Hunting Washington Forum

Other Activities => Fishing => Topic started by: T-Dozzer on December 12, 2019, 10:04:26 PM

Title: Hike in only fishing
Post by: T-Dozzer on December 12, 2019, 10:04:26 PM: 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
Title: Re: Hike in only fishing
Post by: Skyvalhunter on December 13, 2019, 05:22:09 AM: On trail or off. Head up the North Fork of the Snoqualmie. Hit Williams, Hardscrabble, etc you can't go wrong
Title: Re: Hike in only fishing
Post by: fly-by on December 13, 2019, 05:41:16 AM: This is a good resource.

https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/locations/high-lakes
Title: Re: Hike in only fishing
Post by: huntnfmly on December 13, 2019, 06:08:43 AM: Colchuck and chain lakes we use to go up there when we were kidsgreat place.
I believe they are in the alpine wilderness area
Title: Re: Hike in only fishing
Post by: Zuus on December 13, 2019, 06:16:08 AM: 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!
Title: Re: Hike in only fishing
Post by: birdshooter1189 on December 13, 2019, 06:19:29 AM: 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.
Title: Re: Hike in only fishing
Post by: jstone on December 13, 2019, 07:36:37 AM: Tagging along
Used to do this as a kid. Want to get back into it.!
Title: Re: Hike in only fishing
Post by: T-Dozzer on December 13, 2019, 07:44:36 AM: Quote from: jstone on December 13, 2019, 07:36:37 AM
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
Title: Re: Hike in only fishing
Post by: Katmai Guy on December 13, 2019, 08:22:25 AM: 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.
Title: Re: Hike in only fishing
Post by: Bill W on December 13, 2019, 08:42:13 AM: If I had a beginning hiker I'd only target lakes with trails to them initially.
Title: Re: Hike in only fishing
Post by: T-Dozzer on December 13, 2019, 08:50:33 AM: Quote from: Bill W on December 13, 2019, 08:42:13 AM
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 😬
Title: Re: Hike in only fishing
Post by: cbond3318 on December 13, 2019, 08:53:56 AM: Quote from: T-Dozzer on December 13, 2019, 08:50:33 AM
Quote from: Bill W on December 13, 2019, 08:42:13 AM
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!! :tup:
Title: Re: Hike in only fishing
Post by: fly-by on December 13, 2019, 08:54:24 AM: Quote from: T-Dozzer on December 13, 2019, 08:50:33 AM
Quote from: Bill W on December 13, 2019, 08:42:13 AM
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.
Title: Re: Hike in only fishing
Post by: CaNINE on December 13, 2019, 10:46:02 AM: 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!
Title: Re: Hike in only fishing
Post by: T-Dozzer on December 13, 2019, 04:07:36 PM: Sounds like alot of the alpine lakes have formal camp sites & are often busy. Anyone know if this is accurate?
Title: Re: Hike in only fishing
Post by: T-Bone on December 17, 2019, 06:47:00 AM: 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.
Title: Re: Hike in only fishing
Post by: avidnwoutdoorsman on December 17, 2019, 11:46:10 AM: 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
Title: Re: Hike in only fishing
Post by: The Marquis on December 17, 2019, 01:40:16 PM: Check the list of over-abundant fisheries on the wdfw site. If you want to catch a lot of fish, those are great bets.
Title: Re: Hike in only fishing
Post by: Pathfinder101 on December 17, 2019, 06:35:24 PM: Tagging along. Done some of this in Idaho, but not Wa.
Title: Re: Hike in only fishing
Post by: Skyvalhunter on December 17, 2019, 08:03:54 PM: 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. :twocents:
Title: Re: Hike in only fishing
Post by: T-Dozzer on December 17, 2019, 09:10:46 PM: Appreciate all the info :tup:
Title: Re: Hike in only fishing
Post by: Skyvalhunter on December 18, 2019, 06:09:32 AM: 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.
Title: Re: Hike in only fishing
Post by: AL WORRELLS KID on January 28, 2020, 01:38:51 PM: 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
Title: Re: Hike in only fishing
Post by: T-Dozzer on January 28, 2020, 06:27:32 PM: Quote from: AL WORRELLS KID on January 28, 2020, 01:38:51 PM
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?
Title: Re: Hike in only fishing
Post by: Skyvalhunter on January 28, 2020, 07:42:02 PM: You can pretty much camp overnight any lake you have to hike into.
Title: Re: Hike in only fishing
Post by: jstone on January 28, 2020, 08:46:40 PM: Tagging
Would like to get back into mountain lake fishing
Title: Re: Hike in only fishing
Post by: MonstroMuley on January 28, 2020, 10:51:02 PM: Quote from: birdshooter1189 on December 13, 2019, 06:19:29 AM
... Mirror lake is higher and more scenic. ...

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

Quote from: The Marquis on December 17, 2019, 01:40:16 PM
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=
Title: Re: Hike in only fishing
Post by: mcrawfordaf on January 29, 2020, 11:00:54 AM: 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.