October is a great month for fishing in the region, and one of the places I try to fish this month of the year is Omak Lake. The ten-mile long lake is only eight miles from the town of Omak, and because it is on the Colville Reservation doesn’t get the attention it deserves. It offers the best fishing for Lahontan cutthroat in the state, and produced the state record for the species, which is just over 18 pounds. One of the challenges to fishing Omak Lake is the condition of the launch at the west end of the lake. It is extremely rough and rutted and I wouldn’t even attempt to put the Mark’s Marine 20-foot Thunder Jet Luxor in here. Anglers with smaller boats can use this launch, with caution. These big cutthroat can be caught from the beach near the launch by fly fishers or anglers casting spinners and spoons. I like to troll for them with and usually fish at the east end of the lake. I have a special box of lures I use at Omak Lake. In it are large plugs, like the J-plugs made by Lure Jensen or Silver Horde Cut Plugs.