Northwest Fishing Reports

Wondering if anyone has fished Keechelus lately? I am thinking about camping up there next weekend and wondered if its worth bringing the boat. What species are found there? I fish conventional gear for trout/bass.

~Steve

I havn't fished there but have fished Kachess many times. I assume that they would have similar species. Kachess has kokanee,bows,cutts,dolly varden,burbot and lake trout. However,I think the laker population is very small. I'm sure there are other species but these are the ones I'm aware of but not sure if Keechelus has the same.
Its a very nice area and the campsites on Kachess are quiet and well maintained,there is primitive camping on the opposite side of the campgrounds but I'm not sure if you have to use a new Discover Pass or if its even 100% legal. I've just seen many folks camped out over there.

Thats rite Ill have to get a Discovery pass before I head up there, seems like everything I do costs another $100

I guess Ill just try some trolling and see what works. Been after the bass pretty hard lately, I wonder if there in there.

No Bass but 10 or so years ago they planted 100,000 Koke fingerlings. I've caught those and RBT's. Very stumpy if you want to fish for anything but Kokes out in the middle.

The boat launch may be bone dry with no access. I have fished it in the past. Its stocked with trout. I usually fish where the creeks run into it.

All the Yakima River basin lakes are pretty much full right now. It looks like Keechelus is being drawn down first this year but still has plenty of water to launch. Once the water level gets way down there is a second "launch" that folks use which is just a graded rocky slope. You can check the water levels for all the reservoirs at this site: http://www.usbr.gov/pn/hydromet/yakima/yaktea.html

As for the Discover Pass, I'm not sure it will do you any good. I'm pretty certain that you will need a Northwest Forest Pass, the single day use pass runs $5 or $7. This goes with the launch at Kachess as well.

agree, forest service I think, not state park land. We fished it ages ago, as noted, koks. Didn't do very well. Lots of freeway noice and can get windy. Should be plenty of water yet. Honestly, if I was going that way I'd try Cle Elum for the lakers, silvers, and burbot. More peaceful experience although probably more recreational boaters, too.

Fished there 8yrs ago or so with a family friend. Caught a limit of nice kokes. Other then that I`m not much help. Beautiful lake to be on. Never realized how deep it is in a certain spot. If I recall it was right around 900ft. Wonder if the lochnes monster lives in there?

Thanks for the info guys, Dang 900' Yikes sounds like lake crescent on the peninsula. I guess ill try a couple lakes up that way and see what we find. Ill pick up the annual pass and the state pass.

rjn cajun wrote:Fished there 8yrs ago or so with a family friend. Caught a limit of nice kokes. Other then that I`m not much help. Beautiful lake to be on. Never realized how deep it is in a certain spot. If I recall it was right around 900ft. Wonder if the lochnes monster lives in there?

I've always wondered about the depth...

Thats nuts :shaking2:

I was up there last Sunday and only managed one 9 inch kokanee. There is still plenty of water to launch the boat thanks to the beautiful six month long March we've been having. They do blasting across the lake after about 1800 (the lake is closed to navigation during blasting) so camping may not be very tranquil. WDFW has been putting in over 200000 Kokanee fingerlings over the past couple of years but I guess those fish are smarter than me! You will need the US Forest Service trail pass to launch and camp.

Bruce Nelson