trout fishing

Are you into ice fishing? Do you have a competitive edge? Then consider fishing one of three ice fishing events happening in North Central Washington this winter.

MOLSON ICE FISHING DERBY – SIDLEY LAKE – January 17 – 8 am to 1 PM 

This is an annual event strongly supported by members of this small community just south of the border of Canada. Last year, 200 anglers participated, including 25 youth anglers.
Things kick off at the Molson Grange with a pancake breakfast for $12 from 7 to 10 AM. Sitzmark provides lunch in the grange in the early afternoon. Raffles take place for ice fishing gear and 25 different baskets with donated items and gift certificates. 
Prizes for the biggest fish, smallest fish, and for the participant who traveled the furthest are awarded here. The biggest fish is worth $500 cash and a $500 gift card to Country Store. Registration costs $15 for youth up to 12 years of age and $30 for adults. You can also add an extra $20 and win at least $300 for the heaviest weight of up to five rainbow trout. Register online at the Oroville Chamber of Commerce website.  www.orovillewachamber.com/events

BONAPARTE ICE FISHING DERBY – BONAPARTE LAKE RESORT – January 24 

This is another popular annual derby, and this will be the fourth year the event is being held.  Last year, 280 participants and another 120 lookers-on were there. There are three divisions of fish. They include the Adult Biggest Fish and an Adult Multi-species. There is also a category for the biggest fish caught by youth anglers. 

There are six species of fish in the lake (tiger trout, rainbows, brook trout, kokanee, lake trout, and smallmouth bass). The angler who weighs the biggest weight of 3 to 6 fish wins. There is a combination of ice fishing gear and cash given to winners. Last year, an ice auger was given to the biggest fish winner, and a one-man ice fishing shelter to the adult multiple species winner. Register through the Bonaparte Lake Resort Facebook page.
In addition to the resort restaurant that will be open, there will also be a number of other vendors on site. Last year, there was one vendor who was grilling up reindeer sausage for customers. There are no cabins available (they sell out a year in advance), but there are potentially some RV spots available.

CATCHING FREEDOM - OPERATION HARDWATER – BONAPARTE LAKE RESORT – January 31

Operation Catching Freedom is a non-profit that gets veterans, active-duty soldiers, and their families out for no-cost fishing trips. This will be an inaugural event and different in that there are no registration fees and no cash prizes awarded for the biggest fish, smallest fish, or any other category.
Tony Warren, the President of Operation Catching Freedom, said that he just wants veterans and the community at large to come out and go fishing. 

There is an in-person registration from 8 to 10 AM. Fishing takes place from 8 AM to 2 PM, and raffle prizes will be given away throughout the day. The event is taking place at Bonaparte Lake Resort, and there will be a BBQ for all attending between 11 AM and 1 PM. You can find further details at the Operation Catch Freedom Facebook Page.

HOW TO CATCH THEM 

Want some advice on how to catch these fish? Eric Magnuson, a well-known ice fishing angler and pro-staffer for Mack’s Lure, says, “Just like open water fishing, it’s all about forage and matching the hatch.” Magnuson continued saying, “If I notice the fish are after gorging more on bugs, I’ll tie on a 3mm or 4mm tungsten jig and tip it with plastic or a couple of maggots.  If I notice they are in more of a minnow feeding pattern, I might up my profile to a Swedish Pimple or Mack’s Sonic Baitfish spoon.”
And if that does not work, you can always tip a jig with a worm or nightcrawler, which will catch about anything. The bottom line is this: whether you just want to fish and have fun, or win cash or prizes, three great opportunities are waiting for you at North Central Washington’s Sidley Lake and Lake Bonaparte this winter.
Editor’s Note: Check out Eric Magnuson’s article on ice fishing for burbot at night on page xxx

John Kruse – www.northwesternoutdoors.com and www.americaoutdoorsradio.com 
 

If there is one best time of year for trout fishing, it's fall when the insect life is fading away and trout that have been fattening all summer are starting to feel the pinch of empty bellies. Trout that are going to make it through the winter have to switch from eating insects to eating minnows. This is the time of the year to put baitfish imitations to use. Trout are full of energy and will go a long way to hit a shiny bit of metal. 

On those days when we launch the boat in the early morning. When the water is glass, we know the fish are elevated. It can be fun to put a small spoon in play.

PLANNING THE TRIP

Before you back up to the boat trailer, take a look at a map and click up www.myodfw.com to get an idea of some Oregon waters that will definitely get fresh stocks of fish in the early fall. This is the time of year when hatchery trout stocking ramps up again. Water levels are beginning to fall, and ambient temperatures are good for trout. Most fish & wildlife agencies post their stocking schedules on public websites. Weather changes, the price of fuel, and emergencies can change the timing of fish releases, but it's a good idea to comb the stocking schedules. 

Top bets in the Willamette region (an easy drive for anglers from Portland, Salem, or Eugene) include North Fork Reservoir (on the Clackamas River), Foster Reservoir, Trillium Lake, Dexter Reservoir, Hills Creek Reservoir, and Dorena Reservoir.  Most lakes get the "legals", which average 8 to 12 inches, but a person can put more poundage in a trout limit by targeting the "trophy size" trout that are older, better fed, and better fighters. If a lake gets 5,000 legals in the season, it might also get 250 trophies and a few brood stock trout that can tip the scales at five pounds or more. Premier fisheries that get a lot of angling attention, like any larger reservoir with campgrounds and mountain views within a two-hour drive of a metropolitan area, are likely to get a couple of stockings of brood fish or trophies every season.

It's all there in the stocking schedule. Except it's not.

BEHIND THE SCENES

A lot of what happens behind the scenes does not show up in the hatchery schedule. Sometimes there is an abundance of brood stock or surplus steelhead in the system that need to go somewhere. Another thing to watch for is when a lake is drained for maintenance or to kill trash fish. When the lake fills up again, the fisheries department scrambles to fill it with trout. Then there are the lakes that are never on the stocking schedule, but they magically have hatchery trout every season, and plenty of them. What's up with that? 

