Eastern Washington Fishing Report 05.10.18
Chopaka Lake
Every person has their own standards to measure a good day of fishing. So, the reports from Chopaka Lake are anywhere from great to so-so. The so-so would be catches under 20 fish for the day and the great would be well over 20 fish. Campground considerations for this weekend look worry free—plenty of room! But, that could change now that the Callibaetis hatch is, by some estimations, only one week away. Meanwhile road conditions are improving though some careful mud hole maneuvering is necessary as you crest the grade, heading into Chopaka basin.
As of late, black size 14 chironomids have been seeing the most catches. I'd be on the lookout for the mayfly hatches to start soon though since our temps have been consistently hitting 80 the last few days. Leeches are becoming a distant second (or third) now in the trout food popularity contest, but will continue to be useful early in the morning or, deeper, later in the day. New nymphing patterns we've been drooling over are Bubba's Callibaetis Nymph, Chan's Clear Water Callibaetis and Rickard's Callibaetis Nymph, all in size 14. Working these, perhaps in tandem with your chironomid, as you wait for the dries to start poppin might be a good strategy these next few days.
Blue Lake
Talk to folks who spent the opener at Blue and you're likely to hear a chorus of boos. But, there will be one or two of them that I guarantee will be headed back there this weekend to challenge those browns and tigers again. Though Blue can suffer from runoff issues, its bugs are there and fish (when they can see) are eating.
Mayfly hatches have started at Blue and though the fish haven't necessarily been gorging on them yet, they will be soon. Until then # 10 and #8 leeches in brown, black or dark olive are working. number 16-12 black or olive chironomids have been working really good, too. Callibaetis nymphs and dries in sizes #16-#14 are starting to come in to play now.
A copepod outbreak last year on our rainbow trout resulted in the fish and wildlife not restocking rainbows but, instead, stocking tigers and brown trout that are not susceptible to the parasite.
Aeneas Lake
We are hearing again this week of catches at Aeneas of serious size. Fish into the mid-twenties have been landed on tiny bugs, which.always amazes me. So, as you head to this fly-fishing only bowl, bring a longish rod to help manage those long leaders and to cushion those light tippets from hard hitting strikes. Black Bombers with red rib in size 14-16 are what I'd start off with if I was set up for chironomid fishing. If I was wanting to throw leeches I would try those first thing after sunup for a couple of hours in close to the shore. As the sun gets a little brighter I would back out to water at 10 feet before the sun got to high. A #10 in black or dark brown seems to be the more receptive size and color at this lake right now. Keep your eyes open for any mayfly activity and be ready to switch over to whatever the hatch may be. Keep in mind that Aeneas is a reservoir that receives cool water as it fills up for agricultural needs. With the runoff we're receiving this year, it should stay plenty cool for the near future.
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