Salmon fishing continues to be the biggest draw for anglers here in the region. I am getting great reports from the Brewster Pool and Chelan Falls on the Columbia River. Also expected this week is the official announcement of the opening of sockeye fishing on Lake Wenatchee. This is extremely popular and draws huge crowds.

There is something about sockeye fishing that makes anglers feverish. As soon as the season for summer run Chinook is announced, the next question I get is if sockeye fishing will be open, too—often in the same breath. Right after that it’s if Lake Wenatchee will open.The question about Lake Wenatchee sockeye fishing will persist until it either opens or is determined that there weren’t enough fish over Tumwater Dam to have a fishery. This year is no different. Rumors have been flying. First people were looking at last year’s E-Reg announcement.Then it was to be open on the first of August. There still hasn’t been an official news release, but I expect official word by August 2nd. 

Remember we need 23,500 over Tumwater Dam for escapement and they need a good buffer to have a fishery. As of last week, over 27,000 sockeye had passed over Tumwater, and our local biologist is recommending that we have a season to open by the middle of the week. So, keep your eyes peeled for the official news release from the WDFW and start tying sockeye rigs! Get ready for the crush at the State Park boat launch, too. This week’s photo is of Glacier Peak at sunrise on Lake Wenatchee.

Every year a window opens that fans of fly fishing streams wait for. The small tributaries throughout the region have finally dropped into easy wading levels.Rainbow, cutthroat, brown trout, and brook trout are eager to take flies floated through their feeding lanes. This is when I dust off my 3 weight rod, leave the waders at home and splash through cool water to cast to these small fish.

The Icicle is just a few miles from my home in Leavenworth, so I have spent many hot summer evenings cooling off while catching the small rainbow that inhabit the stream. The upper Entiat is very wadable by now in the summer and offers good numbers of cutthroat and brookies along with the rainbow. I also like to fish the Methow, where some really big cutthroat are available. The Yakima River attracts big crowds this time of year. The Naches River can also be very good right now for rainbow trout. One of my favorites in the summer and fall is the Kettle River up north, for both rainbow and brown trout, and to the east is the Coeur d’Alene River for cutthroat. There are other streams in the region, but these are my favorites.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has announced Brock Hoenes as its new North Central Region director. Hoenes is a long-time employee who started his career with WDFW in 2008. Most recently, he has worked as the ungulate section manager. Before that, he spent time as an assistant district wildlife biologist, a district wildlife biologist, the statewide WDFW elk specialist, and as the department’s deer and elk section manager. 
“I’m excited to be back in the region where I started my career with WDFW 13 years ago,” said Hoenes. “I’m passionate about the fish and wildlife and the people in this region. For myself and my family, it feels like returning home.”
 Hoenes will begin his new job Aug. 1, serving as the Director’s Office policy lead for WDFW on work covering Adams, Chelan, Douglas, Grant, and Okanogan counties. The position is based in Ephrata. 

“I have seen Brock think outside the box, work collaboratively with staff and Fish and Wildlife Commissioners, and be an excellent listener,” said WDFW Director Kelly Susewind. “He has demonstrated professionalism and empathy while taking on some tough challenges.” 

Hoenes says he is eager to reconnect with area residents while he gets up to speed on challenges specific to the region. Prior to moving to Washington, Hoenes worked for the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish and the New Mexico Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit on a variety of research projects focused on mule deer, bighorn sheep, elk, cougars, black bears, and pronghorn. 

Work to improve the Williams Lake Access Area in Spokane County could mean some inconvenience to users but will result in a better experience in the future. A limited season to complete work near water has contractor crews starting on a project this week. Work includes removing the existing, damaged boat ramp and replacing it with a new precast concrete plank ramp. An informal gravel ramp next to the concrete ramp will also be upgraded to a precast concrete plank ramp to accommodate more users. Crews are also adding a boarding float between the two ramps to make launching boats easier. Other improvements include paving the parking area, adding ADA parking spaces, and replacing the existing toilets with a prefabricated ADA-accessible model.

“This work will make this access area much easier to use for boaters and more accessible to people with disabilities,” said WDFW access area manager Dan Dziekan. “It’s a full overhaul so, unfortunately the construction process requires some inconvenience and a temporary closure for members of the public. We’re asking people to bear with it though because in the end they’ll be able to enjoy a much nicer boating experience.”

The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office is funding this $647,000 project through a Boating Facilities Program grant. Early signs of construction will be underway this week, but it will not disrupt access area usage. For public safety, and to give crews room to work, the access area will be closed from approximately Aug. 8 to the end of the fishing season.

While the access area is closed, Bunker’s Resort on the southwest side of the lake, allows the public to launch boats, for a fee, on a limited basis. People wishing to use Bunker’s launch are advised to call the resort first at 509-235-5212 to ensure the water level is sufficient for launching and that there is room to park a vehicle and trailer.

Williams Lake is a popular opening day (last Saturday in April to September 30) trout fishing lake in southern Spokane County. To find alternate angling and boating options the public can visit WDFWs water access areas web page.