Okanogan Bass River Fishing Report

Visited some North Okanogan Lakes the other day in some cooking heat and under blue skies. I fished with two experienced Bass guys on a Skeeter boat and got to see how the other half (Gear Guys) live.

Reluctantly, they permitted a flycaster to mix in some shots to the heavy cover they were patrolling-but, once they saw that I could stay out of their way and still hook an occasional largemouth, I got the thumbs up.

If you're interested in exploring more stillwaters, then you'll want to read this. 

I am happy to report that Palmer Lake, Whitestone and other Tonasket area lakes are booting out some piggy largemouth and bronze-backed smallies. Another lake in the area is Spectacle Lake.

Leaving Omak at 4:30 AM to hit the top water bite didn’t pay at the first lake we tried. Other than a few panfish bumping my popper, no bass were looking up that morning (but the lake sure was 'Spectacular’). Once we figured out the pattern, we stared to pick up good sized specimens out of small, but fishable windows in the cover.

I put quite a few of Kelly Galloup’s articulated fly patterns to the test and found them to a Largemouth’s liking. His "TA Bunker" minnow pattern in olive and white is uncanny in its ability to punk like a struggling, dying minnow. I also found that his #2 Olive Peanut Envy usually enticed a grab as soon as it touched down in a bass’ zone.

You can check out our selection of streamer patterns online here. 

The lower part of the Okanogan River is starting to show some action. This area is what is called the estuary. While most of the river is running at its spring time flows, the lower area of the estuary is more controlled by Wells Dam. The water is limited in visibility, but using darker patterns seem to be doing the trick. It should be noted that you will need to have a power boat to work this area.

If you’ve ever practiced a parachute (aka pile) cast, you might break it out for our Okanogan lakes bass. Since they currently seem to be in tight to the cover, it’s helpful to get that fly to enter the window vertically and keep from hanging up the leader on lily-pads or brush before the fly can sink. This cast is especially helpful if you’re hoping to jig back a fly like the "Bass-turd" or the "Jawbreaker", two heavily weighted Jig-type flies that smallmouth (especially) enjoy chomping. Another pattern that we were shown to work real good on smallmouths is the Booby Fly.

Learn to tie the R.S.S. Booby right here.

When Phil Rowely was here we took him out to one of our local lakes for a little smallmouth fishing and he showed us that the Booby is a good top water fly.

For the latest on Okanogan area Bass, feel free to call Tyler, Jack, Matt, Keith or myself at the Omak store: 509-422-9840.