Mackinaw in Kachess/Keechelus

[namaycush]

Tried to find current info. on the mackinaw populations in Kachess and Keechelus lakes with no luck. Found some old newspaper clippings that show plantings around 1890 but unable to find out current status of the populations. Know about Cle Elum but want to try new waters if anybody has caught them in Kachess or Keechelus? Thanks

[Hunter757]

Is Cle Elum a good lake for them? I would like to fish for them again after getting one at Chelan. I see a few boats on the Keechelus last week not sure what there fishing for? Hope someone knows could be a fun trip.

[Mike Carey]

Macks in Cle Elum? You Bet!

[namaycush]

The lake trout in Cle Elum are under seige currently because of the gillnetting by the WDFW and the Yakama Nation. Since the WDFW monitors this website, most people have quit posting reports on Cle Elum to help protect the fishery. Also, dedicated lake trout fisherman release the fish so the new regs on Cle Elum that start on July 1st will have little impact on the population.

[Mike Carey]

They've been under siege now for several years. However, the regs changes in the past couple years actually has given the lakers more protection (although not, I would guess, by intent). Contrast Cle Elum with Chelan, which has no limits on lakers. That said, I do realize the difference between the two lakes and the laker populations.

Questions asked was is Cle elum a good lake for them? I would say it's not bad, but not in the same class as Chelan.

[Hunter757]

I have watched that video many times in the past Mike, great job as always showing what fishery's are capable of what the lake holds.

namaycush, Can you clarify your statement on "dedicated lake trout fisherman release the fish so the new regs on Cle Elum that start on July 1st will have little impact on the population" ?

Did you mean to say it is better to practice catch and release to maintain the population of lakers? This will allow future fishing for them for others as time goes on.

I just saw a post of another member looking to find a lake to catch some lakers and I myself would love to do the same without having to drive 4 hrs to Chelan to do it. I do understand the value in keeping easy to find information from others.

[buzzbob]

I agree with Mike, Chelan definitely has more fish than Cle Elum.

[cwbraue]

I thought I had read that Keechelus had lake trout about ten years ago? If so they probably don't now. They stock some trout and Kokanee there, which is probably what you saw people fishing for.

[Bodofish]

Posted in your other thread. Watch that toon!