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Rat Lake Report
Okanogan County, WA

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Details

01/11/2009
Ice Fishing
Rainbow Trout
Power Bait
Pink
Hook & Bait
All Day
01/11/2009
5
8589

Rat Lake
County: Okanogan
Latitude: 48.17591270696
Longitude: -119.80810116788
Driving Directions: Take Paradise Hill Road, Brewster, WA
Slow down and be careful at the cattle guard because the ice really piles up.

Made a trip up to Rat Lake today 01/11/09. The day was beautiful. High clouds, no wind and outside temp hovered around 35 most of the day. The ice right now is running a good 10" (Thick enough so that this old man had to take a break from the 8" auger about half way through) me and friend drilled only two holes and each caught our limit from our respective holes within an hour. Pink Power bait was the ticket today. I caught five rainbows and friend caught four rainbows and one cut throat, all about 12 inches. I talked with several other fishing parties and they all had similar luck to ours. If you go to Rat Lake make sure to dress for the weather and it really helps to take along a good heat source. The weather can turn very nasty and very cold very quickly. As soon as the sun drops, you can count on the temperature going with it.


Comments

G-Man
1/12/2009 9:45:00 AM
Great report and good info. Mmm, hard water trout. Them's good eatin'.
blufin loui
1/12/2009 11:20:00 PM
Hey ya Big D
Only been to Rat years ago, but always heard success stories. To much water (ice) and not enough time.
Sounds like a feast in the making.
Good report
Big D
1/13/2009 8:42:00 AM
Thanks Lewis,
I found the B-2 squids online for what I think is a good price. Let me know if your interested.
blufin loui
1/13/2009 1:23:00 PM
Got some on the way. bought two colors (motor oil & root beer) in bulk. Thanks for thinkin of me though. we've only used the squid 4-5 trips now, and only one time they didn't produce. Strange day on the water. Only got one hit on the squids. had to go to a small plastic to get action, but they sure draw the attention of the trout on the other trips out. Did you try the electric motor for fishing in RW, if so how did it work for you.
jpd45acp
1/19/2009 6:38:00 PM
How did you access the lake ?
Big D
1/19/2009 8:11:00 PM
Hello jpd45acp,
Take Paradise Hill Road North out of Brewster. About five or six miles up Paradise Hill road you will come to a road that veers to the right off of the main road and is marked with a cattle guard. Cross the cattle guard and follow this road into the lake. Drive slowly because of the cattle in the area. As you travel up this road you will come to a Y in the road. Stay on the lower left road. If you veer right you will have to go through a deer fence gate and be heading up hill into an orchard. There is also a small fire wood logging operation going on in this area so watch out for people and equipment. The day we were up at Rat Lake the road had been plowed all the way to the boat launch area which was wonderful. I commented to my fishing buddy that we could have driven my Honda. You will come to a parking area and from there you can take the short 30 foot trail down to the lake. It's about a twenty minute walk on the ice to the other end of the lake. We used to walk to the other end before the lake was poisoned by WDFW a couple of years ago because that was where the larger fish used to be. Now just about anywhere you fish the fish will all be about the same size. I did talk to a person the other day on the lake that said that the lake had been stocked with Triploids, Rainbows, Tiger Trout and Cutthroats. We caught several Rainbows and one cutthroat. It is a very beautiful area with lots of deer and other wildlife so be sure to bring your camera.
Good luck.
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Available Guide

Available Fishing Guide:
Website: Darrell & Dads Family Guide Service

Phone: (509) 687-0709