Eastern Washington Fishing Report 08.01.19
With daytime temperatures in the mid to upper 90s, it is easy to think of the cool days of the fall fishery. I have always felt that the feeding trout in the fall are more hard-hitting fighters than in the springtime. For now, though there is some great fishing for our area smallmouth bass.
Current Conditions
Bonaparte Lake - This is one of the few lakes in the area that has not gotten to warm yet. It continues to produce nice smallmouth bass up to three pounds. Early morning popper action is having some good results. In and around the weedy areas is a good place for tempting some lurking bass. After 11:00 am I would switch to a streamer pattern. Start in close to the weed line and move out into a little deeper water with your streamer.
If trout is your game, start off with a streamer in 10 feet of water then move out into 20 feet, maybe even a little deeper. If the chironomid dangle is your choice, I would start out in 15 feet of water and move deeper to find the depth they like. I’m still seeing some nice tigers, rainbows, and the occasional brookie showing up.
Okanogan River (WA) - The river has dropped down to 1,140 cfs and continues to drop. Steph got out the other day and had a good time hooking into several smallies on his trout Spey rod, swinging a smolt streamer pattern. The deeper slots under bridges and runs that drop off are the best locations. You'll want to work along any type of dropoff or structure that looks like it gives cover and security to the bass. Just like the lakes, if you want to use poppers, I would concentrate on the mornings for the first few hours. Fishing has been good throughout the length of the river from the mouth up to Oroville. One problem, if you are interested in using a boat, is the limited number of launch sites and the length between them. It is not so bad if you have a small sled but can be a lengthy float if you don’t.
Methow River (WA) - I can’t believe how low the water is for this time of the year already. With the river at 330 cfs already, I would not be surprised if at some point soon the river goes on hoot owl hours. Water temperatures are not too bad yet, but they are inching up depending on the area. Dry fly fishing with hoppers, stimulators, and chubbies has been good. Keep the size of these flies in the #12 and #10 range. Nymphing is always productive, stonefly nymphs in #8, caddis pupa in #14 are working well. Some of the attractor or general nymph patterns are also working well. Small streamers are still picking up an aggressive cutthroat now and then. Look for semi-fast broken water that is around three feet in depth. Also, close to the head of any deeper water is holding fish. Remember, with warming days keep them wet.
Match the Hatch
Stimulators – Olive or orange
Foam Flies – Chubby chernobyl pink, purple, and tan
Hoppers – Morrish hopper pink, tan or yellow
Leeches/ Buggers – Yellow Crystal Bugger, Brown Crystal Bugger, Black Crystal Bugger, Black Balanced Squirrel leech.
Poppers – Popper splatter Fl. green chart or orange, Frog
Streamers – Sculpzilla, TFP Stinging Smolt, TFP Bald Eagle, Clouser chart/white, gray/white
Need to fill the box before you go? Order flies online here.
Tips & Techniques
As the water levels drop in the rivers this is going to limit the available holding water for trout. Look for the deeper pocket water that has a good ripple on top. As the day progresses and the sun gets high, you might want to give it a rest until there are more shaded areas. The trout will start becoming a little more active and then really pick up the feeding activity on into dark.
See past reports from the Omak region, or click here to view all northwest regional reports.