methow river

Weather is cooling and some of our area lakes are falling in line with lower water temperatures. Depending what lake, it is nighttime temperatures are anywhere from the mid 40s’ to the mid 50s’. As such the fishing is starting to pick up as we come closer to my favorite time of the year. Current Conditions Chopaka Lake - Day time temperatures have been in the mid-60s’ to the mid-70s’, with nighttime temperatures in the mid-40s’. I would recommend fishing in the northern part of the lake. The water temperature there stays cooler than the rest of the lake throughout the summer months and the fish will move there because of it. Even with the lake cooling down you should find more fish holding in that area than the southern part. Mornings will be the best time right now. Even though the temperatures are dropping you should sti...

As we inch closer to fall, the nighttime temperatures are starting to cool down. The more we have cooler nights, the quicker the lakes will start coming into play. The area rivers are still dropping in water flows and as such the fishing is getting a little more challenging. Current Conditions Lost Lake - The fishing for the lake's brook trout hasn’t been super-hot but if you are willing to hunt them down and are flexible enough to keep changing flies till you find what is working, you will catch some nice ones. Lake temperatures have been okay for most of the day but the mornings and just before dark will be your best times to go. This is the time of the year where electronics come in handy. It will save you a lot of time trying to figure out what depth the trout are holding at. That being said, from what I know, fishing at a d...

The good news is, the rivers have not dropped anymore since last week. Instead, they have come up a little with the recent rains we have had in the last week. Mornings are still going to be your best bet if you are able to hit the waters. The area lakes are still running a little high in temperature. Current Conditions Bonaparte Lake - It seems fishing has taken a back seat to most people on the lake lately. The good thing about that means less competition for those that choose to wet a line. Morning time as it has been for the last few weeks is the best time to be on the water. The smallies are still taking topwater poppers in and around the weeds. Another couple of good flies to use, just outside of the weed line, are the Canadian black or crystal simi seal leeches. Besides the smallies, you are looking to stand a good cha...

We have had a few thunderstorms move through the area on and off along with some light rains so look at the sky now and then. That being said, the weather has actually been quite pleasant for this time of year.   Current Conditions Chopaka Lake - The water temperatures are still okay in the morning but, by mid-day, they may be a little too warm. There is not much by way of fish catching that is happening at the south end of the lake. The north end is a little cooler and deeper and is where the best fishing is right now. Leech patterns in the #12 and #10 range are having the best results. With this being technically the 4th of July weekend, camping spots will be hit and miss.  Blackpine Lake - With the lake being at a little higher elevation water temperatures should be okay. Pumpkin and redhead leeches in the #12 range are a...

The weather has been kind to us lately. Not too hot and only a couple of real windy days and a scattered rain shower now and then. As such the fishing in the area lakes is still going well. The water level in the Methow and Okanogan rivers is still on the drop opening more areas to access on foot and the small hoppers are starting to show up. Current Conditions Chopaka Lake - The water temperature is going up and down with the different weather fronts moving through the area. The morning bite is the most productive time until the damsel start climbing out and hatching. There are still some minor mayfly hatches coming off now and then along with some caddis hatches. #16 to #12 mayfly patterns and #16 to #14 caddis need to be in your box. Hopper activity is picking up along the shoreline and the fish know it. #12 green or tan hopper...

The local rivers are coming into shape a little quicker than in years past. Some of our trout stillwaters are starting to slow down with the increasing heat. Topwater action for bass in the morning and evenings at our area warm water lakes is where you want to be. Steph Avena, from our shop, was able to get out and fish some of our area waters. He was kind enough to give us some updated reports. Thanks, Steph! Current Conditions Chopaka Lake - Chopaka Lake - It was tough fishing in a windy heatwave was the theme this week at Chopaka. The mayfly hatch was over and done, and it was even too hot for happy damsel fishing. Mid-lake jiggers anchored and raking the bottom with chironomids were doing well. The consensus was that fish had moved deep. One frustrated angler in the next camp wandered over to the casting platform and hook...