I live in Ellensburg and went up to the Okanogan to visit friends and family this last weekend. Stopped in Mallot (about 15 minutes south of the town of Okanogan) to see how the steelheading was doing. The Wash Fish and Game opened the river for hatchery fish and there are LOTS of them after many years of complete closure! And I am not kidding! They are rolling in steelhead up there right now.

The Mallot store is right on the river and a convenient place to pick up some hot coffee and fishing news. Note that it rained like I have never seen it rain before in Eastern Washington so the coffee was VERY welcome. The hunters agreed. I must have spent an hour in the store talking to other outdoorsmen. The rain is not common up there. Some folks are coming in to the store and reporting 5 and 6 fish days. I did not take my fishing gear and am kicking myself. But the coffee and company was nice. The locals up there are a nice lot.


If anyone else goes up there, give me a hollar. I am gonna try and get back up there next week.

Ken
ken @ wildlanders com