What's Spawning in Lake Chelan right now?

[Sam Roffe]

Wife and I came over to Chelan for the weekend to visit family. We took a walk along the Riverwalk path between the two bridges over the Chelan River up from the dam. There are fish spawning the the shallows. The way they schooled up reminded me of when I saw the "sucker" fish on the Yakima River around Ellensburg a many years ago. They look to be 14-18 inches long. What could they be? I'm sure someone has seen them before and knows what they are. Thanks.

Sam

Anyone who says "Atlantic Salmon" gets demerits

 

[Evan B]

There's a ton of suckers in there. Probably those.

 

[troutpocket]

Could be pikeminnows as well. There are several native minnows that spawn this time of year but not many reach 14-18”

 

[dflett68]

+1 largescale suckers

 

[Sam Roffe]

Thanks for the replies.

 

[Sam Roffe]

I am back in Chelan this weekend. Those suckers were much more plentiful this weekend, they're pretty big too. Saw a few people harvesting them. Talked to one gentlemen that said these suckers, Pike Minnows, are taking over the lake. He would like to see many more taken out of the lake.

 

[dflett68]

I am back in Chelan this weekend. Those suckers were much more plentiful this weekend, they're pretty big too. Saw a few people harvesting them. Talked to one gentlemen that said these suckers, Pike Minnows, are taking over the lake. He would like to see many more taken out of the lake.

if they are pike minnows, they aren't suckers.

 

[Sam Roffe]

You're right.

if they are pike minnows, they aren't suckers.

I did a search on both fish, The ones caught had the mouth of a sucker, not a pike minnow. Thanks for the clarification.