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Today is:
Introduction
Major lakes and rivers
Okanogan Valley
Methow Valley
Okanogan Highlands
Fishing the reservation
Reservation fisheries
Selective fisheries
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The Chronicle OnLine > Features >
Fishrapper 2004-05
| Methow Valley lakes,
creeks and rivers |
By Al Camp
Chronicle staff
Alta Lake: The lake should produce rainbow trout in the 10- to 11-inch range on the opener. Some carryovers are expected in the 13- to 14-inch range.
There are a public boat launch, a state park with full facilities, a resort and an 18-hole golf course on the road to the lake.
The lake, which is ideal for small boats and canoes, has a season that runs April 30 to Sept. 30.
The 184-acre lake is reached by driving 1.5 miles west of Pateros on Highway 153, then south for a mile.
Those staying at Whistlin’ Pine Resort can have larger boats launched.
Andrews Creek: Open June 1 to Oct. 31, Andrews offers native rainbows. Dolly Varden no longer may be caught legally in the creek.
There is a two-fish limit. Fish must be eight inches long.
Depending on the snow pack, the creek is best fished in late June.
Andrews is located 19 miles north of Winthrop on Chewuch River Road. The U.S. Forest Service maintains a campground next to the creek.
Aspen Lake: This semi-remote lake .7 mile southwest of Moccasin Lake received eastern brook plants the last three years.
The lake, which tends to suffer winter kill, has a season of April 30 to Oct. 31.
The fish and wildlife department owns the land on which the lake is located.
Aspen can be reached by taking the Twisp River and Big Buck Lake roads. The last half-mile is on foot.
Big Buck Lake: The seldom-fished lake, which has been planted with catchable rainbows, has a season of April 30 to Oct. 31.
The small lake, where bass sometimes are caught, is located due south of Moccasin Lake (a private lake) on Department of Fish and Wildlife land.
The lake suffers winter kill during low-water years.
The easiest way to reach the lake is follow the same directions to reach Aspen Lake off the Twisp River Road.
Big Hidden Lake: This lake, located in the Pasayten Wilderness, is for those looking for a little adventure. Located about 34 miles northwest of Winthrop, it annually produces decent sized rainbows in the 10- to 14-inch class.
The 71-acre lake lies at about 4,300 feet elevation and sees a lot of action from backpackers and horse packers.
Travel about 20 miles from Winthrop on the Lost River Road past Mazama and onto the Mazama Road. A one- to two-day hike to the lake starts at the head of Lost River at the Billy Goat Corral.
The season runs April 30 to Oct. 31, although best fishing is early to mid-summer.
Black Pine Lake: Open all year, this 18-acre lake at 3,900 feet elevation produces well later in the summer with spring-planted eastern brooks.
Fishing has been good at the lake for many years. There is a paved, handicapped-accessible route along a part of the lake.
Drive two miles west of Twisp on the south side of the Twisp River, then take the left fork at the river bridge about seven miles south up Poorman Creek Road. The lake also may be reached via the Buttermilk Creek Road a few miles farther up the Twisp River.
There is a Forest Service campground and boat launch.
Campbell Lake: A catch-and-keep season, with bait allowed, runs Sept. 1 to March 31 at this 11-acre lake at about 2,900 feet in Pipestone Canyon near Winthrop.
A catch-and-release season runs April 1 to Aug. 31. Anglers must use selective gear with barbless hooks. No bait is allowed.
The lake is annually stocked with catchable rainbows prior to its spring opener.
Though small and capable of being fished out in days, it often is productive in the winter for snowmobilers.
Campbell is difficult to get into and out of with a boat and impossible from the shore, making the lake ideal for float tubers.
Travel 2.5 miles south of Winthrop on the Twisp-Winthrop Eastside Road, go east about a mile on Bear Creek Road and another 2.5 miles east past the Davis Lake turnoff on Road No. 1624.
Chewuch River: The river, which flows from the Pasayten Wilderness to Winthrop, is open for all game fish (except Dolly Varden and endangered steelhead) from its mouth to Eight Mile Creek June 1 to Sept. 30 for a catch-and-release season. Selective gear applies, with barbless hooks and no bait allowed.
The river is closed from Eight Mile Creek to the Pasayten Wilderness boundary.
Whitefish can be caught during a Dec. 1 to March 31 season. Hooks must be size 14 (3/16 inch) or smaller. Bait is allowed.
Several tributaries remain closed, including Lake Creek from the mouth to Black Lake.
