Page 16 — 2016 Fishrapper, The Chronicle, Omak, Wash. Floating weeds can block an unimproved boat launch. Internal combustion engines are prohibited. San Poil River — The river itself from Boundary C to the north reservation boundary, including the West Fork and San Poil River, is closed to fishing. All tributaries to the San Poil River are closed. The inundated reach of the river, which can be seen in a tribal fish regulation map, is open all year for certain game fish species. Anglers can fish for smallmouth bass (no daily catch, possession or length limits), walleye (no daily catch, possession or length limits), rainbow trout (daily limit of 10 fish with no size limit for adipose finabsent trout and catch-and-release only for adipose-present trout) and kokanee (daily catch limit of two fish). Fishing for white sturgeon is prohibited. Walleye and bass are affecting the fishery by eating trout fry trying to escape to Lake Roosevelt. That leaves few to return when they are adults ready to spawn. Anglers need to check demarcation lines and follow regulations carefully. Stranger Creek — This tiny creek is closed to all fishing downstream from the Inchelium-Gifford Road. The creek, which sometimes is planted, has a half-dozen access points. Anglers should get permission before fishing on private property bordering the creek, which contains naturally spawning brook trout. Summit Lake — This small lake six
miles east of Disautel and 11.5 miles northwest of Nespelem around 3,500 feet elevation is open year-round. Rainbow and brook trout are both found in the lake, with some rainbows over 4 pounds. The lake received 300 one-pound rainbows in April and will receive 40 of the larger 4.5-pound bows between April and May. While shore access is plentiful, it is recommended that only hand-launched boats be used because of one route being steep and another being muddy. There is a free fishing weekend Feb. 45, 2017. General limits apply. Twin Lakes — These popular lakes opened April 9 and stay open until March 15, 2017, with a free fishing weekend on Feb. 4-5, 2017. The lakes are the most popular waters within the borders of the reservation. Both lakes offer excellent largemouth bass fishing, with some bass exceeding 8 pounds. There is a 15-bass daily catch limit at the lakes, with only bass less than 12 inches or more than 17 inches allowed to be kept. No more than two bass more than 17 inches can be kept. Rainbow and brook trout also inhabit Twin Lakes. The rainbow trout fishery often exceeds anglers’ expectations, with some triploids over 4 pounds being planted this year and even larger carryovers. The daily trout limit is five fish, no more than one of which is more than 20 inches. North and South Twin Lakes cover
about 2,000 acres and are located eight miles west of Inchelium. There are two resorts and a public access at North Rocky Point and a fee access at Rainbow Beach Resort on North Twin. Each lake was planted with 7,000 1.6pound rainbows in early April. The lakes will receive 350 4.5-pound trout between April and May and 10,000 fry in October. Washburn Island Pond — The tribe co-manages this 13-acre pond with the state. The pond includes largemouth and smallmouth bass up to a couple pounds and sizeable catfish. A recent state rule change allows boat to have a combustion engine, but the use of the engine is prohibited. (You don’t have to take the motor off your boat to fish the lake.) The season runs April 1 to Sept. 30 at Washburn, located four miles east of Brewster off state Highway 17. Anglers must possess a Colville tribal fishing license if fishing from shore. A tribal license is required when fishing from a boat. A boat launch area includes toilets and parking. General limits apply. Wells Reservoir — Often called Lake Pateros, the pool is formed on the Columbia River behind Wells Dam and extends to Chief Joseph Dam in Bridgeport. The reservoir is open all year with a few exceptions. Closures include the taking of salmon and steelhead by non-members unless opened by emergency authorization of
Non-members may retain only adipose-clipped or floy-tagged trout. All trout with intact adipose fins must be released. Bass and walleye also live in the reservoir, where there is no limit on their catch. Wilmont Creek — This tiny creek is closed to all nonmembers downstream of Silver Creek Road to protect spawning rainbows. General limits apply upstream of Submitted photo Silver Creek Road. Matt Featherly was “King of the Pool” winner The creek, 20 during the 2015 Brewster King Salmon Derby in the miles south of Inchelium, contains a Wells Dam Pool of the Columbia River. few native redband Tribal Fish and Wildlife and state Fish and rainbows and naturally spawning brook Wildlife. trout. The portion of Wells Reservoir from the The creek, which gets little pressure Okanogan County shore between the base from area anglers, is best fished after of Chief Joseph Dam and state Highway 17 spring runoff. bridge is closed to all fishing. The bigger fish, which start at 13 The portion of Wells Reservoir inches, can be found in backed-up water downstream of Chief Joseph Dam from the behind beaver dams. boundary marker to the Corps of The lower two-thirds of the creek Engineers safety zone marker is closed to borders private land, so anglers should fishing from a floating device. seek landowner permission before Fishing for white sturgeon is prohibited. fishing.
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