Post by: Bscman on June 20, 2008, 10:18:37 AM
I'm wondering if the gravel road access, off Amick Road, is still accessible or if it has been gated.
The old hike used to only be ~300 yards or so, with a 1.5mile drive in...but I have a feeling it might be gated now.
Also, has anyone fished the nearby Devils Lake?
It's accessible by the same series of road, and not far from Lake Ten. I'm wondering if it's fishable, and what I might expect to catch (thinking cutt's brooks?)
Any tips or advice are appreciated!
Post by: Smokepole on June 20, 2008, 07:00:12 PM
I used to fish it all the time in the early 1980's. There were cutts in there then.
I never fished Devils, but while I was working in sporting goods at Mount Vernon Pay'nSave, a guy entered a huge cutt into our annual trout derby from Devils. Sucker was humongous. I think it weighed five or more pounds, and he won first prize.
Those lakes, especially Devils got ignored -- and there was some good trout to be had!
Post by: Smokepole on June 20, 2008, 07:26:03 PM
Post by: Smokepole on June 21, 2008, 07:15:03 AM
Post by: Bscman on June 22, 2008, 10:43:50 AM
Years ago I used to go up there and dirtbike the area...but houses have gone in like crazy since then.
I might try and head up there today...from Amick road it looks like it's about 1.5 miles to the trailhead. I'm not sure how much use the area gets anymore--hopefully there's some lunkers in there waiting for me.
As for devils lake--I've never fished it. Looking at aerial photo's, it looks like it might be a tough one to fish from the shore?
I think I'll save it for another day.
Thanks c-dog. I might take a hike up there pretty soon just for old time sake. Need more spots to hike close by.
I have a few "hidden gems" I don't mind sharing with you--but they will be a bit north of ya. A couple of them get little-to-no attention. Most are full of smaller fish--or overpopulated with stunted brooks...but are fun none the less. PM me if interested (rather not advertise to the whole world).
Post by: Bscman on June 22, 2008, 09:28:17 PM
We parked at the gate on Amick Road. There's a sign on a stump, adjacent the road that reading, "Private property, No Trespassing." Actually, there are two or three of them! This didn't scare us off, though we were hesitant to park in the "pull out" next to the stump.
We backed up and parked about 15ft. from the gate, as far off the road as we could get. A sign on the gate says, "Do Not Block Gate. Vehicles will be towed."
Anyhoo, it's a mutli-lock box with padlocks for DNR, Motorola, AT&T, and a few others. I just did a quick glance, but it didn't appear that all the locks were there..........
They've done some work up there since I was last in the area--a lot, actually. There are several cell towers, repeaters, etc. on the top of the hill. There used to be a gate ~50ft from the trail to Lake Ten--this no longer exists. Many of the side roads have MASSIVE troughs dug to keep vehicles out.
Keep an eye out for the crude fisherman's trail about 1.5 miles up from the gate--it looks a lot like a fairly worn deer trail. There's about 700 feet of elevation gain, followed by a 200ft elevation drop at the lake.
Some views along the way:
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi89.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk205%2Fbscman%2FFishing%2Ften1.jpg&hash=9c25170b49d63ffdb6abb44062354e6abfd7be8b)
Clear Lake is in the picture. Just behind the trees to the right (not visible in this pic!) is Big Lake.
Continue past the trailhead and you get some decent views of the valley in one direction, and the salt in another.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi89.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk205%2Fbscman%2FFishing%2Ften2.jpg&hash=2f1ab78e20e66eac51b7baf76c3e5f5b45ad5349)
Here's Lake Ten from a high spot up the road (nearly to the towers).
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi89.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk205%2Fbscman%2FFishing%2Ften3.jpg&hash=73779dfd62db61eda8d958744be045fccd9ff206)
The trail is in pretty rough shape.
We saw bicycle tracks up to the trailhead, as well as a single set of boot-tracks...which is about right, since the trail looks nearly untouched bas on all the new growth. There are some steep sections, some muddy sections, SEVERAL very brushy sections (some thorny), and a few fallen trees. The first 100yds is the worst, with brushy and thorny things at/above eye level.
The old, crude "bridges" over the marshy creek are in rough shape, too...
