5 Must Do Fall Fisheries in Eastern Washington

Fall is my favorite time to go fishing. After long, hot and smoky summers the air finally clears, and fish go on the feed fattening themselves up for the coming winter. Not typically as windy as the spring, the weather is more cooperative and the pressure on local lakes is reduced as anglers are distracted by hunting opportunities and crockpots of cheese dip and meatballs followed by football. Opportunities abound in eastern Washington this time of year for the intrepid angler. Here is a rundown of five must-do fall fisheries:

5. Potholes Reservoir Walleye

Potholes walleye can be finnicky, but then again, what walleye fishery isn’t finnicky? Walleye fishing gets a lot simpler this time of year as walleye get less picky about what they eat. Trolling is the name of the game on this lake. Bottom walkers trolled at 0.8 to 1.2-mph will produce fish. Northland Tackle butterfly blade super death rigs and Mack’s smile blade super slow death rigs are among my favorite to use.

Also, you don’t want to overthink colors too much. Going with reliable chartreuse or green colors will produce results, but don’t overlook red and purple too. If slow trolling isn’t for you, try pulling deep diving plugs at 1.5 to 2.0-mph, 50 to 70-feet behind the boat. And, size 7 Shad raps will target suspended fish while Berkley flicker minnows in size 9 will find the bottom huggers. The dam face and the humps on the north end of the lake are the favorite and most productive troll lanes on this lake.

Can't make it to Eastern Washington? Check out the Walleye in Lake Pend Oreille.

4. Lake Roosevelt Rainbow Trout

This monster impoundment on the upper Columbia holds a diversity of fish. It has earned a reputation for consistently producing healthy and chunky rainbow trout. It's not uncommon to have 20-plus fish days for the catch and release angler with sizes averaging around the 2-pound mark. Once the first frost kisses the lake surface, the rainbows will be up feeding in the top 10-feet of the water column. The fishing is best from Keller’s Ferry up to Hunter’s campground.

You’ll want to troll size 5 Rapala shap raps or countdowns. These are always a dependable method, but don’t overlook Frisky Jenny’s “Roosevelt” flies flat lined 100-feet behind the boat or off a planar board too. Popular patterns include perch, orange, and straight black. If you are bank bound, don’t worry, this reservoir gives up limits of big bows to bankies. Powerbait or worms fished on a slip sinker rig off the bank are your best bet and there is plenty of bank access along the southern and eastern shores of the lake.

3. Hanford Reach King Salmon

By the time these “up river brights” hit the upper Columbia, they’ve lost their chrome plumage, but the 400-mile journey seems to do little to stifle their fighting spirit. Late September and October are prime times to go. Back trolling divers with eggs or shrimp and spin-n-glo's is a popular method in the swift-moving tail waters below Priest Rapids Dam, but don’t rule out back trolling a Brad’s magwart or a bait wrapped mag-lip 4.5 as well.

If swift water king salmon fishing isn’t for you, trolling Brad’s superbaits stuffed with tuna behind a pro-troll or LEO flasher, in the frog water, above Wanapum Dam can be productive. Be sure and check the latest regulations with the Washington Department of Fish Wildlife for emergency closures and retention limits.

Want to learn more about how to catch salmon? Read about dropper rigs for salmon here.

2. Omak Lake Lahontan Cutthroat Trout

If there was ever an underutilized fishery, the Omak Lake cutthroat trout fishery is it. There are few places in the state where catching a 20-inch trout is the norm rather than the exception. The fall brings the big trout out from the deep to patrol the shoreline in search of chub and shiner fry. The ways to target these ultra-aggressive fish are so varied that virtually any angler will find fish on their preferred method of fishing.

Trollers will do well on mag-lip 2.5’s or Brad’s min cutplugs pulled behind a size 00 herring dodger. Throwing spinners or spoons on ultra-light gear is always productive for both bank and boat anglers. If you are a seasoned fly angler, or just getting started, this is a great place to strip streamers aggressively. Anglers are required to use barbless hooks and no bait, but neither will affect your ability to hook and land fish.

1. Moses Lake Black Crappie

Few lakes consistently produce monster crappie like Moses Lake does. Limits of 9-inches-plus fish are the rule come late September and October. Seemingly endless numbers of crappie are caught by boat and bank anglers fishing around the I-90 bridge with the occasional fish over 13-inches.

Most anglers use small tube jigs in red, black, or chartreuse tipped with nightcrawlers or Berkley crappie nibbles. Jigging small spoons can also be very productive for bigger fish. For those seeking real trophies or a quieter experience, try trolling Storm smash shads or small shad raps along weed lines and shorelines in the Parker Horn arm or from Connelly Park upstream. Don’t be surprised if you hook a bonus smallmouth bass or walleye.

Going after that perfect Black Crappie? Check out our selection of baits and lures.