Blue Skies and Green Waters of Omak Lake

I've been wanting to get out to Omak Lake for the last couple of days, but every time I get ready to go something detours me. So, on the way into the shop the last two mornings, I turned right instead of heading north on the highway. A short drive found me at Omak Lake. With the bright sunny mornings, I was amazed at how green the water was. Once I parked, I found myself in no hurry to get to the water, but instead I just took my time getting waders on and rod rigged up. Not sure if it’s an age thing, but I find it more relaxing if I just breathe in moments like these. I was there to fish, so off I headed to lake shore.

The first morning when I got down to the lake, I did not see any of the Lahontans cruising close in, like the reports I have been receiving at the shop of late said. Two casts later and the first fish was on. Nice 18" female was my reward. After a few more casts, I had another take but this was a short lived hook up. I landed a few more nice 18"- 22". Lost probably twice as many. I hooked into one brute that gave a real nice fish till it came unpinned.

The next morning was a little slower. Only had about half as many takes and landed cutts. I did see some real brutes cruising the shore line, but they were real spooky if I moved any. I found that the sandy bottom areas seemed to hold a few more fish than the rocky ones. Both days, there was only one or two other anglers around, so having a lot of elbow room was not a problem. Since there are some fish in the double digit range, I like to use my 8wt, plus casting a sink tip with some of the bigger streamers I will use is a little easier with the heavier rod. I will switch to my 6wt if I drop the size of my fly to the smaller ones. The 6wt is less stressing to my shoulder that likes to complain sometimes.

As far as what flies are working, we have a lot of them at the shop. Small minnows will cruise the shallows and the Lahontans key in on them, so we expanded our selection of minnow patterns and streamers to cover this. As for what I have been using the last couple of days, I have used some of my own patterns, plus one that Fred, our Great Falls shop manager, ties for trout on the Big Mo. His Polar Minnow has been producing real well. I tied it in the silver and olive and that seems to be what the cuts want. My Omak Chub and Too Much Flash pattern has also been a head turner for the cutts. One other of Fred’s flies that has been a producer is his Predacious Fox. The cutts seem to like this one on a real slow retrieve close to the bottom.

I would expect the action to stay like this till the end of May. Stop by the shop for a cup of coffee, get the latest reports and stock up on gear. Also, we sell the non-tribal licenses that you will need to fish the lake.