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi89.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk205%2Fbscman%2FFishing%2Ften4.jpg&hash=e5af478693aa88b00782b59387fbfd61abe5bc34)
When we arrived at the lake, it was pretty apparent that it hasn't seen much use. The majority of the litter (and it's not a whole lot) is beer cans and bottles that are a decade or two old. There is now a house on the (west) end of the lake. If you hit up google earth, the white spot near the lake is the home-owners BOAT.
Of course, this means the housing developement off cedardale/stackpole roads has continued well up the hillside. Looking at the maps, the newer roads up the hills above the north end of the lake--maybe you can access them, maybe not...but I bet they're full of houses in the next couple years...
Anyhoo, it might be worth trying to get up there via Cascade Ridge/Quail Drive.
The lake:
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi89.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk205%2Fbscman%2FFishing%2Ften5.jpg&hash=5a208674792dfdfd6c89409d859bd3e16711ab37)
Just at the tip of the lake, which isn't quite visible in this picture, is the home mentioned.
It's shame--some of the best brook trout fishing is right in that area... No effort was made to contact anyone in the home--we kept our distance. Maybe they're nice?
The other end of the lake:
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi89.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk205%2Fbscman%2FFishing%2Ften6.jpg&hash=7f390ca403f5e811218279a64f7c46b8a1d72155)
We fished the lake for ~2 hours, from 4:00-6:00pm. Sunny with a light breeze.
We confirmed both Rainbow and Cutthroat trout are still in the lake. Several fish in the 12-14" range, some smaller. There was a fair amount of surface activity.
There may, or may not, still be a small population of brook trout.
The best shore fishing was along the East/Northeast shore...catching almost entirely Rainbows in the deeper water. The "point" along the north shore offered mediocre fishing, where the majority of fish were Coastal Cutthroats that were hiding fairly shallow around the numerous snags.
We only tried spinners--almost exclusively "natural" colored 1/8oz rooster tails.
All fish were released!
Lake Ten seems like it's still a fairly "easy catch" lake--probably due to the low fishing pressure. There are numerous "keeper size" trout in the lake.
I'll probably make it back in the future, but with the nearby construction and homes popping up it won't be a "frequent" destination for me.
If anyone heads up there and makes contact with the home-owner, please PM me.
Post by: Smokepole on June 23, 2008, 07:43:37 PM
Went up there one time back when you could drive to the trail & found a six pack of Budweiser tallies soaking in the water. Friend and I drank them and caught trout until sun down.
Good to hear there's still some fishing up that way!
Post by: Bscman on June 23, 2008, 08:57:28 PM
We saw at least 10 piles...mostly OLD stuff, but some that was probably only a few weeks. One definite trail, with distinguishable tracks...it was fairly old as well. Lotsa berries up there.
Lotsa deer tracks up there as well.
Post by: Bearhunter on June 23, 2008, 09:27:02 PM
Post by: TerenceH on May 18, 2012, 08:59:09 AM
I am fairly new to fishing in Washington but would like to find a place that is quiet, peaceful, not a lot of people around. I live not far from this place and wonder what the fishing might be like. Also should I be worried about bear etc?
Thanks for any information! :)
Post by: Smokepole on May 22, 2012, 09:07:26 AM
Post by: Kola16 on June 12, 2012, 07:32:25 PM
Post by: Smokepole on June 13, 2012, 12:20:39 AM
Post by: maxx on June 16, 2012, 08:14:19 PM
Those were the only three ways in that I could see, any way you could post up some more details or a map of your route in? Would love to cgeck it out
Post by: Special T on June 16, 2012, 10:20:43 PM
Post by: Smokepole on June 17, 2012, 06:43:29 AM
Post by: maxx on June 17, 2012, 08:46:47 AM
Special T, I can definitely relate to that, and that's exactly why I didn't park there to hike in. I didnt think that gate was going to be in somebodies front yard.
Post by: Smokepole on June 17, 2012, 10:09:43 AM
Post by: head hunter on June 17, 2012, 09:21:50 PM
Post by: Smokepole on June 18, 2012, 09:12:36 AM
I saw a lot of people at the lake when I was there last year. I doubt if they were all Keith's family. I would sure recommend trying to contact him for permission before visiting the lake!
Post by: TerenceH on June 26, 2012, 10:15:24 AM