collapse

Advertisement


Author Topic: Alpine lakes-got any advice on how to catch  (Read 3371 times)

Offline hawks33

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Hunter
  • ***
  • Join Date: Sep 2017
  • Posts: 220
  • Location: The left island
Alpine lakes-got any advice on how to catch
« on: July 23, 2021, 03:12:20 PM »
Planning on spending a night or two with my kids and wife on an alpine lake overnight. Any suggestions on how to catch some alpine trout? Not a flyfishermen... I've tried several setups and so far a horsefly cast out with a bobber has been the best for hits, just cant seem to get them to swallow the fly.  What do you guys use? Mt. Baker area.  Thanks!

Offline Not selected

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Hunter
  • ***
  • Join Date: Jun 2018
  • Posts: 207
  • Location: Wetside
Re: Alpine lakes-got any advice on how to catch
« Reply #1 on: July 23, 2021, 03:13:31 PM »
Dark rooster tail

Offline Turner89

  • WA State Trappers Association
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Nov 2011
  • Posts: 3175
  • Location: Startup, Wa
Re: Alpine lakes-got any advice on how to catch
« Reply #2 on: July 23, 2021, 03:50:07 PM »
Planning on spending a night or two with my kids and wife on an alpine lake overnight. Any suggestions on how to catch some alpine trout? Not a flyfishermen... I've tried several setups and so far a horsefly cast out with a bobber has been the best for hits, just cant seem to get them to swallow the fly.  What do you guys use? Mt. Baker area.  Thanks!
I let you know in about 3hrs.  :chuckle:
" if your a 20 year old and not a liberal, you don't have a heart. If your a 40 year old and not a conservative,  you don't have a brain"

Offline X-Force

  • Solo Hunter
  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+8)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Sep 2007
  • Posts: 5506
Re: Alpine lakes-got any advice on how to catch
« Reply #3 on: July 23, 2021, 04:01:45 PM »
Throwing a rooster tail or other small spinner will work but depending on the size of the lake you may spook fish off in 30 min or less of fishing.

Flys I’d bring moth patterns, grass hoppers, maybe a leech and some nymphs. Sometimes a little bigger fly is easier to cast.

It’s ok if you can’t cast a fly rod. Watch a couple YouTube videos and try in your back yard with some yarn.

All lakes aren’t the same. Some alpine lakes fishing hot early am and late pm. Others will be dead at those times as the fish feed off of wind driven bugs during the heat of the day.
People get offended at nothing at all. So, speak your mind and be unapologetic.

Offline OutHouse

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jul 2015
  • Posts: 3054
  • Location: Cowiche WA
  • Department of Foliage, Lifetime Member
Re: Alpine lakes-got any advice on how to catch
« Reply #4 on: July 23, 2021, 04:12:29 PM »
Dark rooster tail

Smallest black rooster tail you can find, ideally with red tinsel in the tail. Probably need to add a crimp weight about 10 inches above the lure so you can cast it far enough. Be persistent.

Offline jeffro

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Nov 2009
  • Posts: 826
  • Location: Camano Island
Re: Alpine lakes-got any advice on how to catch
« Reply #5 on: July 23, 2021, 04:48:20 PM »
I like spinners and casting bubbles w/ flies, I prefer wooly buggers in black and olive
Dark colors seem to work best
Also caught them on dicknites and red devil spoons
Biggest thing is light line and being able to cast to deep water
One shot. One kill!

Offline hawks33

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Hunter
  • ***
  • Join Date: Sep 2017
  • Posts: 220
  • Location: The left island
Re: Alpine lakes-got any advice on how to catch
« Reply #6 on: July 23, 2021, 06:22:55 PM »
Thanks for the advice! We're headed out mid august, I'll stock up and we'll see how it goes. If the fishings bad, the scenery never let's ya down.
J

Offline Dan-o

  • Global Moderator
  • Trade Count: (+24)
  • Explorer
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jul 2010
  • Posts: 16715
Re: Alpine lakes-got any advice on how to catch
« Reply #7 on: July 23, 2021, 07:15:05 PM »
I like spinners and casting bubbles w/ flies, I prefer wooly buggers in black and olive
Dark colors seem to work best
Also caught them on dicknites and red devil spoons
Biggest thing is light line and being able to cast to deep water

I agree.   

Black/olive Wooley buggers behind a bobber.   

Young kids can catch fish that way.   So can I. 
Member:   Yakstrakgutp (or whatever we are)
I love the BFRO!!!
I wonder how many people will touch their nose to their screen trying to read this...

