Author Archives: Greg Knab

Methow Valley Fish Report

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Methow Valley Fish Report

Steelhead is open and the fishing is awesome.  Bright two salt fish have been keying in on pink bead head egg sucking leeches and pink bead head egg sucking stone flies.  Most of the fish have been caught in slow walking pace water.  The water was a chilly 48 deg.  Dress warm.  Due to the high water flow, the fish are spread out all over the river and as high up as Winthrop.  I have also added a screen shot of the water flows for more detailed information (see below).

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Steelhead Gear: 7-8 wt floating line with a nymph and strike indicator set up.  Switch 6-8 wt rod work great also.  7-8 wt floating line with a dry skating fly works well early in the season.  7-8 wt floating line with a sinking line for swinging.

Summer 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 – CLOSED – Open May 25th – Aug 15th.

Methow River – OPEN FOR STEELHEAD – Open May 25th – Sept 30, Catch and release only.  710 cfs at Winthrop

Twisp River – CLOSED – Open May 25th – Aug 15th.

Alta Lake – CLOSED – 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 – CLOSED – 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.

Upper Columbia River, tributaries to open for hatchery steelhead fishing

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

October 11, 2013
Contact: Jeff Korth, (509) 754-4624 ext. 224

Upper Columbia River, tributaries to open
for hatchery steelhead fishing

OLYMPIA – Starting Wednesday (Oct. 16), fishing will open for hatchery steelhead on the mainstem upper Columbia, Wenatchee, Icicle, Methow and Okanogan rivers until further notice.

In addition, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced that the Similkameen River will open to hatchery steelhead retention beginning Nov. 1.

Jeff Korth, regional fish manager for WDFW, said approximately 14,000 adult steelhead are expected to return to the upper Columbia River this year – enough to allow the department to open area steelhead fisheries.

Korth noted, however, that fishing will be more tightly regulated than last year because fewer hatchery steelhead are projected to return this year and wild steelhead are expected to make up a higher proportion of the run.

“Careful management is required to protect naturally spawning steelhead listed under the federal Endangered Species Act,” Korth said. “While these fisheries traditionally remain open through the winter, we may have to close fishing early due to the higher number of encounters with wild steelhead expected this year.”

Korth said anglers should check WDFW’s website (http://wdfw.wa.gov/ ) throughout the season for possible changes in the fishing regulations.

On all rivers, anglers will have a daily limit of two hatchery steelhead, marked with clipped adipose fins and measuring at least 20 inches in length. Anglers are required to immediately release any steelhead with an intact adipose fin without removing the fish from the water. All steelhead fitted with a floy (anchor) tag and those with one or more round quarter-inch holes punched in their caudal (tail) fin must also be released.

Anglers fishing tributaries to the upper Columbia River are also required to retain any legal-size hatchery steelhead they catch until the daily limit of two fish is reached. Once they have retained two fish, anglers must stop fishing for steelhead.

Selective gear rules apply to all areas where steelhead seasons are open, although bait may be used on the mainstem Columbia River. All anglers are required to follow selective gear rules and restrictions described in WDFW’s Sport Fishing Rules, available online at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/ .

Anglers should also be aware that motorized vessels are not allowed on the Wenatchee or Icicle rivers under Chelan County ordinances.

Areas that will open to fishing for hatchery steelhead Oct. 16 until further notice include:

  • Mainstem Columbia River: Open from Rock Island Dam to 400 feet below Chief Joseph Dam. Night closure and selective gear rules apply, except bait is allowed.
  • Wenatchee River: Open from the mouth to the Icicle River Road Bridge, including the Icicle River from the mouth to 500 feet downstream of the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery Barrier Dam. Night closure and selective gear rules apply. Motorized vessels are not allowed.
  • Methow River: Open from the mouth to the confluence with the Chewuch River in Winthrop. Fishing from a floating device is prohibited from the second powerline crossing to the first Highway 153 Bridge. Night closure and selective gear rules apply.
  • Okanogan River: Open from the mouth upstream to the Highway 97 Bridge in Oroville. Night closure and selective gear rules apply.

