Author Archives: Greg Knab

Methow Valley Fish Report

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Methow Valley Fish Report

Steelheading is open on the Methow River and its great fishing.  I hooked 10 fish this morning and landing 5 between 5:30am – 7:30am.  I landed one beautiful wild Steelhead, a hatchery for dinner and 3 Bull Trout (released unharmed).  Using a hevi-bead egg pattern, that glowed in the dark, I lost 3 right off the bat.  Then I switched to a double beaded peacock stone fly once the sun came up.  All the fish landed ate the stone fly.  The other winning pattern, that a buddy was using, was a small black and white bead head wooly bugger.  Water temp was a nice 40deg.  The fish were very frisky at dawn and the bite slowed down around 7am.  It looks like the rest of the weekend will be rainy and warm (in the 40’s) witch should keep the fishing hot.  If you are coming over to fish the Methow, I can mail you the hot flies so you can fish your way up the river with confidence.  Give me a call and set you up.  If you need any more details on the fishing, leave a reply to this post and Ill answer you questions as soon as possible.  Tight Lines – Greg

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Chewuch River – CLOSED for fishing as of Aug 15th

Methow River – OPEN for Steelhead fishing from the mouth to the confluence of the Methow and Chewuch Rivers (see the Fish Map for more details).  We expect it to stay open until around the 15th of March.  Flies to use: double bead peacock stone fly size 8, hevi-bead glow-egg pattern size 6, frenchies size 10, black and white bead head wooly bugger size 8, egg sucking stone fly and egg sucking leeches sizes 8 or 10.

Twisp River – CLOSED for fishing as of Aug 15th

Alta Lake – CLOSED for fishing as of Oct 1st.

Big Twin Lake – CLOSED for fishing as of Nov 1st.

Black Pine Lake – Frozen over.

Buck Lake – Frozen over.

Campbell Lake – Frozen over.  September 1 – March 31 statewide size/daily limit on trout.

Cougar Lake – Frozen over.  September 1 – March 31 statewide size/daily limit on trout.

Davis Lake – Frozen over.  September 1 – March 31 statewide size/daily limit on trout.

Leader Lake – OPEN for ice fishing.  Mixed bag of bass, trout and bluegill.

Little Twin – CLOSED for fishing as of Nov 1st.

Patterson Lake – OPEN for ice fishing.  Statewide size/daily limit on trout.  Mixed bag of bass, trout and perch.

Pearrygin Lake – CLOSED for fishing as of Oct. 1st

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.

Methow River to re-open for steelhead, whitefish; portions of Okanogan River to close for steelheading

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WDFW FISHING RULE CHANGE 
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov

February 26, 2013

Methow River to re-open for steelhead, whitefish;
portions of Okanogan River to close for steelheading

Actions: Open the Methow River on March 1, 2013 to fishing for steelhead and whitefish. Close two sections of the Okanogan River to fishing for steelhead on March 17, 2013.

Species affected: Steelhead and whitefish.

Fishing area locations and effective dates:

Areas that will open to fishing for steelhead and whitefish one hour before sunrise on March 1, 2013 until further notice:

  • Methow River: From the mouth (Hwy 97 Bridge) to the confluence with the Chewuch River in Winthrop. Fishing from a floating device is prohibited from the second powerline crossing (1 mile upstream from the mouth) to the first Hwy 153 bridge (4 miles upstream from the mouth).

Area that will close to fishing for steelhead one hour after sunset on March 17, 2013:

  • Okanogan River: From the first powerline crossing downstream of the Hwy 155 Bridge in Omak (Coulee Dam Credit Union Building) to the mouth of Omak Creek, and from the Tonasket Lagoons Park boat launch to the Tonasket Bridge (4th Street).

Reason for action: Recent analysis of the steelhead fishery in the upper Columbia River revealed additional natural origin steelhead impacts remain under current NOAA permit. Re-opening steelhead fisheries in the Methow River will help to reduce the proportion of hatchery fish on the spawning grounds and further reduce competition between natural origin and hatchery juvenile production. Sections of the Okanogan River around the mouth of Omak and Tonasket Creeks will be closed to protect natural origin steelhead staging prior to spawning within those tributaries.

Areas that will continue to be OPEN for steelhead angling until further notice include:

  • Mainstem Columbia River: From Rock Island Dam to boundary markers below Wells Dam and from Hwy 173 Bridge at Brewster to 400 feet below Chief Joseph Dam.
  • Wenatchee River: From the mouth to 400 feet below Tumwater Dam, including the Icicle River from the mouth to 500 feet downstream of the Leavenworth Fish Hatchery Barrier Dam.
  • Okanogan River: From the mouth to the Highway 97 Bridge in Oroville, except for the two closure sections listed above.
  • Similkameen River: From the mouth to 400 feet below Enloe Dam.