Offline jackelope

  • Administrator
  • Trade Count: (+27)
  • Legend
  • *****
  • Join Date: Mar 2007
  • Posts: 49017
  • Location: Duvall, WA
  • Groups: jackelope
Alpine lakes-got any advice on how to catch
« Reply #8 on: July 23, 2021, 07:37:44 PM »
Alpine lakes and trout on fly rods. Beetles and ant patterns are notoriously good in alpine lakes as are the water boatman imitations. Wooly buggers kind of always work. Unless you can throw a fly line 80’ it’ll be a challenge to cover a lot of water, but usually those trout are eager eaters. The casting bubble and a fly on a spinning rod is a good way to go. Use a tapered leader behind the bubble.
« Last Edit: July 23, 2021, 07:45:02 PM by jackelope »
:fire.:

" In today's instant gratification society, more and more pressure revolves around success and the measurement of one's prowess as a hunter by inches on a score chart or field photos produced on social media. Don't fall into the trap. Hunting is-and always will be- about the hunt, the adventure, the views, and time spent with close friends and family. " Ryan Hatfield

My posts, opinions and statements do not represent those of this forum

Offline huntnfmly

  • Trade Count: (+36)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Apr 2007
  • Posts: 4707
Re: Alpine lakes-got any advice on how to catch
« Reply #9 on: July 23, 2021, 10:03:22 PM »
Good point about throwing spinners spooking the fish
I’d go old school we use to use bobbers bite on some weights swivel and leader and killed using pautzke redball eggs cast it out wait and enjoy
I'm your dam tour guide Arnie please don’t wonder off the dam tour.
Take as many dam pictures as you want ....
Are there any dam questions ..

Offline MR5x5

  • Trade Count: (+3)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Oct 2011
  • Posts: 615
Re: Alpine lakes-got any advice on how to catch
« Reply #10 on: July 24, 2021, 07:51:11 AM »
Fished them a ton!  All I take these days are:

Red/White Mepps Aglia in size 0 or 1
Daredevil - Red/white on gold - small and med small
Gold Kastmaster - small and med small

Ultralight gear on 2-4 lb test.

If it is bright out the Kastmaster can be a little too spooky for them - slow retrieve the spinner.

Look for the deep water let it sink to the bottom before retrieve.

Strongly suggest clipping one or two of the trebbles and taking the barb off the remaining so as not to kill too many fish. If they bleed you need to keep them at whatever size.

Good luck? 

Where you headed?

Offline actionshooter

  • Past Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+3)
  • Old Salt
  • *****
  • Join Date: Apr 2007
  • Posts: 5760
  • Location: Olympia/Okanogan
    • https://www.instagram.com/steve.bell.actionshooter/
Re: Alpine lakes-got any advice on how to catch
« Reply #11 on: July 24, 2021, 10:40:18 AM »
We hit a small alpine lake weekend before last and threw almost everything mentioned above and couldn't hook a fish to save my life.. watched them move out of the way anytime a lure was cast and tried several flies on the bobber with no results..  pretty frustrating on the fishing ends but the scenery is worth it!

Offline Skyvalhunter

  • Washington For Wildlife
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Explorer
  • ******
  • Join Date: Oct 2007
  • Posts: 15706
  • Location: Sky valley/Methow
Re: Alpine lakes-got any advice on how to catch
« Reply #12 on: July 24, 2021, 11:10:40 AM »
As someone that stocks and surveys high mtn lakes and if Mepps or one of the other lures are not Woking. This is if you truly want to catch and keep the fish then go with bait. Worms, grasshoppers, power bait, eggs are good choices. You must remember that just because you don't see any damage to the fish it probably won't survive after releasing it. Handling the fish will damage it. Only catch what you will eat or consume later. If it's a lake where there are tons of small, skinny, stunted
 fish it doesn't hurt to weed them out.
The only man who never makes a mistake, is the man who never does anything!!
The further one goes into the wilderness, the greater the attraction of its lonely freedom.

Offline hawks33

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Hunter
  • ***
  • Join Date: Sep 2017
  • Posts: 220
  • Location: The left island
Re: Alpine lakes-got any advice on how to catch
« Reply #13 on: July 24, 2021, 01:39:13 PM »
Fished them a ton!  All I take these days are:

Red/White Mepps Aglia in size 0 or 1
Daredevil - Red/white on gold - small and med small
Gold Kastmaster - small and med small

Ultralight gear on 2-4 lb test.

If it is bright out the Kastmaster can be a little too spooky for them - slow retrieve the spinner.

Look for the deep water let it sink to the bottom before retrieve.

Strongly suggest clipping one or two of the trebbles and taking the barb off the remaining so as not to kill too many fish. If they bleed you need to keep them at whatever size.

Good luck? 

Where you headed?

May head into Slide lake, but I'm not sure the road is clear. Have to do a little research. I've done really well before in dry summers like this one, but the last two summers I tried throwing a little bit of everything and had a tough time hooking fish. What's another $100 on fishing lures to test out some suggestions :chuckle:

Offline Boss .300 winmag

  • FLY NAVAL AVIATION
  • Washington For Wildlife
  • Trade Count: (+22)
  • Explorer
  • ******
  • Join Date: Oct 2010
  • Posts: 17764
  • Location: Skagit Valley
  • How do you measure trying, you do, or you don’t.
Re: Alpine lakes-got any advice on how to catch
« Reply #14 on: July 24, 2021, 05:31:16 PM »
We hit a small alpine lake weekend before last and threw almost everything mentioned above and couldn't hook a fish to save my life.. watched them move out of the way anytime a lure was cast and tried several flies on the bobber with no results..  pretty frustrating on the fishing ends but the scenery is worth it!