Areas that will open to fishing for hatchery steelhead Nov. 1 include:

  • Similkameen River: Open from the mouth to 400 below Enloe Dam. Night closure and selective gear rules apply.

Three areas of the Columbia River – Vernita, Priest Rapids and Wanapum – will not open for steelhead fishing this fall to preserve fishing opportunities on upper-river tributaries, Korth said.

All anglers must possess a valid fishing license and a Columbia River Salmon/Steelhead Endorsement to participate in these fisheries. Revenue from the endorsement supports salmon or steelhead seasons on many rivers in the Columbia River system, including enforcing fishery regulations and monitoring the upper Columbia River steelhead fisheries.

The endorsement has generated more than $1 million annually for WDFW to maintain and increase fishing opportunities throughout the Columbia River Basin.

 

This message has been sent to the WDFW Regulatory Information mailing list.
Visit the WDFW News Release Archive at: http://wdfw.wa.gov/news/ 
To UNSUBSCRIBE from this mailing list: http://wdfw.wa.gov/lists/unsubscribe.html

Methow Valley Fish Report – Quick Update

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Methow Valley Fish Report – Quick Update

Quick fish update: The fishing is awesome on the Methow River.  Large cutthroat are all over hitting large chronomids left and right.  We used a snow cone (size 10) today (see pic below) and had great success on medium to large fish.  Skating the large Chernobyl Ants proved very effective also.  With 4 days to go, if you have a chance, get out and fish.  Stop by the Flyfishers Pro Shop for the hot fly patters and great advice.

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Please do not target the salmon and do not walk through the reeds.  Note that the Chewuch and Twisp river are closed.  The lower section of the Methow will close from Gold Creek to the mouth on Sept 15th.  I have also added a screen shot of the water flows for more detailed information (see below).

Repeat lake report: The lake fishing has still been consistent.  The fish are still eating Damsel fly patters and small green wooly buggers.  Go down deep, 15′ or so, you can find some in the thermocline with Damsel nymphs.  Use 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 – CLOSED – Open May 25th – Aug 15th.

Methow River – OPEN May 25th.  Great hopper/dropper fishing.  481 cfs at Winthrop

Twisp River – CLOSED – May 25th – Aug 15th.

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.

Methow Valley Fish Report

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Methow Valley Fish Report

Fall is here and so are the big fish.  With a week left before the seasonal closure, the Methow River is in prime shape.  Cooler temperatures and higher water flows have made for some great fishing conditions.  Today the water temp was a chilly 45 deg to start and slowly moved up to 49 deg by the end of the day.  Flow rates at Winthrop were just below 500 cfs.  The action was slow until 1pm, until a Yellow Sally hatch began and the bite was on.  Large cutthroat in the 14-16″ range were grouped in small pockets crashing down on size 12 Yellow Sally patterns (see image below).  Very exciting fishing.  We will keep you posted on the Steelhead opener.  It looks like it might be later in October, but we will let you know ASAP.

Please do not target the salmon and do not walk through the reeds.  Note that the Chewuch and Twisp river are closed.  The lower section of the Methow is close from Gold Creek to the mouth as of Sept 15th.  I have also added a screen shot of the water flows for more detailed information (see below).

From last weeks report: The lake fishing has still been consistent.  The fish are still eating Damsel fly patters and small green wooly buggers.  Go down deep, 15′ or so, you can find some in the thermocline with Damsel nymphs.  Use 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

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Chewuch River – CLOSED – Open May 25th – Aug 15th.

Methow River – OPEN May 25th.  Great hopper/dropper fishing.  497 cfs at Winthrop.

photo

Twisp River – CLOSED – May 25th – Aug 15th.

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.