Eastern Washington Fishing Report 07.26.18

Methow River (WA)

The Methow is continuing to drop. The current level is 540 cfs at the Twisp gage station. Just when you think you might get a break from the heat, it goes back up again. The joys of summertime fishing! With that said, I have one word for you, hoppers. From what I've been seeing, depending on where you are at, it doesn’t seem to matter much what color you use. The important thing to do when using hoppers of other foam bugs is to keep twitching it. Dead drifting will not get you as much action as keeping that bug moving. You won't need to lay that bug down on the water nice and quiet. A better explanation would be to make it plop down. Those trout are listening for that sound and it will help get them to key in on your hopper pattern. With water temperatures being what they are, cast into or right on the seams of the faster water. First light until noon will be your best time to wet your line and have less of an impact on the trout's health. A #8 -#12 tan, gold or pink Morrish hopper, #10 peach or tan more or less hopper would be good patterns to start with. If you like to nymph fish, a #16 olive caddis pupa, a #16 pheasant tail or a #14-#16 hares ear have been working well. Remember, if you are taking water temp readings, take them at the depth you will be fighting the fish the most in.

Bonaparte Lake (WA)

Bonaparte Lake is a general rules lake. Some would not think about fly fishing it but, if you want to hook into tiger trout that are up to 10-plus pounds, then right now is the time go to. Tigers from six up to 10 pounds are being caught by a few shore bait anglers. The fly anglers that I know that have been going up there, are hooking into some impressive fish. The nice thing about Bonaparte is it stays cooler than the lower lakes that are too warm to fish right now. For these big tigers, I am told it is a big streamer game most of the time. Some are being picked up on a few damsel nymphs and balanced leeches. Like I mentioned before, right now it appears to be a streamer game. First light until high noon is the best time to be working the water. Besides the large tiger trout being caught, some nice rainbows are also showing up. Also, don’t be surprised if you hook into a 17 to 19-inch smallmouth bass. You'll want to work the areas out from the shoreline, about 20 to 30 feet from the shore area. It seems that a lot of the fish, trout, and bass are in that location. From what streamers that are being bought in the shop to those being used at the like, I would recommend the following; Galloup's #4 olive/white, brown/white, brown/yellow barely legal, Galloup's #2 olive, brown, black peanut envy, Galloup's #2 olive or tan silk kitty. If you get a chance to get out there, stop by the Bonaparte Lake Resort for some really good eats at the restaurant.

Okanogan River (WA)

At 2,540 cfs the Okanogan River is fishing good for smallmouth bass. I have been getting some good reports from Highway 97's Janis Bridge south to the mouth has been producing some nice, healthy smallmouth bass. Crayfish patterns along with minnow patterns are getting the most attention. Early morning until about 1:00 p.m. in the shaded area seem to be the areas that are producing the best. Using a #2 olive Carpenter's crayposter, a #2 olive Ehler's craw, a #2 olive/white Smethurst searcher, a #6 Clouser baby smallmouth, a #6 white/chartreuse, gray/white Clouser should get you into some smallie action. Once the sun goes down, get ready for the hex hatch. Fishing in the dark with a large hex pattern will get your heart pumping. This is where Scientific Angler’s new Frequency Glow Line will come in handy. It has made it a lot easier to cast to the sound of surface feeding smallmouth bass. When fishing in the dark, always be mindful of your surroundings and where you step, or if you are on a boat be careful of what's in the water ahead of you.

Click here to see past reports from this region, or click here to view all northwest regional reports.