Some reservoirs are not on the published stocking schedule because they are managed by agencies or municipalities, or utility companies with their own hatcheries. These can be some of the best destinations. Think about it. A power company built the dam, and part of the negotiation with the tribe or the community that permitted the dam was to provide a fishery. So every year, they are contractually obligated to populate the lake with some 30,000 trout. They're going to do it, but chances are they aren't taking the time to put it on a list somewhere. That's a lot of silvery slabs vying for a chance at a slow-trolled trout spoon.  

SPOONAGE

There are a lot of spoons on the market, and they all have their place, but when we are talking about catching a limit of hatchery "legals" and "trophies", the best choice is one and a half to two inches long, like the Mepps Syclops, Triple Teaser, Thomas, Jerry Leo, Z-Ray, and Acme Little Cleo.  
In most cases, a spoon should be trolled slowly so that it wobbles side to side. The slower the better. I like the speed at less than 1 mile per hour, up to 1.5 miles per hour, and if I can, I try to keep it at zero-point-nine. This can be accomplished some days on a wind drift, but a bow-mount trolling motor is pretty consistent. There are exceptions. In some lakes, the fish are used to chasing baitfish. This is the case on Upper Klamath and Agency Lakes, where sometimes you can't reel fast enough. 

The spoon itself could be an Acme Kastmaster, Little Cleo, or Thomas Buoyant, maybe in the 1/6-ounce class. Every lake fishes a little differently, so it helps to have local knowledge. Frog patterns can be important, as are brown trout, chub, rainbow, and perch colors, depending on the local bait. Sometimes we put a flasher in front of the spoon with a 15-inch leader. Another trick we like is to add a touch of Pro-Cure's trophy trout scent to the spoon. And it never hurts to tip the hook with a bit of worm, corn, or a salmon egg. Trout that are going to carry over through the cold months have to start eating baitfish. Put baitfish imitations like trolling spoons to work. Trout are supercharged in the cold water and will chase up and down in the water column to hit a shiny bit of metal.
 

Coastal razor clam enthusiasts should be able to find a treasure trove of bivalves this fall and winter.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) shellfish managers announced 47 days of tentative razor clam digs from Oct. 6 through Jan 6 for Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, and Mocrocks beaches.

“This recreational razor clam season will see similar digging opportunities to the past two years, with a full digging schedule again for this fall,” said Bryce Blumenthal, a WDFW coastal shellfish biologist. “The tides this year will allow for clam gathering opportunity in the lead up to the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, along with harvestable daylight digs for the late afternoons of New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.”

Summer assessment surveys conducted by WDFW and tribal co-managers showed a relatively stable population of razor clams on all four beaches. Kalaloch Beach along the northern Olympic Peninsula coast won’t be open due to continuing issues with depressed populations of harvestable clams.

All beach openings are dependent on final approval of marine toxin testing, which usually occurs about a week or less prior to the start of each digging series. The Washington Department of Health requires two test samples taken seven to 10 days apart, and domoic acid levels must fall under the guideline level before a beach opens for digging.

Domoic acid, a natural toxin produced by certain types of marine algae, can be harmful or fatal if consumed in sufficient quantities.

Most successful digging occurs between one and two hours before the listed time of low tide. No digging is allowed before noon during digs when low tide occurs in the afternoon or evening.

Here are the tentative series of dates:

• Oct. 6, 7, 10, and 11 at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, and Mocrocks; 

• and Oct. 8, 9, and 12 at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, and Copalis. 

• Oct. 22, 23, and 26 at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, and Mocrocks; and 

• Oct. 20, 21, 24 and 25 at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, and Copalis.

• Nov. 3, 4, 7, and 8 at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, and Mocrocks; 

• and Nov. 5, 6, and 9 at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, and Copalis. 

• Nov. 19, 20, and 23 at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, and Mocrocks; and 

• Nov. 18, 21, and 22 at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, and Copalis.

• Dec. 3, 4, 7, and 8 at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, and Mocrocks; and 

• Dec. 2, 5, and 6 at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, and Copalis. 

• Dec. 19, 20, and 23 at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, and Mocrocks; and 

• Dec. 18, 21, and 22 at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, and Copalis. 

• Jan. 2, 3, and 6 at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, and Mocrocks; and

• Dec. 31, and Jan. 1, 4, and 5 at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, and Copalis.

During the 2024-25 season, a total of 109 digging days at the four beaches were offered from Oct. 3 through May 15. During that time, 312,716 digger trips were made with a total harvest of 3,957,859 razor clams harvested. At Long Beach, 96,152 digger trips saw 1,253,207 razor clams harvested for an average of 12.7 clams per person; at Twin Harbors, it was 98,096 with 1,369,969 for 12.7; at Copalis, it was 66,628 with 804,903 for 11.9; and at Mocrocks, it was 51,840 with 629,781 for 12.0.

On all open beaches – Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks, and Copalis – the daily limit is 15 clams per person. Each digger’s clams must be kept in a separate container, and all diggers must keep the first 15 clams they dig, regardless of size or condition.

“It's important that diggers keep the clams they dig to prevent wastage (includes discarding small clams, clams with broken shells, or reburying unwanted clams),” Blumenthal said. “It's not unusual to encounter some small clams, especially this early in the season.”

All diggers age 16 or older must have an applicable fishing license to harvest razor clams on any beach. Licenses can be purchased from WDFW’s licensing website and from hundreds of license vendors around the state. WDFW recommends buying your license before visiting coastal beach communities.

WDFW reminds beachgoers to avoid disturbing nesting snowy plovers – a small sand-colored shorebird – by staying out of the dunes and posted areas along the sandy beach coastline. Snowy plover nests are nearly invisible, and it is vital to give birds the space to live and thrive during the nesting period, especially along the southern end of Twin Harbors, known as Midway Beach, and north of Second Avenue in Ocean City to the north end of Copalis Beach and the north end of Long Beach. Avoid leaving leftover food or trash on the beach and picnic areas, keep pets on a leash, stay out of dunes, and avoid areas marked with posted signs.

