Fishing in Alpine Lakes, Washington

Trout fishing is a popular pastime in Washington's alpine lakes.

The Alpine Lakes wilderness area is comprised of 394,000 acres in the state of Washington's rugged Central Cascades region. The area is home to more than 615 miles of hiking trails that wind their way around the region's numerous alpine lakes. There are plenty of opportunities for outdoor adventure with high lake trout fishing one of the region's premier attractions.

Size

There are more than 1,600 alpine lakes, also known as high lakes, in western Washington. There are at least 950 additional alpine lakes located east of the Cascade Mountains. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife estimates that more than 100,000 anglers visit these lakes each year.

Features

Some of Washington's alpine lakes have self-sustaining trout populations. The state Department of Fish and Wildlife maintains an active, rotating stocking program for the lakes. Some lakes are stocked annually while some others are stocked every 2 or 3 years. Some lakes only are stocked once in a decade while other lakes are intentionally left barren.

Considerations

The U.S. Forest and National Park Service advocates the practice of catch-and-release fishing in Washington's alpine lakes. This involves keeping only those fish that will be cooked and eaten that day, and releasing all others back into the wild.

Types

Fish that are native to the alpine lakes may include brown trout, mackinaw and bull trout. Commonly stocked varieties of fish include rainbow trout, cutthroat trout and eastern brook trout. In some instances, lakes may be stocked with golden trout, Montana black-spot trout or Atlantic salmon.

License

All persons 15 years and older are required to have a valid license to fish in the state. The cost of the license is determined by a variety of factors including residence, age, disability, expiration date and type of fishing desired. A Catch Record card also may be required when fishing for certain species in Washington's alpine lakes.
You can obtain a fishing license from the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Licensing Division
600 Capitol Way North
Olympia, WA 98501
360-902-2464
[e-mail]

References

• Go Northwest! - Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area
• Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife: Trout Fishing in Washington's High Lakes
• Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife: General Licensing Information

Resources

• Washington Trails Association: Alpine Lakes
• Trails: Alpine Lakes Wilderness Region Hiking