Conserve

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Winter fish kills have been a challenge in the Methow Valley for as long as fish have been being stocked in the local lakes. In the late 2000's the Methow Valley Fly Fishers, with authorization from WDFW, and support from other Washington fly clubs, directed club funds to install aerators in Big Twin Lake in order to reduce winter kill mortality. The operation proved to be a success, and the quality of carry over fish in Big Twin has been impressive. In 2020 the program was expanded and funds were directed to install aerators in Little Twin Lake. The current challenge is maintenance of the 20 year old diffusers in Big Twin. In the summer of 2025, the club had a work party and successfully replaced the diffusers. In spring of 2026 they plan to replace the hoses with longer weighted air lines to move the system into deeper water. All this work has been done by club volunteers.

Those that have fished Lake Chopaka have seen an alarming drop in the water level over the past several years. Many of us attributed this to long term drought that has plagued most of the regions in the state of Washington. But, a joint discovery by members of the Okanogan Fly Club and Methow Fly Fishers uncovered that a diversion dam, built in 1987 to divert water from Chopaka Creek into the Lake had been vandalized. No water had been flowing from the creek into the lake for likely the past several years. In a continued joint effort, the two clubs petitioned WDFW to repair the dam and restore flow into the lake. Due to favorable weather conditions and community support the diversion was restored in late November 2025. The seasonal water rights should have water flowing from October to May, and we are optimistic that the lake levels will be restored.

The Methow Valley Fly Fishers have helped make improvements to many of the facilities in the valley. In 2015 they graded and graveled the boat ramp at Little Twin Lake to make it easier to launch a trailered boat there. They are currently working with the landowner at the Riverbend launch on the Methow River to implement a plan to improve that launch for all river users, not just fishermen. They have also been instrumental in installing no parking signs to keep people from accidentally blocking access to launch sites.