When driving on the beach, please respect the 25-mph speed limit and enter only at designated access points. Stay on the hard-packed sand near the high tide line to avoid crushing clam beds, buried female Dungeness crab, and snowy plover nests. The 2025-26 Razor Clam Management Plan will be available soon on the WDFW’s website. WDFW welcomes public input on proposed razor clam schedules and considers this feedback when finalizing each season’s digs. Public comments may be emailed to razorclams@dfw.wa.gov. For more information, refer to the WDFW's razor clam webpage at https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfishing-regulations/razor-clams.

Look for decent October trout fishing

It’s beginning to feel a lot like autumn as temperatures drop, the sun fades away much sooner, leaves are falling, and trout have become active in many statewide lakes.

While the bulk of trout plants occurred back in spring, many of those fish are still waiting to be caught, and some have grown larger in size, plus WDFW hatcheries continue to add more fish into lakes. The seasonal lakes remain open for trout fishing through Oct. 31, while others are open for year-round.

Some fair to good seasonal westside lakes include Pine, Wilderness, Langlois, Toad, Margaret, Whatcom, Steel, Summit, Bosworth, Ki, Storm, McMurray, Sixteen, Erie, Silver (Whatcom County), and Padden.

The top lakes east of the Cascades are Jameson in Douglas; Ellen in Ferry; Starvation in Stevens; Wapato in Chelan; Pearrygin; and Conconully Lake and Reservoir in Okanogan. You can track trout plants on the WDFW website at https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/reports/stocking/trout-plants.

To sweeten the deal, WDFW’s Trout Derby continues to offer anglers a chance to catch a tagged fish and win a prize through Oct. 31.

The derby – which began in late-April – features more than 100 lakes planted with fish that have an orange tag attached near their dorsal fin. If you catch one, be sure to keep the tag to claim your prize. For derby details, go to https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/contests/trout-derby.

Heading into November, WDFW hatchery staff will be busy leading up to Black Friday by stocking thousands of jumbo rainbow trout, weighing up to three pounds apiece and measuring longer than 14 inches, in lakes covering an area from the Puget Sound region to southwest Washington, as well as a few eastern Washington lakes and ponds.

The Black Friday program, created more than a decade ago by WDFW, looked at ways to raise thousands of rainbow trout for a late-season fishery in select year-round lakes. This post-Thanksgiving fishery has been a hit among anglers looking for options to go fishing at a time when choices are skinny.

Before heading out the door, be sure to check for lakes that are open or closed, and regulations at https://wdfw.wa.gov/.

We are captivated by trout. And we wonder why. Trout don't love us, they don't love each other, and they don't do anything for their fellow trout, except by accident or by instinct.

But the same could be said of art. We appreciate art for maybe the same reason we love trout. Let's see if the words — art and trout — are interchangeable.

Wynetka Ann Reynolds might have said,

“Anyone who says you can't see a thought simply doesn't know trout.”

For two summers, I spent afternoons and weekends exploring back roads, backcountry, and backwaters in streams and lakes down the flanks of Wy'East for a book we called Fishing Mount Hood Country. My co-author, Robert Campbell, covered most of the western water, and I fished more of the east side.

Early in the project, Campbell began to send close-ups of trout — Veda Lake cutthroats, Timothy Lake brookies, Salmon River rainbows — in hand, going back into the water. The imagery seeped into my consciousness, and when I brought East Fork Hood River cutts, or Boulder Lake brooks, or Badger Creek rainbows to the bank, I began to look at each one as a piece of art, at each scale as a stroke of a brush.

We seldom fished the same water twice during the two summers on and off the mountain. We caught bass, sturgeon, steelhead, and salmon, but the fish that defined the effort was the coastal cutthroat. There are many variations. The Clackamas watershed fish were different in coloration from Zigzag River fish, and in bigger lakes, trout coloration varied due to the micro-environments they frequented.

We might put the distinct differences down to genetics, habitat, food sources, and light penetration.

Hood River wild fish, where there are fewer trees above the water and the bottom is light, are bright and shiny. Fish in west-sloping rivers with darker streambeds are often tinted, an adaptation that helps them survive.

While there are a few resident rainbows near the mouth, Campbell's exploration of the upper Clackamas turned up big rainbows, part of a remnant strain that can grow to several pounds in that mountain water. I plan to research that water again soon.

If Goethe had been born to a fly-fishing family rather than to German drama, he might have written:

“There is no surer method of evading the world than by following trout, and no surer method of linking oneself to it than by trout.”

We caught hatchery planters, of course, and the further they were removed from the raceways, the better they looked. Holdovers — fish that had made it through a winter and gained inches and pounds — were the prettiest. We might call them modern trout and appreciate them in that regard.

John Anthony Ciardi could have said:

“Modern trout is what happens when fishermen stop looking at girls and persuade themselves they have a better idea.”

For me, one stream and one fish defined the project. A Still Creek cutthroat, about nine inches long, took a dry fly and threw the hook. The next fish was a bit smaller, but it shone in hand like treasure. I sent a picture to my friend Tye Krueger, and he drew it in every detail — a wild cutt with white tips on its fins and parr marks still visible on its sides.

Kojiro Tomita might have written it thus:

“It has been said that trout is a tryst, for in the joy of it, maker and beholder meet.”

Conditions seem to force beauty to the surface. Up toward the timberline, an angler finds the most striking examples — wild trout that in other environs would grow to be measured in pounds, not inches. Here, an eight-inch rainbow is mature, with white tips on the edges of his fins and a tint of rose in his gill plates, dark spots all the way to the tail.

G.K. Chesterton might have put it this way:

“Trout consists of limitation. The most beautiful part of every picture is the frame.”

Here in the Northwest, we have the run of an ancient gallery. The price of admission is a fishing license and the will to seek it.

“All trout requires courage,”
with apologies to Anne Tucker.

In the passage of time, we become collectors of art, the images stored in digital files and memories. And sometimes we make that beauty part of ourselves with brook trout grilled over a campfire.

If Scott Adams had been consulted, he might have offered:

“Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Trout is knowing which ones to keep.”

Be the best big stick by slowing down the presentation and lightening the tippet. 

