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Tomyhoi Lake Report
Whatcom County, WA

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07/15/2008
Rainbow Trout
None
Other
Floating Minnow
Morning
07/15/2008
3
1920

Like others have said before me....THIS IS A DIFFICULT HIKE. At the present time, DO NOT attempt to get to the lake from gold pass ridge unless you have your "A" game on. Trails are snow covered, grow over, and simply washed out. VERY DANGEROUS to say the least. I bush-wacked and broke trail down to the lake from the ridge....it was not fun. The trail follows an old stream bed for awhile after coyote flats, well the stream is up to knee deep right now, and the snow waist deep. Be VERY prepared to spend extra nights, have map and compass with you at all times, and bring plenty of dry gear. You WILL NOT get to or from the lake dry. The trail just to gold pass is not easy right now. Anyway, you get the point, on to the fishing. This lake has confirmed Brookies from me, did not see any Browns. All were very small (5-8 inches) and caught on Rapala's. Tried the fly rod, but snapped it in half on the first cast (that's right, snapped it in half on a tree). Shore access is virtually non-existent, with the exception of the east/northeast side of the lake, which is very difficult to get to from land. Nice secluded lake, but i don't think I'll return with a fishing pole. Would be worthwhile if you wanted to pack in a tube. Not a day hike, 4.4 miles with 3400' gained and lost one way. (that's 6800' round trip) I don't think the trail will be snow free this year. Good luck if you try, but be very safe....multiple life-threatening situations...no joke.

Comments

The Quadfather
7/15/2008 10:01:00 PM
So great to see an alpine lake report. Please keep these up when you do them.
zen leecher aka Bill W
7/16/2008 6:59:00 AM
What do you think of trying to bushwack down from the Twin Lakes "over look"?
Rollin with Rolland
7/16/2008 8:41:00 AM
You must mean Low Pass, zen leecher. If you are possibly suggesting taking another route down to Tomyhoi lake, I would not advise it at this time. The whole shaded north side of that ridge (Winchester Mountain) is extremely steep and snow covered. I really should have had crampons and an ice axe with me. One fall and your sliding 300-500+' downhill at a high rate of speed, until that large boulder or tree stops you. The forest road is NOT open (snow covered) past the Gold Run Pass trailhead, so you would have to hike the road from there just to get to the Twin Lakes trailhead (extra 2.4 miles), then up to Low Pass. Might be a good idea in late August/early September, if the snow clears.....
zen leecher aka Bill W
7/16/2008 10:48:00 AM
It might be called "low pass". There was a slide by an overlook to the lake and it appeared a person could bushwack down the finger to the NE corner of the lake.

As a FYI I hunted mountain goats in that area in 1995 and previous to that hiked the long way down to Tomyhoi. By the "long way" I think I mean the way you went as we had a good elevation gain and then lost it zigzagging down to the lake.

We almost shot a goat at the SW corner of the lake and were trying to figure out how to get it out if we did. One option considered was to come in via the BC logging roads that were present at that time.
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Available Guide

Available Fishing Guide:
Website: Chrome Inc.

Phone: (425) 591-5108