Weekly Methow Fishing Report

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Come down ol’ mighty Methow come down please! Daytime temps are up while nighttime temps have stayed below freezing. Flows look like they may have crested for now (1540 cfs at Pateros) and I hope to see them coming down to a more fishable level by mid next week. Once flows get back under 6-800cfs things should look better, on the bright side though added water is bringing more fish upriver which will make for great fishing over the next month.

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It is still possible to get into fish right now on the river, I recommend a boat and if you do wade Be Careful as water is very swift. I would recommend egg patterns and stone on the nymph rigs or swing some traditional buck tail patterns, blue purple, black, and chartreuse are favorite colors for me.

Omak Lake

Omak Lake

Lahontan Hen

Lahontan Hen

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When Methow is too high I enjoy heading to Omak Lake on the Colville Indian Res. Not only is Omak lk. Beautiful, so are the Lahontan Cutthroat that reside there. Right now Lahontans are making their way up out of the depths in which they reside for much of the year (between 60 and more than 100ft) now they are in about 20-30 feet of water and can be taken on sinking lines and whooley buggers. In last half of March and first half of April look for packs of fish from 16-30+ inches in packs of 10-40 fish cruising flats in less than 16 inches of water!

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As for now keep an eye on the USGS Stream Flow gage at Pateros, once you see it back to or under 800cfs it will be time to get your steelhead on again! For any info on fishing Omak Lk. the Methow or anything in this area, or if you would like to inquire about booking a trip give a call at (509) 429-7298 or just drop us a line on our Guides page. Fish On Yawl!

Weekly Methow Fishing Report

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Scoop

Last week I said winter had released its icy grip, well for the most part that’s true. It’s still snowing but the temps are rising in the water and the air which is leading to changes, changes in flow as much as changes in bug life and fish. Fish are on the move and so is the water, so the name of the game is watch the graph and intercept the fish.

winter steel release

The Methow fishes best for trout or steel, winter or summer at 500-700cfs (at Pateros) now thanks to global warming the Methow is acting more like a coastal stream in the winter, I was born and raised here since 1976 and flows have never been as they have in the last ten years so get used to it. I will try not to diverge from fish report to politics but if you don’t think global warming is happening this is not the site for you.

Jeff (the General) Lyman

Jeff (the General) Lyman

Small winter stones, golden stones, chironomids and midges are some of the bugs hearty enough to make their living in the cold and clean water of the Methow in winter, but if temps budge above mid-thirties even the slightest you see bug and fish spring to life. Fishing on the Methow can be cold and quite but you can bet it will always be the best way to spend a late winter day.

Gretchen Nelson with Lahontan (and its latest meal)

Gretchen Nelson with Lahontan (and its latest meal)

If however you are looking for something different or just to check one of the extant species of cutthroat off your bucket list then I recommend a lake of prehistoric proportions not far from the Methow, Omak Lake which holds the state record for Lahontan Cutthroat. Fishing Omak is another way we pass the winters here in the Methow, Okanagon Valleys and beyond. Omak Lake is not only beautiful but also holds the rare Lahontan Cutthroat trout, check Colville regs call or email us for more details.