Last year, in early June, we fished a small reservoir in the high desert. Like a lot of private waters in Central Oregon, the lake had tules along one side and willows on the other. 

We started in float tubes, backing into the water, then settling in. 

My dad called out that he was seeing lots of damselflies. For which I thanked him and immediately tied on a damselfly imitation. 

Kicking away from the launch into deeper water, I observed midges, PMDs, snails, dragonflies, and damsels.

My first fish to the net was a 21-inch rainbow. Dad was on the other side of the lake and could not get a picture for me. While I was using a damsel, I was thinking about how I usually like to start with a Renegade or a Brown Hackle or some other snail imitation.  

A person has a chance in the first hour of daylight to catch trout close-in to the tules on snail patterns before the fish sense the vehicle traffic or start to feel pressured by people in float tubes. But a lot of my friends don't want to fish using snails. It is not something they think about. Why would fish eat snails? And what do snails even look like? I think the real reason a lot of us don't fish using snails is because we are too restless. The snail just sits there on the surface or just under it. Until a trout eats it. It is so simple to fish snails. 

The best thing to do is walk along the reed beds and scout the weed lines with polarized glasses. Look for swirls. Look for shaking tules. Watch for fins and tails or the white gum line as a trout opens its mouth and flares its gills. 

Pattern choice is as simple as it gets. A No. 10 Woolly Worm. A Brown Hackle. A Renegade. These are all suggestive of snails when fished at snail speed. Cast or dap, and let it sit. Wait for the butt of the fly line or the leader to move. The fish will often have to change course to take the fly, so as the trout turns, it will feel the fly and spit it. Don't wait to feel the take, set the hook when the leader starts to move. After the sun comes up, the fish tend to retreat to deeper water, and now is the time to switch to a leech, damsel nymph, or dragonfly nymph. 

While it is tempting to use old standbys like the Woolly Bugger or even the Thin Mint, don't forget, the fish have seen all these flies before. We can catch more fish if we use lifelike patterns that are faithful to the profile, contrast, and color of the food source, but also incorporate rubber legs, gill movement, and eyes. 

It's okay to experiment with retrieve, but in general, these critters don't move fast and can spend a lot of time at rest. One-inch increments are my rule for retrieves. Unless I am fishing a minnow imitation. 

We need to be more patient and precise with our presentations. Once I watched a guy in a float tube. He was using the right fly, but his tube was underinflated, so when he kicked, he leaned way back, transmitting all of that back-and-forth motion to his fly rod and his fly. His fly was probably making two-foot moves. No bug does that. Some guys don't like to be told what they are doing wrong, so I just kept my mouth shut. While the guy's buddy caught half a dozen trout that morning, this guy didn't land one. The difference between a poor day of fishing and a good day might just be the way the fly swims. 

A good presentation is one where the bug swims and rests naturally. Since real bugs don't get towed around on lines, we have to minimize the way the line affects the movement of the fly. The smaller the tippet, the more that the fly will work in the water like the tyer intended. If you have been using 3X, go down to 4X tippet or even 5X on smaller flies. Don’t forget, fluorocarbon was made so that you can catch more fish. And the guy with fluoro will probably out-fish the guy with mono five-to-one if everything else is equal. 

Like it or not, you might have to learn a new knot. Try a non-slip or a perfection loop and see how the fly behaves differently at rest. My biggest fish of the morning was a 25-incher with a thick wrist, one of my best trout of the year. But it was in the late afternoon with a low-pressure system coming in when I earned a 20-inch rainbow. 

"What are you using?" Dad wanted to know.

"A damselfly."

"Oh, good idea," Dad said. "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

"Because you told me, I figured you already knew."

"Oh yeah, I'm pretty smart," Dad said.

# # #

For a copy of the Fishing Central Oregon book, send $29.99 to Gary Lewis Outdoors, PO Box 1364, Bend, OR 97709 To contact Gary Lewis, visit www.GaryLewisOutdoors.com

Omak Lake, nestled within the picturesque landscape of Washington State, is a hidden gem for anglers seeking the thrill of catching Lahontan cutthroat trout. This expansive body of water is renowned for its crystal-clear waters and the bountiful presence of this unique trout species.

 The Lahontan cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii henshawi) is native to the Lahontan Basin of Nevada, Eastern California, and Southern Oregon. These trout are well-adapted to the alkaline and saline conditions of the region, making Omak Lake an ideal habitat. Lahontan cutthroat trout are known for their striking appearance, characterized by vivid red and orange hues along their sides and beneath their jaws. They can grow to impressive sizes, with the Washington State record at 18.04 pounds and was caught out of Omak Lake.

Omak Lake is located on the Colville Confederated Tribes Reservation, and is 3,244 acres, nestled in a high desert of rolling sagebrush hills. The prime fishing season at Omak Lake runs from early spring to late autumn. During these months, the water temperatures are optimal for trout activity, and the fish are more likely to be found near the surface. The early mornings and late afternoons are particularly productive times for fishing, as the trout are more active in these cooler hours

Due to its large size and regulations by the tribe that protects the shallow shorelines in the northern part of the lake during the May spawning period, this is primarily a boat fishery. As the lake begins to thaw in March and warms up through May, the regulations change from a catch and keep to a catch and release fishery, which means using fly gear or single barbless hooks on lures and no bait. Just like the other popular Lahontan waters in Washington, the fish start cruising the shallows and shorelines looking for creeks and sources of cold water for spawning.

Fly rod toting anglers usually target these areas with the same standard flies for Lake Lenore, another Lahontan Cutthroat producing lake in Washington. A black or green whooly bugger in size 8 to 4, or very small bead head chironomids in sizes 14 to 18. A heavy 6-weight rod is best since fish can be measured in pounds over inches, but some anglers will use a 5-weight or even a 4-weight. Sinking lines and the ability to cast in an afternoon thermal breeze are a must. 

