[forest gnome]

wind river range....that's all ya need to know...

[RichP]

The Selkirks north of Spokane are pretty great too but the Selway-Bitterroot has it all.

[Brian Curtis]

In my opinion the most fun backcountry fishing is in lakes. Don't get me wrong, I've had a blast fishing wilderness rivers and creeks but there is something particularly special about high lake fishing. Even in places like the Selway-Bitteroot I've always planned trips around fishing lakes. And the fishing and scenery in the Selway-Bitteroot is fantastic, but quite different from the Cascades. In the Cascades streams tend to, well, cascade and that does not make for very good fish habitat. But all that vertical relief does make for incredibly beautiful lakes that are really fun to fish. And it is called the Alpine Lakes Wilderness for a reason. Another beautiful area not too far from Spokane is the Seven Devils Wilderness. It is a very vertical area so the fishing is all abut lakes, not streams. But that's my preference, anyway. As far as going to places that don't get too many people, the general rules apply no matter where you go. Get off trail and you will leave most people behind. Go long distances and you will leave most people behind. I've certainly found exceptions to both those rules, but if you keep them in mind you will be able to plan trips from maps no matter where you go.

[80skeys]

The Selway-Bitterroot has it all, but in looking over my topo maps yesterday I was reminded of how darn rugged it is. So I'm back to considering Washington State. I think my criteria at this point are, from order of most important at the top to least important at the bottom: - scenic - not windy (as a fly fisherman I hate the wind) - not "too rugged" but not too wimpy - no large grizzlies - no or minimal wildfire damage - not crowded is preferable but as people have said, we can hike away from it - cooler temps are preferable but not a show-stopper - at least some possibility of hooking some fish is preferable I know, the "ideal" location, but if we can identify a few areas that satisfy most of the bullet points or at least the top ones .... - For Selway, I was looking at Meadow Lake Roadless Area. Looks like its satisfies most of the criteria except it looks rugged if one wants to follow the feeder streams out of the valley. Coeur d'Alene looks nice but a lot of grizzlies. Any suggestions on the western Nez-Perce, and on Washington state?

[80skeys]

[80skeys]

[RichP]

The Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness Area on the eastern slopes of the Cascades have several lakes that are fishable and the area is very scenic. Oval Lakes come to mind but there are others. There may be moderate usage but nothing compared to the west side of the Cascades, especially if you are there mid-week. Use the search option on this forum to look into some past reports. Near Spokane, the Mallard-Larkins Pioneer Area in Idaho has numerous lakes. Can't speak much for the fishing though. The North Fork of the Clearwater is just below and is said to be good. Very beautiful river.

[SwitchbackFisher]

[Foist]

Selway Bitterroot is more rugged than the North Cascades? By what measure?

[80skeys]

[80skeys]

[SwitchbackFisher]

[Foist]

[80skeys]

[hbb]