Eastern Washington Fishing Report 07.11.19
Stillwater fishing for trout is in that slow down period. Even though some of the lakes are still on the cool side right now, most anglers are hitting the rivers, and a few are chasing after bass. The weather has been relatively cool for this time of the year, that’s a big plus for us here.
Current Conditions
Chopaka Lake - Water temperatures are edging close to that point where it is not healthy for the trout's survival if they are caught and released. The north end is staying cooler than the more popular mid to south end. You’ll need to go down to the 20-foot level to find them most of the time. Mornings will be your best time before the day time temperatures warm up too much. Small leeches are working best followed by a couple of different colored chironomid patterns.
Bonaparte Lake - Nice cool waters are helping to keep the fishing good. Tiger trout over 20 inches, plus, rainbows and brook trout at 20 inches are showing up for those that put the time in. Early morning along the drop-offs seem to be the best area to work, then move out into a little deeper water as the day wears on. Streamers in colors like firetiger, blacks, or whites are a good choice. Buggers in blacks, olive, or white are always a good fall back patterns too. Once you get out past the choke point, start working the drop-offs along the weed beds for the tigers. For the rainbows and brooks, you’ll need to move out just a little further and deeper. Balanced leeches and minnows are other patterns that have worked. You will need to move around until you find some action. A good fish finder is a big plus in helping cut your time down and get you on the fish a lot faster.
Okanogan River (WA) - The river bumped up a little with some rain we had the other day but, is now dropping again. As of today, it is at 2,130 cfs and on the drop. Some of the guys had a chance to hit the river the other day for a couple of hours and they found plenty of 12 to 14-inch smallmouth. A few were taken on home tied poppers and the rest were on streamers in salmon smolt colors. From the other reports I’ve been getting up river or down, if it looks like fishable bass water, chances are its holding fish. Some of the easier areas to find them in are in and around a number of the bridges that cross the river.
Methow River (WA) - At 794 cfs the river is at its lowest that I have seen in a few years. It is fishing really well. If you ask me, I have yet to hit the river and be disappointed. Chubbies, hippy stompers and J. slams are taking tops in the dry fly category when it comes to catching nice cutthroats and rainbows, Pat’s stones are the top producer for those wanting to nymph. I’m still throwing a streamer and even though I may not be catching a lot of trout I am catching some very nice ones. With the flows being what they are if you launch your boat just south of Twisp and take it out at Carlton, you are looking at about an eight-hour float with fishing time figured into that. Wading is good in most areas but, heads up as some of the crossings are not yet shallow enough to cross. Most all the open waters on the Methow are fishing well with some being just a little better than others. In other words, any place not close to the road will be less pressured and better producers.
Match the Hatch
Mayflies – Carlson’s purple haze, Keller’s rocky mountain mint Adams
Stimulators – Royal, olive or orange
Foam Flies – Chubby chernobyl, J. slam, hippy stomper
Hoppers – Morrish hopper, more or less hopper
Leeches – Pine squirrel leech, RB powder leech, Chan’s bmw
Poppers – Froggy bottom, hard popper, bass popper
Streamers – Sculpzilla, belly scratcher, Coffey’s sparkle minnow, Clouser
Need to fill the box before you go? Order flies online here.
Tips & Techniques
When using any of the sinking lines, make sure you do the countdown to get your line and fly to the right depth. Also, when stripping back make sure you stop near the last 10 to 15 feet of line in the water and let it hang for a few seconds. A lot of times as you strip the fly in, a fish will follow it but not strike. When you stop then start again this might be enough to trigger a strike from the fish that is there eyeballing your fly.
See past reports from the Omak region, or click here to view all northwest regional reports.