For those who prefer to use a spinning or casting rod, using lures such as spoons, spinners, and soft plastics can be highly effective. These lures mimic the movements of baitfish and can provoke aggressive strikes from predatory trout. Top producing lures to try are the Luhr-Jensen Krocodile spoon in the frog pattern and Dick Nites in silver and chartreuse. Another option is to troll the F4 Kwik Fish in a frog pattern. For both fly fishermen and gear trollers can do very well using a Smile Blade Fly by Macks Lure, which is a whooly bugger with a smile blade in front as a “go to” fly. For the gear guys, simply put a few split shots a foot or two above the fly and troll at slow speed. The fly anglers should use a slow-sinking tippet line and strip it in slowly.

Fishing for Lahontan cutthroat trout at Omak Lake is more than just a sport; it's an experience that connects anglers with nature. The serene beauty of the lake, surrounded by rolling hills and open skies, creates a tranquil setting for a day on the water. What makes this trip to Omak Lake unique is that you are fishing a part of history.

First, the region itself should be explored. It is rich in Native American culture. In fact, Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce, who gave the famous surrendering speech “I will fight no more forever” died on the Colville Reservation in 1904 and is buried at Nespelem. The Grand Coulee Dam is bringing back its laser night show during the summer months, and just seeing this dam is worth the nearby side trip. There are also several trails to hike and, of course, the Columbia River to fish if you want to add other places to cast a line.

Omak Lake received its first plantings of Lahontan Cutthroats in 1968, which is noted in a report “Colville Lakes Compendium, Limiting Factors, and Management Plan” published by John Arterburn in 2003. These fish were a cross of rainbow hybrids from Lake Heenan in California and Lahontan’s from Pyramid Lake in Nevada. The reason why these fish were put in the lake was due to its alkalinity. Back in 1953 a netting of the lake revealed only chum suckers lived there.

The lake was stocked with rainbows from 1950 to 1960, and in 1956, brook trout were planted. None of these fish survived, so in 1968, they tried the Lahontan’s which did well in the alkaline waters with successful fishing since 1975. A creel census that the tribes conducted from 1975 to 2001, over 26 years of data showed that the average fish caught weighed just under 2 ½ pounds, with most of the fish in the 19 to 20 inch range, but some fish were recorded over 30 inches, including that state record of 18 pounds.

You will need a fishing permit from the tribe. For non-tribal members, the cost is $10 for a single-day use permit, a three-day permit is $20, a seven-day is $30, and the yearly permit is $40. Also, get a copy of the current regulations as it will describe the closed waters, closed shorelines to all access, and also give launch sites that can be used by non-tribal members. There is some camping available, but again, contact the tribe for more information.

Before going to Omak, you should contact the Colville Confederated Tribes Fish and Wildlife Department for current regulations and also where to launch. The Mission Bay launch was recently closed, and other launches are mostly for small watercraft. A launch permit is also needed in addition to a fishing license. The south end of the lake’s shoreline is closed to non-tribal members, and the north end is closed to fishing. 

Colville Tribes Fish & Wildlife Department can be contacted at:

Front Desk (509) 634-2110

Main website: https://www.cct-fnw.com/

It's that time of year again, trout fishing has finally kicked off! May is a great time to take your family out to your local lake. WDFW stocks many lakes with thousands of catchable size rainbow trout every spring. These fish are hungry and active, and taste great on the grill. There's nothing like a relaxing day of fishing followed by a good trout dinner. Let's talk about my favorite Western Washington trout lakes. I will include lakes with both boat ramps and good shore access on this list. 

American Lake

Let's kick off this list with a beloved Pierce County lake. There are multiple boat ramps and shore access spots on this large lake. This is a popular spot for jet skis and pleasure boaters, so exercise caution if you're on a small boat. This lake is deeper and larger than most lakes in the area. The fish can be a bit more difficult to find since they have room to spread out. However, WDFW usually plants twenty thousand or more fish, so your odds are pretty good! Try fishing the shore or dock at Harry Todd Park, or pay a small fee to fish at Bill's Boathouse. They also offer boat rentals. If the trout aren't biting, you can also try your luck for yellow perch.

Lake Ballinger

This northern lake has good shore access and a large fishing pier. It's a great spot for fishermen with small boats, rafts, or kayaks. Gasoline motors are not permitted, so you won't have to worry about getting blown off the water by jet skis or large boats. The south end of the lake is a bit deeper, and that's where the fish tend to hang out. 

Mineral Lake

This lake is a bit off the beaten path, but you have the best chance of scoring a trophy trout here. There is a fishing dock and decent shore access. You'll have company on weekends, however. There are also brown trout in this lake! A word of caution for boaters- there are many stumps on the lake, and some are difficult to see. Keep an eye out! 

Black Lake

Located close to Olympia, this popular lake boasts a variety of different kinds of fish. If the trout aren't biting, try for panfish! There is good shore access at the park and boat launch. WDFW has planted over twenty thousand trout here this spring. 

Lake Padden

No list of West side trout lakes is complete without this one. It has some of the best shore access around! The shoreline is dotted with families enjoying a tranquil day on the water. There is a boat launch, but gasoline motors are not allowed. This lake is small and shallow, I'd definitely recommend soaking dough baits or using a bobber and worm. 

Harts Lake

This secluded, serene lake has amazing scenery and even better fishing. There is a small campground, pay to fish dock, and tackle shop right next to the boat ramp. Troll around the edges of the lake until you figure out where the fish are holding, it seems to change frequently. You can also drop anchor and toss dough bait. This lake is also great for catfish, the shore fills up with fishermen on hot summer nights. 

Remember to check the weather forecast before heading out, bring life jackets, and put on plenty of sunscreen! For the best meat quality, bleed, gut, and ice your fish right away. Most importantly, have a great time! Rainbow trout put up a good fight for their size and are eager biters. They are easy for kids to handle because they don't have spines on their body like many other fish. May is the perfect time to go out and explore your local lake! 

Make no mistake, kokanee can see up, down, and all around. They see close up and farther out (depending on water clarity) at the same time, but not as clearly as we can. They can see effectively behind them as they swim, because their undulating swimming motion turns the head just far enough to see very near the plane of the tail.

