Washington State camping

Chris Pierce

Chris Pierce

Joined
Nov 15, 2006
Messages
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I'd like to go car camping and fishing this weekend. I'm planning on leaving early Saturday morning. And staying until Sunday afternoon. I live in Seattle and would prefer to camp somewhere within 200 miles, but closer is better of course. I'd like to be able to fish from my camp site, but it wouldn't be the end of the world if I had to hike a little ways to go fish. I don't have a boat so I'll be fishing from the shore. I'd prefer to fish for sunfish, bass or catfish, but I'll fish for just about anything that doesn't require a boat or heavy tackle.


Does anyone have recommendations for a camp site/areas near water that won't be crowded on the weekend?
Also, I'm new to fishing in Washington, and I need some recommendations for places near Seattle so I can go fishing in the evenings during the week.
Thanks
-Chris
 
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Tons of camping and fishing around, but out here, we fish more for salmon, steelhead & trout. East of the mountains there is some bass fishing. Car camping away from crowds, on a weekend. . . That's a tall order. Most campgrounds will probably completely fill up by Friday night. Sometimes the fishing can be pretty good on Lake Kachess, just over Snoqualmie Pass. The lake is open but the streams feeding in were closed a few weeks back. (I prefer stream fishing.)

Or you could leave the fishing pole home and risk serious mental trauma by atending the 6th annual Great Nortwest Mischief! Camping in the woods with a bunch of strangers you met on the internet. What's the worst that could happen? You get there and find out we're a bunch or teenage girls? :D
 
I'm not sure if there are any fish, but for scenery and car camping, try the forest roads along the Teanaway river. I think it is off exit 86 on I-90 at Cle Elum.
 
Pritch said:
... What's the worst that could happen? You get there and find out we're a bunch of teenage girls? :D
Click to expand...

Ok now you're scaring me :eek: ...!

But +1 on the invite Chris; we really are mostly harmless :o, and there will be some awesome blades attending!!

Best,
8
 
Head any place 75 to 100 miles east of Seattle and you will find plenty of camping. But you won't find much for bass, sunfish or catfish. While they have been introduced to many low country lakes, none of the above are native here.
 
Try Lodgepole campground on the east side of Chinook pass. It is about 11 miles over the summit, but a great base to work from. At the summit, you can get on the Pacific Crest Trail and these are several hikes on nice paths. You can drop of into Dewey Lake as well. If you want fewer people around, there are trails closer to the campground.

The river there is the American river and you will need to check the book on it.

http://www.recreation.gov/camping/Lodgepole_Wa/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=74029


Have a great time.

Fish rules on American River: Page 73

AMERICAN RIVER (Yakima Co.) CLOSED WATERS - July 16-Sept.15: from the Hwy. 410 Bridge at RM 5.4 (0.7 miles east, downstream of
the USFS Hells Crossing Campground main entrance) upstream to the Mesatchee Creek Trail (USFS trail
969) river crossing at RM 15.8.

All Game Fish First Sat. in June-Oct. 31 Statewide min. size/daily limit. Selective gear rules. Internal
combustion motors prohibited.
 
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