Lahontan Adventure

**Fishing Report: North Central Washington Lahontan Cutthroat Trout**

This spring, I set out once again for the alkaline lakes of North Central Washington in search of Lahontan cutthroat trout (*Oncorhynchus clarkii henshawi*). These impressive fish, introduced to Washington’s waters, thrive in Lenore and Omak Lakes, where they provide anglers with a unique challenge: big aggressive fish in big aggresive water.

At **Lenore Lake**, conditions were promising. While past poaching and water quality issues hurt the fishery, it has rebounded. Stripping polliwog leeches along the rocky southeastern shoreline produced fair results. It took time to locate the fish, but once I did, they were aggressive, with multiple hookups in rapid succession.

**Omak Lake**, managed by the Colville tribe, remains a standout for its breathtaking scenery and trophy-sized fish. My time at Cow Pie Beach was slow, but Beer Can Beach delivered exceptional action. The highlight of the trip was landing several massive cutthroats over 28 inches using experimental flies from @JeffryDelia.

Prespawn, these fish are highly aggressive and tend to roam in schools. Once located, fast-paced fishing follows, making the effort well worth it. Strong winds cut my day short at Lenore, but overall, the trip was a success. Looking forward to another round with these impressive trout!