Okanogan Valley Bass

[johng]

Howdy,

I visited a buddy of mine who has a cabin in the Okanogan and wanted to do a little fishing on the way back to Seattle.  So, I talked to the guy at the local tackle store in Tonasket and he said to try this place called "Fish Lake".  Sounded good to me.   

I think there are more than a few "Fish Lakes" in WA.  This one is really pretty and has a ton of pretty small smallmouths in there.  They are "pan sized" to say the least but seeing as how they were my first bass I like them.  Caught them using a Rapala lure and because of the way the fish hit the lure I ended up having to keep a couple that were a little on the small size.  The guy at the tackle store said they were going to poison the lake next year to kill all the bass?  What a bummer.  Why not have a bass tournament?  It's off of 97 about 10 miles- southwest of Tonasket.

Cheers!

- Jg

[woodywsu]

those are largemouth bass and they are going to kill it off to keep it a trout fishery. You should of plunked some worms and caught some nice bows.

[johng]

Ah ha... that does make sense.  Thanks for the tip!  The lure I used was a rainbow trout baby looking thing so that's why they want the bass gone.  I would throw that thing out there and the bass loved it.

[Heartsblood]

Love fish lake. That entire valley is one of my favorite places on the planet. Here's a largie I caught there earlier this summer:

[BenC567]

I have fished there a few times.  Caught a few medium size trout.  I got a few bass at whitestone lake off of highway 7 just north of Tonasket.  I always use a 3inch green senko in that area.  Blue lake west of Oroville has some large Lahontan trout.  Use a small rainbow trout colored spinner there (no barbs allowed).

[johng]

Nice fish Heartsblood and Ben.. thanks for the tips.  What is a Lahontan trout?  Never heard of one of those.

So much to learn and so little time.

Good luck to all!

- Jg

[rock]

I say they plant some 10 pound trout, trout love to eat bass, and vice versa!!!

[BenC567]

Nice fish Heartsblood and Ben.. thanks for the tips.  What is a Lahontan trout?  Never heard of one of those.

So much to learn and so little time.

Good luck to all!

- Jg

A Lahontan is a kind of Cutthroat.  My wife's biggest was around 25 inches and my biggest is around 22 inches.  We have caught at least one each time we go there.  We fish off the bank to the left of the boat ramp.  Just chuck in your spinner as far as you can, let it sink for a few seconds then reel it in at varying speeds.  The water is pretty clear so you can see them bite the spinner some times.  Not the best fighters but always fun.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lahontan_cutthroat_trout

[trippledigitss]

Those are big mouths in the pan? They look like smallies to me ('cept maybe the one on the bottom) and the one on the line looks like a large mouth.  Is the one on the line also in the pan?

[BLKBEARKLR]

Without a doubt those are all largemouth in the pan.  And I say the same thing put some bigger trout in there, or some tigers and that will clean that lake out just nice

Joe

[Mossy]

Without a doubt those are all largemouth in the pan.  And I say the same thing put some bigger trout in there, or some tigers and that will clean that lake out just nice

Joe

All large mouth.  Tasty looking bass at that.

[woodywsu]

100% largemouth. I run into people all the time that can't tell the difference. 

[Elkrunner]

Love fish lake. That entire valley is one of my favorite places on the planet. Here's a largie I caught there earlier this summer:

that might be a new state record!

[Heartsblood]

Coupla wheat thins made it a fish sandwich!