Areas that will continue to be CLOSED for steelhead and/or whitefish angling until further notice include:

  • Mainstem Columbia River: From Wells Dam to the highway 173 Bridge in Brewster.
  • Entiat River: From the alternate Highway 97 Bridge near the mouth of the Entiat River, to Entiat Falls.

GENERAL RULES for all locations open to steelhead fishing:

  • Mandatory retention of adipose fin clipped steelhead, daily limit two (2) hatchery steelhead, 20 inch minimum size. Hatchery steelhead are identified by a clipped adipose fin with a healed scar in its location. Adhering to the mandatory retention of adipose clipped steelhead is vital in allowing the fishery to continue and to provide the maximum benefit to natural origin fish.
  • Adipose present steelhead must be released unharmed and cannot be removed from the water prior to release.
  • Night closure and selective gear rules are in effect, except bait is allowed in mainstem Columbia River.
  • Whitefish anglers must follow selective gear rules in areas open to steelhead fishing, no bait is allowed. Daily whitefish limit fifteen (15) fish.

Other information:

Remaining additional natural origin steelhead impacts for fisheries in the Methow River are limited, and this and other steelhead fisheries may be closed on short notice depending on participation and catch rates of natural origin fish. Anglers are advised to check daily the fishing hotline at 360-902-2500 or the webpage at WDFW — Washington State Sport Fishing Rules https://fortress.wa.gov/dfw/erules/efishrules/rules_all_freshwater .

Anglers are required to possess a Columbia River Salmon/Steelhead Endorsement as part of their valid fishing license.

Information contacts: Jeff Korth, Region 2 Fish Program Manager (Ephrata), (509) 754-4624, Bob Jateff, District 6 Fish Biologist (Methow, Okanogan), (509) 997-0316, Travis Maitland, District 7 Fish Biologist (Wenatchee, Entiat), (509) 665-3337.

Fishers must have a current Washington fishing license, appropriate to the fishery. Check the WDFW “Fishing in Washington” rules pamphlet for details on fishing seasons and regulations. Fishing rules are subject to change. Check the WDFW Fishing hotline for the latest rule information at (360) 902-2500, press 2 for recreational rules. For the Shellfish Rule Change hotline call (360)796-3215 or toll free 1-866-880-5431.

 

NEW Bass Bones T-shirts Available

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We just finished printing these cool Bass Bones shirts.  Designed and printed in the Methow Valley,  these shirts are great gifts for any fishing nut.  5% of the profits will be donated to the Methow Valley Salmon and Steelhead recovery.  Use coupon code FREE for free shipping (expires 03/31/13).

METHOW VALLEY FLY FISHING REPORT

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Hello anglers.  Time for another fish report.  Things to note this week – Good news.  It looks like the Methow river will reopen March 1st.  There will be a small window of a few weeks to fish before it closes again.  From what I know, the majority of the fish are in the middle to upper Methow river.  A good bet for catching a Steelhead, when it opens, would be an egg pattern dead drifted under an strike indicator.  Ill keep you posted as soon as I hear more information.  In the mean time here is a photo of me and a nice wild Steelhead from last year.

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Chewuch River – CLOSED for fishing as of Aug 15th

Methow River – CLOSED for Steelhead fishing as of Dec 1st.  We are hoping for a split season, opening back up in Feb or March.

Twisp River – CLOSED for fishing as of Aug 15th

Alta Lake – CLOSED for fishing as of Oct 1st.

Big Twin Lake – CLOSED for fishing as of Nov 1st.

Black Pine Lake – Frozen over.

Buck Lake – Frozen over.

Campbell Lake – Frozen over.  September 1 – March 31 statewide size/daily limit on trout.

Cougar Lake – Frozen over.  September 1 – March 31 statewide size/daily limit on trout.

Davis Lake – Frozen over.  September 1 – March 31 statewide size/daily limit on trout.

Leader Lake – OPEN for ice fishing.  Mixed bag of bass, trout and bluegill.

Little Twin – CLOSED for fishing as of Nov 1st.

Patterson Lake – OPEN for ice fishing.  Statewide size/daily limit on trout.  Mixed bag of bass, trout and perch.

Pearrygin Lake – CLOSED for fishing as of Oct. 1st

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.