I have never fished the Icicle before and I am wondering if anyone could tell me where the put in and take outs are? I am planning to float it on sunday to get an idea of the river conditions, holes, and runs so that I have some idea where to fish. I have been told if you want a good spot you have to be willing to get it at dark thirty or before. and yes I know it doesn't open until monday. any assistance would be greatly appriciated

Hey Mic. Doesn't open until Monday? Perfect! No hatchery personel around on Sunday either. So I suggest you try one of the best holes on the entire watershed that my buddy Superfly fishes ... the springer holding pond at the hatchery . Heard there are already over 4000 fish in there. 'Fly just uses eggs with a float. And there's no limit there - like for the tribal snaggers that 'fish' the pool by the fish ladder with pressured permission from the WDF&G. .....

OK, jk. If you are scouting it Sunday you should have it figured pretty well by o'dark thirty Monday morning. With the let up of rain it should be in good shape too - and the number in the ponds is actually what I heard so the river should have plenty of fish, and fishermen. Let us know how it went for ya.

The river is VERY low and clear right now. Concentrate in the deepest holes (like usual) that you can find, but remember, the landowners own the bottom of the river!!!! They can ask you to pick-up your anchor at any time. Also, watch for LOTS of bank anglers. The river really gets overrun with locals so have lots of patience.

Thanks for the water condition report Snit. Low water, so it's even more important for Mic to scout the shallows and rapids for rocks. Do you know whether the Icicle can be considered a navigable river by State or Fed standards? It may not if it's really small. If it can be then fishermen may both set foot and anchor anywhere below the mean high water mark regardless of the land ownership deeds; as some are finding out in court. But they cannot cross posted private land w/o permission; or liter or abuse property.

Snit, If someone were to ask me to pick up my anchor and move somewhere else I would tell him to kiss my ass and **** off!!!!
You must read the laws my friend. Basically it states that if you are wet you are fine. They are written as R.T. says by the mean highwater mark is the line. so if it is a low water year that means you can actully stay dry and not be trespassing. These water ways are public and no mother ****er owns them!!!!
Peace Superfly

Yo, you can fish in da hatchery ponds on da icicle.
Lates E-Dog

Mic, there's a launch about a 1/4 mile downstream from the hatchery, just look for a big field and lots of parked cars. The take out is in the Wenatchee about 4 miles downstream on the East Leavenworth RD, right across from Leavenworth. Here are the "rules" that have been explained to me by the sheriff and game warden: RT, the Icicle IS classified as a non-navigatable River, thus allowing these "Special" rules SF, you wouldn't be the first person with that type of response and attitude, but the local sheriff and game wardens "educate" newcomers every year on these rules. I agree that no one owns the water (yet, the state is trying too though), so fishing from a boat (no ic motors) is fine. I'm just advising that during the typical "salmon frenzie" property owners are often overrun and most of them do own to the bottom of the river and they also fish, so altercations are pretty common.

thanks for all the information and advice, but I do have to admit that you guys are making me have some second thoughts. Is this fishery really worth it? I mean Ive done some strange things just to have the opprotunity to fish, but land owners that tell you to leave! and they have the rights to do so???? Does anyone have anything good to say about this fishery.

Mic - No, that fishery really isn't worth it.

Will I be there this year - yes, but it will be painfull. We'll take Todd along, and entertain him on the river!

Here's what I can tell you about the Icicle:

First off, regardless of how many fish are at the hatchery, or holding at the mouth of the Icicle, if fish don't run up the Icicle that night, you won't catch anything the next day. It's only when the fish decide to run up the river that night, that fishing is good the next day. Not to say you won't get a fish or two if they are not running, but it makes for long days with very low numbers of fish. Basically, once the fish go, they swim like heck to the hatchery - and they generally don't stop. On the flipside, when the fish have moved up on the previous nights, the next day is just wild - just about everyone will get a fish or twelve.

The Icicle is, by far, the hardest river I have floated to read. I'm pretty damn good at reading water, but I've floated that river with expert guides, and the "fishy" water they pointed out, was nothing even close as to what I would have read as "fishy".

Normally, the rule of thumb is, when you find all the boats anchored up, that's a "good" spot to fish. No boats, no fish.

There are always a ton of bankies and the landowners are mean as hell. Some of the most unfriendliest people I have ever met. I'm pretty sure local "law enforcement" is heavily biased, so all "outsiders" are treated like crap, regardless of anything. There are couple of "honey" holes in which the landowners are notorious A-Holes.

Out of boat, you find an open place to fish (There's really only about 6 or so good spots), anchor up, and basically sit there all day. You'll either get fish, or the fish haven't come up yet and you've wasted the day.

The mouth of the Icicle is always entertaining. When the fish are not moving, they tend to school up at the mouth of the Icicle. You can go there and watch all the sleds cast 1000 yards out in to the mouth of the Wenatchee. Basically, they just sit there and poach. Since they are all "good ol' boys", they are almost always over-looked by the local law enforcement. There's nothing like spending the whole day on the Icicle, not seeing anything caught, and all the folks at the mouth have poached their limits. Nice. "Mind your own FU$*ING business is a common sentence in that area".

Yes, you'll have to launch your boat, in the dark, at 2:00 am, just to get in the water. You will NOT be first person at the honey hole. The land-owners let their friends moore there over night - and a lot of people sleep in their "drift boats" during the weekend.

At least the fish are dark as an old boot! But, the meat is still firm and tastey, and they are fun to fight! Darn this stupid addiction! There *has* to be better things for me to do then go to the Icicle, right????

Parker

Let me just add in that most of the bankies on the Icicle are Ok. The problems come from a few of the land-owners and local boys on the river. Most of us "outsiders" (bank and boat) are pretty cool and just want to fish.

Parker

Fishing was VERY slow. Around 16 fish caught this morning. Each "hole" had 3-6 landed with none at the mouth! The creek is very low and clear. I'm probably going to the Wind, at least there are fish in the river. The Icicle is just to skinny right now.

Hey, Snit,

Do you know if any of the bankies at the drift hole just down from the launch at the hatchery did anything? I'm going up there tomorrow to work on my cabin and thought I'd stop by for an hour or two, if worth my while.

Thanks!

Todd.

I know of a couple of fish caught at the "corner hole" just below the launch. I think that the indians are starting to snag today, which means that the fish get pushed down in a panic to the launch area. The "corner hole" is always a good bank spot, so if I were you I'd try it. Keep me posted. I should hear more info today.

I too, have never fished the Icicle but thinking about going over Wed. or Thur. What type of tackle is best and what's the recomended bait or lure?.