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I’ve been there. It is a beautiful spot and they are not often visited. It is a place you will want to tread lightly. You are correct about the Snowy Lakes being shallow and fishless. Lots of people visit the Snowys. With good reason, they are gorgeous.
The latest thinking seems to be that it is best to spread out in delicate plants. Is is even recommended that a party spread out through meadows and not walk single file. A single set of boots doesn’t do lasting damage, but multiple sets of boots do.
I’ve never known anyone who placed flags to avoid delicate plants or lichens. That sure would be a good use for them, though!
I’ve made the mistake of following flags and gotten into a bad situation. Just because someone hung flags doesn’t mean they knew where they were going.
You are at the mercy of the wind in your raft and fly casting is more difficult. OTOH, you can cover a lot of water quickly in your raft. If you want to ferry gear across a lake, get to a fishy spot on the far side, or troll the length of a lake a raft works better.
In general, a float tube is better to fish out of then a pack raft. But a pack raft is much easier to backpack. And in the end your trip will be much more enjoyable with a lighter pack. So for high lakes I’d go with a pack raft.
And welcome to rainy Washington! (when you got here)
I let that one go because it appeared to be written by a human and the linked site appeared to be ad-free. That being said, it was posted from Great Britain and is probably a human spammer rather then the bots we’ve been getting hammered by. She hasn’t visited again since the post first went up.
If the lake is shallow I like 3/8 oz Kamlooper or Daredevil spoons. For deeper lakes I like to go up to 1/4 oz Spin-a-lure, or maybe a Krocodile lures. If trolling from a boat I like F7 Flatfish. There are lots of other effective lures available but for various reasons those are my favorites. I generally like to use red/brass combos but try to keep some variations with black in my box, too.
While they are extremely effective I’m not a fan of Rooster Tails because they are lousy casting lures and notorious line twisters. I’m too lazy and impatient to deal with them, but I know lots of people who swear by them. Dick Nites are best as trolling lures so I think some of the other lures mentioned here are better for high lakes.
Hi Ryan, welcome to the forum. I’ve never been to Myrtle or Valhalla so I’ve got some catching up to do :camping:
Rachel and the Rampart Lakes would be a good trip. It is a popular area, but the scenery is outstanding and everybody should be able to catch fish. Spectacle Lake is another stunner with too many fish, but a bit longer then your target distance. But the first 4 or 5 miles are dead flat so it goes quickly. Either Alaska or Joe Lakes up Gold Creek would push them harder then the Ramparts.
The bill to allow fish stocking in NCNP has been reintroduced to the House. They held a hearing on H.R. 2351 last Thursday. The NPS did not oppose the bill but asked for an amendment that changes the wording of the bill from “…Secretary shall authorize stocking.” to “…Secretary may authorize stocking.”
Go to MyTopo. There you can buy custom made topo maps and look at them and print them online. I’m not sure the best place to buy USGS topos in Kalama but there are numerous places like REI in Portland if you are going to make the trek down there.
Don’t just go to the lakes listed in the guide books or named on the maps. You want to explore as many as you can and lots have fish.
You definitely want to carry a compass in addition to your GPSr. There aren’t a lot of high ridges in that area so you’ll normally have good access to satellites from that perspective.
You’ll have a great time in that area. There are tons of lakes to explore and lots of fishing to be done. Don’t forget your mosquito repellent and head net. The mosquitos can be brutal in that area. They normally peak in early to mid-July so you should be past the worst of them, but this is such a late year there are no guarantees.
Make sure you bring the ten essentials and your basic hiking needs will be covered. Keep your pack as light as possible. Make sure you have good topo maps. Raingear should include both a jacket and pants. Don’t wear or bring anything that contains cotton.
If you are spin fishing carry a fly and bubble setup in addition to lures. No reason to be subtle with your lures, bring something you can cast. For high lakes that normally means 3/16 to 1/4 oz spoons. Use light line: 4-lb test. If you’re not catching anything near the surface fish deep and slow.
@mkopicky wrote:
Has congress made any progress on the bill to continue stocking lakes, or are we still in a holding pattern?
I’m glad you asked that! H.R. 2351 to allow fish stocking in NCNP was just introduced to the House. It has passed the house before and isn’t expected to have any trouble passing again. It is the Senate where the bill has gotten held up. Time to contact our Senators!
Also, earlier this week I spoke with a NCNP ranger about fishing in the Thornton Lakes (West of Ross Lake) and was told fishing is not allowed in the small high lakes. I have since done my own research and cannot find this supposed fishing ban in writing. Could someone please help clarify on fishing regulations for NCNP high lakes. I have a hard time believing the ranger.
This is completely untrue. It is kind of scary that there are Park Service employees spreading this sort of nonsense.
@roger wrote:
Last fall I was able to find and fish the Upper Granite Lake but couldn’t locate the trail to the Lower.
(1) Are there online maps that are reliable to use to help this next time?There are good topo maps online like this one (You might have to change the map to MyTopo once you get there). There probably isn’t a map that will show you a trail in that area. You’ll probably have to navigate cross-country.
(2) Anyone try to get up there yet and if so is the road clear of snow?
I haven’t been up there, but this year is so late it seems likely it is still too early to go up there.
Yeah, there are lots of reasons outside wilderness that flags might be placed. When they are leading to a lake it is pretty obvious they aren’t there for any official reason. I found some a few years ago marking a site of a fire and I’ve seen them marking future trail re-routes. I left those in place. Flags marking off trail routes are the problematic ones.
And don’t get me started on the scourge of balloons!
