Myrtle or Echo lakes

[rumeye]

Looking to do a road trip this summer. These lakes look interesting anybody got any feedback on whether they are worth fishing? The Lake finder looks good on DNR site.

[Cliff Wagenbach]

Both lakes are good fishing lakes and usually not to crowded either.

Cliff

[OhioVike]

I totally agree with Cliff. I grew up fishing both regularly and what was true then is still true now. Both are good shallow lakes and the fish surveys accurately reflect what you will find.  I would give the edge to Echo, especially if  you are looking for walleye.  But, it is a shallow lake. Several times we have limited out on walleye and only marked a couple of fish on the sonar.  

[rumeye]

Thanks guys I think a trip is in order. Is there camping spots around there?

[OhioVike]

There is a small campsite on the south side of Echo with a boat launch and ample parking.  Access via the Echo Trail.  I don't know the details but there are generally people there.  I am unaware of camping on Mrytle.  

[rumeye]

Ok so we have a campsite at Trails End booked. Looking forward to getting up there fishing you guys have been very helpful with input. So I am going to ask you guys about Winchester lake can a guy get to it easily with a vehicle and a 12 ft john boat ? or is it a four wheeler trail only? will have a Ford Expedition.

[OhioVike]

I haven't been there in a very, very long time. We dragged a 14' boat on a trailer by hand.  Not to difficult for a couple of active healthy adults.  I am sure it has been improved by now, but I wouldn't count on vehicle access.  It is a long way to go not to get access to the lake.  I am sure somebody will know, maybe even at the resort.  

[rumeye]

Talked with the DNR fisheries guy at I falls yesterday and he said it is accessible by vehicle says the trout are doing very well in there. Says we should have a good time.

[OhioVike]

My brother has been bugging me to go in there. Let me know how your experience goes and how big of a boat you can get down there.  Good luck!

[rumeye]

Will do.

[hcrider]

I've never fished on Winchester, but I have hunted in this vicinity quite a lot over the years.  I've been interested in trying it sometime, so it will be nice if you can post a report.  The roads to get in there are not well marked but you can probably find your way if using a mapping app (although cellular service is very poor in this area.) Planning the route in advance is important if you've never been back there. The roads are very narrow and "unimproved" and not many places to pull over.  I wouldn't expect that you'll encounter much traffic back there, but trying to pull a trailer through several miles of those roads could be a fun experience if you have to back up to find a place to pull over.  You'll also have to slow down to go over some rocks, deep puddles, ruts, etc.  It is all driveable without a 4WD, but you'll want to take it slow.  Once you get to the east end of Winchester, there is a small (enough room for maybe a couple of vehicles) unimproved parking area (small DNR boat access sign but nothing indicating "Winchester Lake") and a trail to the lake, about 150 yards.  It's really a carry-in access.  I've driven my ATV on this trail, and I suppose it could be wide enough for a truck, but you'll probably drag branches down the sides and I don't think there's enough room to turn around.  I'm going to try attaching a couple of pictures here.  One of them shows my ATV parked at the end of the trail right next to the lake...this is to give you an idea of the width of the trail in the background.  The other shows the lake from the "landing."  There are a number of rocks there that you'll have to lift your boat over unless the water is high enough to float it over.  If I was going to go back there, I'd probably take a canoe...a square stern or sport boat if you want to troll with a small motor...maybe a small jon boat that could be fit in the bed of a pickup.  Trailering in is possible but it's going to be a chore and regardless, you'll probably be carrying your boat a distance.

Hope this is helpful in thinking about how you might want to approach this.  Please post a report if you do make it in there.

[rumeye]

Thanks HC we are going up on the 10th to Echo and will be hitting Winchester bringing a 12 ft John and trolling motor.We are excited to fish this lake looks like it will be an adventure for sure will definitely post pics and results. Thanks for the info very helpful.

[OhioVike]

Rumeye, how was your trip?

[rumeye]

Trip was good Echo produced nice walleyes fun time . Winchester we got 2 smallmouths and that's it. Threw spoons cranks jigs no lakers. Definitely will be going back there to try again. Made a dolly out of a 2 wheeler for the boat it worked perfect. There are a bunch of cabins on that lake I can only imagine they have no power because its 2.7 miles in off the main road.I know they get them because we went in 2 days before for a recon mission and there was 4 trucks parked back there.

[OhioVike]

Thanks for the update. Did you have sonar? I would imagine the trout are deep and fairly plentiful.  

[rumeye]

No sonar did fish deep had Navionics map in smart phone. just could not get bit.