Color Shift At Depth

Since sight is part of the effective formula, you must make sight important in your presentation. The very last thing you want is for your lure to be camouflaged. You want it to be noticed. You work against yourself if your target winds up being camouflaged because you have not accounted for the three things that change your lure's appearance at depth:

• Lack of light at target depth;
• Color shift (attenuation), making your lure dull gray; and
• Lack of contrast (conveys information about shape and form)

Consider what it is that you are trying to do. You want your setup color-wise to be different than the water surrounding it. If your setup contrasts with the water it is in, it has a far greater chance to be noticed and targeted. Remember, we are seeking a striking response. Your setup must appear different than the predominant color of the surrounding water at that depth.

As we descend the water column, certain light wave frequencies are absorbed (because water absorbs light). Here is the other prong of that absorption concept. As we go deeper in the water column, some of the colors we see at the surface will no longer be the same color at depth. At this point in the discussion, I am speaking of ordinary colors - the color spectrum we can see. Fluorescent colors will be discussed in a moment.

The longest visible color wavelengths are the reds. Shorter in descending order are orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. As you descend the water column, the longer wavelengths are absorbed, leaving the shorter wavelengths to continue down the water column. Those shorter wavelengths will ultimately be absorbed, even in the clearest of water, provided you go deep enough. The kokanee fisherman is dealing with depths generally down to 100 feet, give or take. The typical kokanee body of water will have no light in the later season beyond 75 feet. In the very early season, there may be no light at 30 feet.

As you recall from last month’s article, the proper target depth for kokanee fishing is 54 degrees. And since that temperature descends the water column as the season wears on, the resulting less light at your target depth also means that certain ordinary colors are no longer what they appeared to be on the surface because their wavelengths have been absorbed. If you use such a color at depth, your presentation will be gray and not have much contrast to the water it is in.

A lure of ordinary red will virtually disappear in but a few feet of water. Soon to follow would be the ordinary orange, ordinary yellow, and then ordinary green. Also, about that time would be ordinary indigo and ordinary violet due to the structure of water and the use by phytoplankton of these frequencies. If you take an ordinary red object into a dark closet and shine orange light on it, the red object will appear gray. If you take an ordinary green object, and test it the same way with blue light, the green object will appear gray.

For the object to be seen in its correct color, it has to be struck by a light frequency of equal or higher wavelength. In these examples, if you take a green object and strike it with red light, it will appear green. If you take the green object and strike it with orange light, it will still be green. For ordinary colors, the deeper you go, the very light necessary for that color to be that color, has likely been absorbed in the water before you reach your target depth. Without the right light wavelength hitting it, it will be dull gray and not at all distinctive to the water that surrounds it. The little remaining visible light at depth makes the dullness even duller

Our lures are rarely of a pure color wavelength. But even the mixing of colors (hues) will still be subject to the same color deterioration at depth. Pink is a good example. Pink is not a color of the visible spectrum, but is a mixing of red and white. White is not a color of the spectrum, but is all colors of the visible spectrum. Thus in pink, a little of the color will respond to green and blue wavelength at depth. But the color intensity will be mostly dull. From what you now know, ordinary pink is not the ideal choice for getting noticed at depth.

While this might seem confusing to us above water, it is still the reality of the color situation in the water and at depth. Perhaps some encouragement is in order. To be "expert" of color at depth you need not memorize anything. Because most of our kokanee fishing occurs in green or blue light wave frequencies, we want all of our presentations to show up in green and blue light.

Fluorescent Colors

Enter the amazing world of fluorescent colors. No intense scientific discussion is needed here. What you need to know is this. A true fluorescent color will remain its color when struck by a lower light wave frequency. If a true fluorescent orange is struck by a green light (lower frequency than orange light), it will remain orange. The same is true for all of the fluorescent colors. And that means that if you use true fluorescent colors in your setup, your setup will be seen at depth. True fluorescent colors tend to be brighter as well, making for higher visibility.

Not all materials on the tackle market are of true fluorescent colors. You can easily test whether a color is a true fluorescent by taking your lures and dodgers into a dark closet and then shining a black or UV light on them. If the color seen is the color you saw in full light, you have a fluorescent color. Again, there is a difference in intensity of the color. Just because a material is fluorescent does not automatically mean it is intense.

U.V. light is below the visible spectrum (of lower wave frequency), which means it cannot be seen directly. All U.V. light is dissipated in very shallow fresh water holding kokanee, because the water, plankton and other particulates in the water absorb all of it. It is well documented that there will be no U.V. light in the freshwater column below just a few feet. 

I have tested lures labeled "U.V." Most work very well in waters holding kokanee, and in particular, the UV squids should be a part of your tackle box. However, lures labeled "U.V." would be more accurately labeled as "fluorescent." These "U.V." lures come in visible colors. Since UV is not visible, the color you see is fluorescent. As with all fluorescent colors, stimulation by a black light will make the color jump out at you. But these lures are in fact, only fluorescent. But that is why they are good. They still need some visible light at depth to be most effective. They do not glow. Match one of these "UV" (fluorescent) squids with a Fish With Gary™ POWER Dodger, and you have a great setup.

Using true fluorescent materials in your setup will resolve issues of color shift in your favor. While some fluorescent colors will fade somewhat the deeper you are in the water column, they still are not gray if there is some light available to act on them. When using true fluorescent materials, the colors you are delivering at depth are those NOT ordinarily seen at depth. And that is exactly the effect you want. Your setup will be out of the ordinary, and kokanee will focus on it in the near field.

Vital Contrast

Using fluorescent materials is not the only way to get your setup noticed. Remember that you are after contrast, or what I call vital contrast. Vital contrast can be obtained by using different fluorescent colors next to each other or spaced in such a way as to create the illusion of not being connected. Components that contrast with themselves will stand out even more in dull watery depth.

Contrast is the enemy of camouflage. Contrast is the better-developed part of kokanee vision and encompasses about 10 times larger visual window area than does color. The color window is directly in front of the kokanee, but contrast is not only seen in front, it is seen up, down, sideways, and backwards. Contrast vision overlaps color vision. Effectively presented, color is a great contrast. When color and contrast are effectively presented, color and contrast are in front of the kokanee to see and react to them. This allows the kokanee to put its mouth where the color is, which is pretty much what you want!!

