Rock Lake Winter Outing

Host: Chip O’brien

Never Fished Rock Lake?  Why not!  In the last couple of season’s they’ve stocked 14,000 rainbows, 27,000 triploid rainbow trout, and 14,200 brown trout.  in 2022 they stocked 257,000 rainbows and 83,000 brown trout!

Another well written article from Chip on Rock Lake, check it out!

https://houseoffly.com/blog/Rock-Lake-Dreams-Facts-Legends?srsltid=AfmBOor8IdkL-RXU-FoPkfr8-5x49jH11zktEsOPJzey00GCd3Srj7_j

There’s also a vault toilet and a rustic boat launch, but no potable water.

Fishing: At 2189 acres, Rock is the largest, deepest Channeled Scabland lake in Eastern Washington and because of that, it is one of the only that does not freeze in the winter. Regarded as a terrific rainbow trout, brown trout and bass fishery, fly anglers usually target the big, meaty trout. It is rumored that Rock lake holds the state record size Brown trout. Rock Lake is open year round to fishing. There are no special angling regulations on Rock Lake, so the general harvest limit is five trout per day, flies, lures and bait are all permitted.  If in a boat remember your PFD (personal floatation device) and a whistle (seriously). The wind is notorious to whip up without warning here, so stay diligent!

Rock Lake Access: From Spokane head west on I90, take exit 270 to 904 South to the town of Cheney, WA. Proceed through downtown Cheney and turn left on South Cheney Plaza Rd.  South Cheney Plaza Rd eventually turns into Rock Lake Rd.  The Lake access, launch ramp and meeting point is exactly 27 miles south of that Left Turn off Hwy 270 in Cheney. There is good shore access right in this area, but you will typically be sharing it with a generous population of gear anglers. Bring a PFD!

Gear: It is best to always bring two rods, one with a floating line and the other a super-fast, full-sinker. Early and late in the day fishing the floating line first and hang chironomids or balanced leeches under a strike indicator. When the shallow-water fishing begins to taper off (generally as the day heats up) you can switch to the full-sinking setup. You can do a slow troll from either a boat or float tube in areas of the lake that have depth and dropoff areas with streamers, damselfly or  balanced leeches.  Bring a PFD!

Flies: Streamers, Balanced leeches, Chironomids.  A great go to fly that has shown great success here is the Vampire mini leech by Phil Rowley, either on a full sink or hung under an indicator.

Bring a PFD!