Wenatchee

The mighty Wenatchee has been more known for its fierce white water during late spring and early summer than it has for fishing over the last few decades.  However, at one time it was known as one of the top summer-run steelhead rivers in the state of Washington.  In 2008, the Wenatchee was opened for the first time in 10 years; this river was opened for steelhead in October as an Endangered Species Act (ESA) management fishery.  Hatchery steelhead must be kept and wild fish released.  Like the Methow, this river only opens for steelhead when the ratio of hatchery fish and wild fish is right and the run is large enough.  Those who enjoy the steelhead fishing on this river are hoping that it will again be opened in future years.  I primarily fish this river using my drift boat, and spend most of my time from Cashmere to the mouth.   The river has great two-handed rod water and you can easily spend all day on one or two runs.   The section from Monitor to the mouth has several of these and it is tough to get through this section by dark.  Actually, I have been known to do a great moonlight rowing adventure upstream in the Columbia River from the mouth of the Wenatchee to the take-out at Confluence State Park.  Couples especially enjoy this as it allows them to get back together after a day of competing for steelhead.  


Wenatchee Flow: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/wa/nwis/uv/?station=12462500