Nice fish. I was out there last year and was catching good sized rainbows from the bank. Love that place, need to get there soon.

The vast majority of trout in Quinalt are cuts, you have to look close under the jaw to see the streak, but they are cuts.There are some steelhead in the lake, but very few are caught. We've caught prob. a couple hundred trout out of that lake and none have been rainbows. Were you using worms, power bait or lures?Bob R

nice catch...

do people eat those?

THE BOWS LOOK SOFT! WOULD NOT EAT!

To buc, I have NO idea what you are talking about, these aren't even rainbows, and you must have fish quality identification abilities beyond belief to know how firm fish are from photos. Fish from this lake are prob. the firmest and cleanest fish I catch, not a hatchery fish in sight, all native! bob r

Hey there! Was wondering how the fishing is around this time of year? I've never fished Quinault before and I'm heading up there next week for some fishing. I don't have a boat and was planning on just casting from the bank. Is that a good idea? Are there any good spots to walk to around the lake? I was planning on using worms or powerbait and maybe some spoons but really I have no idea what to expect. I've always fished in the MIdWest and am looking for some sound general advice. Anything helps and is greatly appreciated!

Fishing from shore can be pretty difficult at this time of year as most
fish have moved into deeper water. Our two dolly vardens were caught 30 ft.
down on a downrigger, my wife's trout was caught on a 1/2 oz. keel sinker
ahead of a spoon. A tribal fishing license is required as well.You can get a
weekend pass at the rain forest resort store on south shore road or at
Amanda Park merdcantile on highway 101. You may want to contact the poster
above who said he caught rainbows from shore, he never answered my question
about what he was using, the campgrounds on the south shore have creeks
coming out of them, I'd hit the mouths early in the morning(first light) and cast
spinners as far out as I could into the lake and let them sink before retrieve. Good
Luck, bob r

Thanks for the info and good luck to you as well!

Beautiful fish Bob, What is the largest bull trout you've caught in the lake?

The char in Quinalt are Dolly Vardens, not bull trout. The two are very similar genetically but in the areas where both occur crossbreeding occurs and the dolly genetics take over.I'm not sure about other river systems on the Olympic Penn.To save bull trout( which are extremly restricted)the state closes all waters to taking of artic char except te Skagit river and Baker Lake.My biggest Dolly was 6 1/2 lbs. Bob R

Sorry, for my delayed response. I was fishing off of Onion Rock, (this rock in itself is interesting as it has plants on it that are only found in higher elevations and only occur at this rock in the area, it is believe it fell from the higher elevation and rolled toward the shore) not sure if you know it, but it is on the north side of the lake right at the fishing cut off line. I was using a slip bob with night crawlers, depth set at five to seven feet. I was out there last July. Interestingly enough, if I had slack in my line as the weight pulled the worm down, the fish would attack my knot, which was hot pink. Unfortunately I didn't have any decent pink tackle with me to exploit this.

Thanks for the great responses! My last question is if there is a fish/tackle supply store around the lake?

Tackle stores are available in Aberdeen and at Montasano on your way up, but locally not so much, some tackle at Amanda Park Mercantile on highway 101 and at the stores on south shore rd. on the lake, but pretty limited. Bob R

Bob, how deep do you usually catch your dolly varden at? Thanks!