Glows

There is another fantastic way to achieve this vital contrast at depth, and that is the use of glows. Glows are termed phosphorescent (or luminescent) as they carry their own light to depth. No intense scientific discussion is needed here either. Glows emit light when the light source that charges them is removed. On the other hand, fluorescent materials appear brighter in light, but do not glow when that light is removed.

Most glows on the market and peddled to fisherman are of very poor quality. Their glow simply does not last even long enough to make it to depth, let alone work for you at depth.

All Fish With Gary™ glows are of the highest quality and are termed extended glows for good reason. The natural glow beads in particular will glow for hours on a simple charge of sunlight for a few minutes. Stimulation of glows by using a black light is not very efficient, and the resulting glow does not last as long as sunlight stimulation.

Glows clearly take on more importance when the level of light is less in the water column. As you descend below light in the water column in later season, glows make visible what would otherwise be invisible. And if the surrounding water is pitch black, the glow of light most certainly is the kind of dramatic contrast that will get your setup noticed.

The Ideal Presentation

The ideal presentation in achieving vital contrast is one that makes generous use of fluorescent materials and glows, arranged in such a way to be in contrast with each other and in contrast with the surrounding water. And this is exactly what is incorporated into the entire Fish With Gary™ Tackle line.

While the dodger blade attracts far field (long distance), the beads, and the spinner(s) on the leading wire are near field (short distance) attractors.

Here is what is going on with the beads and spinner in front of the dodger. Because the beads and spinner(s) are being moved about by the dodger, they are creating short field sound. The spinner(s) do not consistently spin as you would expect. Instead, their movement in the water makes the spinner(s) come in contact with the glass beads. Metal versus glass produces a sound. In this case the two produce an irregular sound that alternates with some spinning, and some "tap-tap" of the metal on the glass.

There is nothing in nature that this imitates, and this sequence of short field sound is itself a contrast to the natural water environment. Add to this is the natural movement of the glass beads working against themselves as this setup is whipped through the water. And all of this is going on while your dodger is still producing far field sound, attracting other kokanee to your setup. A gathering of kokanee is more likely to result in a strike than a single kokanee.

While your sound generating machine is working, your kokanee has been drawn close enough so that the colors and contrasts are within its sight window. A curious thing happens at this point. Having been drawn to the sound, the kokanee will see a particular color and contrast sequence. Once seen, this color and contrast sequence effectively imprints the kokanee with that combination, even if briefly. If your dodger and the upfront beads and spinner are of the same color and contrast, you increase that imprinting. And if your lure is of the same color and contrast, then you give the kokanee a target that it does not fear. That is why it is absolutely critical that your dodger setup and the lure be matched.

The lure is making short field vibrations and adding color and contrast, and adding scent.

So now you have the complete picture. Far field vibrations attract, short field vibrations and colors in consistent vital contrast imprint the kokanee and provoke the strike. 

Kokanee, which are a landlocked sockeye salmon, can be found in a couple of dozen or so lakes in Oregon and are some of the best eating at any fish fry. This year, we did the scouting for you. Here are seven lakes and reservoirs you must fish in 2025. 

LAKE BILLY CHINOOK

At Lake Billy Chinook, it’s not hard to imagine the old river channels – the Deschutes, the Crooked, and the Metolius and their confluence, now obscured by 4,000 surface acres and up to 415 feet of water.

Round Butte Dam was finished in 1965, and the power of the water was harnessed by three 1000-kilowatt generators. Today, the Pelton Round Butte complex generates enough energy to power a city the size of Salem.

Kokanee angling is popular here, and anglers show up as early as February, teasing them with jigs early in the season. Trolling pays off later in the year. 

ODELL LAKE

Odell Lake (and nearby Crescent) are some of the coldest, deepest lakes in the state, which makes them good habitat for a big char we call lake trout or mackinaw. Odell and Crescent also have good populations of kokanee (a landlocked sockeye salmon), the lake trout’s favorite food. 

Kokanee can be easy to catch when conditions are right. Full-grown, they average 12 to 18 inches. Kokanee are most easily enticed in the early morning. As soon as the sun hits the water, the plankton go deeper, and the kokanee follow. 

Jigging is a favorite technique early, but trollers seem to do better in the summer. An easy rig, whether using a downrigger or not, consists of an eight-inch flasher on the main line terminated at an Apex or Wedding Ring spinner. Most anglers add white corn and season it with a scent like Pro-Cure's Kokanee Special Super Gel. To rent a cabin or a room, click on odelllakeresort.com 

WALLOWA LAKE

Sockeye are native to Wallowa Lake. Historic runs of sockeye were strong in Wallowa Lake until 1916, when the lake’s dam was enhanced. The fish still in the lake were landlocked. 

Wallowa, with 1,500 surface acres and an average depth of 160 feet, can be daunting. Favorite kokanee areas are the western shore off Eagle Point and along the eastern bank up and down from the large pine tree. Try jigging after ice-off and then switch to trolling in the summer. Great trolling lures include Pro-Troll Kokanee Killer, Worden's Spin-N-Glo Kokanee, and Mack's Double Whammy.

For a great place to stay, check out wallowalakelodge.com 

WICKIUP 

Wickiup as a storage reservoir is one of the largest in the state, and its waters harbor rainbows and brown trout. And the kokanee grow big, too. 

Fed by the Upper Deschutes via Crane Prairie, the Davis Lake sump, Davis Creek, Browns Creek and several springs, some of the best fishing is in the old channels. At its deepest, the lake is 70 feet deep, but the average depth is 20 feet. 

Kokanee are spread throughout the lake early in the season, but tend to school up and head toward deeper water (the channels) as temperatures warm. Both jigging and trolling are productive throughout the season.

EAST LAKE

East Lake kokes average 12 to 17 inches. While kokanee are known to feed on plankton in most waters, the most reliable food sources at East Lake are the chironomids and midge larvae (chironomids). This is the reason a lot of people who are good kokanee anglers sometimes struggle at East. 

