04_2025_REELLIFE_digital - Flipbook - Page 18
tipped with pike minnow or
herring strips or troll a U20
flatfish along the bottom
off of downriggers. If you’re
not equipped for the deep
water, the smallmouth bass
are found along the docks
in the town of Chelan. The
water is clear enough that
you can often see fish for
the bass.
invasive panfish that can
spawn in lakes by using
these predators. If the trout
fishing is slow then you
can try poppers or leach
patterns for the pan fish.
Other options: If you are
planning a trip to the
Chelan Valley to give this
fishery a try, don’t forget a
few other options as well.
Dry Lake right next to
Roses is a bass fisherman’s
dream. This lake is very
shallow and by summer the
weeds have overtaken the
lake, but in fall and spring
the weeds aren’t as bad
and it’s very fishable. I don’t
recommend ice fishing this
lake because it is so shallow
that the ice seems to be
thin or “rotten” in places as
the water can remain a bit
warmer than the deeper
Roses Lake. There is no
improved launch at Dry
Lake, but a small car topper
boat or a float tube works
great here. There are some
big bass in there as well as
good-eating crappie and
other pan fish.
Of course, Lake Chelan
is also an option that
you cannot overlook.
Springtime is prime time
for the Lakers as they are
in their spawning cycle.
It seems the bigger fish
come up from the depths
or from the up lake to the
down lake area (little is
known where the big fish
hang out since the lake is
so big and deep). By late
spring you can target the
kokanee which are heading
to the east end of the lake.
The standard pop gear and
wedding ring tipped with
a worm and shoepeg corn
soaked in Pro-Cure’s anise
or bloody tuna is the top
producer for the Kokes. It
seems this migration of
landlocked sockeye fatten
the Mackinaw for a chance
to break the state record
for Lake Trout. Try off of the
end of Wapato Point where
the lake goes from 150
feet to over 250 feet, either
jigging 1 oz white grub jigs
Back on Roses Lake, keep
an eye on the afternoon
winds and be ready to head
for the boat launch. If the
trout fishing slows then
work the cattails for some
incredible bass fishing. You
might not find big bass
here but they are plentiful
and easy to catch. Keep in
mind that there is often a
water ski slalom course on
the west end of the lake
and that others will be
using this lake as well. The
130-acre body of water is
surrounded by orchards
and a few houses and
respect the shoreline. The
WDFW access site gets
busy but there is plenty
of parking and good bank
access. This lake has it all,
for everyone, from kayakers
and float tube anglers to
bass boats and tow boats,
trout and bass, and some
bluegill too. This makes it a
perfect lake to take the kids
as well as just spend some
time catching fish while in
the Lake Chelan Valley.
