North 40 Fly Shop eMagazine September 2018 | Page 22

The upper section runs from Riverside to the
city of Oroville. There are only two launches
that I would recommend on this stretch of the
river. One launch is at a pump station located
a couple miles north of Ellisforde off Highway
97 and the other launch is at the bridge as you
come into Oroville on Highway 97.
Fishing for smallmouth on the Okanogan is a
little different than in a pond or a lake. The main
factor is the moving water. Even though the
Okanogan River has a slower current this time
of the year, it still has current. The fish are going
to be holding out of the current, most of the
time, and in areas that have cover to ambush
passing prey. You will also find them holding
onto the shade side of a seem next to structure.
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Depth is not as big a factor in the river like it
would be in a lake. Depending on the location,
anywhere from three feet to 10 feet is generally
where I find smallmouth holding. Structure such
as large rocks, trees, and overhanging brush are
good places to look. Just like in a lake, you will
need to stay mobile until you locate a couple of
fish. Once located, pay attention to what type
of location the fish are holding in and use this
as a model to locate other holding spots. Large
fish seem to hang out together. Once you find
one, there is a good chance two or three more
will be in the same location. The Okanogan is
host to countless fish in the 10 to 12-inch range.
However, there are fish in the 20 to 22-inch
range that will test your fly gear.