Methow Fishing Report

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Fly Rod Ranch

Fly Rod Ranch

Wow! It has been that kind of week that just leaves you with perma-grin. Fishing has been great and the weather has been about as nice as you could hope for in the spring. The lowland lakes are all fishing well, some have even began to see the Damsel hatches start, which can be one of the finest opportunities of the spring.

Father David

Father David

I would like to give a shout out to Father David, an incredibly nice and humble man of god whom I had out recently. Father David told me that he needed very little help but would just like to fish something different, so I took him to a private spot with big fish, I told him they weren’t always easy but he assured me he was up to the challenge. When Father David and I got to the spot the weather was crazy, after about an hour though it calmed and it was fish on time.

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Father David impressed me with not only his ability to stalk, hook and land his fish but also with his beautifully simple and effective personally tied flys. I told father David someone must be watching over him because he did better than most people on such tough water.
As well as fishing the lakes on the valley floor I made a trip to a couple of my favorite mid-elevation lakes, Rock Lakes situated about 10 miles north of Loup Loup Pass. The Upper Rock Lake is filled with wild Brooke Trout from young of the year to the occasional 14-16 incher and all are beautiful in typical Brooke fashion.

Upper Rock Lake

Upper Rock Lake

Lower Rock Lake has Westslope Cutthroat from 6 to 18 inches; there is both day use and overnight camping at Rock Lakes. There have been a lot of good reports coming from Cougar and Blackpine as well which are another couple of my favorite Mid-elevation lakes.

Rock Lake Brooke Trout

Rock Lake Brooke Trout

All rivers in the state open on May 25th and we will be gearing up to fish the Methow, Chewuch and Twisp as run-off allows. If you are interested in early bookings for the Methow, Twisp or Chewuch Rivers as well as the low and mid-elevation lakes just click on our Contact page, we’ll get you out on the water and having fun!

Rock Lake Brooke Trout

Rock Lake Brooke Trout

Methow Fishing Report

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Fishing, as with the weather is changing by the day, the only constant being wind sometimes still or just a slight breeze and at other times as spring would have it raging. The trick is giving in, not giving up just giving in and doing what it takes to catch fish, sometimes even using the wind to your advantage. Whether it is the surface cover you need to obscure your outline from wary fish or the bob you might want to put just the right action to your presentation sometimes the spring wind can become your friend if you let it.

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Lately I have been doing best with an emerging pattern either by way of dry and dropper at other times an indicator and slightly deeper presentation has worked well. As well trolling or stripping streamers (leeches and buggers) is always productive.

Friend Thomas with a decent one to the net

Friend Thomas with a decent one to the net

All rivers in Washington open May 25th, whether fishable or not can differ greatly from river to river as well as within differing stretches of any one river. I anticipate fishing within the first or second week of June depending on run-off conditions.

Spring Bow

Spring Bow

Lowland lakes have been great this year with very little if any winter kill known of, try Camble lake for good sized fish with many hold overs, Camble is a must have boat lake with 99% of shoreline covered in cattails. Big Twin Lake is always a sure thing as far as the numbers going but can be a bit “cookie-cutter” on size (10-12inches) with a few hold overs.

Westslope Cutthroat

Westslope Cutthroat

For a nice high mountain fishing experience accessible by car try Blackpine Lake, with many bighty Westslope Cutthroat and beautiful views of the Sawtooth Blackpine is great. You can access Blackpine by way of Twisp River rd. to Buttermilk Cr. There is day and overnight camping. Fish at Blackpine average 10 – 12 inches with some hold-overs in the 15-16 inch range.

Blackpine Lake

Blackpine Lake

If you are interested in early bookings for the Methow, Twisp or Chewuch Rivers as well as the low and mid-elevation lakes just click on our Contact page, we’ll get you out on the water and having fun!

KTRT Fishing Report

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Tank

Tank

Here is this weeks KTRT 97.5 the Roots Fishing Report for the Methow and beyond, Fish On Ya’ll!

Methow Fishing Report

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Spring has sprung and bugs are being flung! General opener has come to the lowland lakes as well the water is finally clearing and finishing the spring “turn over”, this has led to some exciting hatches and catches.  Ants, Callibaetis, Chironomid, Caddis and Tricos have all been popping leading many fish to the film and some all the way to the top.

Thomas with a chunky bow

Thomas with a chunky bow

I had the joy of teaching my youngest boy Finley about the experience of stalking and catching a nice fish this week with the catch of a big Tiger Trout we found sipping ants under a willow tree.

My boy Fins first Tiger

My boy Fins first Tiger

As well as emerging and surface takes of course there has been a steady supply by way of the usual spring fare whether it is streamer attack or just a relaxed choronomid under an indicator the fish have been hungry!

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Right now the sky is the limit as far as variety goes in the Methow, with everything from Kokanee to Tiger Trout there is something for everyone. The days are warming, the flowers are blooming and it’s been a great time to be on the water.

Fins first Tiger

Fins first Tiger

 

If you are interested in full or half day trips in the Methows many public or private waters just click on our Guides page and drop Methow Fishing Adventures a line, we’ll get you out on the water and having fun! Happy spring everyone see you out there!