Lake Kachess info?

[cwbraue]

I went to Lake Kachess about three weeks ago and the water was freezing. No one seemed to be catching anything. Can I assume that in the next few weeks they might start biting? That was my first time at Kachess so I don't know anything about fishing it, but it is a pretty area.

[G-Man]

Am I correct in assuming you were targeting kokanee? The surface temps were perfect a few weeks back, so that's not the issue. I suspect the increase in boat traffic may have temporarily spooked the fish. Target the middle section of the lake and start with silver bladed stacked bead spinner combinations. Bait helps, Gulp maggots, various flavors of corn, worms and shrimp all have done the job for me.

[cwbraue]

I wasn't looking for Kokanee and I didn't go far from shore because I was in a little raft and the water was so cold. I'm just trying to get an idea of when fish usually start biting there.

[G-Man]

The Macs have most likely headed to the deeper water by now, so fishing near shore will limit you to squawfish and the occasional rainbow, cutthroat or bull trout. Keep in mind, the bull trout are protected, so don't target them and release any you may catch. In the evenings you can fish for burbot from shore, try worms on the bottom.

The lake is plenty warm right now for the fish that inhabit it, there aren't any spiny rays in the lake. Typically Jun is when the "bite" comes on, but we were about 2 to 3 months ahead of schedule with respect to the lake levels and water temps.

[namaycush]

Never seen a mackinaw caught in Kachess and biologists say none in lake but probably are bull trout?

[G-Man]

There are a few Macks in there, not as many as Cle Elum, but they are there.

[namaycush]

Thanks for the info. on Kachess. There is an article in the old Yakima newspaper describing a 16 lb mackinaw caught in Kachess in 1911. The original mackinaw plants were around 1890 in Kittitas and Stevens counties so the fish in Kachess have been there for 125 years so at least some reproduction is occurring.

[Bodofish]

Yep, Maks for sure and it's sister Cle E. They were planted at the same time, many moons ago. I haven't been for years but the just Bows, Cuts and Browns never really seemed to take in Kachess, I've always had much better action in Cle Elum. With a toon, be careful in both the wind can be quite treacherous. Both lakes most consider to be Koke waters, never really had a taste for them, always seemed like catching bait to me.