By Al Camp
Chronicle staff

     Those hitting the selective fisheries in Okanogan County might want to steer clear of Big Twin, due to winterkill, and Chopaka, due to poor fingerling survival.
     "Heavy ice and snow cover this winter on Big Twin could limit angler success due to possible winterkill," says regional fish biologist Bob Jateff of the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.
     Normally the list of top areas to fly fish in the state would include Big Twin and its fish, which reach 18 inches (yearlings to 12 inches).
     Best bet on opening day will be Blue Lake in the Sinlahekin Wildlife Area.
     Low water levels for the past few years translated to reduced plants in an effort to keep the quality of the fish high, said Jateff.
     As a result, anglers can expect fish in the two-pound range and larger at selective fisheries, he said.
     Most of the selective gear lakes receive only triploid rainbow fingerlings in the three- to four-inch range, said Jateff.
     Bass continue to appear in checks at Chopaka, a cold-water, high-altitude lake where bass and rainbows have managed to co-exist for many years.
     "But recent population checks have indicated very poor fingerling survival for trout, which will result in (the department) proposing Chopaka for a fall 2007 rehab," Jateff said.
     Anglers should check state regulations for differences between fly fishing and selective fishery rules.
     Okanogan County's selective or fly fishing-only lakes include:
     Aeneas Lake: This 61-acre lake located about three miles southwest of Tonasket should be good this year for rainbow and brown trout running 12-18 inches.
     There is a one-fish limit.
     Use of motors, including electric, is prohibited at this fly fishing-only water, except disabled anglers may use electric motors on fly-only waters.
     Anglers must use barbless hooks.
     Cotids, which the lunkers like to eat, enter the lake, which is actually a reservoir for surrounding orchards fed by water pumped from the Okanogan River.
     Brown trout, which continue to be planted to cut down on infestations, feast on the critters to reach 18 inches and larger.
     Expect rainbows averaging 12 inches and carryovers in the 16-inch range. The plant has been reduced a bit to increase size of fish.
     The lake is open April 28 to Oct. 31.
     Anglers should expect windy conditions in the early season when the lake is best fished.
     The lake's water level has remained relatively stable the last few years. Car-topped boats can be launched and toilets are available.
     A plateau overlooking the lake is available for camping, and offers panoramic views of the lake and surrounding hills.
     From Tonasket, travel south a half-mile on County Road No. 7 on the west side of the Okanogan River, then travel west 3.5 miles.
     Big Twin: This 77-acre lake south of Winthrop might have suffered some winterkill this past season, so anglers are advised to contact local sources before making a trip, said Jateff.
     Some triploid rainbows will be planted in Big Twin if winterkill poses a real threat to fishing success, he said.
     A one-fish limit makes fall fishing a good bet. Gas-operated motors are prohibited, but electric motors are allowed. Selective gear rules apply.
     A boat access area has been improved enough to launch smaller boats.
A resort - a good place to check on fishing conditions - and public access with toilets and graveled launch are available.
     Big Twin is two miles south of Winthrop off Highway 20. There are marked turnoffs near Winthrop and Twin Lakes Road near Liberty Bell High school.
     Big Twin's season runs from April 28 to Oct. 31.
     Black Lake: Open April 28 to Oct. 31, this remote, 66-acre lake around the 4,000-foot elevation can be reached over a 5.5-mile trail in the Pasayten Wilderness.
     This is not a fly fishing-only lake or a trophy-fishing lake, but rather a lake falling under the selective fishery rules where bait is illegal because of threatened bull trout.
     Bull trout (Dolly Varden) must be released if caught.
     Black usually is the first lake in the wilderness to become ice free, thus it receives more pressure than many other lakes in the Pasayten.
     The lake has not been planted with rainbow trout for many years.
     Two nearby lakes - Halfmoon (16 acres) and Kidney (13 acres) - contain cutthroat.
