Week ago I tried to get into the N side of the lake, but the road into the WDFW access site was totally trashed by logging. Debris, junk, garbage has all but destroyed any of the remaining campsites in here. By some miracle I was able to back out without getting stuck in the mud.
Monday on the way back from E.WA opener I decided to take a quick run in and see if the road was any more passable and grab a few fish. I've fished this lake for many many years and can always count on catching a few fish. The road had dried out some and I was able to slip and slide over and through the deep muck and ruts to the lakeshore 2 miles in.
Most people I've talked too launch at the Cove $$ and don't know there's a launch site and WDFW access on this lake. No signs, little maintenance, over grown shoreline and just minimal boat launching of hand carried boats. 3 years ago WDFW threw in the access, moved the gate down, dug up the 2 best camping/fishing spots on the lake. The following year Forest Service went in and plastered NO CAMPING signs everywhere. There is a fine new bathroom here, so at least you can pee/poop in comfort.
Few people shoreline fish/camp here now because it's such a hassle to even reach the water. You can walk the gated road and still find a few spots to shore fish, but those are rapidly being overtaken with brush and reeds. I walked west about 1/2 mile and fished my trusty spot with marshmallow and nightcrawler for about an hour without any bites. The lake was glass when I started fishing with many fish jumping, but quickly turned windy with spits of rain starting to fall. I was worried I couldn't negotiate the mucked up road if it turned to solid rain, so I pulled in and made a hasty retreat for home.