I got the good fortune of fishing with Lance and Kristy Effrig of Washington Guide Services this weekend - and even beter was the destination - Stehekin! If you've never been to the very end of Lake CHelan you owe it to yourself to go there at least once. The ride and scenery is amazing.

Myself and Rob and Hillary Holman met Lance and Kristy at the State Park at 5am and made an easy one hour ride to Stehekin. When we got there we stopped at the restaurant and grabbed some hot coffees and then it was off for a few hours of kokanee action before the winds started blowing requiring us to make the 35 mile plus run back home.

We ran four kokanee rods and that was plenty - for a couple hours action was non-stop, including a couple keeper chinook. Lance noted that the chinook are likely spawning in the streams on the north end of the lake so definitely a good sign. The kokanee were caught from 70 to 120 feet deep. The pods of fish were pretty big and there are a lot of kokanee to be had. They are running the same size as the lower lake - 10-12" is the class this year. We ended up catching 25 and probably losing a third as many. When it was hot it was hot, and when the bite ended it was pretty well done. We headed back around noon.

BTW, we were the only boat fishing for most of the morning!

Lance is one of the few guides that will run up to Stehekin and his 23 foot weldcraft is the right boat for the job. Because of the distance he does charge a bit more than a standard kokanee trip, back, again, more than worth it if you're never been up to the far end of the lake. Give him a call, you'll enjoy it for sure!

---