Time for the high lakes.

[Dave Westburg]

July 4th marks the start of the high lake season for me. Took my 8'6" Phillipson 5 weight and my wilderness lite out to this western washington lake at 2,900 feet. It involves a 15 mile drive on a pothole strewn road and a 3.9 mile hike mostly through clearcut but wild rainbows are the attraction. This lake hasn't been stocked since 2007.

No rises or strikes until I got down to where the inlet comes into the lake behind these logs.

Then it was 10 wild fish in a row on a size 12 Greenwells Glory and size 12 Olive and Mallard wet fly off an intermediate line. Most of the fish came from the area in the middle of the picture between the two logs Not a strike or a rise the rest of the way back. I've never seen high lakes fish so concentrated in a small area.

 

[Islander]

Love it! With temps getting higher here, you’ve inspired me to try some higher elevation lakes.

 

[Dave Westburg]

3,000 feet is snow free in western WA. My guess is western WA lakes above 4,000 feet still may have snow. A friend sent me pics of this western wa lake at 3,800 feet and it still had snow as July 2 but the fish were active.

 

[Peyton00]

I have a pic from July 9th 1997.

Alpine lake......me getting snowed on.

 

[Bruce Baker]

July 4th marks the start of the high lake season for me. Took my 8'6" Phillipson 5 weight and my wilderness lite out to this western washington lake at 2,900 feet. It involves a 15 mile drive on a pothole strewn road and a 3.9 mile hike mostly through clearcut but wild rainbows are the attraction. This lake hasn't been stocked since 2007.
View attachment 22002
No rises or strikes until I got down to where the inlet comes into the lake behind these logs.
View attachment 22003
Then it was 10 wild fish in a row on a size 12 Greenwells Glory and size 12 Olive and Mallard wet fly off an intermediate line. Most of the fish came from the area in the middle of the picture between the two logs Not a strike or a rise the rest of the way back. I've never seen high lakes fish so concentrated in a small area.
View attachment 22004

Nice report Dave.

 

[chief]

I have started high lakes season too. I hiked my Wilderness Lite tube (purchase inspired by Dave) into Black lake up the Chewuch drainage on Sunday. It is totally snow free at 4,000 feet. The fishing was pretty good for feisty rainbows up to 15”.

On Tuesday I hiked into Cutthroat Lake just for the exercise, the trail just had a few patches of snow at 5,000 feet.

After Cutthroat I decided to scout Rainy Pass. The parking lot still had patches of snow. The trail into Rainy Lake also had patches of snow but was passable. It is also around 5,000 feet.

My guess is that it will still be a couple more weeks before some of the higher lakes are accessible in the North Cascades and Sawtooths over here.

 

[Bruce Baker]

I have started high lakes season too. I hiked my Wilderness Lite tube (purchase inspired by Dave) into Black lake up the Chewuch drainage on Sunday. It is totally snow free at 4,000 feet. The fishing was pretty good for feisty rainbows up to 15”.

On Tuesday I hiked into Cutthroat Lake just for the exercise, the trail just had a few patches of snow at 5,000 feet.

After Cutthroat I decided to scout Rainy Pass. The parking lot still had patches of snow. The trail into Rainy Lake also had patches of snow but was passable. It is also around 5,000 feet.

My guess is that it will still be a couple more weeks before some of the higher lakes are accessible in the North Cascades and Sawtooths over here.

I saw this posted on WTA:

7/11/2022 - A trail bridge over Cutthroat Creek, about 2 miles from the trailhead, is damaged and is not recommended for use at this time. Stock cannot safely cross Cutthroat Creek on the trail while the bridge is damaged.

I am presuming you had no issues since you did not mention it. Can you say what damage they are referring to?

 

[chief]

I saw this posted on WTA:

7/11/2022 - A trail bridge over Cutthroat Creek, about 2 miles from the trailhead, is damaged and is not recommended for use at this time. Stock cannot safely cross Cutthroat Creek on the trail while the bridge is damaged.

