When you pull into Dworshak Reservoir, it hits you. Remote. Rugged. Absolutely massive. No cell service. No background noise. Just the hum of your tires slowing down and the sound of cicadas in the trees.
I left Coeur d’Alene early Friday morning and followed the paved road south along Highway 95, then east toward Orofino. The final stretch hugs the Clearwater River before climbing into the forested hills above the dam. Once you’re up there, you lose signal and gain something better.
Ninety-five degrees and the long walk in
I didn’t reserve a drive-up site. I chose one of the walk-in campsites tucked along the trees near the Freeman Creek Campground. Great views, decent shade, and a solid workout getting there.
The temperature hit 95 degrees. I hiked everything in by hand, including a large plastic gear box, a full-size cooler, a gallon water jug, and a bag with my hammock, clothes, and hygiene gear. By the time I dropped my gear at camp, I was soaked in sweat and barely resisting the urge to cannonball into the lake.
Instead, I grabbed my paddle, launched the Old Town Sportsman Autopilot 120, and hit the water before even setting up the tent.
Deep water, clear structure, stubborn bass
Dworshak doesn’t play around. Most of the shoreline I fished dropped into 40 to 60 feet just a few paddle strokes out. I used the GPS anchor on the Autopilot to hold position while I worked drop shots and finesse swimbaits through submerged ledges and rock piles.
My Garmin ECHOMAP was powered by a Nocqua 20Ah battery, which ran flawlessly the entire trip. I cruised along at around two miles per hour, scanning the depths and hunting for rock structure.
The bass were there, but they made me work for it. I landed a few solid smallmouth, nothing over 14 inches, but every hit felt earned. This lake has giants. They just weren’t home.
Somewhere along the way, I managed to snap my Daiwa Tatula rod. Clean break. No heroic fish story—just a bad angle, a tight line, and a little too much pressure at the wrong moment. Rest in peace, old friend.
Firewood, food, and lakefront dinners
After fishing, I finally set up camp and lit a fire using leftover Duraflame logs from a previous trip. I stoked it with firewood picked up at the Freeman Creek entrance—convenient and dry, just how I like it.
Night one was burgers and sides
Night two was chicken tacos with chicken we pre-cooked.
Mornings were all about eggs, sausage, and instant coffee. I used lithium batteries and a small inverter to power lights and charge phones. No hookups needed.
On the second night, a few friends showed up with snacks, s’mores, and cold drinks. We sat by the fire until late, swapping stories under a sky full of stars. Perfect ending to a long, hot day.
What I’d do differently next time
Every trip teaches you something. Here’s what I learned on this one:
• I brought way too much tackle. I used three baits all weekend
• Shoes were better than boots and took up less space
• I need to stop packing soft plastics I don’t trust
• A sleeping bag is not optional
• Bring a backup rod—just in case
Next time, I’ll aim for a weekday trip. Less boat traffic, cooler mornings, and maybe better odds at landing one of those legendary Dworshak smallmouth.
Trip Summary:
• Campground: Freeman Creek walk-in site
• Cost: $18 per night for camping
• Weather: Hot and dry, mid-90s
• Load-in gear: Gear box, cooler, water jug, hammock bag with clothes and hygiene supplies
• Kayak: Old Town Sportsman Autopilot 120
• Fish finder battery: Nocqua 20Ah
• Fishing: Drop shot, Ned rig, finesse swimbaits
• Rod casualty: Daiwa Tatula snapped
• Meals: Chicken wraps, bratwursts, eggs and sausage
• Fire setup: Duraflame logs and purchased firewood
• Trip length: Two nights, three days
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