Lost Lake by Keechelus

[Phoenix04]

Going camping in a few weeks at Lost Lake, next to Keechelus Lake, in the Mountains toward Cle Elum. I have never been out there, and may be the only one spending a good chunk of the time fishing. That being said, I am wondering if anyone has fished this lake, what it has, and what are the best techniques for fishing it. All of the small lakes have their quirks, and I will only have one solid day to spend out there. Hoping to do a bit of catch and release, but hopefully get one good one to toss over the fire. No boat coming, but from maps it looks like there are a few good access points for shore fishing.

Thanks!!

[Bodofish]

Fly's or a Mepps, go to's on small mtn lakes. You could even toss a worm but I've seen mtn fish hide from them. Bugs, bugs, bugs.

[Phoenix04]

Kind of what I was thinking with the bugs, might bring some worms though for fun just in case.

Looking through the lake reports, it looks like people have had success with powerbait??? With as many "Lost Lake" listings, I'm thinking some of those may have been put into the wrong county. I know there is one up north towards Everett that looks like it gets stocked, and another south almost parallel with Yakima that has an actual campgrounds that more likely gets stocked. Think I'm just going to bring the arsenal and see what happens.

[Bodofish]

Have fun! Pretty lake, pretty area. I've done a lot of hiking, 4X and flying foot launch gliders all over that area. It's beautiful.

[Mike Carey]

Might want to try getting some clear casting bobbers and attaching a nymph or floating fly 4-5 ft back from it. I've had some amazing days on Alpine lakes with this set up.

Check out this Blog post and at 5:55 on the video I go over the gear and that bobber set up:

http://www.washingtonlakes.com/BlogPost.aspx?bpid=208

[Gringo Pescador]

I replied to this last night - not sure what happened to it

Lost lake is stocked - so yes, Power Bait will work. They used to stock it with triploids right around fathers day each year, don't know if they still do.

I have had luck also floating a worm off the bottom as well but my best luck has been with 4# line and rooster tails in bright yellow, green and orange.

The bank access is determined by the lake level. Probably pretty high right now. The South side of the lake is steep/deep fast - but virtually impossible to get to on foot. The East side (where the rough boat launch is) can be good if you can get past the floating logs. BE CAREFUL - I've seen not-so-smart people walking on the floating logs, you drop between em into the water they will close in above you and you are done for. If you keep driving up the road up around the north end of the lake there is a turn off that takes you down to a little parking lot on the west end it is a short hike down tot he lake from there and there is an input creek in the NW corner - from the bank I like fishing that corner the best. Caught some nice sized brookies over there.

Hope this helps!

[Jake Dogfish]

Great info Gringo.
As of last week the lake is still snowed in and has not been planted yet. I am sure it will be once the snow clears.

[Bodofish]

I went on a recon mission yesterday to let the dogs run. The road is passable.... but the water is very high and up into the willows that surround the lake, they're all but impassable. Still quite a bit of snow, big patches, that block the road around the lake and up to Mirror. The boat launch is covered with big logs and to clear the launch it's going to take some log handling equipment. Toons and Tubes you could most definitely get past them but, as has been stated before this is a floating jam and I would recommend staying off it, it could shift at any time and swallow you up, lifejacket or not, you'd be done. I doubt it’s been stocked yet due to the road or if it even is going to be. Very nice dads day for me, out with my two friends, a little 4X, a little walk and a couple Micky D's cheese burgers to share and of course a couple very nice cigars, one of them in the dinner for two range.... Also went up to Stampede Pass, lots of very big snow fields, in the open areas, wild strawberry’s blooming everywhere the sun hits and the huckleberries are leaping up. Almost a perfect afternoon, the only thing missing was to dip a line, alas no easy way to do it with watching the dogs at the same time.

[Phoenix04]

Thanks everyone for the great info. Unfortunately, at the first mention of "the lake will likely still have a little snow" half of the group wussed out. Apparently it didn't register that there would be snow in June in the mountains ! Which then trumped my choice of Salmon la sac...

2nd choice was Kanaskat-Palmer. Have not had the chance to fish Deep Lake though I have been out there a few times. Short notice, and it's completely filled up.

3rd choice on this side of the mountains is down to Millersylvania at the other Deep Lake. So, that's where we will be. Anyone have particular success with certain baits or techniques? Going to read over the reports for that lake in the next few days, but looks for specifics on the park side of the lake. No boat with me, but might rent one (no trolling gear though).

Thanks again!!

[oneshot]

yep, all the alpine lakes right now if they don't still have snow on them, they are very high. we had a great snow year. i still have friends out every weekend sliding on snow one way or another. Lost lake is close to 3k in elevation and the shadowed corners of the lake could still have snow.

good info here on fishing that lake! I might have to give it a try this summer.. I usually hit a couple real small lakes on the other side of I-90 from keechelus for small native trout.. those are buried in snow right now still..

[Bodofish]

Oh yeah they're way under. I also went up the other side and about half way up Mt Margaret I started running into drifts across the road. Silly me didn't bring a shovel as there's no snow this time of year.... 40% above average snow pack should have thrown up a red flag. Pretty sure they have snow all the way around them.