Northwest Fishing Reports

Who knows where there are lakes with Golden Trout? I heard there are a few in the Cascades. I have never caught one and I would like to think of myself as a well rounded fisherman.

I have never caught one, I have heard that Gillette Lake in the Mt Rainer/St Helens area has been stocked in the past with them WDFW region 5 could confirmed that.

They are really beautiful fish. I am pretty sure there was a thread on golden trout a few months back, that will have some good info for ya. I know king county gets some plants up around snoqualmie area and alpine lakes get some too. But I do know that the majority of lakes that get planted only get fingerlings and not too many at that.

That's one I've never caught. Sure would like to one day. Beautiful fish.

I did more dig on WDFG past stocking records and found in 2002 and 2004 Upper and Lower Park Lake, Summit Chief, Glacier in Kittitas Co where planted with Goldens, in very limited numbers like a few hunderd

Jmay thanks for the info. I think it would be so awesome to spend a weekend in pursuit of this elusive fish. jim

jmay wrote:I did more dig on WDFG past stocking records and found in 2002 and 2004 Upper and Lower Park Lake, Summit Chief, Glacier in Kittitas Co where planted with Goldens, in very limited numbers like a few hunderd

Glacier isn't all that easy to get to. It's behind Spectacle (out of Salmon la Sac).

In the higher cascade mountains of oregon I've caught some golden trout. I dont think they reach a very big size though.

I hike around Gillette lake at least 3 or 4 times every winter. It's a couple miles up the trail from the North Bonneville Trailhead.

Not a particularly scenic lake and it gets muddy after a good rain. I see sport fishers in there from time to time but have never seen them catch anything.

Also, I never seem to see any surface action in terms of fish swirling for chronomids and other tasty aquatics. I tried fishing it once with no success. But none of this means the goldens aren't in there.

My expirance is much like yours Little River. I grew up 8 miles North of Lake Wenatchee and spent my summers exploring...a very lucky childhood and a understanding mother when I was late for dinner. Each time I hiked into a lake I found little too no insect activity and had spotty sucess. Most of the shorelines in Chelan Co are difficult to cast and the lakes drop off quickly. Normally I packed a fly rod, but times I did catch fish it was normally off of a salmon egg.

thats funny ive never seen 1 or heard of any1 catching one but i seen the picture in the reg book dangit now i have to catch one or 5