Rock Lake, Whitman County - Big Rainbows & Browns

[Fritz]

I have been fishing at Rock Lake for a few years now and have had only moderate success. My friend and I usually catch 1 to 3 fish each per day of fishing. I know that there are some very large Rainbows in Browns in this body of water. Our primary fishing techniques are trolling and stripping various nymph patterns on sinking flylines.

We usually fish green and black damselfly & minnow patterns, prince nymphs, crawfish patterns, & wolley buggers, generally size 2 to 10. Our presentation is either via a slow troll on sinking lines (rio deep 6&7s), or sometimes I cast to shore, let the fly sink to the bottom, & strip in quickly. We are currently planning on developing and testing some much larger patterns based off of steelhead minnow patterns and bunny leaches.

I am set on figuring this lake out. Despite not catching a ton of fish when I go there, I beleive that it can be done, large fish included. I intend to do this on a flyrod.

Is there anyone who has had better success at this lake or similar lakes? I would highly appreciate any input regarding patterns, sizes, & presentation. Are there any specific parts of the lake anyone recommends fishing more than others?

Thanks

[Keith Hixson]

Rock Lake is an extremely large lake (as you know) and extremely large lakes means its more difficult to locate the trout just because of size. Probably need to get a fish finder and search. Once you find where they are bunched up, then you'll have success. Not a traditional fly fishing technique. I have relatives that live in the St. John area and fish the lake. (Gear Fishers) But their methods seem to work for them.

Keith

[ceviche]

From looking at the WDFW regs, it looks like Rock Lake is a year-around lake. Since it's open during the winter, I'd hit it then and keep an eyeball open on the shallows for the rainbows. Admittedly, winter is when browns spawn--so I wouldn't expect to find the browns in the lake. Look elsewhere?

Finding trout in winter isn't that difficult--despite their being spread out. Just look for habitat that would normally host a food source during the rest of the year. Think of dragonlies, for instance. Where would you find these year-around nymphs? Where there should be food, you should find at least some trout. On the upside, when food is scarce, the largest fish will out-compete lesser siblings. All too often, on a cloudy, winter day, I've found them piggies rooting around in the shallows--as in water less than 3 ft deep!

Layer up with fleece, wear your neoprene waders, and catch some fatties!

--Dave E.

[dbaken]

Not sure if this will help much, but about 12 years ago, I fished Rock Lake about 7-8 times while going to school in Pullman (and was a gear fisherman in those days). We caught quite a few browns - including one 25+. We trolled crawdad shaped plugs, and most of the fish had beat up noses, probably from poking in the rocks for crawdads. There was one sure-fire spot, on an underwater ridge in the center of the lake where the depth rose to about 15 feet. Which should be manageable for a sinking fly line. I'd be more specific about where the ridge is, but my memory is kind of foggy now days.

Anyways, it's a great lake to fish, good luck!

[JollyRoger]

If you go to washingtonlakes.com you can find topographical maps - that might help finding that ridge.

[Jack Murphy]

I fished there while I lived in college and a few times since I left.

It is a terrible lake and I never caught any fish...stay away from it because people always drown in it and the bodies are never found. ;)

[Fish Fungus]

You should try a fly called The Big Show! This fly has produced many large fish in rivers and lakes all over the globe. It has a natural silhouette and swimming action that fish cannot resist.

[Keith Hixson]

You should try a fly called The Big Show! This fly has produced many large fish in rivers and lakes all over the globe. It has a natural silhouette and swimming action that fish cannot resist.


Okay, I'll take the "bait" never heard of the "BIG SHOW". Show us a pic and sizes.

Keith

[ceviche]

Okay, I'll take the "bait" never heard of the "BIG SHOW". Show us a pic and sizes.

Keith

Took One For the Team! :beer2:

[ceviche]

Watch for swallows to show you where the chironomids are hatching. If you're lucky, there will be fish rising there. Bring emerger patterns.

Otherwise, look for bug habitat. That means shoreline trees in the water, weedbeds, or tules. Where there is food, there will be fish. Right now, the weather has been so cold that trout can be found in the shallows still. That means water that's 15 feet and less. Yesterday, I caught a 12" brown that was in water that had to have been easily less than 2 feet. I caught it by casting a #16 soft hackle nymph w/in a yard of the shore. I maybe got off one strip of the fly before the trout was on.

The best weapon you have is your knowledge. Keep that edge sharp.

[Dustin Bise]

at risk of spilling the beans, there is a large point/shoal system along the southeast shoreline. I would start there. good luck!! also im sure that the inlet and outlet provide fish with suitable habitat.

[Dustin Bise]

this should help you.

http://washingtonlakes.com/TopoMaps/8122325_RockMapWhitman.gif

[Keith Hixson]

Took One For the Team! :beer2:

Curiosity I guess.:rofl:

If you are going to tell about a fly, at least give a description or pic if it isn't a standard fly.

Keith

[constructeur]

Watch for swallows to show you where the chironomids are hatching. If you're lucky, there will be fish rising there. Bring emerger patterns.


hey and sometimes if the fish aren't biting the swallows might be :ray1:

[Keith Hixson]

Use size 22 or smaller hooks if you plan to catch a swallow. They have small beaks. :D

Keith

[obiwankanobi]

You should try a fly called The Big Show! This fly has produced many large fish in rivers and lakes all over the globe. It has a natural silhouette and swimming action that fish cannot resist.

Big Show = Banjo Minnow?:confused:

[Fritz]

Big Show = Banjo Minnow?:confused:

Is there a fly version of this banjo minnow? It appears that the banjo minnow is a plastic lure:

http://www.banjominnow.com/

[ceviche]

I think Fish Fungus needs to be made an acquaintance with the back of someone's hand. The single poster that he is... May he fall victim to the Nigerian Letter. :p

[Keith Hixson]

We could glue a banjo minnow to a hook with gorilla glue and call it a streamer and fly fish with it.:D

Keith

[Stonefish]

Is there a fly version of this banjo minnow? It appears that the banjo minnow is a plastic lure:

http://www.banjominnow.com/

That would be the Gummy Minnow, although it won't play the soundtrack from Deliverance or make you squel like a pig.

[Jason B]

We could glue a banjo minnow to a hook with gorilla glue and call it a streamer and fly fish with it.:D

Keith

I "tied" up some streamers with little plastic rubber bass worms once and added some feathers here and there.

The trick is you have to put the worm on the hook and than rap some duct tape around it because your thread will slice the worm. After the layer of duct tape is wrapped around the worm, add a base layer of thread and tie away. It will feel mushy but the flies come out looking juicy and delicious and swim like a perfect bass minnow.

It will cast like HELL and is easier fished on a spinning rod but you can troll it NP on a fly rod.

I ended up catching a lot of big trout on it and some salmon one day out in the sound.

So anyway....it can be done.....

[Fish Fungus]

Hey Sorry about the slow response but some of us actually fish. The Big Show is a large minnow pattern that uses a 1 ott steelhead hook with alot of weight and a light colored belly. This pattern can be tied with a trailing hook or not. The bigger the better, this fly should look like a 3 to 6 inch minnow when it is complete. It is historicly tied with a black olive body or a gray white and black body as to imitate a spiny ray or a trout. Use your imagination BE THE FISH THAT YOU ARE AND THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU WOULD EAT... Oh YA Rocks in the Lake...YA

[Keith Hixson]

A pic would be nice. I can tie most anything I see.


Keith

[obiwankanobi]

Fish Fungus: Can you please increase the font in your reponses just a hair more? My eyesight is getting worse these days, especially on this 11" * 18" screen.