Mt Hood Lakes Info?

[Blue Tip Spinner]

anyone know if there is any truck access to any of the lakes up there?

[Zodiac-Fisherman]

This fall, I picked up a detailed topography map from the Forest Services in Welches, and picked a few small ponds/lakes, with one objective in mind, I wanted to fish in remote waters. If you have a snowmobile and a pair of showshoes you could probably access most of these spots. I don't have the map next to me, but I did manage to find a few small ponds that were brook trout heaven. The trout weren't big, 8 inches at most, but they were gorgeous fish. The surroundings alone make the trip/drive/hike in worth it. Nothin like hiking/running up a 3 mile steep trail, running downhill a few miles, holding onto your 4wt, 4 piece rod, and catching brookies one after another.

[Blue Tip Spinner]

Z-F- this was actually a way for me get answers to the question that you and i had in the other thread without hijacking it.

[Hammer Down]

B-T,

More lakes around Mt. Hood and just south of there (Upper clackamas drainage) then you could fish in a lifetime...but what do you consider 'truck' access?

If you mean fishing out of the front seat...no, there's not much. But if you are willing to walk 1 mile, whole worlds open up. If you are willing to hike up to 3, then you've got about 90% of them.

Just depends on what you consider 'truck' access?

[Blue Tip Spinner]

i prefer to float them. i am asking if the roads are open to any of the lakes up there to go fishing. is clear lake road open? is it clear of snow? questions like that...

i started laughing when you brought up the "fishing out of the front seat" comment.

[Hammer Down]

B-T,

Laughing or not, some people actually WANT that in an outdoor experience. I can understand if you're disabled, but to actually WANT to sit in a truck seat and fish...go figure.

Many of the lakes are good for float fishing, as the sides and edges tend to be somewhat swampy. I'm not crazy about float tubes, but do pretty well just fishing from shore.

I haven't been up there in a few weeks, but the snow can get pretty deep. Z-F had it pegged. Right now, you'd need snowshoes and a snowmobile to get into most of them. Look for the south facing sloped lakes about april or so.

As an aside...I tend to fish mostly small spinners, and have never done well in the early season. I usually fish those lakes starting in July and go through freeze up. Some of the hatches on those upper / least visited lakes can be terrifyingly HUGE! Those fish grow fast, and tend to be rather small because of their high numbers.

Grab a map and do some exploring.

You might bring a shotgun too...a little birdie came and told me a long time ago that there are some grouse in the area?

[Zodiac-Fisherman]

You might bring a shotgun too...a little birdie came and told me a long time ago that there are some grouse in the area?



I brought mine and did see a few birdies, but didnt whack any. Felt too kind that day. :jester:

[Zodiac-Fisherman]

Veda lake is spectacular. The hike is about 4 miles, half of which is very steep uphill, the other half is very steep downhill.

Check it out.

[Ryan Pultz]

With a 4x4 you might be able to make it to harriet lake. I have fished it in March before. Good luck and let us know how you do. rp

[Hammer Down]

RP,

I just drove my 2005 bug into Harriet two weeks ago. I don't think that I have ever seen that lake not accessible by anything with wheels.

Tip on Harriet...try fishing the shallows near the campground at FIRST LIGHT with a sinking rapala. There are browns in that lake, and they get big (very big!) But you can only get them (well, that is when I've only ever gotten them?) using that technique. Otherwise they are in the middle and deep. Beyond us bankies.

[Ryan Pultz]

a toon or tube would be awsome at harriet draging a small streamer for browns. I have gotten a few browns casting a streamer from the bank spotting fish crusing and cast to them. The big browns in the lake feed on small trout and other bugs. rp

[Blue Tip Spinner]

i have fished harriet quite a few times. this wasn't a "how to" on fishing the lakes, it was an access question. thanks for all the replies.