FRIDAY Well it started with a trip to dry falls, and well, that part of the trip ended and the office there. First time to Dry Falls, and well it might be the last I was not impressed with the way it is policed and you have to pay that much to camp and, fish when they say you can or cant. We were hoping to be able to fish till dark and into the night after the long drive there. Since you can't we left. So on to Omak lake we went.Well after arriving late into the night our hopes to fish that night were dashed since we had to start a fire. At least we caught a buzz and were able to get some shuteye for the long day tomorrow. SATURDAY So up at dawn, and after some coffee with a little Baileys (to help our heads) we got on the boat and stared fishing. Ten minutes in FISH ON my buddy hooks a beautiful 28 inch cutty. So 2 hours, and eight fish later (all on buggers) the wind really picked up along with our appetite. So we loaded up the boat and headed west to Winthrop. Once we had some food in our bellies we hit Patterson lake and had a blast. the wind was perfect. It would blow us south at the perfect speed, thus 4 fish on our first drift. Then the wind started north, and four more on that drift. This happened for about five hours, a little rain here or there, with an average of 15 inch fish and the largest being a beat up 25 inch buck. So with our bellies grumbling again it was time to Q up the steak, open that bottle of single malt and air our gripes about this wonderful wold we live in today. so off to Alta lake state park we went. SUNDAY Well after sleeping in and two pots of coffee, we decided to hit he lake. There weren't to many people on the lake so it was calm and relaxing. not much going on though, we tried just about everything including a beer tab as an attractor. But to no avail we got skunked. So back on the long road home and thoughts about the next trip. All in all a good trip and an even better time. (besides gas prices) Feel free to PM me if anyone has any questions:thumb:
I really enjoyed that report, I don't know why. Something about how you told it like a story. Made me jealous. Thanks for the report! :thumb:
Yeah all the fish at Patterson were rainbows. I saw some people catching bass (gear geeks), we were just trolling buggers, red and black combined colors.
Sorry about your Dry Falls experience, when they had more rangers b efore the cutbacks they used to come in just before dark and order you off the lake. Generally fishing real slow right now so you didn't miss much. HOWEVER, you were lucky at Omak. Not sure about camping there but they have strict regs. about alcohol. Several members of this board were ticketed for having open containers in their boat, I believe they will even issue tickets for unopened containers for non-indians if caught on shore. Anyway, you did get some fish!!
Wow great report! a 28 inch cutt!!! thats a dream fish! sounds like the weather wasn't to bad either. glad to hear it was a good time
Nice report, sounds like you had a good time. We were camping at Dry Falls late April and I asked the Ranger at the office about fishing late into the night and she said to fish as late as we like, "the rangers won't lock the gate". I wonder if the enforcement ramps up a bit more when the park gets busy with the spring/summer season. We fished till 9 pm and never had a problem. I feel we could have fished all night if we felt like it. Mike
I've had the same thing happen . . . have been "allowed" to fish until past 2am at Dry Falls and then a month later we've been told to vacate at dusk. For the most part, I've found that park rangers are pretty cool with you if you're cool to them first.
About 15 years ago I noticed people getting ready to night fish when I was taking out. The next year I decided to try it myself. About 1.5 hours after dark, from a bull horn on the other side of the lake, the park ranger said that I had 15 minutes to get off the lake or I was going to get a ticket. I was a half hour away from the boat launch but he didn't give me a ticket. He just wanted to lock the gate. It wa probably the best hour and a half of fishing I can remember. Ironically, I don't think it is illegal to fish at night but I think it is illegal to part there after a certain time. I have considered trying to find someone to shuttle us in and do the all-nighter. It would be worth it.
Great report. First part of the story reminds me of a song "Do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign" I have fished Dry Falls once, the fishing was poor, the road is bad, the parking sucked, got ticked by ticks. I must say it is a beautiful lake in a great place, in fact there is no other place like it in the world. Good to hear about Omak lake (great fish) and I think you got lucky with the tribe as far as camping and drinking. I used to live in Omak and drinking during the day at the beach was O.K. but the tribe would run you out after dark, sometimes.
A couple years back we made friends with one of the tribe members and we given permission to camp at a certain area for the tribe, and have been going there since. I fell very fortunate to be able to do this since it is one of the best spots to fish and stay at the lake. I have found that if you treat an area, and people with respect, good things can happen to you and the people you know.:beer2:
