Omak Report: 1.28.2015

Got to the lake this week in the late AM. Warm air temps (mid 30s) and little or no breeze got me pumped to find a few famed Lahontan cutts. An hour of effort produced three cutthroats on streamers. The fish are looking pretty chunky this winter with the smallest caught about 18", and the largest probably pushing 25". Fast-sinking, jigged flies in sizes 4-8 were chomped pretty heartily.

I also twitched a bugger pattern about 6 or 8 feet under an indicator but above the weeds, when a truly bright beasty lightly mouthed it out of curiosity. Luckily, I had one eye on that thingamabobber and one on the pair of bald eagles circling Mission Bay. When it scooted slightly, I set up attached to a big cutt. That one tested my SA Fluorocarbon pretty well.

Omak Lake cutts should be chasing streamers for another couple weeks until they start noticing bugs more and more. At first, chironomids will be on the menu as was the case in this photo from last February. Then, the darn things will get pretty selective, keying on chironomids, damsels, caddis, and even terrestrials depending on the day, and who knows what else. Finally, once you're stumped with what bug to throw next, you'll pull that woolly bugger out again and be back into fish!!!

Flyrodders: this fishery will just be improving over the next few months. Stop by the Omak North40 Fly Shop and arm yourself for bear...er, Omak Cutts!