anyone around here have experience fishing the higher elevation/hike-in lakes in the summer months? im looking at a few to target this summer and they are around 4000'-4500' in elevation. im looking to determine when they would be ice-free and fishable.

I used to use jully 4th as a rule for a couple over here in the olympics.If I remember right Mildred lks. sits around 5000,I could be wrong though.Anyways I used to catch the fish spawning in the creek.It was an amazing sight.It kind of depends on the amount of snow versus exposure and weather.

The rangers in charge of the erea can give you a real time picture dependant on the reports of the people that have already hiked up there.Give them a call.They are a wealth of info to the back country.

Some of the alpine lakes on the east side of the Cascades near Leavenworth are accessible beginning in mid-June. Several of them have very good cutthroat trout fishing.

Give a call to the USFS Ranger Station in Leavenworth for up to date trail info. Sorry I don't have the number handy!

If all the snowmelt I witnessed today on one of my favorite rivers means anything I would say that ice out is happening.We did not have alot of snow pack this year,and what little we did get came late in the season.I am begining to feel like it will be earliar than normal.

You have got me thinking of visiting a couple I have not been to in a few....if I can still handle the hike

I told you I was thinking about doing some hiking..any way found a thread that might help you out here is te link ice out report

look at the bottom of the page

thanks ltlcleo, that thread is in the ballpark for what i was looking for.

i was fishing up around 3000' this past weekend and there is no sign of snow at that level, the lake had a surface water temp of 52f. i didnt realize all this sun we have been having lately would do that.