by Dave Graybill, June 04, 2013

I had a great week, enjoying a very good day of walleye fishing at Moses Lake after a couple of disappointing attempts. I was part of a very successful Kids Fishing Day at the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery and ended the week with the opportunity to talk to many fellow anglers during the Bob Feil Boat Show at Hooked on Toys over the past weekend.

If you have been following my broadcast reports and columns you will know that I have had a couple of disappointing trips to Moses Lake for walleye. Well, I just couldn’t give up, and went again this past Wednesday. The forecast was for the nasty weather, which is what I had been waiting for, so I met Brian Nielson and Brian James at Connelly Park. We headed out on the lake in the pouring rain. I got one fish while I was letting my line out the first time! Although we had some slow intervals between catches, we got fish throughout the morning at almost every place we went. It was mid afternoon when the bite really tuned on. One time, after landing a fish and turning for another pass, found three of our baits bit in half! We hurried to get our lines back in the water while the fishing was hot, and it was really fun. We quit when we ran out of worms. We had eight walleye in the box when we headed in. Seven of them were almost identical 14-inchers, and Brian James got one that was 19 inches. Plus, we got our fish trolling with bottom bouncers and spinners. We got a couple of fish on a gold blade, but the hot lure was a fire tiger pattern blade. I plan to move onto other areas to fish now that I have had the kind of walleye fishing I am used to having at Moses Lake.

My brother Rick fished in the Moses Lake walleye tournament last weekend, and I caught up with him while he was unloading his rig. He and partner Matt Marcum teamed up for the first time, and finished 11th place, just out of the money. It took over 33 pounds to win the two day tourney, and there were three teams with over 30 pounds. There were 59 boats fishing this year, and there were teams that registered zero fish on one day or another over the two days. He emphasized that he learned a lot, both fishing with partner Matt and from other fishermen at the end of the competition. He said it was not only a lot of fun, but when it’s all over anglers are very open about what they used to catch fish and where they found them in the lake. He would encourage anyone interested in walleye fishing to participate in one of the tournaments in the area. It’s worth the entry fee to get tips from the real pros at these events.

I have some exciting plans for the coming week. On Wednesday Eric Granstrom and I will be meeting Kim Skaar at the Mill Bay ramp on Lake Chelan to fish for smallmouth bass and shoot a Fishing TV Show. Kim fished in the bass tournament on Lake Chelan last weekend and the winners weighed in over 31 pounds of bass to win it. Kim and his son caught ten fish each day in the two day tournament, and they averaged 2 ½ pounds each. He said that the fish weren’t really fully on the beds yet, but are moving up. With the hot weather forecast for the early week we may hit it just right. I know we will catch some smallmouth and be able to get a very good TV Show out of our trip with Skaar. He said that two anglers that have won the Lake Chelan bass tournament in the past, Lance Manning and Steve Brown, did it again this year.

The next day Eric and I are heading up to Banks Lake. We plan to fish for both walleye and bass on Banks. This is my favorite bass fishing lake, and I haven’t been up there this year. I think we will also hit this one at the right time for great fishing for both species. Skaar just fished at Banks last week is going to show us some hot spots and what to use to catch smallmouth. I can’t wait!

Fathers Day is coming up on June 16th this year, and that means the annual East Wenatchee Rotary Club Pikeminnow Derby will take place on June 15th and 16th. This is the 21st year for this fun derby, which will once again be headquartered at the Orondo River Park. The emphasis of this derby is on catching as many pikeminnows as possible. These fish prey on salmon and steelhead smolt that are making their way down the Columbia River to the ocean, and do serious damage. Anglers that fish in this tournament are doing our fishery a great service. The other aim of the derby is to provide a fun event for fishing families in our area. Pikeminnows aren’t too challenging to catch once you have found them in the river, and kids under 14 years of age get to fish in the derby for free. There is over $10,000.00 in cash and prizes to be won at this year’s event, including a fishing boat with motor and trailer.

Tickets and information can be found at Hooked on Toys in Wenatchee and Bi-Mart and Bob Feil Boats and Motors in East Wenatchee. Sponsors of the derby are Bob Feil Boats and Motors, Hooked on Toys, Bi-Mart, Macks Lures, Douglas County PUD and Weinstein Beverage Pepsi.

As you can see I have some serious fishing plans for the coming week. I had better bring along the sunscreen with the hot weather forecast. I am looking forward to the hot weather and expect hot fishing to go with it!


By Dave Graybill

FishingMagician.com