Outing to Lake Lenore |
| All photos by Ralph Randall |
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The Place Been towed around in your float tube lately? It happens at Lake Lenore. If you like BIG trout, this is the place for you. A world class fly fishery for giant cutthroat, Lenore is the place for fish that run from 3 to 5 pounds with giants in the double digit class caught almost every week. Located in the Sun Lakes Chain north of Ephrata off Highway 17, Lenore is an easy destination. Float tubes, pontoon boats or drift boats are used with great success. Electric motors are legal and a boat launch is available at the North end of the lake.
The Fish It’s single barbless hooks here, but not fly fishing only. At this time of year many fly patterns work well. Long light leaders and a slew of chironomid colors are called for here. Fish them from a floating line with a strike indicator. Intermediate lines work well with a variety of patterns, including Wolly Worms, Leach patterns, Wolly Buggers, and Nyrgus nymphs. Use large "buggy" patterns and kick troll around the lake with a lot of line out. Flies The favorite starter patterns are mostly streamers, such as buggers
and leach patterns. Count on chironomids and callibaetis followed by an
awesome damsel hatch. Nine-foot, 4x leader fished with 4- to 6-weight tackle
is my suggestion. 
Camping There is camping at Soap Lake, just 5 miles south of the lake. This site is a first come first serve facility with full hook-ups. Also several motels located in Soap Lake are available. Some of these are very reasonable in price. Directions Take Hwy. 84 east to Biggs Junction. Cross the river and follow Hwy. 97 to Toppenish. Go through Toppenish to Hwy. 82. Follow Hwy. 82 to Ellensburg. Take Hwy. 90 east to George. Take Hwy. 283 To Ephrata and Hwy. 28 to Soap Lake. Lenore is just north of Soap Lake on Hwy. 17.Contact To contact the outing fishmaster, see the club calendar. |