Curious if this lake gets lots of attention?

I’ve only been to one alpine piece of water that the fish wouldn’t bite, a small stream in a box canyon that I was fishing the side pools.

Other than that I always catch fish in them, I bit do fish the harder ones to get to.😉

"Just because I like granola, and I have stretched my arms around a few trees, doesn't mean I'm a tree hugger!
Hi I'm 8156, our leader is Bearpaw.
YOU CANNOT REASON WITH A TIGER WHEN YOUR HEAD IS IN ITS MOUTH! Winston Churchill

Keep Calm And Duc/Ski Doo On!

Offline actionshooter

  • Past Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+3)
  • Old Salt
  • *****
  • Join Date: Apr 2007
  • Posts: 5760
  • Location: Olympia/Okanogan
    • https://www.instagram.com/steve.bell.actionshooter/
Re: Alpine lakes-got any advice on how to catch
« Reply #15 on: July 25, 2021, 09:04:40 AM »
We hit a small alpine lake weekend before last and threw almost everything mentioned above and couldn't hook a fish to save my life.. watched them move out of the way anytime a lure was cast and tried several flies on the bobber with no results..  pretty frustrating on the fishing ends but the scenery is worth it!

I would say it gets moderate attention... the lake is on the maps but there isn't a maintained FS trail to it.  I have never had a problem catching fish in a high lake before it was a little bit of a surprise

Curious if this lake gets lots of attention?

I’ve only been to one alpine piece of water that the fish wouldn’t bite, a small stream in a box canyon that I was fishing the side pools.

Other than that I always catch fish in them, I bit do fish the harder ones to get to.😉



Offline WapitiTalk1

  • Forum Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+9)
  • Old Salt
  • *****
  • Join Date: Oct 2011
  • Posts: 7439
  • Location: Wet Side, Rainier, WA
  • Groups: RMEF, NRA, US Army (R)
Re: Alpine lakes-got any advice on how to catch
« Reply #16 on: July 25, 2021, 09:32:56 AM »
Here ya go. Use as long a leader as possible, tie two very small flies on, fill water bubble about half full, cast it a mile with this rig, “pop/jerk” your line back right before the torpedo bubble hits the water. This pop/jerk back makes the bubble come back towards you and makes the leader/flies land nicely on the other side of the water bubble. Let it sit a minute and ever so slowly, retrieve. Feel for the “tug” and it’ll be fish on!  Works like a charm. Yes, ultra gear is the best choice.

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/rainbow-plastics-a-just-a-bubble-float
Darton Archery Maverick II
Traditions Vortek StrikeFire Smoke Pole
Weatherby VG-2 Boomstick
"Poking at a campfire with a stick is one of life's great satisfactions." Patrick F. McManus

Offline Igor

  • Forum Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+13)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Apr 2012
  • Posts: 4052
  • Location: Monroe, WA
  • Hunter
Re: Alpine lakes-got any advice on how to catch
« Reply #17 on: July 25, 2021, 09:43:31 AM »
Here ya go. Use as long a leader as possible, tie two very small flies on, fill water bubble about half full, cast it a mile with this rig, “pop/jerk” your line back right before the torpedo bubble hits the water. This pop/jerk back makes the bubble come back towards you and makes the leader/flies land nicely on the other side of the water bubble. Let it sit a minute and ever so slowly, retrieve. Feel for the “tug” and it’ll be fish on!  Works like a charm. Yes, ultra gear is the best choice.



Perfect description of how to do it.......I make my leader at least 4' long.
molṑn labé

USAF
   6987th Security Squadron
   6947th Security Squadron
   6918th RSM

Offline Bullkllr

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Aug 2007
  • Posts: 4753
  • Location: Graham
Re: Alpine lakes-got any advice on how to catch
« Reply #18 on: July 25, 2021, 10:32:14 AM »
I don't know if it's standard, but I have had success at times filling the bubble fully so it sinks for deeper fly presentations. They seem to sink slowly, and I don't know how deep, but they will sink for fishing buggers, leeches, nymphs, etc.
"Making good people helpless will not make bad people harmless"

Offline Magnum_Willys

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Nov 2009
  • Posts: 5437
Re: Alpine lakes-got any advice on how to catch
« Reply #19 on: July 25, 2021, 11:35:55 AM »
Had luck doing same with worms if bait allowed.  Not over 4# test,   Hook  4 to 5 ft below bobber.  Any weight should be on or at small bobber.   

 


* Advertisement

* Recent Topics

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2024, SimplePortal