Why Outings?

March 21

April 24-29

May 15-18

May 28-June 1

Mid June-to be announced later

July 10-13

July 22

 Late July to early August-stream conditions determines date

August 12 to 14

September 15-21

 Late August or early September

 October 2 to 5

For years, this lake was stocked with rainbow, brown, and cutthroat trout, and Atlantic salmon. Currently it is stocked annually with rainbow and brown trout. Pass Lake has experienced very little development on its shores and therefore still has excellent shoreline habitat. The water is clean, generally very clear, and full of aquatic lifeforms, including chironomids, leaches, caddis larvae, callibaetis nymphs, freshwater shrimp, and baitfish.

Fish Species: Rainbow and brown Trout

Rods:  4 – 6 weights

Flies:

• good selection of bloodworms and chironomid patterns ranging in size from #12's to #20's
• Pumpkin Head
• Balanced leeches
• Flashback hare's ear nymphs
• Hare's ear nymphs
•  Black, olive, red, or white woolly buggers

Lines:    floating (using an indicator) and sinking  or intermediate lines

Boat:    A Pontoon boat, kayak, skiff or float tube. Motors are not allowed

Accommodations:  Day trip

License: Washington State license required 

Meal: Frank will be making his famous chili for lunch.

Directions:   Pass Lake is a beautiful fly fishing only lake that is located just North of the Deception Pass bridge on state route 20 west by Anacortes.

Omak Lake is the kind of place you dream about during winter. The reason is simple. On every trip, the lake offers a shot at catching a big fish. It’s the kind of place that leads anglers who’ve heard or read about it to idle through the cold months vowing that the coming season will finally be the one when they check it out. Those who’ve been there plan trips back. Omak Lake, the largest saline lake in Washington, at 3,244 acres, is stocked with Lahontan cutthroat trout from Pyramid Lake in Nevada. Omak Lake, which was first stocked with Lahontans in 1968, holds the Washington state record at a little over 18 pounds. The lake, which eons ago was a channel of the Columbia River, is several miles long and very deep. It’s located about 8 miles south of the town of Omak, on the Colville Indian Reservation, so tribal permits are required. You can buy fishing permits at North 40 Outfitters, Omak, https://north40flyshop.com/ , Colville Fish and Wildlife office in Omak as well as the Omak WalMart. Costs are $10 for a one-day permit, $20 for three days, $30 for seven days or $40 for a season. Seniors get discounts. No booze allowed on the reservation.

Most of the fish in Omak Lake average 3 pounds or so, but 8- to 10-pounders are not unusual. While it has big fish, Omak Lake doesn’t have big crowds. Don’t be surprised to have the lake nearly to yourself or even all to yourself, especially early in the season. The lake is open year-round, but shore fishing is best from February through May, when the fish are either in the shallows, fruitlessly looking for a place to spawn on the lake, which has no outlet, or along the shoreline, looking for food. Omak Lake has sculpin and redside shiners, a major reason the cutthroat get so big. So you don’t need a hatch to catch fish. Streamer patterns are very effective. Sometimes a simple white or olive Woolly Bugger or a white rabbit-strip leech pattern are all you need. During a hatch, try an intermediate line for nymphs or even a floating line if the fish are near the surface. Dry lines, a strike indicator, and a long leader are good for fishing Chironomids, including Blood Worms, which are effective for much of the year. And there’s a catch-and-release period from March 1 to May 31, when fish are thinking about spawning. Lahontan cutthroat aren’t fast runners and rarely jump. What they mostly do is stay down and slug it out. You can fish from a boat, pontoon or float tube, from shore or off a ladder. This is eastern Washington so the winds can kick up and it is a large lake so caution is needed.

Here’s a list of top fly patterns for Omak Lake:

• Articulated bunny leech
• Sculpzilla
• Balanced leeches
• Smoke N’ Mirrors
• Snowcone midges

There are plenty of cheap hotels in Omak, the camping on the reservation has a fee, more information here, https://www.colvilletribes.com/parks-recreation . There is no overnight camping allowed at the lake (even though they list camping at the lake as one of the available recreational opportunities there). Remember that Highway 20 will still be closed in early April.

Please direct any questions to Angus at:

• 360 483 8954 (cell)
• or, email at: angusmacarthur995@gmail.com

Here's some videos to check out:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZZPKjdi2Vk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SS6HNCPxgcg

 Fish Species:  Lahontin Cutthroat Trout

Rods:   4 – 7 weights

Fliess:

• Articulated bunny leech
• Pumpkin Head
• Holo Worm from Phil Rowley
• Dali Lama in olive/white
• Sculpzilla
• Smoke and Mirror Streamer olive

Lines: floating and sinking or intermediate We often strip leeches in the AM and use a floating line with indicator for balanced leeches or coronomids later. 

Boat: A Pontoon boat can be a nice addition but this is Eastern Washington and if the wind comes up it can be a liability. Most people fish from shore. The steep shoreline in some places makes an effective roll cast most useful as there is insufficient room for a back cast.

Accommodations: The Okanogan Fair Grounds has a space for us in their full hook up RV area down by the trees. Tents are allowed for $15 and full hookup is $30. Make your reservation online or just call them and mention that you are part of our club. Do not just show up! There are also several hotel accommodations in the area including the 12 Tribes Casino. It can get cold then so tent heaters are in order. If I remember correctly cell coverage is pretty good there.

Meals: On Friday, April 28 we will have a no host group dinner at either a Mexican restaurant in the area or at Loggers in the 12 tribes casino. Prices seem the same for both. Otherwise we sort of text each other to see where they are eating. The key is that no one should feel obligated to eat together as a group every night but we don’t want anyone to feel excluded either.

Directions: Leave Omak on Highway 155 toward Nespelem. Cross a small bridge (Omak Creek) and immediately turn right on Columbia River Road. Once you see the lake there is a dirt road turn off that in 8 miles takes you down to one of the two areas to fish depending on the wind and how busy it is. (Nicholson Beach also known as Beer Can Beach) If you continue on along the lake on Columbia River Road you will see another turn off at about 11 miles and turn on Omak Lake Road which takes you to the South end of the lake. The beach is evident from the road. There is a closed area along the southern shore but it is clearly marked.

PLEASE NOTE:

It is the responsibility of each club member and their guests to be prepared for the

fishing outing by having the proper equipment for camping and boating, including personal 

flotation devices if you are in a pontoon boat. It is also the responsibility of every member/guest to know the rules and regulations. If you don’t know, please don’t hesitate to ask as members will be very willing to help.

Please feel free to invite a guest but please remember to download and give a copy of the Hold Harmless Agreement from our website to the Outing Sponsor (in this case Bob Jorgenson). It is important for the continued legal well being of our club.