Hike in only fishing

[T-Dozzer]

Howdy,
The wife has agreed to do some over-night hike in only fishing with me. Preferably high elevation & away from people. We're around North Bend, so close would be nice, but not necessary. 1-4 nights out os fine. Anyone care to share some good lakes to hike into to?

Thanks

[Skyvalhunter]

On trail or off. Head up the North Fork of the Snoqualmie. Hit Williams, Hardscrabble, etc you can't go wrong

[fly-by]

This is a good resource.

https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/locations/high-lakes

[huntnfmly]

Colchuck and chain lakes we use to go up there when we were kidsgreat place.
I believe they are in the alpine wilderness area

[Zuus]

Not far from you is the trailhead up to the Derrick Lakes and Wildcat lakes. Both sets are beautiful, but somewhat rugged hikes. Good fishing too!

[birdshooter1189]

I used to have pretty good luck on brook trout 6-14" at Cottonwood lake.  It's off the lake Kacheess exit on I-90, past lost lake.  It's an easy 1.5 or so mile hike to a low elevation, small alpine lake.  Most people hike past it to mirror lake.  Mirror lake is higher and more scenic.  I always had better luck fishing at the lower lake.

[jstone]

Tagging along
Used to do this as a kid. Want to get back into it.!

[T-Dozzer]

Tagging along
Used to do this as a kid. Want to get back into it.!

Me too, but on other side of state. My kids are 6 & 4 now. Want to make sure I provide some memories doing the same thing.

Appreciate everyone's suggestions

[Katmai Guy]

Lake Lillian and Laura up off the end of Gold creek rd on the N side of I-90. Get some thermacells and bug headnets.

[Bill W]

If I had a beginning hiker I'd only target lakes with trails to them initially.

[T-Dozzer]

If I had a beginning hiker I'd only target lakes with trails to them initially.

Agreed. Kids aren't quite ready yet. Wife & I are fine getting off ttail. She is used to my questionable adventures 😬

[cbond3318]

If I had a beginning hiker I'd only target lakes with trails to them initially.

Agreed. Kids aren't quite ready yet. Wife & I are fine getting off ttail. She is used to my questionable adventures 😬

I did most of my high country lake fishing north of there a ways but, if you do want to get those littles into a gorgeous high country lake with easy kid access head to N Idaho, I got the perfect one! I posted a vid from this summer with my 5 and 7yr old boys (High Country Smiles). Never too young!! 

[fly-by]

If I had a beginning hiker I'd only target lakes with trails to them initially.

Agreed. Kids aren't quite ready yet. Wife & I are fine getting off ttail. She is used to my questionable adventures 😬

 Two pretty easy day hikes to start out:  Lodge and Annette.  Also, some of the "beginner lakes" on the WDFW site are really not.  e.g. Philippa.

[CaNINE]

Alpine lakes fishing is one of the best things we have going in this state.  So many beautiful places, so many fish, too little time.  Researching and exploring is half of the fun!

[T-Dozzer]

Sounds like alot of the alpine lakes have formal camp sites & are often busy. Anyone know if this is accurate?

[T-Bone]

If planning to do soon...I would have to think the majority of alpine lakes this time of year are frozen over and the lakeside camping is in heavy snow. The majority of those access roads aren't plowed, either.

The WA State Fishing Guide by Terry Sheely gives some good choices by county to check out in nicer weather. Many are a short drive off I-90.

[avidnwoutdoorsman]

Foss Rivers and Lakes. This system will keep you busy for days and days. I fished at Copper and Malichite. Lots of alpine cutthroat to be chased. Loved shiny things. They Would attack my swivel lots of times.

https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/trip-reports/trip_report.2014-08-22.1988916357

[The Marquis]

Check the list of over-abundant fisheries on the wdfw site.  If you want to catch a lot of fish, those are great bets. 

[Pathfinder101]

Tagging along. Done some of this in Idaho, but not Wa.

[Skyvalhunter]

T he larger lakes like Copper, big heart, malachite, etc have decent number of fish you will be lucky to catch anything larger than 12" which is fine if that's what you seek. We don't stock those lakes they are naturally reproducing.

[T-Dozzer]

Appreciate all the info 

[Skyvalhunter]

The ones with trails will typically have camp sites at them. In the past few years with the increase in Wa state population combined with social media alot of the areas are over crowded.  Websites like NW Hikers and WTA have really exposed the lesser known areas. The trend on NW Hikers now is no pictures or trip reports because of people's favorite areas being targeted.

[AL WORRELLS KID]

T-Dozzer, One of our favorite Alpine lakes for Rainbow, (that you have to bushwhack into, about a half mile) is right across the mountain from Annette Lake at Snoqualime Pass called Scout Lake with way less Folks around than Annette has.
Doug

[T-Dozzer]

T-Dozzer, One of our favorite Alpine lakes for Rainbow, (that you have to bushwhack into, about a half mile) is right across the mountain from Annette Lake at Snoqualime Pass called Scout Lake with way less Folks around than Annette has.
Doug

Appreciate the tip. I've actually looked at it on the msp before abd wondered. Im assuming you can overnight camp in there?

[Skyvalhunter]

You can pretty much camp overnight any lake you have to hike into.

[jstone]

Tagging
Would like to get back into mountain lake fishing

[MonstroMuley]

...  Mirror lake is higher and more scenic.  ...

  Mirror Lake! … easy and great first timer hike and fish'n …

Check the list of over-abundant fisheries on the wdfw site.  If you want to catch a lot of fish, those are great bets. 

WDFW Overabundant link ...
https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/locations/high-lakes/overabundant?name=&county=All&species=

[mcrawfordaf]

Has anyone got to Lyman? It looks like you'd have to take a boat from Chelan to Holden village and hike in from there? Or the cloudy pass trail from the north.