Northwest Fishing Reports

HEY fellow anglers! I am just curious to some of the quote "bigger" trout or other species fish you have caught out there. I've done a few including Lake 22, Bear lake, Boardman lake and Kelcema lake. Biggest trout I have caught was about 16 inch cutthroat, usually i seem to get just about 7-11 inchers.
Any input would be nice on techniques or where some bigger fish lay!

If I am looking to fish alpine lakes, that is the area that I go. Honestly I have not found any trout that I would call very big. As you know most alpine lake fish are living on limited diets under ice for a portion of the year, and just seem to be very stunted, but fiesty to catch.
Coal lake, Independance lake, Goat lake, Heather lake, Lake 22, etc. I think at Independance lake probably 20 + years ago we caught trout that were 14", but lately it mostly brook trout in the 7-8" range.

Yea i was surprised at the 16'' incher i caught earlier this year! I just love being out on the loop fishing honestly. the fish are so nice looking compared to a lake with motor boats and stuff. I don't eat em just catch em and release em for the fun of the sport.

what kind of line and # test do you use?

I fish with pretty light line, 6lb flurocarbon., you could even go 4lb with those fish. Think about how clear those mountain lakes are.

Trout-NinJa wrote:HEY fellow anglers! I am just curious to some of the quote "bigger" trout or other species fish you have caught out there. I've done a few including Lake 22, Bear lake, Boardman lake and Kelcema lake. Biggest trout I have caught was about 16 inch cutthroat, usually i seem to get just about 7-11 inchers.
Any input would be nice on techniques or where some bigger fish lay!

I've seen some huge fish cruising Alpine lakes but they are hard to get to commit. I've always thought if one was to hike in a small raft and use sinking line to get deep and in the middle of some of these lakes there are big fish to be found. JMO though.

I had a raft out of 60's era fighter plane, it was awesome for alpine lakes. It weighed 4#s and I just used a couple of old ping pong paddles for motivation. Cold butt, big fish on various pop gears and spinners or just a single egg or a tiny piece of worm. My biggest was a 23" brookie out of Bertha May lake, not on the loop but if there's big fish it's the way to get them.

@ Mike, I agree with the raft thing. I always have a wonder of what's lurking deep in the middle! I do have an intex excursion, but boy is that raft big and heavy !

23'' inch brookie! wow that's a big one, I've always liked how the brookies looked. I personally haven't had the opportunity to run into a big one. At bear lake on mt loop, i've caught a bunch of little guys..

Yeah a 23" brookie, I would love to see that. Dont think I have ever got one over 10"

Look for the lakes between 2,000 and 4,00 feet. The higher you go, the smaller the fish will be. It's a matter of food and fishing pressure. The higher the lake, the shorter the growing season and with that there will be less insects and invertebrates for the fish to eat. When the lakes don't get fished often, the fish over populate and get stunted.

I like Wallace lake. It's not on Mountain loop, but I've caught some monsters from it. Four pound test is usually plenty, unless you're horsing 'em up on the bank or goofing around and get snagged. It's all I use for trout. Almost all of these lakes hold fish, they've been stocked at one point or another. I have a tiny little "2 man" raft that inflates very fast and weighs a feather and a half. I break down the oars and strap them to my pack along with the pump. It's cheap, like 10 or 20 dollars at Walmart, depending on the season. If it gets a hole, I ptch it. If it gets a tear I just get another. It's worth it. The majority of these lakes will have an undeveloped shoreline with little to no access. A raft gets you to the good spots and gives you options. Be careful though and bring warm blankets and don't drown.

Is that the wallace falls hike? I've never been, excited for the sun next year so i can explore some more though. I might head up MT Loop on saturday hopefully theres no snow. Funny how you talk about the fishing pressure and how fish overpopulate, I just took a class at my college (environmental science) and we had those topics come about. thanks for the info, i truly do appreciate it

Good plan Nate!!! I've caught my share and somebody elses out of Wallace. When I was growing up my mom was the nurse at the camp at the bottom of the hill. Living at camp all summer it was a kids delight! also took a lot of bows out of the river on a royal coachman, some real prettyones up in the gorge. I digress, that was back when dirt was new......