Omak Lake

Well here we go, this is something I said I would never do…write about Omak Lake. It used to be one of my “secret spots”, I would literally swear people to secrecy before I took them there. It was crazy; here was a lake seven miles long, 300 feet deep, next to Omak, and no one fished it. It was full of Lahontan cutthroat up to 22 lbs.! It was not unusual at all to catch so many fish in a day our elbows and wrists ached from strain.The bestest part though was fishing this big beautiful lake all day long and not seeing another person. Well that is over now, the lake has been written about by the Hunting and Fishing News (the kiss of death), and now lots of people fish it.

For a lake its size there is still not a lot of pressure but the only access is Beer Can Beach on the North and Cow Pie Beach on the South, (yes sadly, real names). To get up the lake any distance at all a boat is needed. The catch and release season is April-June when the fish come in shallow to spawn and that is easier for fly fishing. During the summer people use plugs and downriggers.One thing that keeps a few people away is it is on the Colville Indian Reservation. A three day license is about $18 and a full season $35, this does entitle the user to fish 12 or 15 other locals with Omak the star. Some people just don’t like Indians or their rules, like no booze or guns on the Rez. Some boat launches and areas on Omak Lake are for Indians only, subject to monitoring by Indian policia, so be for warned, although they have always treated me well.I usually stay at the Nicolas Motel http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g58654-d676503-Reviews-Motel_Nicholas-Omak_Washington.html and while in Omak the best place to eat is the Mexican place downtown, and the Breadline Café. http://www.breadlinecafe.com/history.shtml.

The fish in Omak well take the same thing they do everywhere and you can bobber fish with chironomids if you so have the mind, however to me it is a streamer lake. The fish are large and toothy and want a big meal. There are four types of minnows in the lake for food and often you will see clouds of them along the rocks trying to hide to be interrupted by a vicious shark like swirl. Because the flies I use are big and the fish I want to catch are big, (did I mention toothy?), I use a heavy tippet/leader.There are times where it is possible to sight cast to cruising fish and that is fun! Many times though it is necessary to get down in the water column and the lake has many deep areas. Trolling along in a tube, pontoon or boat is very productive. It can also be nice to take a boat up lake and then just get out and fish from shore.