Darrell & Dads Family Guide Service - We fish on Lake Chelan and other North Central Washington waters in year round comfort.
You catch them in COMFORT! Bring your family and/or friends out on our 24 foot Bayliner Ciera Express. For your comfort, it features: enclosed cabin; cabin heat; private/inside marine toilet; games and VCR for children; hot and cold running water available seasonally; stove; and a full line of safety gear. Families and couples are welcomed and encouraged to book our service. The boat accommodates a maximum of six.
Large parties are accommodated. We also offer lodging at our home through VacationinChelan.com for visitors to the Manson area.
Rose early in the morning and made my way to Tye Lake in Monroe. Most recent plants by the WDFW were in May and were large trout... hoped to snag one! Arrived at the lake just a bit before 5:00 AM... knowing it was to be a very warm day (temp upon arriving was 58 degrees!), I wanted to avoid the water nearest the park and the swimming area, so headed off to the west side of the lake, about half way down. Lines in the water by 5:20... sun was just starting to rise above the buildings to the east... sky was clear, not a breeze. Temp of the water near the shoreline was 68 degrees... was surprised that the water level of the lake had risen significantly since my last visit, about a month ago. I know the Skykomish River is running high with the snowmelt, so I assume that has something to do with the raised water level. Began fishing with Fl. orange Power Eggs (4' leader) on one rig, nightcrawler under a float on the other. Fish were rising all over the lake, some very big splashes gave me hope. Almost immediately I began to have hits on the 'crawler, the float moving to the left or the right before being pulled under. Fish were just nibbling the worm and I had a hard time getting a hook-up. Finally hooked into one on the hook set, and was very surprised to find that I had hooked a 10" steelhead smolt... it seems the lake is full of them. The good thing is, they were unable to swallow the 'crawler and I hooked them on the hook set, in the lip. I hooked and released a half dozen unscathed, before one got the hook into the gills and I had to keep it, a smolt of 10 1/2". I was considering leaving the lake at this point, because I didn't want to continue putting the smolts at risk, when, about 6:30 my float was jerked violently beneath the surface and stayed there. After a good fight, I landed a chunky Rainbow of 12 1/2". By now the sun was rising much higher in the sky, and the bite tailed off. Over the next hour and a half, I landed two more 'Bows in the 12" range, while hooking and releasing two more smolts and keeping one more that had taken the hook into it's gills. I left the lake about 9:00 with my five fish, the temp was rising and the day was beginning to warm up fast.. I was surprised again, that I could not get a fish on the Power Eggs, though I tried different leader lengths (3', 2', 1', before going to 6')... tried every color I fish with, as well as Power Dough. Had one bite on pink PE about 8:00, on a 6' leader, but that was it. Every fish today was taken on the worms. I am mystified as to where the smolts came from, as I had read no plans by WDFW to dump any into the lake, and the only listed plantings into Tye were made in May, and were large trout. They are sleek, typical looking, fin-clipped steelhead, but quite small now. Saw at least two dozen anglers come and go while I was at the lake. I observed only one fish caught ( a smolt), while I chatted with several fishermen on the way out, one had caught two in the 12" range, and three others had not had a bite. By Fall the smolts should have reached an acceptable size and there is sure to be some good sized carry-overs, but this Summer looks pretty bleak at Tye. PTL!
Not sure why they are still so small. The Smolt where released last October I think because they were not aloud to release them into the rivers for some legal reason. So rather than letting them just die off they release a bunch in local lakes. I was catching the smolts 10 to 12 and one 14.5 back in February but haven't caught any since March. Try a 12 to 15 foot leader. I know that's crazy long but for what ever reason that is what I have been getting my fish on. In Tye and other lakes too. BTW, I'm sure you are aware but want to mention it. When fishing with bait (natural or artificially flavored), the limit is 5. whether you keep them or release them. I fish the lake all the time and release all that are lip hook and keep the ones that eat it. But I stop after 5 regardless.
And even a lure that has had scent added is considered "bait" and fish caught count towards your limit whether kept or not!
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Darrell & Dads Family Guide Service - We fish on Lake Chelan and other North Central Washington waters in year round comfort.
You catch them in COMFORT! Bring your family and/or friends out on our 24 foot Bayliner Ciera Express. For your comfort, it features: enclosed cabin; cabin heat; private/inside marine toilet; games and VCR for children; hot and cold running water available seasonally; stove; and a full line of safety gear. Families and couples are welcomed and encouraged to book our service. The boat accommodates a maximum of six.
Large parties are accommodated. We also offer lodging at our home through VacationinChelan.com for visitors to the Manson area.
