Page 6 — 2014 Fishrapper, The Chronicle, Omak, Wash.
Milo Marcille
Anglers show off a lunker caught in the Okanogan River south of Oroville. It is open under catch-and-release, selective gear rules fishing only April 1 through Nov. 30. Internal combustion motors are prohibited. Electric motors can be used during the selective gear rules season. There is a winter catch-and-keep fishery Dec. 1 to March 31 without selective gear rules. Statewide rules apply for daily limits and minimum size. Fingerlings planted at the lake – 1,000 brown trout and 11,000 rainbows in May – will enter the fishery on opening day. The lake also received a total of 2,500 legal-sized rainbows in April and October. Expect rainbows in the 11- to 15-inch range and brown trout of 10-12 inches with
carryovers up to 16 inches. Drive 3.5 miles north from Brewster up Swamp Creek, and then take a dirt road two miles north up Whitestone Creek. There is a state concrete boat launch, but access may be a problem in winter since the road is not plowed. Reflection Pond — The five-acre pond, sometimes also referred to as Reflection Lake, is located in the Sinlahekin Wildlife Area, six miles south of Loomis near Forde Lake. Open April 26 through Oct. 31, the lake received 200 fingerling triploid eastern brook last year. It received 100 tiger trout a year earlier. This is a very small, scenic lake that lends
itself well to float tubes and very small boats. Rock Lake — This open-year-round system of two lakes, which are on state land, are managed for cutthroat, although a few Eastern brook and tiger trout from previous years may still be present. Last year, the upper 5-acre lake and lower 4-acre lake each received 500-fingerling cutthroat that should enter the fishery this spring. There is a Department of Natural Resources campsite above the lakes with a short, steep trail leading down to the waters. Fishing is best from shore or from a small raft or float tube. Cutthroat in the upper lake are in the 10to 13-inch range. Fish in the lower, smaller lake are 9-13 inches. The lakes are located 11 miles northwest of Okanogan. Drive west on state Highway 20, then north on Rock Lake Road. Rufus Woods Lake — The 51-mile-long lake, which is open year round, is actually a river reservoir behind Chief Joseph Dam on the Columbia River just upstream from Bridgeport. Anglers enjoy fishing for triploid rainbows up to12 pounds near net pens adjacent to the Colville Indian Reservation (downstream from Nespelem River) and Columbia River Road. There is a two-trout fish limit and kokanee count as part of the trout limit on the water that forms the border between Douglas County and Colville Indian Reservation in Okanogan County. Other species include walleye (best caught near Elmer City), kokanee, yellow
perch and a few smallmouth bass. It’s illegal to fish for sturgeon. The state has an agreement with the tribe to accept tribal or state licenses if the angler is on the water. Anglers must have a state license if fishing on the Douglas County side from the shore. On the Okanogan County (reservation) side, anglers can possess either a state or a tribal license when fishing from shore at marked, designated tribal fishing areas. Otherwise, a tribal license is required to fish from the shore on the reservation. Consult the tribe’s sport fishing pamphlet for all regulations concerning boundary waters and what licenses are required. Boundary waters include Lake Rufus Woods (Chief Joseph Dam pool), Crawfish Lake,
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Alpine Veterinary Clinic Dee Camp/The Chronicle
An angler casts his line while fishing Sugarloaf Lake north of Conconully.
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