Omak, Washington Fishing Report 03.29.18

Coffee Pot Lake

Our own Steph Avena stopped off at Coffee Pot Lake the other day to check out the action. He was able to fish from shore for an hour or so, but came up empty-handed. From talking to a few of the other anglers coming into the boat launch he was told most of the action was at the other end of the lake. Without his boat he couldn’t get out there to check it out himself. Leech and buggers were the patterns of choice that day. Yesterday, one of my good customers, Dick Snow called me and reported he had spent a few days fishing Coffee Pot last week and had a great time. He told me every day were double-digit catches for him with nice fat rainbows. I asked if he had to fish the far end of the lake and he told me no, he had his best action close to the boat launch. It just goes to show you how things can change one day to the next.

Dick's best action was with a #8 chartreuse marabou leech and a small white bugger. With the days warming up it can only get better. Knowing how that lake can be, I would recommend a 6wt rod in 9'-6" or 10'. The three lines I would have on hand would be; a floating line for indicator fishing with balanced leeches and or chironomids, an intermediate line to work in close to shore or the upper part of the water column with leeches and minnow patterns, and lastly a type 3 full sinking line to get you down into the deeper waters -if that is where the fish are that day. Spring is progressing more and more every day, this is the time we have been waiting for.

Quail Lake

Steph was also able to stop into Quail lake which is located in the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge in Adams County. You drive into the parking area at Herman Lake, then an easy half-mile walk brings you to the 12-acre Quail lake. Steph fished from the shoreline and had a couple of on and off hook ups on his Twin Lake Special pattern that he was using. He did say he could see some surface activity on what looked like small midges. The trail in is an easy level one, so packing in a float tube should be easy to do. The size of the rainbows in the lake are in the 14" to 16" range so, a 9'-10' 5wt rod will do the trick. I would recommend taking a floating line and a type 3 sinking line. Using #12-10 black or olive leeches along with the same size in buggers along with #14-12 in black, red or olive chironomids is what I would recommend having. Don’t be afraid to try other colors and, or, patterns that you might think no one else has tried there. What better way to enjoy a nice spring day than to take a short walk to a nice place to get a little fishing in.

Dry Falls Lake

Just a reminder that Dry Falls lake will be opening on April 1st. It has been ice-free for a couple of weeks. The lake is home to rainbow and brown trout. It is a selective gear rules lake so make sure that you check the Fish and Wildlife pamphlet for the rules. Bring your favorite Stillwater patterns to find out what works best. I hope to get down there in the next week or so.