Posts: 128
Threads: 0
Joined: May 2012
Reputation:
0
I'm taking my wife and 3 children (8, 5, and 2) to the Uintas this weekend. I've only been there once and it was a long time ago. None of us have ever caught a Grayling or a Golden Trout, but we would sure love to on this trip if possible!
We will be camping at Mirror Lake and from what I've been able to research it seems that most of the lakes that contain either of these species need to be hiked into. Does any one know of any lakes up there that I could hike into with my small family in the morning and come back the same afternoon where we could find either type of fish?
Also would love any suggestions for lures to use ect.
Thanks in advance for any help!
[signature]
Posts: 11,107
Threads: 3
Joined: Mar 2006
Reputation:
0
Grayling can be found in Washington lake I believe also in smith more house. For Holden's you will need to hike in unless you want to do major damage to your vehicle.
[signature]
Posts: 128
Threads: 0
Joined: May 2012
Reputation:
0
Actually we are kind of hoping for a lake that we can hike to somewhat removed from the highway, but that isn't to bad of a hike for a young family. I will have my two year old in a backpack, and am hoping for a hike that wouldn't be too hard for a 5 year old and 8 year old to make.
[signature]
Posts: 11,107
Threads: 3
Joined: Mar 2006
Reputation:
0
Go to the Murdock basin road. Drive until you can't because it gets too rough. Hike up the road until you come to the lakes. You will need a map. This should be good for the young ones. Also lots of golden's in that area. Anything else may be too difficult to get to unless you don't mind other fish. A nice day hike is wall lake, take the crystal lake trail to start. Consult maps as well, the trail takes a right off of crystal lake trail to go to wall.
[signature]
Posts: 11,107
Threads: 3
Joined: Mar 2006
Reputation:
0
Posts: 128
Threads: 0
Joined: May 2012
Reputation:
0
Thanks for the tips!
I don't get my wife out fishing very often, and she get's much more excited about catching bigger fish than rare ones like I am. I know most of the fish up in the Uintas are going to be smaller, but do you have any suggestions on which lakes would give her a better chance of getting into a little bit bigger fish?
[signature]
Posts: 15,634
Threads: 1,329
Joined: Feb 2002
Reputation:
16
I would not consider trying to hike to Echo Lake to catch golden trout. It would be a long and difficult hike and not suitable for your young family. Unless you have a high clearance vehicle don't even think of trying to drive there and even if you do I would not suggest you try driving there with your young family. That road would beat them up just riding in the vehicle. Grayling can be caught in Trial Lake and in some lakes close by there.
[signature]
Posts: 33
Threads: 0
Joined: May 2014
Reputation:
0
Trial, and Washington hold Grayling. The biggest you will probably catch would be around 10 inches. Go to the inlets, and using a fly & bubble set-up, put on a small adams. Make sure its floating. Golden Trout will take much more effort. Echo would be the best bet, but its a LONG, BUMMPY, IGNORANT drive. Good Luck.
[signature]
Posts: 3,327
Threads: 0
Joined: Jul 2011
Reputation:
0
I have caught a few Grayling at Trial but you might find more at Crystal Lake...I sure have anyway. My only suggestion is to throw small flies for them instead of bait or lures.
As for echo I am with Kentofnsl on that one...it's a rough rough road and hiking it looked daunting to me, and I love to backpack and backcountry ski as hobbies. I would suggest you get a friend with a jeep who wants a golden trout too.[  ] That's what I did.[  ]
[signature]
Posts: 45
Threads: 0
Joined: Apr 2008
Reputation:
0
I took a bunch of scouts to Hoop Lake 2 weeks ago and caught 7 grayling along with a bunch of rainbows. All of the boys caught fish (some for the first time ever) and all were caught from shore. I had them hang a worm about 18 inches below a medium size bubble. We were fishing along the north west corner right where you turn in to the campground and were out anywhere from 25 feet to about 100, with fish caught at every distance. You might want to thread the nightcrawler up the hook to the eye, then through the side and then pull it up over the eye onto the line just above the hook. That way when you get a bite the worm is pushed up the line and you don't have to replace the worm every time. Fishing was fairly good all day long, but best earlier in the morning and then after the sun had gone down behind the hill. None of the grayling were very big (6 - 10 inches is all) and according to the fish and game they were just planted last fall and earlier this year so they will take some time to grow. Rainbows were anywhere from 6 inches to 18 with the majority being about 13 or 14. Hope that helps and you do well.
