There are many streams, rivers, and lakes in the North Cascades that offer a variety of fishing -- depending on the time of the year. Lowland lakes and rivers are your best bet during the late fall through spring months. Into summer and early fall, after the snow melt, more lakes and rivers become available to fishing .
Please click here for information on obtaining a fishing license from the National Park Service, as well as regulations that specify the seasons and catch limits, as well as the types of bait you can use.
Alpine Lakes
Ross Lake - In general, high isolated mountain lakes aren't good fishing spots, as they're cut off from migration. Most fishing spots are found in lowland lakes and rivers, however Ross Lake -- at 1600 feet in elevation on nearby Highway 20 in the North Cascades -- is a large mountain lake with great fishing, and a handful of nearby hiking trails as well as a large number of campgrounds.
Click here to view a map of Ross Lake.
(Ross Lake Resort was featured in National Geographic's 2005 Great Lodges of the Great Parks.)
Baker Lake -
Gorge Lake -
Diablo Lake -
Rivers
Cascade River - (Winter-run steelhead / spring-run kings) - Take Hwy 530 north out of Darrington, and go all the way to Marlbemount. Once in Marblemount, take a right on Rockport / Cascade River Road. This takes you over a bridge that crosses the Cascade River. The river is open for fishing from the bridge all the way down to the mouth. Our source calls this "Raspberry Hole", and it's located by the salmon / steelhead hatchery.
Skagit River - Known for trout, salmon and steelhead, the Skagit River is the second largest river in Washington State, behind the Columbia. Steelhead fishing is reported to be best between the months of February and April.
Sauk River -
Creeks