     Trailhead for the hike to Black Lake is on Lake Creek, off the Chewuch River Road about 20 miles north of Winthrop.
     Blue Lake (in the Sinlahekin): This 186-acre lake north of Conconully should provide good fishing for rainbow and brown trout running from 12 to 18 inches.
     Selective gear rules are in effect, except electric motors are allowed. One-fish daily limit for trout.
     Anglers fishing deep with flies should do well.
     Open April 28 to Oct. 31, Blue is four miles north of Fish Lake in the Sinlahekin Wildlife Area and about 10 miles north of Conconully.
     There is a graveled launch and toilets available at the handicapped-accessible lake, which lies at an elevation of 1,686 feet.
     Take Pine Creek Road from Highway 97 about 5.5 miles north of Riverside, drive west nine miles past Fish Lake and another four miles north on Sinlahekin Road.
     Blue Lake (near Wannacut Lake): Fishing for Lahontan cutthroats is slow going at this lake located a mile north of Wannacut Lake and three miles southwest of Oroville.
     The 10-acre lake is fairly sterile due to an alkaline condition. Fishing should be good for Lahontan cutthroat up to 16 inches and three pounds.
     There is a one-fish limit for trout. Blue's season is April 28 to Oct. 31. Selective fishery regulations apply. Electric motors are allowed.
     There is a Department of Fish and Wildlife access site with a graveled launch available.
     Chopaka Lake: The popular 149-acre lake, which provides some of the best camp scenery in the county, is located at the 2,900-foot mark on Chopaka Mountain.
     The lake, located six miles north of Loomis, has a season of April 28 to Oct. 31.
     Fly fishing-only is the rule here, for rainbow trout up to 18 inches that thrive on the mayfly hatches.
     There is a one-trout daily limit.
     Fishing should be fair for large rainbows only, as the bass population in the lake finally has impacted fingerling trout survival, said Jateff.
     Chopaka will be proposed for a fall 2007 rehab to remove the undesirable bass species.
     Use of all motors is prohibited.
     Anglers can take up to five bass.
     The lake is best fished the first couple months and the last couple months of the season.
     The first part of the road to the lake is very steep and can be extremely rough in April. The road is impassable to large trailers and recreational vehicles.
     A state Department of Natural Resources campground at the lake offers 15 sites, and includes picnic tables, fire pits, a fishing pier and toilets. There is a small graveled boat launch.
     Ell Lake: Fishing prospects are good for rainbow trout in the 12-inch range at this 21-acre lake about 16 miles southeast of Tonasket off Highway 20.
     The trout fishery is maintained by using an aerator to provide oxygen for the fish during winter.
     Plants have been reduced at the lake in an effort to increase fish size.
     The lake has suffered from summer kill in the past. That can affect carryover numbers.
     An aerator maintained by the Okanogan County Fly Fishing Club continues to prevent winterkill.
     Season is April 28 to Oct. 31. A one-fish limit makes fall fishing a good bet. Selective fishery regulations apply. Both electric and gas-operated motors are prohibited.
     A boat launch and toilets are available.
     Take Highway 20 east from Tonasket for about 12 miles, then go south on Aeneas Valley Road for about five miles.
     Grimes Lake: This private lake that's open to the public in northern Douglas County remains a popular selective fishery managed by the fish and wildlife department for Lahontan cutthroat.
     Fishing should be good for Lahontan cutthroat trout up to 22 inches.
     Lures work well the first couple weeks of the season at the lake, followed by fly fishing later. Selective gear rules are in effect, though electric motors are allowed.
     The lake is located north of Jameson Lake and about five miles southeast of Mansfield.
     Grimes, which is leased by the state, has an unique season - June 1 through Aug. 31.
     An 11-plus-pound Lahontan was checked in 1999 at the extremely alkaline lake, which receives 7,000 Lahontan fry each year.
     There is a one-fish limit.
     Access is via a rough dirt road off of Wittig Road south from Mansfield. Parking is limited for the opener.