Eastern Washington Fishing Report 06.20.19
The local rivers are coming into shape a little quicker than in years past. Some of our trout stillwaters are starting to slow down with the increasing heat. Topwater action for bass in the morning and evenings at our area warm water lakes is where you want to be.
Steph Avena, from our shop, was able to get out and fish some of our area waters. He was kind enough to give us some updated reports. Thanks, Steph!
Current Conditions
Chopaka Lake - Chopaka Lake - It was tough fishing in a windy heatwave was the theme this week at Chopaka. The mayfly hatch was over and done, and it was even too hot for happy damsel fishing. Mid-lake jiggers anchored and raking the bottom with chironomids were doing well. The consensus was that fish had moved deep. One frustrated angler in the next camp wandered over to the casting platform and hooked a shoreline cruiser on an egg pattern - go figure. A few others reported luck with mop flies fished booby-style deep. George, from the Okanogan County Fly Club, ambled over to a bank-casting position with a cdc adult damsel and promptly proved all of us crazy. Even so, many left to try other lakes and… with the cooling weather that is forecast, NOW would be a great time to get a camping spot!! Maybe the mayfly will be back on again…
Buzzard Lake - Rainbows in the 16-inches class are rising to tiny evening caddis and can be occasionally landed on a deep-trolled leech. Off your full sinker, try a mohair in size 12 thru 8 in Canadian colors. Also, bring your camera for some of the rarest waterfowl you’ll ever see cruising the lake with you. Don’t scoff at the bluegill in this lake. Bring your poppers instead and take a few home for fish and chips. Talk about “dinner plates,” these fish are large and in charge.
Bonaparte Lake - An olive cheech leech off a 10-foot sink tip with a 5-foot leader is getting smallmouth bass in the 14-inches class (with occasional lunkers). Stick around for the evening topwater bite. String up a floating line on your 6/7-weight and have a hoot. Smallies are crushing poppers in green, chartreuse, and orange. Weedless frog patterns, as well as mice, chugged in the reeds are getting the biggest fish. First, in the morning, try the north end near the boy scout camp along the south facing shore.
Pull up a Bonaparte map and troll the 10 to 20-foot contours for behemoth tigers. I hooked one on a size 12 pumpkin head leech -full-sinking and finning along in a “toon.” After two big-air leaps, the 6 pounder took me and my 4-weight into the weeds for good. Talk about a “tiger by the tail.” I think she had hooked me, not the reverse. See if you can beat the state Tiger record of 19 pounds set in 2015 at this lake.
Other Area Lakes - A few of the other area lakes that are also producing some good topwater action for bass are; Palmer, Spectacle, Patterson, Alta, Leader, and Whitestone. First light until about 10:30 a.m. and then again in the evening, once the sun is off the water, are the best times to start casting poppers.
Okanogan River (WA) - The river continues to drop at a steady rate. Smallmouth bass averaging three pounds are the reward for the those willing to hit the water early and late in the day. I've been getting good reports. From the picture's customers have been showing me, there is good fishing from the mouth all the way up to Oroville.
Methow River (WA) - With the weather taking a break from the 90-degree highs we had last week, the river is coming into shape quickly. There have been good reports of nice fat rainbows and cutthroats in sizes from 14 to 20 inches.
Kettle River - Decent Rainbow fishing can be had on the Kettle now and perhaps for the next couple weeks. The river is unseasonably low and clear. Predictions are that it won’t be long before it is too low and warm to fish.
Match the Hatch
For trout in our area lakes damsel adults and nymphs are getting most of the attention. A few mayflies can still be found, depending on the lake. The attractor patterns are getting a lot of attention now too, such as booby flies and blobs. The brighter leech patterns in colors like red, orange, and bright greens would be a good choice. If you are going after topwater bass, try poppers in the black and frog colors.
On the Methow River and Kettle River, streamers are still my goto choice. Sculpzillas, she demons, and mini Dali Lamas are what have produced the best for me. If dry flies are your game, you’ll want to use yellow sallies and chubby chernobyls in red, royal, and pink. Also, a few hoppers are showing up in #14-#12 sizes in yellow or light green. If nymphing is your game, keep it simple on the patterns you use; #14 bead head pheasant tails, prince nymphs, hares ear, and Pat’s stonefly in olive #10. Another proven pattern is the squirmy wormie and San Juan Worm.
If you are inclined to go after bass on the surface, poppers in black, frog, or chartreuse green will get you those surface busting reactions that we all love to see. For panfish on the surface, smaller olive or black booby flies will do the trick.
Need to fill the box before you go? Order flies online here.
Tips & Techniques
For topwater fishing for the bass and panfish, work close to shore in the reed/lily pads or just on the outside of them. This is where a weedless hook will come into play. You may need to change your popping action in your retrieve to find the right technique. Once you do, you will be in for some fun.
See past reports from the Omak region, or click here to view all northwest regional reports.