdoor media, spending 28 years as a USDA Forest Service Fire Ecologist while simultaneously building Harrod Outdoors into an award-winning multimedia platform. He co-hosts the popular “We Are Outdoorsmen” podcast with Bobby Loomis of Mack’s Lure, combining over 60 years of hunting and fishing expertise to deliver authentic outdoor education to sportsmen across North America. Harrod has received 22 industry awards including the prestigious Northwest Outdoor Writers Association Legacy Award in 2018.
By Richy Harrod
A Smooth Start on Lake Chelan
The lake surface was nearly glass. It was a relief as Lake Chelan can often be rough or even downright dangerous. Traveling 30 miles up the lake in an 18-foot boat can be nerve wracking, but not today. The ride would be relatively smooth. My fishing buddies, Bobby and Jeff, and I were looking forward to a fun day of fishing for Kokanee and cutthroat trout at the head of the lake by the Stehekin River mouth.
Fishing outings with friends isn’t unique. My friends and I fish for walleye, sockeye, Kokanee, or trout throughout the year on numerous Northwest lakes and rivers. This late August fishing trip, however, has become an anticipated special time together in a magnificent setting.
Lake Chelan is the third deepest lake in the United States at 1486 feet. It stretches just over 50 miles into the heart of the North Cascade Mountain Range. It resembles a fjord that might be found in SE Alaska, except it’s an inland freshwater lake. The mountains rise abruptly from the lake nearly 7000 feet tall. There are no roads accessing the lake shore in the upper 30 miles. It’s truly remote.
Chasing Kokanee in Deep Water
The fishing is often very good in the upper lake in late August. Kokanee stage at the mouth of the Stehekin River and migrate to their spawning gravels when the time is right. At this time, they start absorbing their scales and turning a deep red color. Cutthroat and rainbow trout are abundant too. Cutthroat feed at the mouth’s small creeks. Rainbows feed near the water surface and along the lake shoreline.
Our first fishing spot was near the landing at Stehekin. Our plan was to troll for Kokanee first followed by cutthroat fishing in the Stehekin River and at the mouth of creeks dumping into the lake.
Fish were not schooled up as indicated by the lack of marks on the fish finder. However, small groups of fish or individual fish were marked 65 feet deep in one general area over about 200 feet of water. Kokanee consistently bit our Mack’s Lure
Mini Kokanee Pros with 6-inch
Double D Dodgers over the next 2 hours. We took turns hooking and landing fish with the occasional double landed. Catching one fish at a time allowed for ample ribbing and critique of landing skills.
We often lift hooked fish into the boat without the use of a net. This technique works effectively and eliminates the need for a net man so that multiple fish can be landed on a good bite. Using the momentum of the fish, a quick lift will bring the fish flying into the boat. A feisty fighter can make the lift challenging and leads to fish bouncing off the side of the boat or motor. An instant critique from the observers ensues for a less than perfect landing.
Exploring the Stehekin River
With a limit of Kokanee, we switched out our trolling rods for spinning rods. We slowly motored up the Stehekin River, milky from late snowmelt because of triple digit temperatures earlier in mid-August. Casting Mack’s Lure
Promise Keepers on the back side of logs or under overhanging shrubs resulted in immediate bites. We drifted with the water flow, but I maneuvered the boat to remain in the middle of the river for easy casting.
Casting for Cutthroat at Creek Mouths
After a few more passes, it was time to start working back down the lake. Cutthroat congregate at the mouth of small streams so casting spinners in these spots can be productive as well. Domke Falls was one of the first spots to try. Domke Creek flows down a precipitous, narrow draw from Domke Lake. The creek water falls into the lake from a 100-foot stair stepped rocky ledge. The frothy white-water flows over moss covered rocks. In places, red tree roots drape over rock faces like some otherworldly giant worms.
In all the years Jeff has fished Lake Chelan, he said he had never caught a trout at Domke Falls. Bobby and I teased him about the absurdity of the claim but nevertheless rejoiced when he landed his first cutthroat trout a few moments later.
After fishing a couple more creeks, we motored back down the lake to make our way home. The glass water held into the afternoon making for a relaxing ride. The stories from the day of fishing dominated our conversation while we admired the towering mountains and water lapping on rocky shores.
Reflections of a Perfect Trip
The combination of abundant, beautiful fish, a remote lake setting like few on earth, and time with long-time friends made this outing as special as any. The stories of fish caught and lost on this day will be shared and embellished until we return to create more fishing tales.
Listen to the Podcast
On Ep. 122 of the WAO Podcast pres. by Harrod Outdoors and Mack's Lure, we are "on the water" with Jeff Witkowski. We are fishing for late summer Kokanee on the upper part of Lake Chelan. It's good fun with fish being caught.
