Overview
WDFW calls high lakes trout fishing one of Washington’s premier recreational opportunities. These glacier-carved Cascade lakes pair trout fishing with hiking, camping and big mountain views. Washington has about 1,600 lakes above 2,500 feet west of the Cascades and nearly 950 above 3,500 feet on the east side. Only a small share hold fish, and most high lakes are naturally fishless.
Best months: Jul–Sep — see July, August and September.
Species and seasons
| Species | Best months | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rainbow trout | After ice-out, typically July–September | WDFW usually stocks Mount Whitney or triploid rainbows, which rarely reproduce in high lakes. |
| Westslope cutthroat | After ice-out, typically July–September | Stocked only in east-slope lakes, where they’re native. Known for taking dry flies. |
| Coastal cutthroat | After ice-out, typically July–September | Stocked only in west-slope lakes. |
| Brook and golden trout | After ice-out, varies by lake | Brook trout are stocked sparingly. Golden trout are rare and take effort to find. |
Most stocked high lakes get small trout fry in summer on a rotation, every two to five years and sometimes only once a decade. As a result, the number and size of fish in a given lake change from year to year. WDFW suggests doing your homework with its high lakes stocking plans and topographic maps, and being willing to walk. The best fishing is usually early morning and late afternoon, and midday can be slow in bright sun. Insect hatches can trigger feeding at any time. See trout and summer fishing.
Methods
High lakes fishing uses the same basic approaches as lowland lakes. The big difference is water clarity. WDFW recommends light leaders, usually 4-pound test or less, and a careful, stalking approach. Fly anglers commonly use 5- to 7-weight lines with long leaders, fishing dry flies when trout are rising and nymphs or leeches when they aren’t. Spinners and small spoons work well on light spinning gear, as covered on our spoons and spinners page. A float tube or small raft helps with casting room, and our still water page covers lake tactics.
Most fish feed in shallow water near shore, so bank fishing can be productive. WDFW encourages careful catch-and-release with single, barbless hooks, and suggests keeping only one or two fish for the pan.
Regions and access
Alpine Lakes Wilderness: The Forest Service describes about 394,000 acres with more than 700 lakes, 47 trailheads and 615 miles of trail along the Cascade crest between Stevens and Snoqualmie passes. The Enchantments area has its own day-use and overnight permit system. Check with the U.S. Forest Service for current wilderness permits, stock rules and fire restrictions before you go.
North-central Cascades: Some guides in our directory run horse-supported pack and drop-camp trips into the Pasayten and Sawtooth backcountry, with fishing as part of a high-country trip. Ask the outfitter which lakes they visit and how far you’ll ride or hike.
Getting started: WDFW keeps a list of easier-access “getting started” high lakes for first-timers. It also lists “overabundant” lakes where anglers are encouraged to keep their legal limit to help bring fish numbers down.
Safety and Leave No Trace: High lakes are cold, often below 50 degrees. Wear flotation in a raft or float tube, carry rain gear and warm layers, tell someone your plans, and never walk on a partly frozen lake. Pack out everything, and camp well back from the water.
Check the rules before you go
Seasons, limits and closures change every year and by emergency rule. Check current WDFW rules at https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations and emergency rules/closures at https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/emergency-rules before you go.
WDFW notes that some high lakes have selective-gear or other special rules, so check whether bait is allowed where you plan to fish. Wilderness permits and land-use rules come from the Forest Service or National Park Service, separately from fishing rules, so check both.
Find a guide
Browse alpine lakes trout guides to compare hike-in and horse-supported trips. Check how many days a trip runs, how much hiking or riding is involved, and whether gear such as float tubes is provided. More Alpine Lakes guides.
Ask your guide for their WDFW guide license number before you book.
Recent fishing reports
Check our fishing reports for more context. Keep typical timing separate from current snowpack, trail conditions and WDFW rules.
FAQ
When do Cascade alpine lakes typically fish best? After ice-out, which for most lakes is late June or July, through September. Some lakes open up earlier, and lakes can start freezing from early October.
Do all high lakes have fish? No. Most of Washington’s high lakes are naturally fishless. Stocked lakes are planted on a rotation, so fish numbers vary from year to year.
What gear works for high lakes? Light lines and leaders, small flies, spinners and spoons. A packable rod and a float tube or small raft can help.
Do I need a permit to hike in? Some areas, such as the Enchantments, require wilderness permits. Check with the Forest Service or National Park Service for the area you plan to visit.
Related
Related fishery pages: Yakima River trout. Browse all fisheries, trout and summer fishing.