Eastern Washington Fishing Report 05.23.19
You sure can tell it's going to be a big weekend. All I have to do is step outside and watch the number of campers and trucks going by with pontoon boats on top of them. We may have gotten off to a mixed opening, but the area lakes are coming into shape fast now. With so much water to fish, it's hard to know where to go.
Current Conditions
Chopaka Lake (WA) - Weather for this coming weekend looks interesting. You have a 50/50 chance of rain and thunderstorms. Highs will be in the low 70s and the lows will be in the mid-50s. So, be mindful of the weather around you. The water temperature has been right around the 60-degree mark.
Omak Lake (WA) - Just when you think it’s done for a while it pulls you back in. With all the attention towards all the other lakes in the area, Omak Lake has taken a bit of a back seat. The Lahontan cutthroats are still on the bite.
With the broken cloudy days, we have been having a big help in putting the fish back on the bite. With the possibility of thunderstorms this weekend, it may cause a bit of a wrinkle until the storm passes. The temperatures have been ranging in the low 50s with highs in the mid-70s.
Both ends of the lake are still fishing quite well. Some real tanks can be seen cruising the shallows but, most of the fish are being caught a little further out at the drop-offs. One thing I have learned, what you see doesn’t mean that is what you catch. Most of the fish that are hooking up are in the 20 to 22-inches range with a couple of 28-inches thrown in to make you keep casting one last cast at the end of the day.
Blue Lake (Sinlahekin), Aeneas Lake, Green Lakes, Rat Lake (WA) - One thing we have here in our area is plenty of lakes to keep you busy. I only list a few of the main lakes everyone calls and asks about but, trust me, there are plenty of other ones. With the number of lakes in the area, you have your pick of trout, from rainbows to brookies, browns, tiger and Lahontan cutthroats. Throw in large and smallmouth bass and you have plenty of fish to go after.
Okanogan River (WA) and Methow River (WA) - Both rivers are scheduled to open May 25th. Unfortunately, right now, they are running a little too high and off colored to fish right now. Once they drop into shape, we will be giving you further reports on what’s going on.
Match the Hatch
For Chopaka, and half of the anglers at the lake, it’s all about the chironomid while the other half is a mix of leeches, booby flies, and damselflies. The mayfly and midge hatch it showing up around 1:00 p.m. and lasts until dark, depending on weather conditions. Mayflies in #16 to #14 are the best size. Callibaetis, Adams and a few others in the same color range will work just fine also. Black midge patterns in the #18 to #20, fished by themselves or as a trailer on the mayfly, are a deadly combo. The warmer the weather the better the chances of a good hatch.
On Omak, small #12 olive leeches are the top getter lately. Add to that a mix of olive or black balanced leeches and balanced minnows, and you have what's been having the best results. Right now, you may not get into a lot of fish, but you should find enough to keep you happy. Plus, with the prospects of hooking into one of the bigger fish that are ever-present, that alone is enough to spend some time at Omak Lake.
For the other lakes, if you were to walk into the shop and ask me to set you up with a selection of flies that would work at a lot of these lakes, here is what I would show you: #14 to #12 chironomids in colors of black, gray and olive. Then, leeches #12 to #10 semi-seal black/blue, Canadian black or olive or Chan’s ruby eyed leech in black and red. Damselfly nymphs, #14 red eyed damsel nymphs and the #12 Mini damsel nymphs. For an adult damselfly, hands down would be the #10 CDC adult damsel. Dry flies would be #16 to #14 extended body callibaetis, #16 to #14 Adams in parachute and standard style. This would be my standard selection, plus a couple of attractor flies that work at a couple of the lakes too.
Need to fill the box before you go? Order flies online here.
Tips & Techniques
Since this is Memorial weekend it might be a wee bit full at the two campgrounds at Chopaka. For a couple of back up suggestions, there are two other campgrounds within a 10 to 14-mile drive. One is North Fork Ninemile and the other is Toats Coulee. Both are on the Toats Coulee road, southwest of Chopaka Lake. Most of the lakes have on-site camping available, plus, you are about 20 minutes away from gas and groceries.
Another useful tip, when fishing dries at Chopaka Lake, keep the fly moving and on the surface. If your floatant is not doing its job, don’t hesitate to switch out your fly for a fresh one. Most of the dry fly activity is in amongst the reeds or just on the outside of them.
Now, remember, this is not a weather report but a forecast based on what the weather service has put out. With that being said, the forecast has a 50 percent chance of storms including thunderstorms for the next three days. After that, just slightly cloudy skies. You’ll want to be mindful of the weather conditions. If you are out on the water and the storms show up, get into shore, lightning likes graphite rods.
Did you know…
If you go to YouTube and do a search for Chopaka Lake Bigfoot you will find a video… 23 years ago, on Memorial weekend a couple captured on video, our area sasquatch running across the hillside. So, if you get that feeling of being watched, well, you never know.
The hills are nice and green, and the wildflowers are in bloom. As a bonus, you may take a drive and look for some of our area morel mushrooms.
See past reports from the Omak region, or click here to view all northwest regional reports.