By Al Camp
Chronicle staff

     Big news for selective fisheries in Okanogan County will be the addition of Little Twin Lakes to the list starting May 1.
     That's when the next regulation pamphlet takes effect, shifting the popular Methow Valley lake from a split season to regular season - April 26 through Oct. 31.
     The lake will have a one-fish limit. Selective fishing gear restrictions are in effect.
     Sister Big Twin Lake continues to be plagued by winter kill.
     Chopaka will be open, and thanks to the generosity of fish clubs around the state, will include some catchable fish. But the lake is a year away from becoming a great place to fish, says regional fish biologist Bob Jateff of the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.
     The lake west of Loomis recently was rehabilitated because of a smallmouth bass infestation.
     Best bet opening day continues to be Blue Lake in the Sinlahekin Wildlife Area.
     Anglers for the most part can continue to expect fish in the two-pound range at county selective fisheries. Most of the selective gear lakes receive only triploid rainbow fingerlings in the three- to four-inch range, said Jateff.
     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.
     Jateff said he doesn't expect too many carryovers, with most rainbows being in the 11- to 13-inch range following a fall planting.
     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 actually is a reservoir for surrounding orchards and is 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.
     The rainbow plant has been reduced in number but with a bit larger fish so they can survive better.
     Surveys will be made this year to determine best course of action for the future health of Aeneas, said Jateff.
     The lake is open April 26 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 very well may have suffered another winterkill after ice came on early and heavy snow kept it there all winter.
     Some catchable triploid rainbows in the 10- to 12-inch range will be planted.
     "I doubt very seriously there are any carryovers form last year's plant,” said Jateff, who said an aeration system does not appear to be helping.
     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 26 to Oct. 31.
     Black Lake: Open April 26 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.
     "People go there predominantly looking at catching rainbows," Jateff said.
     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 continues to be one of the best in the county for rainbows and browns up to 18 inches.
     Selective gear rules are in effect, except electric motors are allowed. There’s a one-fish daily limit for trout.
     Anglers fishing deep with flies should do well.
     Open April 26 to Oct. 31, Blue is four miles north of Fish Lake in the Sinlahekin Wildlife Area and about 10 miles north of Conconully.
     A graveled launch, campsites and toilets are 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 26 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 26 to Oct. 31.
     Rehabbed last fall to rid the lake of smallmouth bass, Chopaka will receive a plant of about 1,000 catchable rainbows. Several thousand rainbows were planted last fall, too.
     "Anglers will have a little bit of success; the fishing will be OK, but not back to really good fishing until next year," predicted Jateff.
     Several state fly clubs, including the Okanogan County Fly Club, chipped in money to purchase larger regular rainbows to be planted this spring. They’re in the in the pound to pound-and-a-half range.
     Fly fishing-only is the rule here, where rainbows enjoy a hardy diet of mayfly hatches.
     There is a one-trout daily limit. Use of all motors is prohibited.
     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 remain 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. Drought conditions the past few years have reduced water levels.
     Plants have been reduced at the lake in an effort to increase fish size.
     The lake's water level remains low, causing it to suffer from summer kill and reduce the number of carryovers.
     An aerator maintained by the Okanogan County Fly Fishing Club continues to prevent winterkill.
     Season is April 26 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, and 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 20 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.
     "Guys that have fished it religiously seem to do quite well," Jateff said.
     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.
     The lake is located north of Jameson Lake and about five miles southeast of Mansfield. Access is via a rough dirt road off of Wittig Road south from Mansfield. Parking is limited for the opener.
     Little Twin Lake: The 24-acre lake south of Winthrop changed to a regular season this year - April 26 through Oct. 31.
     Selective gear rules are in effect for fish in the 10- to 12-inch range. Don't expect carryovers due to winterkill.
     There is a fish and wildlife department access area with toilet and small, graveled boat launch
     Little Twin lies two miles south of Winthrop with marked turnoffs from Highway 20.