- Photo courtesy of Charles Scott
Pass Lake is ideal for fishing with a fly rod. The lake is open year-round to fly-fishing only and produces some beautiful trout. It is one of the most popular and productive fly-fishing lakes in western Washington. It is approximately 100 acres in size and this makes it just right for belly boating and casting from certain shore areas. Remember, no
gas-powered boats are allowed.
Although it is legal to keep one fish per day from this lake, the usual crowd of fishers is of the catch and release variety. This is most likely one of the reasons the fishing is good and it is not unusual to catch rainbows that look like mature steelhead. Yes, steelhead! Many of the trout caught are in the 5 pound plus size range. Additionally,
although not commonplace, there are many 18 to 24 inch brown trout days that can be had on this very pleasant lake.
June 9th
Thanks to: Micro Brew
Started early afternoon, 1300, went my usual search - olive woolly with black maribou tail, then to green woolly - nothing. Switched to hare's ear. Caught (2)- (1) 16", which took me down to the backing; (1) 18" - both rainbow. Quit at 1430. One other fisherperson, last I spoke with them, they caught a small brown. No surface activity. Couple of chironomid cases, but not enough to make me think that was the way to go.
Nov. 25, 1999
Thanks to: SWright
Stuffed with whatever trout eat for turkeyday, the rainbows must have been too lethargic to move. I tried everything but to no avail. A few guys were having some luck with chironomids but I guess they didn`t like the ones that I had. Unless something has changed, Pass lake is still catch and release only so you guys, and you know who you are, please put `em back. Someday you`ll get caught and it the fine far outweighs the fish. Even without catching fish, the number of wild animals one can see while on the lake sure makes it all worthwile!
Mar. 15, 1999
Thanks to: Chris Britsch
We headed out onto the lake around 7:00 am and fished the west side until around 11:00. There were a lot of people out on the lake, mainly fishing with chironomids, but not much action at all. It was very windy to the point of white caps (not too fun in a float tube!). As my friend Jesse Nolte and I turned the corner to head back to the boat launch, I got my first strike of the day. I pulled in and released a 23-1/2" 7-pound rainbow! He was caught on a green carey bugger, trolled on the bottom. The long wait was worth it!
Pass Lake - Feb. 28, 1999
Thanks to: Fitter
Saw one good-sized rainbow pulled in on a leach pattern fished on the bottom with a sink tip line. I was fishing a chironomid with no success. May be just a little early for that pattern, who knows? West side of the lake appears to be were the action is. Water temp was 41 degrees, overcast and rainy.
Feb. 20, 1999
Thanks to: Jeff V.
Took a break along with the rain to catch up with an old friend. Spent 2 hours on the lake, me with 1 bite and my partner with 1 spunkie 15 in. rainbow. The water was 42 deg. The next time we'll make more time. Nice to be in the water again.
July 6, 1998
Thanks to: Damien Hooper
Pass Lake was good to me today. The last few times I had been there, it would not
relinquish any of its bounty. Not so today! I was there for approximately 15 minutes
and had hooked a 17" rainbow...FISH ON! Then as the night began to set in, a few
smaller fish began to find my fly irresistible. Needless to say, I am going back
tomorrow.
April 4, 1998
Thanks to: Dennis Dickson
Had a last minute cancellation, so I thought I would sneak up to Pass Lake and
do a liitle fishing. My good friend and assistant guide, Jack McKeehan fished
it a few days ago and swam a bunch of fish. Magnum Choronomids, my favorite.
The water right in front of the boat launch warms first. Sure enough there was
a ton of black and chocolate # 8 shucks all over the shoreline.
I was shown a pattern a few years ago that works super well. It goes like
this:
- #8 mustad 3906 hook
- white antron tail (Stub)
- under body up to thorax- peacock herl
body- chocolate larval lace over pea. herl (wrap wide enough that herl pokes out between wraps of lace.
- Pea. hearl thorax over lead wire (thorax is lead wrapped as under body)
- white Antron horns for primrose Pronounced (fish key in on this primrose)
Other stategies: Mark your anchor rope in five foot increments. Set your
strike indicator to depth of rope. Use a 12 foot leader to 5X and tippet out
from there. The fish today were cruising in 12 to 18 feet of water. The best
single investment you can make as a lakes flyfisher, is buy a Buddy Two fish
finder. I began using these while doing population lake studies (I am also a
biologist when I am not guiding). This portable finder will revolutionize your
fishing.
Double anchor off so your boat doesnt sway. Cast directly down wind. Twitch
your bug occasionally, but mostly leave it still if there is any kind of chop
on the water. As you may be fishing a leader as long as 20 feet, use a corky
pinned with a tooth pick. After the hooked fish settles a little, work the
line back to you, grab the corky and pull out the tooth pick with your teeth,
then fight the fish as normal.
I found only rainbows on this trip. Fat little 12 to 18" footballs. Really
well conditioned. Look for the southern shoreline 3/4 down the lake from the
launch to heat up next. If you like lakes fishing and you need a fun change
from chasing steelhead around (like me!) Beat feet to Pass Lake on a warm
sunny day. You will be glad you did.
If you have any questions, please contact me at www.flyfishsteelhead.com
April 6, 1996
Thanks to Thao Tran for the following report:
Thao fished Pass Lake with his friend Danny and had a pretty good day. Thao had the hot rod
that day and caught 8 fish. They pretty much stayed with chironomids under a strike indicator.
The keys for them according to Thao were to stay on top of the fish and to keep an eye on the
hatching midges and change colors as they noticed a different color hatching.
Thao caught 3 Rainbows of 18" and 1 brown of 19". Thao and Danny have been fishing Pass for a
few years now and have a pretty good idea of where the fish like to feed.
