Methow Valley Fish Report

I got a chance to fish the Methow River with my buddy Jeff Lyman on Monday.  We faced elevated river flows and a water temp drop that made your feet ache.  The recent heat wave has signaled the classic stair-step drop in river cfs with water temps dropping to 51deg in the morning.  The fishing was slow until midday, then the cutthroat started hitting the streamers.  The fish were few and far between but size made up for the lack of willing fish.  We released 2 nice size cutthroat trout, 16″ and 21″ (see pic below), and played games with a handful of smaller fish.  By the end of the day the river was dropping and the water temp came up to 58.  The big cutthroat are setting up and as the water drops the classic “football” cutties will be here crashing down on hoppers.

Temps are turning hot and the lake bite will be 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.  Wading across the rivers is still not advised, the water is moving much too fast.  The forecast of sun and warm weather should bring the water levels down and signal the start of dry fly fishing.

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.  Starting to fish well. 822 cfs

Methow River – OPEN May 25th.  Starting to fish well.  3,000 cfs at Winthrop

Twisp River – OPEN May 25th – Aug 15th.  Starting to fish well. 622 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.