[Justin Burrows]

I noticed this "creek" (more of a beaver dam/wetland chain) is open year round. Has anyone here ever given it a shot for trout? I don't see why this would be listed in the regs if there's nothing in it, but judging by what I saw above fishtrap lake I'd rather not go slogging through the lilly pads for sunfish or stunted bass!

Thanks a bunch

Justin.

 

[luv2fly2]

did they not just rehab hog canyon? that did not answer your question. i would check with a game official and if it is open i would fish it before the ticks and rattlesnakes come out. mike w

 

[Justin Burrows]

I tried the lower stretch, and the ticks are already out! The rattlesnakes don't bother me though, nothing around here compares to the rattler's around Prineville/Mt. Vernon Oregon where my family is from. I also have a small jon boat that is great for pushing through beaver ponds, so if I get a wild hair this summer I may do it if just to check it out.

If they did just rehab it, I guess the creek would probably be out of the question (and would also explain the dead bullhead cats I saw everywhere when I was shooting my bow a couple months ago down there)

 

[Cruik]

It looks like they treated (or at least planned to) Fishtrap lake with rotenone this last fall. It says that the inlet (Hog Canyon Creek) is not a perennial stream and that at the time of the rotenone treatment (planned fall 2009), the only water that existed within the creek was in the "wetland" area, which was also to be treated with rotenone.

They did plant Fishtrap with catchable stockers this spring, but I don't think they would have ventured up into the creek. It's looking like the creek might be void of fish between Fishtrap and Hog Lakes.

Info from: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/9450739/PRE-REHABILITATION-PLAN/

 

[Justin Burrows]

Wow, they certainly rehab that lake on a regular basis! I guess I'll give it a year 2 before I give it a shot.

Thanks Cruik!

 

[Rob Zelk]

I tell you what, that is one tough place to access. I've explored it in my EWU days, but I found that the access is just too weird and tough, and I didn't catch a thing the places where I could access. There are trees all over the sides of the canyon and over hanging in the lower canyon to a non fishable level in many areas. The upper canyon seemed like there was fishable water in the middle, but getting out past the marsh and lillies was just to hard, you need a floatation device just to help you walk, every step you just wait to keep on sinking! I'm sure there is some sort of fish there, but the access is just not worth the fuss. You will see what I mean when you go. I've spent many days chasing fish out that way, and I only went there once because of the funky access. Ticks, I don't miss them at all. I would not go there during tick season. Being hot and sweaty and frustrated because of the lack of fishable water is enough. I would say if you go, the lower river is the place to access easier and it looks more like a fishable stream instead of a weird marshy slow moving frog stream. My 2.

Rob

 

[Jay K]

Interesting - I was just looking at Hog Canyon Creek myself two days back and now found this thread. I was looking b/c it looked like Hog Canyon Lake was just recently stocked with a ton of trout, but after the lake closed - I suppose it's being stocked for winter ice fishing. I've been looking for some small streams to fish and came across Hog Canyon Creek and wondered the same thing. Tried the Little Spokane today with bitter disappointment. I got to find me some pristine mountain streams before I go crazy.

 

[7919]

psssh spokane river is pristine mountain stream

 

[Blake Harmon]

psssh spokane river is pristine mountain stream

haha

 

[Justin Burrows]

Well Hog Canyon certainly isn't pristine. I know of quite a few, but they're an hour and a half out of town and almost entirely private, and it took me years to get access to all of them. I am trying to find somewhere decently close. I'm surprised you didn't get anything on the little spokane, my buddy got a 24" brown there last week. They have been rising every time I've been there, but only in the early morning. Then they just randomly rise throughout the day. Funny thing is I still haven't caught a whitefish after many trips, and I'd like to catch one since up by Chewelah where I grew up there are no whitefish due to a waterfall on the Colville River watershed.