Wanlick Creek and SF Nooksack
- Thread starter BarryS
- Start date
FS12 has been closed for a couple of years about a mile past the junction with FS13 due to major washout below a bridge. As of last year you could still walk/bike across the bridge, but that washout/road closure is about 8 miles shy of where the forest road gets close to the upper sf/ Wanlick.
Back in the day the fishing consisted of decent numbers of small trout, on par with what you find in most mountain streams around here. It is above anadromous barriers on the sf so no salmon or steelhead up that far.
This site is a good resource for occasional updates on Mt Baker Snoqualmie Forest Road conditions:
Back in the day the fishing consisted of decent numbers of small trout, on par with what you find in most mountain streams around here. It is above anadromous barriers on the sf so no salmon or steelhead up that far.
This site is a good resource for occasional updates on Mt Baker Snoqualmie Forest Road conditions:
Chris Johnson
Steelhead
I've caught some bigger bull trout up there so I don't think it is unavailable to anadromous fish.
Went there 2x this summer. Its 7 miles hike in, and the same out. That is about 8 hours on the road/trail. The road is posted closed at a bridge past the turnoff to Baker. Someone threw the closed barrier into the creek, and moved the Jersey blocks and people drive over the bridge. But even if you want to drive over it, you will be stopped about 2 miles up the road. There are other washouts. It’s only a matter of time before the bridge goes. If you go now bring a flashlight. You’ll need it on the way back. Bring bear spay too.
The trail ends at the old concrete bridge over the river. There are a couple washouts that keep you from driving a regular vehicle to the river. Someone took a mountain bike up there, according to the tracks. The Pacific Northwest Trail follows this section of the river. But they’re not fishing.
The river is only open between Wanlick Creek and Bell Creek The water is beautiful. The fish are small. It is better closer to Wanlick. It’s mostly small cutthroat common to most streams on the west slope. Catch and release, fly fishing only, barless hooks. But every now and then there is something that made it past the rougher water. It’s rare, but they are there. Below the creek is closed water for salmon - an agreement between DFW and the tribes. For a while the entire river was closed. Years ago I wrote a letter to the commission asking them to open up this section for catch and release cause it was not spawning water. I don’t think anyone ever read my letter, but it was an obvious change in the rules at a time when they were being negotiated.
It’s really a hike for the scenery, and the water once you get there. It’s not the greatest fishing spot. It was a local tarheel family camping spot when you could drive to the river. There are better creeks for cutthroat. But it has a lot of history and the Twin Sisters Range is kind of special.
There are people hunting up there. Be aware.
The trail ends at the old concrete bridge over the river. There are a couple washouts that keep you from driving a regular vehicle to the river. Someone took a mountain bike up there, according to the tracks. The Pacific Northwest Trail follows this section of the river. But they’re not fishing.
The river is only open between Wanlick Creek and Bell Creek The water is beautiful. The fish are small. It is better closer to Wanlick. It’s mostly small cutthroat common to most streams on the west slope. Catch and release, fly fishing only, barless hooks. But every now and then there is something that made it past the rougher water. It’s rare, but they are there. Below the creek is closed water for salmon - an agreement between DFW and the tribes. For a while the entire river was closed. Years ago I wrote a letter to the commission asking them to open up this section for catch and release cause it was not spawning water. I don’t think anyone ever read my letter, but it was an obvious change in the rules at a time when they were being negotiated.
It’s really a hike for the scenery, and the water once you get there. It’s not the greatest fishing spot. It was a local tarheel family camping spot when you could drive to the river. There are better creeks for cutthroat. But it has a lot of history and the Twin Sisters Range is kind of special.
There are people hunting up there. Be aware.
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Chris Johnson
Steelhead
I used to drive up there a couple times a year, not willing to hike that far unless I camped.
