We spent 3 days on her on the opener and before the closure I fished this system every Nov and early December until the weather turns it to almost to ice for years and almost 10 years was far to long and I have always had better numbers on the Wenatchee over the Methow both great Eastern.Wa. rivers.
For many years in one section with 3 to 5 guys we could spank 8 -15 fish perday and my personal best was 15 landed in this selective fisheries.
That being said we use noodle rods and floats, Pink worms, spinners, corkies, yarn, puff balls and when we brought the drift boats we did well on small plugs single barless with Colored Gamas.
Long Floracabon leaders and we let are presentation sit longer then normal in the tail outs.
I have caught some large nats in the early 90's as well and we would land way more then are share of hatchery brates.
Pulled over 50 anglers over highway 2 for many years and was jacked they opened her back up!
On the opener we released 5 nice fish on the opener and the next 2 days was a bust hooking dark Kings, white fish and trout.
Was Mucho Grande pressure, toons, drift boats and bankies and my one bud with his puffer Sage landed a chrome hen at first light on the opener that had some shoulders.
The Key is the (Orchard hole) the most productive water on that great pretty river , very large structure , many depths, great holding water after a big push for them running skinny before reaching this long deeper seam loaded with very big boulders. You can view this section above on small cliffs just off Highway 2 make sure you get permission to cross the Orchards we always gave him a super nice Grower a Hatchery brate on the way out.
As far as forgiving you better have your best wading boots on , I have floated 100's of yards with ice in her under and above water and blew up a knee as well ! Slick as Rick
I also drift many bright flies with a very small sliding slinky and do well as it keeps it down in the bag zone, this river eats gear as well , light, small and Look for some sweet apple trees in the gut of her= there you will find metalheads on any year, weather or conditions.
We stayed in 2 toy haulers the park was loaded and most of the puffer guys were not happy the last day our 3rd it hit 73 degrees I was very happy.