Rivers in Chelan County
Chiwawa River
Columbia River Pools
Columbia River Pools: Fair walleye fishing is available in power dam tailraces below Wells, Rocky Reach and Rock Island dams. Best chance for large (10-pound) walleyes is from February through April. Sturgeon are occasionally caught in this area; however, all sturgeon caught upstream of Priest Rapids Dam must be released. Backwater sloughs hold bass, perch and sunfish. Steelhead fishing is closed because of ESA listing. A few large fall chinook salmon are caught in the Wenatchee area; check the regulations for dates and other specific information. Whitefish are available on shallow gravel bars below river mouths.
Entiat River
Entiat River: Most of the Entiat and some of its tributaries are closed to all fishing starting June 1, 2000, because of ESA listings for steelhead, chinook and bull trout. The area above Entiat Falls is open to trout fishing, as are other small tributaries where anadromous species do not exist. Whitefish angling is reinstated from the Highway 97 bridge to Entiat Falls from December 1 through March 31. Please check the regulations pamphlet.
Icicle Creek
Icicle Creek: This heavily-fished stream has lots of small wild rainbow and cutthroat trout in higher tributaries and away from roads and campgrounds. Trout season is open June 1 through October 31, with selective gear rules in effect. Below the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery, the river is closed to fishing year-round. The spring chinook fishery will likely open in early to mid-May, pending discussions with the National Marine Fisheries Service. Exact opening and closing dates and daily limits are yet to be determined. Check local newspapers or the WDFW regional office in Ephrata for the latest information. Steelhead fishing is closed because of ESA listing. Night closure and non-bouyant lure restrictions are in effect from June 1 through June 30.
Little Wenatchee River
Little Wenatchee River: The river is closed to fishing below the falls (see regulations pamphlet for area description) because of ESA listings for steelhead, chinook and bull trout. Hatchery rainbows are no longer stocked, but small wild rainbow and cutthroat trout are common above the falls where fishing is open under statewide rules.
Nason Creek
Nason Creek: Small wild rainbow and cutthroat trout are common in the upper reaches. Check the regulations pamphlet for special size restrictions and closed water area. Selective gear rules are in effect for part of the open area.
Stehekin River
Wenatchee River
Wenatchee River: Because of declining steelhead, chinook salmon and bull trout populations, the river will be closed to all fishing. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has designated steelhead and spring chinook runs in the upper Columbia River basin as in danger of becoming extinct. These listings preclude any fishing on trout and steelhead. WDFW is currently developing recovery plans. The one bright spot is that angling with bait will be allowed for whitefish only, provided that only hooks with a gap of 3/16-inch or smaller (size #14) are used.
White River
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