Big Brook Trout & Lahontans
Posted: Fri May 22, 2015 8:54 amI just returned from three days in Omak fishing several Colville Tribal Lakes. If you've ever wanted to target large brook trout then you must check out McGinnis Lake near Nespelem, WA. You'll need a Colville Tribal license (available at several retailers including Walmart in Omak) to fish this lake and any other Colville managed lake, but it's well worth it. Also, this lake does not allow combustable engines, so this limits you to a kayak, row boat, canoe or electric motor.
My buddy and I launched our Hobie kayaks in the early afternoon. Fish were popping all over the surface of the lake grabbing a white fly hatch (a tip to you bug wand guys..). We tried working small needlefish and trout killers near the surface but had no takers. After marking a few fish deep, we dropped our lead core back 4 colors. I picked up a fish immediately. A beautiful 18" brook trout. I'll have to admit, their coloring looks like a bull trout. They also fight about the same.
We landed another couple beefy brook trout before moving down the road to Rebecca Lake. Rebecca Lake is a small shallow lake also on the reservation. This lake also does not allow motors and it's only about 5 feet deep in the middle of the lake. I love hitting this lake just before sunset. The largemouth bass come to the edges of the overhanging cattails and devour any weedless Senko or Salamander you throw their way. We landed quite a few before we could no longer see our line.
Day 2 we got an early start and hit the south end of Omak Lake. Omak Lake is a large, deep lake that is high in alkalinity. The Colville tribe stocks this lake with over 100,000 Lahontan Cutthroat Trout per year . The brood stock is from Pyramid Lake in Nevada. The fish in this lake do not get as large at Pyramid but if you work it, you could land one in the teens. Here's a quick video of a C&R Lahontan I got https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvNscl0oI3Y&feature=youtu.be
There is a primitive boat launch at the south end of the lake. I'd recommend 4WD if you are launching. The north end of the lake has a gravel and sand beach that is quite shallow. You can launch from the beach but it's a better option at the north end for boats.
The wind can pick up quickly on the lake. It's easy to tuck back into a sheltered cove to get out of it. The day we launched it was blowing 15mph. We didn't push down the lake farther than 2 miles. There are quite a few large fish spawning in shallow water this time of year. If you're a fly fisherman or bank angler, concentrate your efforts at the north and south ends of the beach where there is access from shore. Boats and other watercraft will get you into some inaccessible areas not reachable by shore.
Trolling with lead-core line is the best option for targeting these fish. Large Needlefish spoons, Brad's Superbait Cutplugs and Apex lures work great. No bait is allowed and single, barbless hooks are required. The fishery is C&R until May 31st which allows these fish to spawn and move to deeper water. Frankly, I've found the lake fishes well year round.
Tune in to The Outdoor Line on Saturday, May 23rd to hear the full report!
Get out there and explore the Okanagan Lakes. This paper is a great resource for all of the Colville Lakes http://issuu.com/omak_chronicle/docs/fishrapper
- Brook Trout Netted
- brookroll.jpg (120.68 KiB) Viewed 4503 times
My buddy and I launched our Hobie kayaks in the early afternoon. Fish were popping all over the surface of the lake grabbing a white fly hatch (a tip to you bug wand guys..). We tried working small needlefish and trout killers near the surface but had no takers. After marking a few fish deep, we dropped our lead core back 4 colors. I picked up a fish immediately. A beautiful 18" brook trout. I'll have to admit, their coloring looks like a bull trout. They also fight about the same.
- Brian holding a nice brook trout
- brookbrian1.jpg (60.99 KiB) Viewed 4503 times
We landed another couple beefy brook trout before moving down the road to Rebecca Lake. Rebecca Lake is a small shallow lake also on the reservation. This lake also does not allow motors and it's only about 5 feet deep in the middle of the lake. I love hitting this lake just before sunset. The largemouth bass come to the edges of the overhanging cattails and devour any weedless Senko or Salamander you throw their way. We landed quite a few before we could no longer see our line.
- Largemouth Bass on Rebecca Lake
- rebeccabass.jpg (59.01 KiB) Viewed 4503 times
Day 2 we got an early start and hit the south end of Omak Lake. Omak Lake is a large, deep lake that is high in alkalinity. The Colville tribe stocks this lake with over 100,000 Lahontan Cutthroat Trout per year . The brood stock is from Pyramid Lake in Nevada. The fish in this lake do not get as large at Pyramid but if you work it, you could land one in the teens. Here's a quick video of a C&R Lahontan I got https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvNscl0oI3Y&feature=youtu.be
- Netted Lahontan with beautiful coloring
- nettedlahontan.jpg (51.87 KiB) Viewed 4503 times
There is a primitive boat launch at the south end of the lake. I'd recommend 4WD if you are launching. The north end of the lake has a gravel and sand beach that is quite shallow. You can launch from the beach but it's a better option at the north end for boats.
The wind can pick up quickly on the lake. It's easy to tuck back into a sheltered cove to get out of it. The day we launched it was blowing 15mph. We didn't push down the lake farther than 2 miles. There are quite a few large fish spawning in shallow water this time of year. If you're a fly fisherman or bank angler, concentrate your efforts at the north and south ends of the beach where there is access from shore. Boats and other watercraft will get you into some inaccessible areas not reachable by shore.
- Nice color pattern on Brian's Lahontan
- brianlahontan1.jpg (94 KiB) Viewed 4503 times
Trolling with lead-core line is the best option for targeting these fish. Large Needlefish spoons, Brad's Superbait Cutplugs and Apex lures work great. No bait is allowed and single, barbless hooks are required. The fishery is C&R until May 31st which allows these fish to spawn and move to deeper water. Frankly, I've found the lake fishes well year round.
Tune in to The Outdoor Line on Saturday, May 23rd to hear the full report!
- Brad holding a nice colored Lahontan
- bradlahontan1.jpg (64.81 KiB) Viewed 4503 times
Get out there and explore the Okanagan Lakes. This paper is a great resource for all of the Colville Lakes http://issuu.com/omak_chronicle/docs/fishrapper