Cougar Lake: Open Sept. 1 to March 31, the lake is located south of Winthrop at about 3,400 feet elevation. Cougar gets little pressure because only snowmobilers have access during winter months.
Planted with catchable rainbows in the spring, the nine-acre lake doesn’t get near the attention of nearby Davis Lake.
Boats may have to be packed a short distance because of a makeshift boat launch that’s partly out of the water.
Travel 2.5 miles south of Winthrop on the Twisp-Winthrop Eastside Road, go east about a mile on Bear Creek Road to the Davis Lake turnoff, then north 1.5 miles and east for a mile on County Road No. 3514.
Crater Lakes: Open April 30 to Oct. 31, this highland lake chain, located at 6,900 feet elevation, includes one 15.8-acre lake with fish. Several lakes are nearby and may or may not have fish.
Located in the Sawtooth Ridge area on the north side of Whiskey Mountain, the Crater Lakes offer cutthroat and rainbows to walk-in anglers.
Go northwest 18 miles on Highway 153 from Pateros to the mouth of Gold Creek. A Forest Service road follows Gold Creek for eight miles. A good trail of five miles leads to the lakes.
Davis Lake: This popular Methow Valley lake should be back to normal after being rehabbed in the spring of 2003 and restocked with catchable rainbows.
The lake was to be stocked again this spring with catchable rainbows.
Anglers can expect fish in the 11- to 12-inch range, with carryovers in the 12-to 15-inch range.
A catch-and-keep season runs Sept. 1 to March 31 at this 20-acre lake that is fished intensely opening day. It’s a favorite for many Labor Day weekend anglers.
There is a catch-and-release season from April 1 to Aug. 31. Anglers must use selective gear with barbless hooks. No bait is allowed.
An estimated 1,200 anglers have been counted on past opening days, with about 75 percent of the lake’s rainbows being taken by the end of the hunting season.
Travel 2.5 miles south of Winthrop on the Twisp-Winthrop Eastside Road, go east about a mile on Bear Creek Road before heading south a mile to the lake.
Duffy Lake: The nine-acre lake, situated at 6,500 feet elevation, contains cutthroat. Open April 30 to Oct. 31, Duffy Lake is ice-free in June.
Take Forest Service Road No. 4420 (old No. 338) for 10 miles west of Twisp up Oval Creek to the Oval Creek Trail. Hike 4.5 miles south, then cross country east for a mile.
Eightmile Creek: Native rainbows and eastern brook live in this creek, located eight miles north of Winthrop.
Take the Chewuch River Road north for eight miles to the mouth of the creek.
The season is June 1 to Oct. 31.
Gold Creek: The creek, located about four miles south of Carlton off Highway 173, is closed from its mouth to the confluence with North Fork Gold Creek.
The creek is open from the North Fork upstream, and sports rainbows and a very few cutthroat.
The season runs June 1 to Oct. 31.
Selective fishery regulations pertain to the creek. No bait is allowed.
Foggy Dew Campground is at the junction of the north fork of the creek and Foggy Dew Creek.
Little Twin Lake: A mild winter should allow rainbows planted in the spring of 2004 to reach 9 to 10 inches by the opener.
The lake sports a split season.
There’s a catch-and-release season April 1 to Nov. 30. Anglers must use selective gear with barbless hooks. No bait is allowed.
There’s also a catch-and-keep season at the 24-acre lake that runs Dec. 1 to March 31.
“The fish are spunky, fun to catch,” said Jateff, who said fish appear to be surviving the summer possibly due to reduced plantings.
Access normally is with snowmobiles, though anglers can drive to the lake and walk out and fish during the summer. The lake will receive a planting this spring for rainbow trout.
Little Twin lies two miles south of Winthrop with marked turnoffs from Highway 20.
Lost River: The river, which drains into the Methow River about five miles northwest of Mazama, is closed from its mouth to Monument Creek.
From Monument Creek to the outlet of Cougar Lake there is a catch-and-keep season (which includes bull trout over 14 inches) June 1 to Oct. 31. There is a two-fish daily limit and a 14-inch minimum size.
Bull trout get in Cougar and Hidden lakes to spawn.
Anglers must use selective gear, including barbless hooks. Bait is not allowed.
A well-marked trail starts just past the bridge.
Louis Lake: This 27-acre lake, which receives a lot of pressure, continues to produce rainbow and cutthroat.
As with most alpine lakes, it is planted on a three-year rotation.