[signature]
Posts: 2
Threads: 0
Joined: Feb 2007
Reputation:
0
The Golden trout in Echo Lake are still very small 5 to 6 inches. I fished Echo last weekend and caught about 20 of the little guys on top with a dry fly. I took the the float tube out and had a great time. The road is bumpy but with some skill I think any Suv could get up there. Mine is a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The ride in on dirt took about an hour and a half. Hope this helps
[signature]
Posts: 18
Threads: 0
Joined: Jul 2011
Reputation:
0
As for the larger fish, Washington Lake has some good-sized holdover Albinos and Tigers. Certainly bigger than the usual planters you will find at most of the road-side lakes. Also, North Erickson is maybe a three mile hike, but has some fairly big Brookies. Good luck!
[signature]
Posts: 338
Threads: 6
Joined: Feb 2014
Reputation:
0
A few years back I hit Marjorie (the reservoir), which is about 2 miles one way up the Crystal Lake TH. we caught a few grayling. They have small mouths, so I would recommend small flies. Also caught brook trout there. Weir lake is close by, but does not have Grayling.
[signature]
Posts: 128
Threads: 0
Joined: May 2012
Reputation:
0
Thanks everyone for the tips and advice. We had a great camping trip. I made it up to Echo Lake with a GMC Yukon, but had no luck on the Golden Trout. The only thing biting were the Brookies. We also tried Washington and Trial lake for the Grayling, but didn't have any luck. We did catch a bunch of Rainbows, and a few Tigers. Overall it was a great trip!
I really wanted to catch fish on flies or lures, but had almost no luck on any lake with them. I spent the whole time trying with no luck while my kids were catching fish left and right with bait. In fact I've rarely been able to catch trout from the shore of any lake with lures or flies. I do pretty well on streams, but never have much luck on lakes trout fishing with anything other than bait. Anyone have any advice on what's worked for you when using flies or lures on lakes? Is there a trick to the presentation that needs to be used. Do I need to be retrieving my lures or flies faster or slower, any advice for future trips would be great!
[signature]
Posts: 11,107
Threads: 3
Joined: Mar 2006
Reputation:
0
If using fly and bubble a slow retrieve works best. I usually use spoons from shore as well and I will mix the retrieve from slow to slower to fast until I find what works. I also will let it sit for about a count of 6-8 after I cast it. I use spoons, spinners, and woolly buggers. But that is my preference. Small flies like skeeters or something with red ways works too.
[signature]
Posts: 136
Threads: 3
Joined: May 2010
Reputation:
0
what do you know about hidden lake? what flies work best?
[signature]
Posts: 11,107
Threads: 3
Joined: Mar 2006
Reputation:
0
Never been there.
[signature]
Posts: 300
Threads: 0
Joined: Dec 2010
Reputation:
0
They put grayling in Hoop Lake?! Awesome! Maybe I can pull over and scratch them off my list of species to catch on my way to elk camp at Beaver Meadow this fall.
[signature]
Posts: 338
Threads: 6
Joined: Feb 2014
Reputation:
0
When your talking high mountain lakes, I have found that the fish are not all that picky. I used anything from mosquito to elk hair caddis to pheasant tail to hairs ear. I don't think they are all that picky, but I would stay in the medium to darker shades. Early morning and evening is going to be your best times. I go with a very slow retrieve with the fly and bubble. Maybe one crank of the handle taking 5 seconds.
[signature]
Posts: 45
Threads: 0
Joined: Apr 2008
Reputation:
0
Looks like you already got some good info. You asked about flies and I have found that if I make sure I have at least 4 feet of line between my fly and bubble (the clear plastic ones you thread the line through), and I retrieve it just fast enough that the bubble doesn't put out much of a wake and that seems to do the trick. I also use smaller flies since most of the bugs in the Uintahs are small. glad your kids did well, that makes it all worth it.
[signature]
|
