Lake Chelan
lake in Washington
Long lake with excellent boat and shoreline fly fishing for lake trout and kokanee, plus accessible tributary runs in spring and fall.
Conditions right now
No USGS gauge is linked to this water yet, so we can't chart flows.
What's working on Lake Chelan
- 01Lake Chelan is experiencing clear conditions with mild fall temperatures around 54°F.
- 02Leeches and baitfish are consistent and active food sources for predatory fish.
- 03Sporadic hatches of Pale Morning Duns (PMDs) and October Caddis can be expected.
- 04Chironomids and Mysis Shrimp are reliable subsurface food sources year-round.
- 05Varying retrieve speeds and using full sink lines are crucial for effective deep-water presentations.
Past reports week by week
11 weeksWhat to tie on
Picked from reports, hatches and the season. Tap a fly for the recipe and where else it works.
Mysis Shrimp (White)
Lake Chelan's deep waters provide a crucial habitat for Mysis shrimp, a consistent food source for Kokanee, Burbot, and Lake Trout in the fall.
Micro Egg
With Kokanee transitioning into their pre-spawn phase, egg patterns become highly effective for opportunistic trout and Burbot feeding on loose eggs in the water column.
Buy at AmazonChironomid Pupa (Black)
Chironomids are a year-round primary food source in Lake Chelan, and fall is no exception for Kokanee and various trout species feeding subsurface.
Balanced Leech (Black)
Leeches are a staple forage for predatory fish in Lake Chelan, and in fall, they are highly effective for Lake Trout, Burbot, and pre-spawn Kokanee.
Flashback Hare's Ear Nymph
This versatile nymph mimics various aquatic insects active throughout the year and is a reliable subsurface choice for trout in both the main lake and its tributaries during fall.
PMD (Pale Morning Duns)
Pale Morning Duns are known to hatch in the fall, offering opportunistic trout a chance for surface or near-surface feeding, especially in calmer sections of the lake or near tributary mouths.
October Caddis (Dry)
As one of the largest caddis hatches of the year, October Caddis can provide substantial surface activity, drawing aggressive strikes from trout in and around the lake's tributaries.
Buy at AmazonWhere to fish and who to ask
Chelan Town Boat Launch / Nearshore
Main boat launch and popular starting point for trolling and lake-fishing flies for togue and kokanee.
Stehekin / North End Access
Remote northern lake access with summer fly opportunities in tributary mouths and shorelines.
Wapato Point / Lake Nearshore
Productive nearshore structure for kokanee and early summer trout feeding lanes.
Get Lake Chelan reports by email
Save this water and we'll email you a weekly summary of conditions, hatches and what's working.
Washington season by season
What changes on the water through the year, with the flies for each season.
Read before you go
Fly Tying Essentials – Tools Materials & First Patterns to Learn
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Steelhead Decline: What's Happening & What Anglers Can Do
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Quick answers
Common questions about Lake Chelan.
What flies work best on Lake Chelan?
Our top scored fly patterns for Lake Chelan right now are Mysis Shrimp (White) (80% confidence), White Woolly Bugger (80% confidence), Micro Egg (80% confidence). These picks are scored from recent fishing reports, hatch data, and seasonal patterns.
What fish species are in Lake Chelan?
Lake Chelan holds Kokanee, Burbot, Trout. See the species links on this page for fly recommendations and seasonal behavior for each.
Is Lake Chelan fishing well right now?
We publish a fresh bite report for Lake Chelan each week based on recent on-the-water intel. The current report — with conditions, hatches, and what's producing — is on this page.