I am presuming you had no issues since you did not mention it. Can you say what damage they are referring to?

Yes, they had warning signs for the last bridge, before you get to the lake and the cut off for the Cutthroat Pass trail. It says the stringers are damaged beyond repair and failure is eminent. It didn’t look that bad, so I, and several other people, took our chances. I felt it was safe enough compared to other ways I have crossed creeks in the past….

The crossing log earlier in the route, that was damaged but still usable, has been removed completely, so that path to the lake isn’t a great option either.

 

[Bruce Baker]

Yes, they had warning signs for the last bridge, before you get to the lake and the cut off for the Cutthroat Pass trail. It says the stringers are damaged beyond repair and failure is eminent. It didn’t look that bad, so I, and several other people, took our chances. I felt it was safe enough compared to other ways I have crossed creeks in the past….

The crossing log earlier in the route, that was damaged but still usable, has been removed completely, so that path to the lake isn’t a great option either.

Thank you

 

[cody-]

It's my first season in WA and I'm considering taking the float tube with me to one or more lakes up HWY 12 this Sunday (Clear, Dog, Leech?). Most of the lakes I fished in Utah were pretty chilly year round, but 10k' might be different than 3k'. Do I bring waders with me this week or are water temperatures suitable for shorts + neoprene booties only?

 

[Wayne Kohan]

It's my first season in WA and I'm considering taking the float tube with me to one or more lakes up HWY 12 this Sunday (Clear, Dog, Leech?). Most of the lakes I fished in Utah were pretty chilly year round, but 10k' might be different than 3k'. Do I bring waders with me this week or are water temperatures suitable for shorts + neoprene booties only?

The water temps up there get up to 70 or more at times even at 4500 feet. Don’t know about now as it’s been about a month since I’ve been up there. I only fished in my pontoon once in shorts, didn’t like the fish slime dripping in my lap when I put the netted fish on my stripping apron.

 

[cody-]

The water temps up there get up to 70 or more at times even at 4500 feet. Don’t know about now as it’s been about a month since I’ve been up there. I only fished in my pontoon once in shorts, didn’t like the fish slime dripping in my lap when I put the netted fish on my stripping apron.

Thanks. That's definitely warmer than I thought it would get up there. But since I'll likely be out before 8AM when air temps are low, I suppose I should stick with waders (at least to start).

I've been striking out on bass for months now locally, and while I've been enjoying the sun and warm water, I need to get on some fish this weekend so I'm back to high country trout. Forecast has 111F on Sunday and I want to be gone for that haha.

 

[Engee]

Thanks. That's definitely warmer than I thought it would get up there. But since I'll likely be out before 8AM when air temps are low, I suppose I should stick with waders (at least to start).

I've been striking out on bass for months now locally, and while I've been enjoying the sun and warm water, I need to get on some fish this weekend so I'm back to high country trout. Forecast has 111F on Sunday and I want to be gone for that haha.

Try to set a speed record getting your waders on. Last time I fished Leech Lake the mosquitos made breakfast out of me in the parking lot before I got to the edge of the lake. Have fun!

 

[cody-]

Try to set a speed record getting your waders on. Last time I fished Leech Lake the mosquitos made breakfast out of me in the parking lot before I got to the edge of the lake. Have fun!

Another great point. I was hiking from the Dog Lake trailhead two weeks ago and they had made a meal of me in the time it took to go from the car to the toilet. Pants it is.

 

[Anonymous member 148]

Catnip essential oil is supposedly 10x more effective then deet at repelling mosquitos. You can buy it online. Dissolve in alcohol and make a spray or dab it on

 

[Dave Westburg]

I normally wear long wool pants and a couple layers (sweater and jacket) even in the summer when float tubing high lakes. Don't underestimate how cold a high lake gets if snowmelt fed and it there's a wind or it's cloudy. I've been freezing, even in august.

 

[MELinOre]

Catnip essential oil is supposedly 10x more effective then deet at repelling mosquitos.

Just don't go hiking where the big cats hang out