Cutthroat Trout Rule

Another cutt from the Methow River caught on an egg fly in the fall. This fish is 19" and a fatty. Probably from all the salmon eggs they eat. The water levels in the Methow get low in the fall and winter. Several people have told me and I agree, many fish in the Methow migrate up the river when the water levels are high to spawn. They live in the river until water levels drop then they travel down to the Columbia River and spend the winter getting huge. Then in the spring the cycle begins again. This would explain how such a clean freestone river produces such big fish, cutthroats, rainbows, and bull trout. Sounds good to me.

Cutthroat Trout

This is my favorite species of trout. Common in the Methow River and the alpine lakes these fish readily hit dry flies and when they do, they dive and don't come up. In the river they can get big, six pound cutts are not unusual, but alpine fish are usually small by comparison. The pictured cutt took an egg fly in the fall when salmon were spawning in the river. It was released untouched after the photo was snapped.

First Casts

This blog is a reflection of my flyfishing experiences in the Methow Valley and neighboring water. The recollection of waters fished are my impressions  and reflect the conditions when I fished them. A list of rivers and lakes is represented below. Each one will be covered in subsequent blogs. A Google Map at the bottom of the page will help locate each lake (i.e.- Davis Lake Okanogan county WA)

Rivers and Streams:

Methow River- What can I say except a river runs through it.

Twisp River- Stream fishing

Chewuch River- Stream fishing

Boulder Creek- Small stream full of brook trout.

Columbia River- The mother lode.

Lowland Lakes:

Patterson Lake- Can't keep the spiny rays out.

Perrygin Lake- Penultimate resort lake, ski boats, planters 

Buck Lake- Pretty setting, hatchery trout. 

Foster (Big Buck) Lake- Rainbows and waterfowl

Aspen Lake- Beautiful setting, probably winter kills.

Black Lake- Flat four mile walk to big lake with big fish.

Beaver Lake- Great walk-in camping and crayfish too. 

Campbell Lake- Drive up, selective fishery

Cougar Lake- Drive up, selective 

Davis Lake- Drive up, selective

Big Twin Lake- In town, convenient

Little Twin Lake- Suburbia, right next to Big Twin

Sullivan's Pond- Spotty, had fish one year

Lenice- Three hour drive, big brown trout, but windy at times

Nunnally Lake- see Lenice

Alpine Lakes:

Cutthroat Lake- Beautiful hike in, cutts galore.

Blue Lake- Ambitious 2 1/2 mile hike, gorgeous spot.

Rainy Lake- Miniature Lake Louise, without the lodge.  

Hidden Lakes- Way in the wilderness.

Cub Lake- Tough to get to, over Horse Head Pass

Boiling Lake- Not a warm water fishery,

Mystery Lake?- Can't get to it, maybe has Golden Trout 

Gravel Lake- Pac Crest Trail out of Alpental.

Edd's Lake- Just past Gravel Lake.

Mirror Lake- On the way to Stampede Pass