Browns Lake:
Contains only cutthroat. (Several years ago there were some sterile rainbows planted in the lake but they are no longer around if they are they are really big.) No brookies in the stream.
The Spokane Fly Fishing Club has tried to make the little stream that flows into Browns Lake a natural reproducing stream. They have added gravel, made some little fish ladders to enhance the possibility of spawing. I have fished Browns Lake for years, 20+. I have never seen any sizeable trout in the stream, I can't remember seeing any trout in the stream. From the middle of July until the end of October the stream is usually so small that it would be difficult for any sizable trout to go upsteam. In the Spring the stream is big enough for spawning. I am not certain that the efforts to turn the little stream into an effective spawning stream has been fruitful.

Keith

 

Keith, I haven't fished Browns since Oct 07 but we caught 4 rainbows for every cutthroat and were really disappointed. What's the deal? In past years the cutts were a real delight in the fall but those highly colored fish seemed to have been replaced with bleached out looking rainbow zombies. Anybody else notice this? Ive

 

I fished the lake in July and only managed 3 or 4 cutts all day. The rest were rainbows or cuttbows. Even last summer I was catching many more cutts.

 

Supposedly the rainbows are a temporary fix because the hatchery had some problems a few years ago. I didn't know they had stocked it again. They supposedly are sterile rainbows. I wonder if they did the same with Yokum? Time to ask the department of fish and wildlife. I usually hit those two lakes in the fall. Several years ago we came across rainbows. We were told they would be out of the system in a couple of years because they were sterile. But, maybe they have changed their policy towards Browns Lake. Or maybe some of those "sterile" rainbows weren't all that sterile. I don't know.

Keith

 

1. Restoration of the stream was a joint effort of USFS, Spokane Fly Fishers, Inland Empire Fly Club, and Spokane Falls TU. it was a lot of fun, and it worked. The cutts are reproducing quite well. Alice Deaver was proud, and should be proud of the results.
2. Small cutts here always looked like small rainbow. Theyr'e probably native cutts.
3. The sterile rainbow are mostly gone by now.
4. There's no percentage in fishing the creek, the fish are in the lake.
5.Had a great day Friday pre-Labor day, many fish to 16 inches. I hope for more size next year in the cycle. Good damsel hatch.
6. Browns lake has more poachers than ever. 2 old men who shouldv'e known better took pictures of their stringers of fish, well over the size limit, one had a dozen fish on it, and they went fishing right after. Damn proud they were too. I didn't have cell coverage, so I couldn't turn them in during business hours, but I did phone them in later and leave a message. I couldn't chew em out in person because I left a companion on the beach and didn't feel safe leaving her there with them after.

Frankly, this area is so overrun by poachers it isn't even funny. DFW does a great disservice to those of us investing our volunteer time and money in fisheries restoration only to see the benefits delivered to toothless ozarker poachers. How about some enforcement, boys?

 

"4. There's no percentage in fishing the creek, the fish are in the lake." This is not true. last time i camped around there, i saw a bunch of about 15 inch cutts in the creek. That was last year though in early spring.

 

"4. There's no percentage in fishing the creek, the fish are in the lake." This is not true. last time i camped around there, i saw a bunch of about 15 inch cutts in the creek. That was last year though in early spring.

Why even ask the question? If you saw fish in the spring, drive your happy-ass back up there and find out for yourself whether fish are in the creek year round.

 

Yes there are fish in the creek in the early spring, generally before the season begins. If you want to "fish" for spring spawners it's up to you. And as to the rest of it, it's my experience. Your mileage may vary.

 

I'm glad to see their (USFS, Spokane Fly Fishers, Inland Empire Fly Club, and Spokane Falls TU) efforts rewarded! But I imagine they are still stocking the lake with trout who had their beginnings in Kings Lake down the road. Surprised to hear about poachers. Usually there are fly fishers who will jump them. Probably fishing with bait.

Keith

 

LT, that was a little harsh...

 

No, not really.

 

iagree

You are begining to sound like me. :thumb::thumb: There are people out there that would rather ask about a place instead of going out and looking for themselves.

You never know, but you might find something interesting in your travels. But they don't want to travel. They just want to ask. It's sad.

Jim

 

I also dont understand the question because you said you have already been there. just go check it out again. I ask for plenty of background info for water on this site but you have to just go out and learn the detailed stuff for your self:thumb: (i find its more rewarding that way as well). browns lake is a great lake. my uncle has been there alot. i have been there once in late fall and i froze my butt off, im sure i will be back. It is great to hear that the spokane flyfisning clubs efforts have payed off. i have only caught Bows there tho.