How to Catch Wenatchee Lake Sockeye Salmon

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Wenatchee Lake offers an excellent opportunity to target a terminal Sockeye Salmon fishery on the upper Columbia. Only a few hours from Seattle and located near the picturesque Bavarian community of Leavenworth, WA this fishery is one worth targeting. Bait and scent restrictions are in place but you won't need them with how aggressive these fish are.
Tackle featured in this video:
- Lamiglas Classic Glass amzn.to/3zXZvMr
- Shimano Trevala 7' L amzn.to/2UY80IB
- Matzuo Red Sickle Hook Size 1: amzn.to/3fBayTT
- Opah Catch Bag Fathom 3: amzn.to/2WYgpMF
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[@Pfenzer]

You have single handedly helped me up my kokanee game. I'm consistantly catching more larger fish. Thank you sir. Keep up the great work!

[@spiltmilt]

Thank you for sharing!

[@BC-ue3ku]

Gotta love it when a plan comes together! You should bring three kids with you next time so you can put some more fish in the boat 😂

[@jimalbrecht8803]

BOOM!!! Instant fish on!!! I'd have to say that you've got the touch!! Just goes to show that one may not need to spend all that extra money on expensive baits and scents! Thank you for the thoroughly explained steps you used to usher in such great success!!! That was amazing! 😂👍

[@ShenpaiWasTaken]

Awesome fish as always! Thanks for sharing! I probably won't make it out due to how long the drive is so I am happy to watch you fish! Go get 'em!

[@talosiv4927]

Beautiful fish! Nice work!

[@Jrza7x]

Awesome, I'll have to go check it out real soon, thanks for the vid.

[@justincase8533]

Love how clean that water looks! Great vid !

[@spiltmilt]

I love how clean the air was!

[@jamesjeffs8245]

Awesome videos man!

[@jelly_fishing]

Nice sockeye and beautiful location!!

[@richardpogue4959]

Nice to see you have broke your dry spell. Great video

[@toaluasaleupolu7060]

Awesome fishing

[@reapergrim76]

Awesome! 😀

[@MarkoAbo]

Great video Tyler! What....no pedals??

[@vpostrigan]

Always enjoying your videos, Tyler. Thanks for sharing, teaching, and inspiring. Yesterday went fishing to Lake Wenatchee. Camped at campground. At 5 AM started a long way, about 4 mi, to a congregation of 40 or so motor boats, with only one kayak, my inflatable AG Blackfoot. Fish till 11 AM, got nothing, not even bite. Not much success on boats around me either, seen 3 catches. And then LONG way back to camp. Luckily, weather was good, compare to previous stormy day. It was a good day, but I may return there again, hoping for better luck or skill. Could you share your launch spot, description or GPS? Thank you.

[@spiltmilt]

I launched at Glacier campground and fished in 100' of water right in front of the campground.

[@Nex509]

I wish these locations were closer to where I live. That's a 3 hour drive one way. What is your opinion on a good body of water near the tri-cities in WA to fish for sockeye, trout, etc. Be nice to see a video on south eastern Washington fisheries.

[@spiltmilt]

Aside from the Columbia/Snake River not much for salmon/trout/kokanee in se. WA this time of year.

[@Yungknown]

Great video. “One single point barbless hook per lure, up to three lures per line.” So two hooks behind one hoochie is illegal? Lol these laws are ridiculous. Thanks for the info.

[@stankfaust814]

great and informative video. what time of year is the fishery on in lake wenatchee?

[@spiltmilt]

July

[@markhildebrandt9551]

Nice! Thanks again for sharing your knowledge. Just curious, what was the setback you used on your dropper rig and what depth were you targeting for it?

[@spiltmilt]

6 oz 100'

[@jessektm32]

How heavy on your dropper? And about how deep was it sitting at about what speed

[@peterc9419]

Hi, do you have to register your vessel when using electric trolling motor at L. Wenatchee? Thanks for sharing your video!

[@spiltmilt]

You would have to check and see if its on the list of federal navigable waters

[@samanthamhinrichs]

Thanks as always for the informative videos. I'm camping there in two weeks, fingers crossed the bite is still hot! I'm new to fishing and trying to match your first rig-what is the clasp called that's holding the 6oz weight?

[@spiltmilt]

A sinker slide. amzn.to/3lW8RV1

[@samanthamhinrichs]

Ordered. Thank you so much!

[@colinskelly2016]

Do you know if how long this fishery lasts. I'll be camping there at the end of August. Love you content. Thank you!

[@spiltmilt]

Depends on how quick the quota is gobbled up

[@michaelr4401]

I thought the sockeye fishery had dramatically declined there, obviously wrong. What are the best times of year to go there for sockeye, August only? Great video as always.

[@spiltmilt]

Opens for week or two each year

[@jonlobello7151]

Do you know the story behind the step ladders in the lake where you were launching your kayak?

[@jonlobello7151]

@@reedafd5787 So have I.

[@micah7810]

What pwm would you recommend for a trolling motor. The ones on Amazon are cheap and don't really hold up

[@spiltmilt]

I don't know enough about them to make a recommendation.

[@psyopsgtmaj7632]

Would like to know more about the boat you were on, motor etc.

