It is prime river fishing in the Methow Valley. The trout have been crashing down on hoppers and readily slurping caddis. We have been using Chernobyl ant patterns with lightning bug droppers. If the fishing gets slow, nymphing a stone fly works well to find the lunkers down deep. The recent cooling in weather has kept the water temp below 70 deg. Boulder Creek and Chewuch River are in great shape and can make for a fun day exploring and fishing. A size 10 orange stimulator has worked great for me on the Chewuch. Try ant patterns on Boulder Creek for non-stop strikes on the surface.
The lake bite is slowing down, but if you get down deep, 15′ or so, you can find some in the thermocline. Damsel fly patters are still the hot ticket on all the low land lakes. Use a damsel nymph pattern on a sink tip and slowly retrieve the bug back with little action. Once you see fish rising to eat the adult damsels (usually in the afternoon), switch to a floating line and present the adult pattern a few feet from the rise. You should see the fish turn and hammer your fly.
River Gear: 4-5 wt dry fly hopper/dropper set up, a deep stone fly nymphing rig with a strike indicator and a 6-7 wt sinking line with a big bugger/nymph set up. Lake Gear: 3-4 wt dry fly rig (damsel or callibaetis) and a 5-6 wt sink tip with a damsel nymph.
If you have any questions about my report, reply to this post down below. I will answer your questions as soon as possible. Tight Lines – Greg
Chewuch River – OPEN May 25th – Aug 15th. Great dry fly fishing. 181 cfs at Winthrop
Methow River – OPEN May 25th. Hopper dropper fishing. 530 cfs at Winthrop
Twisp River – OPEN May 25th – Aug 15th. Great dry fly fishing. 131 cfs
Alta Lake – OPEN Apr. 27 – Sept. 30. Statewide size/daily limit on all game fish. Surface – 187 acres.
Big Twin Lake – OPEN Apr. 27 – Oct. 31. Good cutthroat and rainbow fishing. Catch-and-release recommended. Daily trout limit 1, no min size. Other game fish statewide size/daily limit. Internal combustion motors prohibited. Good boat launch. Surface – 77 acres.
Black Pine Lake – OPEN. Good cutthroat fishing.
Buck Lake – OPEN.
Campbell Lake – OPEN All game fish. Apr. 1st – Aug. 31 Catch-and-release. Selective gear rules. Internal combustion motors prohibited. Sept. 1 – Mar. 31 statewide size/daily limit. Steep boat launch, ok for small craft. Surface – 11 acres.
Cougar Lake – OPEN All game fish. Apr. 1st – Aug. 31 Catch-and-release. Selective gear rules. Internal combustion motors prohibited. Sept. 1 – Mar. 31 statewide size/daily limit. Tight boat launch, not suited for larger craft. Surface – 9 acres.
Davis Lake – OPEN All game fish. Apr. 1st – Aug. 31 Catch-and-release. Selective gear rules. Internal combustion motors prohibited. Sept. 1 – Mar. 31 statewide size/daily limit. Good boat launch. Surface – 39 acres.
Leader Lake – OPEN. Mixed bag of bass, trout and bluegill. Surface – 159 acres.
Little Twin – OPEN Apr. 27 – Oct. 31. Catch-and-release recommended. Daily trout limit 1, no min size. Other game fish statewide size/daily limit. Internal combustion motors prohibited. Good boat launch. Surface – 24 acres.
Patterson Lake – OPEN. Statewide size/daily limit on trout. Mixed bag of bass, trout and perch. Surface – 143 acres.
Pearrygin Lake – OPEN Apr. 27 – Sept. 30. Heavily stocked with nice sized fish. All game fish statewide size/daily limit. Good boat launch. Surface – 192 acres.
To find out how to get to any of the mentioned rivers and lakes, use our fish map to point you in the right direction. The map is free online at www.flyfishersproshop.com or pick up a printed copy at the Flyfishers Pro Shop (located in the lobby of the Mt. Gardner Inn) or at The Carlton General Store. Sign up for this blog and receive the fish report every week click here.
Stop by the fly shop for more information and any equipment needs.
Tight Lines,
Greg Knab
Flyfishers Pro Shop 509-996-2832
www.flyfishersproshop.com
Before you go out fishing check the regulations and have a license and catch card. Call Flyfishers Pro Shop at 509-996-2832 for more information on current conditions.
