Summer Is Late Getting Here

We are having an extended spring here in the Columbia Basin and that means the lake fishing is holding up very well. There is a lot of opportunity out there for the fly fisher. Dry Falls is still fishing well and as we get into the next couple of weeks the fishing will be best in the morning and evening and on cloudy cool days the lakes will fish thru the day.
Grimes Lake is another one to hit. I have gotten lots of very good reports and it is on my hit list. It will fish thru the season ( June, July, August )Another sleeper that is off most peoples radar is Park Lake. In the morning and evening the fish are often on the top eating emergers.
Rocky Ford continues to be the consistant fishery that it always is. There are lots of different hatches right now and it is a blast to fish .
The Bass and Panfishing is also going very well. A good place to start would be Stan Coffin. It has Blue Gill, Crappie and Bass and is a lot of fun.
And last but not least is the Carp fishing. It is time to get out after them. We have been going since late March and had a little luck but last week end it rocked. I love Carp standing on there tails feeding. Its a wonderful time.

Spring is here

The fishing got off to a little faster start for the March 1 opener than in the last several years. The last couple of years there has still been some ice on Lenore and this year it was long gone. We had reports and saw pictures of some very big fish. If you are there when the pods of fish come into the shallows the fishing can be nothing short of spectacular. If the pods are not there you are in for a wait untill they do. The flies of choice are chironomids but bugger and leech paterns will take fish now and then.
Rocky Ford has been very good at times. The fish are starting to look up a little bit and you can take them on dries. The mayflies are starting to hatch and that is a lot of fun. We have some killer dries and emergers for these hatches.
Quail lake has been fishing well and isn't getting the pressure that Lenice is getting. The Double Dipper chironomid is a good choice for a start but you should have several different sizes and colors as the fish at Quail can be very selective.
Coffee Pot Lake has been very good as well and deserves a look. It is a very rich lake and has some of the best hatches of chironomids that I have ever seen.
Dry Falls opens on the first of April and I expect it to fish well this spring.
Back To The Wall (Formaly Isaaks )opens its season this week end and it is going to be off the charts. We test fished last weekend and the fish were big, real big. It is going to be a great season and I'm really excited about it. There are still some spots left so if you want to fish it this season call me and book now before they are gone.
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March 1 Opener

Well it is here. It has been long in coming this year because of the warm weather we have had for the last several weeks. The ice is off all the lakes that opened the first of march. Most have finished turning over and the are in good shape. The water is still cold but not near as cold as a normal year. The hatches are in progress and the fishing will get better by the day. Rocky Ford continues to fish very well a long with several of the other lakes in ther area. We are just starting to get reports and will be on the water soon and hope to have good news on our results. This is a very exciting time of year and things happen fast so watch here or call or stop in for  last minute updates on what is fishing well.

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There is great fishing to be had

Well folks if you are not getting out on the water and wetting a line you are missing out big time. This is the most mild weather I can ever remember for this time of year. It has been in the mid 40's for two weeks and the fish are responding to the fly like it is spring. There are several places that a person can go and expect to have good fishing. Lake Roosevelt has been fishing very well. Rocky Ford is very consistant and putting out some big fish. The Wenatchee , Methow, and Mainstem of the Columbia are all putting out some fish. We have been Steelhead fishing the last two week ends and have had fishing that is good to awesome. Folks I can't tell you how lucky we are to have the opportunities that abound in this area of the world. I tell people that I talk to in my travels that I can have world class fishing with in an hour and a half of Ephrata 365 days a year and that people is not an exageration

Darc

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A Great Day Fishing

We finally got to go fishing. It has been hard to get away from the work that seems to pile up after taking a vacation but we made it.
I decided to start my day at Rocky Ford and got there well before there was enough light to tie on my fly or see an indicater. So I waited untill I couldn't wait any longer and headed to an area that I like to fish and by the time I got there it was light enough to get the tippet through the eye of the fly. There was no wind and the temperature was very comfortable. I knew this was going to be a fun morning and I was right. The first or second cast and the indicator went down. (NICE) Fish on and fish off. Well I won't bore you with a blow by blow details but the indicator went down a lot. My landing percentage was about half of the fish I hooked. Not my best average but good enough.What great fun.I just love when I hit it just right.The fish were on, I couldn't help but notice that the fish were looking up as almost every time I moved my indicator the fish would eat it or swirl at it. I know a big dry would have taken fish for the first half hour or so, but I had a hard time tying that fly on and wasn't going to start over. Maybe next time. The right color of egg pattern and the mini leech were working just fine.
From their Janine and I decided to run up to Back To Wall ( Isaaks Ranch) and see how things were looking for spring. Great news, lots of open water and it looks like we have had a very mild winter up there. The fish in the lower lake were cruising in pods over top of the weed beds in very shallow water and were ultra spooky. When we would make a cast they would wake out of there and come right back and eat the Jim Beam like they had been looking for it all day. The fish are fat and long and strong.They are in awesome shape. It is going to be a great spring . Hope you can get out and enjoy the fishing that can be had at this time of year.
Darc

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Happy Holidays

Hope all have had a great holiday season. We have spent the holidays with family and friends and it has been wonderful.
I've not been on the water enough but have plans to change that very soon. I always try to get out to Rocky Ford on or around New Years day. It's nice to get that first fish of the season early in the year. I can't help but think it's great way to start the year, no matter how cold it is. I know that the fish will be willing to eat my humble offerings.
Don't forget that the fish at the Ford don't really care for bright sun. It is probably warmer with some cloud cover any way. It always seems easier to go out when the sun is out but that is not your best chance of catching. Having said that the best time to go fishing is when you can. Check back soon and I'll have a report on my new year outing.

Darc

Winter is here and yes there are still fish to be caught

Well, It has been too long since I posted a report . I will try to do better from now on. In my defense , I have been on Christmas Island for three weeks and internet there is possible but far from easy, IF my mind would have been on my responsibilities at home.


We had great fishing for Bonefish, Trevaly, Trigger Fish and others . The fishing was just like last year and I am ready to reserve two weeks for next year. Its really hard to beat 86 degree air temps and 70 degree water temps in November. This is a incredible get away just before winter sets in. The water at Xmass Island is surreal in color and has endless flats that you just can’t imagine unless you go and see it for yourself. I tried to explain it to some of my guests before we went and told them I just can’t do it justice with words, you have to experience it for yourself. After getting there, and seeing it they all agreed. If you are interested in this trip give me a shout to see if I have room.

Closer to home the fishing is good to great. Rocky Ford has been very consistent with very little pressure for this time of year. If you brave the cold you could be in for quite a treat. The fish are taking heavily weighted scuds, small olive leeches, egg patterns in the right color, even some BWO’s on the cloudy days. Rufus Woods and Roosevelt are both putting out fish now and will get better as we roll thru the winter months. Try fishing streamers around the points, bays and sunken islands.

The Steelhead can still be found and caught in several places. The main stem of the Columbia is a good bet. Also keep your eyes on the Wenatchee and Methow. If they are ice free you can have very good fishing with a lot less pressure than earlier in the season.

Hope you all get out and enjoy this crisp sunny weather and catch a fish or two.