Jigging works best early in the season and trolling takes more trout later in the season. Fly-anglers can take kokanee all season long on wind-drifted Callibaetis nymphs or on chironomids fished below an indicator.

PAULINA LAKE

Paulina Lake shares the caldera of Newberry National Volcanic Monument with its twin East Lake. This 1,300-acre lake is 250 feet in some places. Kokanee fishing is the main attraction and trolling flashers is the most popular method. Trolling a Wedding Ring with a kernel of corn or a chunk of worm on the end is very effective. Other great kokanee lures include the Cha Cha 1.5 Kokanee and the Kokanee Killer. 

Jigging is the other way to catch them at Paulina, especially till about mid-June. Mack's Cripplure and Sonic Baitfish are productive, as are Nordic lures. First locate schools with a fish-finder and, depending on the depth, troll with a downrigger, flashers, a kokanee spinner and a kernel of corn on the hook. Or drop down a jig and try to put it in the school. 

DETROIT RESERVOIR 

The Detroit Dam was built in 1953, creating a large water storage and electric power generation reservoir that has become an important recreation resource. This nine-mile lake, with 32 miles of shoreline is surrounded by forest of Douglas fir and hemlock and is fed by the Breitenbush River, North Fork Santiam and Blowout and Kinney and several smaller creeks.

ODFW stocks Detroit with rainbows throughout the season. This 3,580-acre reservoir is also home to kokanee. Angling success picks up in May when the water warms.

Try the Kokanee Kid Mysis Bug or Promise Ring made in Salem, Oregon. Other good bets include the Silver Skalez Koko Leaf or Kokanee Creek Tackle 1.5 Micro Bite Squid. Popular trolling areas include Piety Island, west of Mongold State Park, the north shore near the dam and at the mouths of inlets.

AND FURTHERMORE

Some of our favorite fisheries were destroyed in 2023 and another one may be destroyed this fall. 

One of the best kokanee days of my life was on Green Peter Reservoir. GPR had a seemingly inexhaustible supply of kokanee and if you figured them out on any given day, you could not go wrong. What did the Feds do? The US Army Corps of Engineers decided to drain Green Peter and Foster and wiped out some of the state's favorite kokanee fisheries while simultaneously silting over and smothering salmon and steelhead and trout spawning beds in the South Santiam for miles downstream. Brilliant. 

Think they are done? The National Marine Fisheries Service and the Corps of Engineers have their fish-killing sights set on Detroit Reservoir and the North Fork Santiam now. So go fish Detroit this year and I hope you catch a bunch of limits and have a good time, but don't forget the very agencies that purport to be working for the people are often working against us and the fisheries we love. 

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For a copy of the Fishing Central Oregon book, send $29.99 to Gary Lewis Outdoors, PO Box 1364, Bend, OR 97709 To contact Gary Lewis, visit www.GaryLewisOutdoors.com

If everything is as it should be, there are two flies in the danger zone. For me, in most cases, I want a No. 10 red chironomid hung just over the top of the weeds, while a black chironomid rides about 18 inches above it. 

Studies have been made on a number of lakes to determine the main food source for the trout. 

Chironomids are midges, which look a little like mosquitoes, but lack that terrible creature’s bite. On many lakes, the midges make up close to 40 percent of a trout’s annual food intake. If there’s nothing else going on, you can bet the fish will eat a chironomid. But fishing a chironomid is different than fishing imitations of other bugs.

Midges don’t have legs or tails like mayfly nymphs or damselfly nymphs. So you want a vertical presentation instead of a horizontal presentation.

As chironomids hatch, they are trying to produce oxygen between their exoskeleton, their nymphal shuck, and the adult body. They come up out of the mud and they suspend about 12 to 18 inches above the bottom, for up to an hour. That makes them vulnerable to rainbows, browns, and cutthroat. 

Chironomid imitations work wherever trout make a living. The hardest thing about it is the fish don’t set the hook themselves. You have to watch that indicator all-day

In Central Oregon, we fish chironomids on East, Lava, Little Lava, Hosmer, and even Wickiup for browns. They are a major food source for a lot of insect-eating trout. The tactics do not change that much except for the depth the angler is fishing. 

From outside the boat, it looks like a boring way to fish. I beg to differ. Some methods are more suited to small fish, while other strategies are better suited to big fish. But all trout, big and small, eat chironomids. Setting the hook is like pulling the lever on a slot machine. Especially on reservoirs with submerged streambeds like Crane Prairie, Haystack, Prineville Reservoir, and Timothy Lake. 

the trick is finding the old river channels. As the average lake temperature warms, the fish move into the cooler river channels and use them as highways to move around. The channels average 12 to 13 feet deep and are relatively weed-free with a sandy or silty floor. 

So what you have is a 90-degree angle coming off your indicator. If you move your indicator a couple of inches. You give it a twitch and it rises up a couple of inches then settles back down. Vertical action is what you want with chironomids.

Reds and black are the primary colors most anglers use in Central Oregon, but olives and browns can also work. More important than color is to present at the right depth. The fish is probably more attracted by the silhouette of the midge. 

One of the things we tell ourselves is we want to find the depth where the feeders are working. My friend Scott Cook calls it finding the feeders. If a certain depth is paying off, try to bracket all the flies in the boat around that part of the water column. 

A depth finder can help locate schools of feeding fish. 

Most chironomid fishing takes place at a depth of six to twelve feet below the indicator. I like to use a nine- or ten-foot leader tapered down to a 4X fluorocarbon tippet. Again knotted to a No. 10 chironomid with another chironomid on the dropper. 

Any time the indicator goes down, the fish could be 10 inches or 10 pounds and you don’t know until you set the hook. 

There are times when the small flies can get bit in deeper water. When trying to fish down at 15 or 20 feet, try using a very fast sinking line - like with a type 3, 4 or 5 - and retrieve it VERY, VERY slow. The trick is to work the fly in a vertical presentation, retrieving it up through the water column. 

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For a copy of the Fishing Central Oregon book, send $29.99 to Gary Lewis Outdoors, PO Box 1364, Bend, OR 97709 To contact Gary Lewis, visit www.GaryLewisOutdoors.com