To reach this 5,300-foot elevation lake, travel 22 miles west of Twisp along the Twisp River to South Creek Campground, then hike two miles up South Creek to Louis Creek Trail and another three miles to the lake.
Louis Lake is open April 30 to Oct. 31, although ice is not off until late May.
Methow River: Anglers should consult a state pamphlet for seasons along certain sections of the river.
Steelhead fishing is closed except under an emergency opening, which the system received the last two years in October. Otherwise steelhead and bull trout (also known as Dolly Varden) cannot be caught in the river because they are in danger of extinction.
When open for steelhead fishing, the river is the best in the region in the first few miles from its mouth.
Under an emergency opening, anglers can’t keep any fish with an adipose fin, but can keep two fish a day with clipped adipose fins.
Selective gear rules — no bait allowed — apply to the Methow, Okanogan and Similkameen rivers.
NOAA-Fisheries (formerly National Marine Fisheries Service) in 1998 designated steelhead runs in danger of extinction in the upper Columbia River Basin, which includes the Methow River tributary.
From April 1 to Nov. 30 the stretch from the mouth to Gold Creek is closed to all fishing.
There is a whitefish season on the entire river Dec. 1 to March 31. Bait will be allowed this year, but hooks must be size 14 (3/16 inch) or smaller.
From Gold Creek to Weeman Bridge, there is a catch-and-release season for all game fish (except steelhead) June 1 to Sept. 30 (the same as the Chewuch River). Selective gear applies, including barbless hooks and no bait.
The river is closed April 1 to Nov. 30 from the Weeman Bridge to falls above Brush Creek.
The river starts high on the east Cascade crest at the head of the Methow Valley and runs to the Columbia River.
There are several access areas along Highway 153, which intersects with Highway 20 south of Twisp, and parallels the river to its mouth. Five Forest Service campgrounds border the upper reaches of the Methow River above Mazama.
The river no longer is planted with rainbows in an effort to protect growing steelhead and a small population of bull trout/Dolly Varden. The state does stock steelhead and Chinook salmon.
Patterson Lake: This 130-acre lake about 3.5 miles west of Winthrop is open April 30 to Oct. 31. Expect another slow early season on rainbows of eight to nine inches, with a few eastern brook trout.
Carryovers can reach up to 15 inches.
Jateff said the lake received a few brood stock from the Wells Dam Hatchery that are one to two pounds each.
Bass also live in the lake.
Follow Patterson Lake Road from Twin Lakes. There are a resort and developed public fishing area with a launch and toilets.
Pearrygin Lake: This is one of the most popular lakes in the Methow Valley, and for good reason with rainbow trout averaging average nine to 10 inches. Carryovers are larger.
The 221-acre lake has a season of April 30 to Sept. 30.
The lake features resorts, a state park with hook-ups and a fish and wildlife department boat launch with toilets that are handicapped accessible.
Pearrygin is located 1.5 miles northeast of Winthrop. A road from the center of town leads to the lake.
Tungsten Lake: This small lake, which contains cutthroat trout, is located about 55 miles north of Winthrop. Anglers, starting at the trailhead at the end of the Chewuch River Road, will hike several days to the lake, located near Aspen Mountain.
Although Tungsten Lake’s season runs April 30 to Oct. 31, anglers have best success in mid-summer after the ice is off.
Cutthroats propagate naturally in the lake, meaning fish range in size from one to 14 inches. Heavy pressure from hike-in anglers minimizes the amount of larger fish.
Twisp River: A large tributary of the Methow River, the river remains closed for all fishing from War Creek to the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness boundary.
There is a catch-and-release season for rainbows and cutthroat of June 1 to Sept. 30 from the mouth to War Creek. Selective gear restrictions are in effect, including barbless hooks and no bait.
Twisp River Road follows the river from Twisp for 25 miles upstream, with numerous campsites available.
Anglers should check the state pamphlet for areas where the river is closed.
War Creek: The creek is open June 1 to Oct. 31. Like all creeks in the Methow Valley watershed, War Creek contains small rainbow (six to nine inches).
It is illegal to catch bull trout (Dolly Varden) in the creek.
This creek is only for those hardy enough to fight through the brush to get to the fish.
The creek joins the Twisp River at the Forest Service’s War Creek Campground about 15 miles west of Twisp.
A road follows the creek for two miles and a trail runs parallel to the creek for another 10 miles to its headwaters at War Creek Pass.
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