[@spiltmilt]

It's the AutoPilot 120 from Old Town you can check out more about it here bit.ly/2BWCX6e

[@jameskoester7489]

Question, what rod holders do you use for your salty PDL 120 I am looking at buying one but I would like to know which rod holders to buy as well

[@spiltmilt]

You can save 10% on the RAM website by using the code "HICKS21" RAM Rod HD Rod Holder: www.rammount.com/part/RAP-433-421 RAM Extension Arm: www.rammount.com/part/RAP-114-APB2U.

[@jameskoester7489]

Thanks

[@thomassteele8150]

Do you find that you've had more success running a 36" bumper or do you switch up bumper lengths depending on the type of flasher you're using?

[@spiltmilt]

For these larger "dodger" type and 360 protrolls I do prefer the longer bumper 30-36"

[@thomassteele8150]

@@spiltmilt good to know, thanks Tyler!

[@davidwilliams3643]

Question… in all your videos for sockeye you use either Double D 7.9 or something like a Luhr Jensen 1/0 or #0 herring dodger. Will a 8” 360 style flasher work for sockeye or is that too much speed/action for this species? What about triangle flashers?

[@spiltmilt]

There is a reason I use what I use

[@mjo4432]

can you tell me what mounts you have in your forward rod holders for your sonar? Thanks.

[@spiltmilt]

The rod holders and sonar mounts are all ram mounts. If you give me a specific sonar you are using I can send you the link and a discount code

[@mjo4432]

@@spiltmilt Thanks - I use a Garmin Echomap UHD 7" but I think the discount doesn't work for me when adding duties to cross the border and whatnot. I like the idea of using my forward facing rod holder in the boat for my sonar since I don't use those things anyway. What I'd really like is a small electric downrigger - I've been finding tackling big Lake Ontario salmonids is challenging while trying to retrieve a cannonball manually.

[@Jeffsdata_0]

I have a canoe and a normal trolling motor. On the lowest speed, it pushes me along at about 1.8-2.0 miles per hour. Not the end of the world... But maybe you have any tips to slow it down? Turning it on and off is something I've tried, but I worry about undue stress on the motor and its annoying, haha. I also read about people throwing a 5gal bucket over the side.... but that seems annoying, too.

[@spiltmilt]

Drag a small bucket behind the canoe

[@jonlobello7151]

@@spiltmilt they also make drift/trolling socks in various sizes to use behind your boat or canoe, or sew one up yourself.

[@rja62b]

what net you using? Can't find one perfectly sized for kayak fishing. Either too big or not big enough lol

[@spiltmilt]

I use the 20"x20" ranger nets. Perfect for a kayak.

[@rja62b]

@@spiltmilt awesome thanks

[@boattothebelly]

About how far back were you going with the 6oz ball setup? I can never figure out the actual depth when fishing that way.

[@spiltmilt]

100'

[@boattothebelly]

@@spiltmilt Missed you by a day. We did well Thursday so I tried a cannon ball today but it was so windy, with the combination of downriggers it wasn’t working out very well. Plus our kicker motor went out yesterday and we were having to focus on the big motor just to keep the speed somewhat in the range. I forgot my sock net 😬 We did limit but it took a little longer than we wanted too but that’s OK. It’s fresh sockeye to eat.

[@ElliottMorris]

@@boattothebelly Assuming you were there Friday? I've never fished here but Tyler inspired me with this video. I was there Friday with two buddies, and the wind was definitely an issue. What a fun fishery though. Thanks to Tyler for his content!

[@boattothebelly]

@@ElliottMorris It’s a great fishery. Hope you did well. We were blessed to have two good days. My youngest son caught his first sockeye ever in between sleeping and eating on the boat.

[@ElliottMorris]

@@boattothebelly congrats to your son! we did well, only hiccup was losing a fish that broke my line. heading back again on Tuesday. :)

[@fishingthe509]

What’s with the ladder in the beginning lol

[@spiltmilt]

For people to get in and out of their boats

[@tamimerkle1845]

What size hooks are you using for the Scokeye at lake Wenatchee Sir

[@spiltmilt]

1/0

[@tamimerkle1845]

Thank you Tyler. How did you do fishing today sir

[@jessegillman8395]

Hi Tyler. I have question about regulation for the sockeye in Wenatchee lake. When I look at fish Washington app it says nothing about sockeye. So I than revert back to general state rules for salmon. Is that correct. So limit is 2 and any sockeye is consider an adult. Is that correct and I would be open year round?

[@spiltmilt]

Incorrect salmon/steelhead have to be listed in the pamphlet or thru emergency rule changes. Wenatchee sockeye is only open thru emergency rule changes

[@jessegillman8395]

@@spiltmilt ok thank you that is great info. What about in the Columbia near the bonneville dam. Is. That also the same e-reg opening only.

[@spiltmilt]

You always have to check the emergency regs for all Salmon and steelhead. They just shut the Columbia down

[@jessegillman8395]

@@spiltmilt I understand but there is also a clearly stated season also. Where as sockeye is never specifically mentioned in any of the Columbia regs until you get Priest Rapids dam

[@jessegillman8395]

This is also true for Wenatchee lake.

[@bHayami]

Is the launch from glacier view campground?

[@spiltmilt]

Yes

[@bHayami]

@@spiltmilt thanks, as usual, always informative

[@Carlb328]

Aren't there Brown trout there too?

[@spiltmilt]

Not that I am aware of. Nearby fish lake has a few

[@stinkopants]

What kinda depth the 6oz give ya?

[@spiltmilt]

I'd guess about 40-50' based on angle