Eastern Washington Fishing Report 08.22.19
As we inch closer to fall, the nighttime temperatures are starting to cool down. The more we have cooler nights, the quicker the lakes will start coming into play. The area rivers are still dropping in water flows and as such the fishing is getting a little more challenging.
Current Conditions
Lost Lake - The fishing for the lake's brook trout hasn’t been super-hot but if you are willing to hunt them down and are flexible enough to keep changing flies till you find what is working, you will catch some nice ones. Lake temperatures have been okay for most of the day but the mornings and just before dark will be your best times to go. This is the time of the year where electronics come in handy. It will save you a lot of time trying to figure out what depth the trout are holding at. That being said, from what I know, fishing at a depth of 10 to 20 feet has been getting results. Using chironomids and small leeches at that depth are working. At the 10-foot depth, small olive scuds have also been producing. One fly that does well this time of the year, is the blob. It doesn’t seem to matter what color you use. The brook trout in the lake will start becoming more aggressive in the next month as cooler weather comes on.
Okanogan River (WA) - The river has dropped down to 591cfs and at the moment it is holding at that flow level. Unfortunately, the low water is making it difficult to find accessible fish-holding waters. The best reports are coming from the lower part of the river, down around Monse and downstream to the mouth. Early morning topwater action is still getting good results until about 11:00 a.m. then it's all a streamer game. For the most part, in these areas, you will need a boat. With the slow current speed down there, using a pontoon boat will work just fine. If you float from the pump station a few miles upstream of Monse and float down to the Monse bridge, you should find plenty of good water holding some nice smallies. Upstream, I would work around the bridge areas. There is good holding water in most of these locations. Clousers, RJ’s jiggy worm, and the bass turd are what have been working for us most of the time.
Methow River (WA) - Just Like the other rivers in the area, the Methow has dropped in water level down to 279 cfs. Good thing is, the fishing has been pretty great. Topwater action with foam flies is still going strong. Foam hoppers, chubbies, etc. in sizes #14-#10 are all having good results in pinks, purple and royal colors. Mornings until noon have been the best time to be on the water. Also, the last hour and a half before dark there has been some sporadic caddis hatches. Soft hackles on the swing have been getting some good results with the resident rainbows and cutthroat as well. The lower flows can make it challenging but, depending on where and what you are using, fishing is still good.
Match the Hatch
Foam Flies – J-slam pink, purple, Chubby chernobyl red, royal or pink.
Hoppers – Morrish hopper pink, tan or purple.
Leeches/ Buggers – Chan’s BMW, RB Powder Leech, GB Slight Leech
Poppers – Popper splatter Fl. green chart or orange, Frog
Streamers – RJ's Jiggy Worm blue or orange, Clouser chart/white, gray/white.
Need to fill the box before you go? Order flies online here.
Tips & Techniques
A trout Spey rod and soft hackles is a good way to work the water when it is running at lower flows. Keep your swings short and don’t forget to give the hang a little more time than you normally would with a bigger fly.
See past reports from the Omak region, or click here to view all northwest regional reports.