Update on fishing in Stehekin

Things have been very busy in Stehekin. We have been fishing all summer plus doing all of our other jobs. Anyway fishing in Coon lake was good all the way through about the end of July. We mostly nymphed leach patterns on the bottom. The Brook Trout averaged 13" to 16" and about 2 to 2 1/2 lb. In late June we started fishing in the river mouth and had a great time nymphing on the bottom or some of our guests preferred to use spinners. We were catching mostly Rainbows 12 to 20". Then about mid July the river flows started to drop and we moved into the lower river. This is where I love to fish. In July and early August we mostly caught fish in the 12 to 15" range and almost strictly on nymphs. Then about mid August the river level dropped below 1,000 CFS the fishing really started to heat up. We were then able to get our flies down where the bigger fish live and started to pickup fish up to 20" or so. Then they started to go for the dry flies and what fun. The last week of August we had some great days of fishing. Afternoons picking up with as many as a dozen fish above 15" I fished in rain this afternoon and the fish were hitting hard on dry flies in the rain. I had two different fish on that were well over the 20" mark, unfortunately I didn't land either one. But to see the really big fish come to the top after your fly is a real thrill! We have some new pictures on the web site. See you on the river. John

Downlake view from Stehekin May 2009

Lakeshore trail in bloom

Wow, incredible, spectacular! What a beautiful place I live I took a hike down the lakeshore trail yesterday morning, and it is just bursting forth with color. The Camas Root, Oregon Grape, Indian Paint brush, and Dogwood trees are just coming in to full bloom. Blue Lupin is just days away from budding out a bumper crop, as with dozens of other flowers, shrubs and grasses. With all the spring rain this promises to be a spectacular spring.
Tuesday it rained hard for a while, then all of a sudden the sun would break out and everything would come alive with light and color, every drop of rain on the branches sparkling in the sun. May is always a beautiful month and this year will be no exception. I can’t walk outside and not just be in awe at all the incredible beauty that God has set in order for me to enjoy

Welcome to Stehekin Fishing Adventure's blog! We are starting an adventure in guided fishing. Please watch for updates on fishing, water conditions, and what we are up to in Stehekin.

The early spring weather has made conditions in the river ideal for fishing, and I have been having fun. Right after the river opened in March I started catching Cutthroat trout in the deep dark water. Then about the last week in March and the first of April started catching Rainbows.

All of March and most of April we have had really low water levels which is ideal for fly fishing, running at about 3oo cfps. (Cubic feet per second) About the middle of April the temperatures started to rise and so did the river, to about 3,ooo cfps which is still fishable but not much fun. We have had some cool nights and the river is back down to 1740 cfps at the current time. I expect the river will continue to rise as the the weather warms and the snow melts. So I don't expect to do much fishing in the river for while. But there are other great places to fish too!



Yesterday Patty and I made the first trip to Coon Lake and had some fun catching Brook Trout. The average size was 15 - 16".
As I was out in my float tube I was just in awe at the beauty that I never seem to get tired of. The sun was shining, snow capped peaks and waterfalls all surrounding a perfectly calm lake with a little rock island in the middle. The Golden Eye and Buffle Head ducks were everywhere. Then I noticed a small black bear sitting on a log just watching me. I then let Patty know that the bear wasn't all that far from her and she decided to enjoy the view from the other side of the lake. As she was sitting on a rock watching me fish a doe slowly walked by not 20 feet away, what a beautiful place we live in!