Hunting Washington Forum

Other Activities => Fishing => Topic started by: HarborHunter3 on May 06, 2008, 05:02:55 PM

Title: Mountain Lake Fishing?
Post by: HarborHunter3 on May 06, 2008, 05:02:55 PM: I thought I would start a thread to see how many of you fish the highland lakes in the mountains during the summer? Olympics, Cascades, or somewhere on the eastside.

I fish the Olympics myself. I've found that power bait and a bobber work really well. Also a spinner with a worm on a hook brings em in too. The key is not letting the fish see you.

Post up pics if you have em. Unfortunately I don't have any.

Oh and no one is pressuring you to name your spot. Range is enough or a general location.

Cheers

Wes
Title: Re: Mountain Lake Fishing?
Post by: boneaddict on May 06, 2008, 05:36:36 PM: Yep...to not name a few. I think I have two links on here talking about some. I'll find them and add them to your post. Looking forward to some beautiful pics.
Title: Re: Mountain Lake Fishing?
Post by: actionshooter on May 06, 2008, 06:08:19 PM: I will during backpack trips in the Olympics, seeing you are from the Nooch valley we have probably fished some of the same lakes. :)
Title: Re: Mountain Lake Fishing?
Post by: Wea300mag on May 06, 2008, 06:23:58 PM: I've spent a lot of time in the Sawtooths above Twisp: Cooney, Martin, Eagle, Sunrise, Suprise plus many other Lakes. Also, the local lakes for me here in Skagit County area: Upper and Lower Falls, Jordan, Whale, Enjar, Arrowhead. . . .the list goes on and on. I will post some pics when I get home this weekend. I've caught my biggest fish out of Arrowhead (3-4 lbs). Never caught any monsters out of the Sawtooth area but do tend to catch more fish there.
Title: Re: Mountain Lake Fishing?
Post by: boneaddict on May 06, 2008, 06:35:04 PM: http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,608.0.html (http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,608.0.html)
Heres one.
Title: Re: Mountain Lake Fishing?
Post by: popeshawnpaul on May 06, 2008, 06:40:34 PM: I think I've been to every lake in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. I've been to every lake I can think of off US 2. I have a little fetish about golden trout and have hiked countless miles on rumors of the golden trout. I've hiked with Trailblazers and Hi-lakers. Those guys are hard core and do a lot to plant many of these lakes.

As far as methods of fishing...that runs the gamut. I don't think you could catch a golden trout on power bait. I guess it works in some lakes. I mix my fishing between artificial lures and flies. I will use whatever is working. A boat is highly recommended if you really get into this type of fishing. There is a very lightweight boat made by a local guy that is a legend at fishing the high mountain lakes around here. I can hunt down the info on it if someone is interested.
Title: Re: Mountain Lake Fishing?
Post by: boneaddict on May 06, 2008, 06:43:52 PM: Heres the other link... http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,1021.0.html (http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,1021.0.html)
Title: Re: Mountain Lake Fishing?
Post by: boneaddict on May 06, 2008, 06:45:25 PM: by the way, I use Fly only, and I release 99% of my fish, except when I am hungry.
Title: Re: Mountain Lake Fishing?
Post by: Huckleberry on May 06, 2008, 06:49:18 PM: Wea300 ~ You ever fish the Granites? Upper has some nice sized fish. Black flies or small spinners depending on the time of year.

I've been known to use power bait (glitter yellow) but only if I don't want to watch the rod i.e. hunting and want a fish for dinner. If I'm not eating it I (which isn't many) I don't like to use bait. I used to fish slide lake quite a bit as a youngster and would catch quite a few fish. It's nice and the hike isn't very long which made it perfect for families and folks who didn't want to go real far. Now days I usually try to put some distance between the crowds and go for a little bigger fish :)
Title: Re: Mountain Lake Fishing?
Post by: Wea300mag on May 06, 2008, 06:59:28 PM: Huck,

I've been to the Granites too.

I'm a spinner and fly fan too. I cheat a little with the fly though. Since I only bring a small spinning rod (no fly rod), I use a clear bobber with a long leader to the fly.
Title: Re: Mountain Lake Fishing?
Post by: HarborHunter3 on May 06, 2008, 07:01:01 PM: Sweet links. that looks like some good country!

No doubt. Up by Grisdale there are some good ones. Only I like fishing them so I don't want to post on the net. I'll send you a PM and we can compare a few notes. Klone is such a B#$% that most wouldn't try and fish it anyways. lol

That sounds like good country up there. I haven't caught anything that big out of a mountain lake. I caught a 17incher though.

I gotta say I love the little hidie holes that only some of the locals know.

I'll give this one away. I've only fished it once and anyone that will put in the hike deserves to fish it. Hamma Hamma lakes has tons of fish in it. Beautiful scenery
too.

I would be interested in the boat. Just for information's sake.

