Similkameen River or Okanogan River

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FlyHunt

Smolt
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Hey everyone,

Just curious if anyone has experience fly fishing either the Okanogan River or Similkameen River over near Loomis, WA, mainly during the July–September timeframe.

Not looking for any specific spots or honey holes by any means — mostly just wondering if either of these rivers are actually worth spending some time on from the bank with a fly rod, particularly for trout.

We’ve got a family cabin over by Palmer Lake, and while I’ve asked around before about Chopaka Lake, it got me wondering about the rivers in the area since we travel over that way quite a bit during summer. I don’t hear a ton about trout fishing on the Okanogan or Similkameen, so figured I’d ask those who may know the area a little better.

Has anyone had decent luck fishing either river for trout? If so, any general tips, seasonal insight, or things worth knowing before giving them a try?

Also, does anyone have a fly shop, guide, or local resource they’d recommend reaching out to for information on either river?

Appreciate any insight — thanks!
 
FYI, two weeks ago the Okanagan River was running really muddy. That may change by the time July rolls around. You are more likely to find smallmouth bass in it instead of trout. The Similkameen is a better option for trout. Be sure to check the regulations above Enloe dam.
 
Roper said:
FYI, two weeks ago the Okanagan River was running really muddy. That may change by the time July rolls around. You are more likely to find smallmouth bass in it instead of trout. The Similkameen is a better option for trout. Be sure to check the regulations above Enloe dam.
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Thank you! Do you recommend any shops or places I can look for potential fly selection by chance?
 
There are no fly shops in the area. But I’m going to ask @Buzzy for some input on this. I have not personally fished the river yet, but it is on my to do list.
 
Awesome thank you! Yeah my wife's family has a cabin on palmer lake which has some awesome fishing opportunities but I have just seen the surrounding rivers/ creeks that look like some cool scenery and wanted to test my luck at fishing them and just wanted to see if there was anyone out there who may have some knowledge on the Similkameen, sinlahekin creek or the Okanagan. Thanks again!
 
Not a fly specific shop but North 40 in Omak has (or had) a limited fly section. I don’t recall if I found anything that floated my boat but, it’s a cool store.
 
I used to live in Omak and in the summer evenings I would go down to the bridge and wade the river using a small white grub and catch more small mouth bass than I could count, some up to 3 lbs.
I fished the Similkameen river a couple times above the dam on my friends mining claim.
Caught some fisty RB's up 14".
In the fall during upland bird season I would hunt quail and pheasants along the Okanogan river and watch the salmon spawning.
 
I have lived within spitting distance of both rivers for over 50 years. Short answer, don't waste your time! For many years I spent hours and hours studying hatches, turning over hundreds of rocks, begging the local fish biologist to plant some trout, and trying to get the few fly fishermen (most were really fly trollers) that inhabit the area to help establish some kind of fishery on the Similkameen with no success. I did manage to plant a bunch of left-over brown trout that eventually showed up years later in the Columbia. Next came baby Steelhead with the thought that these vigorous fish could withstand the spring floods which also fizzled out.

There were a few years when I was able to catch and release about 10 Steelhead a year. I consider myself a very poor fly fisherman when it comes to Steelheading so I was elated to catch these magnificent fish in the desert valley.

Now I fight the Army Core of Engineers from trying to make things even worse by revitalizing a dam that has not produced energy for decades. There is recently a push to remove the dam for which I would be glad to share info on if anyone is interested. If you have ever traveled into BC to follow the Similkameen farther north you would be quite surprised by the beauty of this once productive, anadromous, fishery. I have an old copy of Fishing Washington paperback with a where to/how to BC portion in the back. My favorite passage tells the story of Princeton, BC folks catching salmon and steelhead near the town bridge.

Some years, even the white fish that inhabit the Similkameen turn belly up due to long periods of heat and drought. But, that's another story.

As for the Okanogan, pretty much the same story with tales of a few bass if you can withstand the summer heat. As mentioned earlier please read up on the regs especially above Enloe dam.

Keep going north until you hit Prince George and maybe in a cooler, wetter, summer you might catch a few trout.
 
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