I have that rig too. Only used it a couple of times but not up in the high lakes. Which I had intentionally gotten it for.

Wes
Title: Re: Mountain Lake Fishing?
Post by: popeshawnpaul on May 07, 2008, 12:12:17 AM: Upper granite lake has some big finned artic fish... Actually, years ago I went beyond upper granite over the mountain to some lakes behind it. Golden treasures were located there back then.

The boat I was talking about is the Curtis Raft. I have a brochure on it somewhere. I don't have one right this second but I need to order one for this year. I think it only weighs like a pound or so and you use your Thermarest as the seat. It is a sturdy boat and is very well regarded by those who know high lakes fishing. They make them to order. You can find more information about it from a guy named Curtis at the Trailblazers website. He's in the forums section. http://www.watrailblazers.org/ With all this snow, I don't know if we will be doing any high lakes fishing before August...
Title: Re: Mountain Lake Fishing?
Post by: HarborHunter3 on May 07, 2008, 09:47:26 AM: Great info! I'll have to check into it. I have a lake in mind that it could work good in. Only thing is it's probably too expensive for me.
Title: Re: Mountain Lake Fishing?
Post by: Skyvalhunter on May 07, 2008, 10:34:40 AM: Curtis no longer makes their rafts. He is also a member of the Hi-Lakers. Both him and his son used to make the light weight rafts. Alpacka is talking about making a packable lighter weight raft but it will probably be expensive as theirs and pretty spendy. I can forsee that I won't be hitting alot of my high lakes until August unless I just want to hike in the snow or snowshoe. Growing up along Highway 2 I have been to most of the off trail lakes.
Title: Re: Mountain Lake Fishing?
Post by: Bearhunter on May 07, 2008, 12:52:22 PM: Heres some pictures from the first lake we went into last year, a little early to say the least. This lake is up out of Rockport.

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,2309.msg22136.html#msg22136
Title: Re: Mountain Lake Fishing?
Post by: HarborHunter3 on May 07, 2008, 03:13:12 PM: Great pics guys. :rockin:

Skyval the second from the top looks very similar to a lake I fish in the Olympic Nat. Forest not too far from Mount Hoquiam. I doubt that is it. Must just look similar. If it was there should be some big rocks back and to the right out of sight of the photo. Hmmm. the tricks the mind plays. lol

Keep em comin!
Title: Re: Mountain Lake Fishing?
Post by: HarborHunter3 on May 07, 2008, 11:28:12 PM: I have to make a correction.

I mentioned some lakes by the name of Hamma Hamma. For some reason I always call them that. :bash:

The correct name however is Mildred Lakes.

Hamma Hamma is the name of the River that the trail head starts on.

Sorry everybody, my bad.

Wes
Title: Re: Mountain Lake Fishing?
Post by: singleshot12 on May 08, 2008, 06:27:20 AM: Mountain lake fishing is defiantly on the "to do list"...There is a high lake near Darrington with Golden trout that will be my first one.
Title: Re: Mountain Lake Fishing?
Post by: Skyvalhunter on May 08, 2008, 06:34:07 AM: Maybe you could let Pope know so he could go with you.
Title: Re: Mountain Lake Fishing?
Post by: singleshot12 on May 08, 2008, 09:24:07 AM: Yea!, I just read back and I see Pope is in search of gold too :),it is just a dream right now,but I'm sure once I land one it will soon become a fetish too,lol,it would be good to go with someone who has fished for em before.
Title: Re: Mountain Lake Fishing?
Post by: popeshawnpaul on May 08, 2008, 10:04:03 AM: I bet I've been there...I've been to over 30 lakes that either had goldens or reportedly had goldens. I would note that half the lakes that are rumored to have goldens don't by the time you get to the lake. You never know though, there are about 5 golden trout lakes that I know of that I haven't been to. I believe there are about 5 lakes around the Darrington area that have goldens off the top of my head...
Title: Re: Mountain Lake Fishing?
Post by: Skyvalhunter on May 08, 2008, 11:01:23 AM: Well being most of those fish don't live much longer than 6-8 years by the time you get there they passed on. i don't believe they reproduce well if at all in the lakes :dunno:
Title: Re: Mountain Lake Fishing?
Post by: singleshot12 on May 08, 2008, 06:04:31 PM: I think I heard that too and it has been over ten years since I heard the lake had Goldens in it.
Sent you a pm popeshawnpaul
Title: Re: Mountain Lake Fishing?
Post by: singleshot12 on May 11, 2008, 07:22:12 PM: Awesome pics,I really do got to get up there soon.
Title: Re: Mountain Lake Fishing?
Post by: Coasthunterjay on May 11, 2008, 07:29:59 PM: gorgeous......looks like some good high mule country........
Title: Re: Mountain Lake Fishing?
Post by: Skyvalhunter on May 12, 2008, 05:56:28 AM: few pics