Fishing Forum

Well we got grandma and grandpa to take the kids for a night, so we decided to head up to the mighty Uinta's for a little backpacking adventure! We'd never really been up around Trial lake, so we decided to give it a try. First off let me tell you that there is still a LOT of freekin' snow up there. Anyways, we left the car around 7PM and headed up on the trail (alleged) towards Crystal Lake. Well you couldn't even drive to the trail head, so things got started off on the wrong foot. Well we broke out the trusty GPS and went plodding through the snow. We plodded, and we plodded. Sure was hard walking. I wish I would have had my high topped hunting boots, as my Goretex hikers did a good job of collecting snow in the ! It was getting late, so we decided to get some pics of the sunset, and try to find a decent place to camp (ha, ha).
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Well here is what we found. A nice patch of ground big enough for the tent and that was about it!
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After an oh so pleasant night sleep we trodded on to find some fishies! We made our way to Weir Lake, which was still mostly frozen over. I managed a few follows, and a couple strikes, but Mrs TKB ended up with the only fish, a little brookie. Here is a pic of the still somewhat frozen Weir Lake.
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We were going to try to find a couple more lakes, but the walking was so gruelling, and the sky was looking threatening, we dicided to make the 2.5 mile hike back to the car. So we trudged and trudged, and trudged, and finally made it back. It was fortunate that we did, cause withing about 1/2 hour, it started raining.

It was nice to get out and see some new terrain, but it sure was a bear! I would advised anyone that wants to head up that way, wait a couple weeks! There was very little bear ground, and tons of snow! There was snow that was in places still 8 feet deep! FYI. Long lake is still mostly froze, Crystal, and Washington are still mostly frozen as well. We talked to some guys at Crystal who had caught a few with flys, but that was it. I think a good rule of thumb is to wait for the snow to be gone on the wasatch before venturing into the high Uinta's!
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Another funny story. We were breaking camp this AM, and I had just said we were probably the only ones brave (read stupid) enough to hike back in here. Not 10 minutes later we hear voices. Another group of guys and young men were following our tracks! They had assumed we were going to duck lake, as that is where they wanted to go. We told them we wern't going there, but did direct them the correct way to one of the lakes I had marked on the GPS. I was afraid they would get lost, as there was no semblence of a trail visible. Well we saw them hiking out about 1/2 mile from our vechicles, so I guess it's safe to say they made it out.

Heck Pat, if I would have had a tube, I could have sledded 1/2 of the way back to the car!
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Nice report TKB . Impressed you would do it with snow on the ground too .
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Well it sure was interesting hiking, and occasionally falling, into all that snow! If I would have had a good shovel, I could have easily made and good snow cave. The fishing was a big let down, but I'd guess a few more degrees of water temp and the fishies will put on the feed bag. The bugs weren't out yet, so I'm sure the fish didn't have any idea what to try to eat.
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I can't believe how much more snow there was up there than there was in murdock basin! We were a mere 5 to 10 miles from where you were, and almost at the same elevation. There was plenty of snow, but there was plenty of bare ground too. Fishing was hot in the evening only. I had to put garbage bags over my socks and in my shoes because I was tired of the snow filling my shoes up. It worked great, I hiked around all day and my socks were nice and dry. I hope the warm weather melts more snow so we can enjoy the uintas sooner than later.

Nice photos ! Looks like a perfect time to be out there right now - to me anyway. Good thing you brought your tent - you would have been quite disappointed in attemping to sleep in a snow cave built with late season corn or half melted snow. I have done that too many times to count - I do a lot of winter camping and often build snow caves or igloos for me and the hounds - tents with floors do not work with them. In my experience, it is better to wait a while for the fishing to improve before attempting to fish up in the higher elevations - but for just hikeing and experiencing the mountains, I think you hit it just about right(you missed the bugs and beasts that can make an outing more challanging) Next time for the fishing, you might want to try some size 18-22 midge nymphs - that's what the fish are probably still keyed on - the tiny little bugs that are around during the winter months(they look like minute black speckles on the snow). Thanks for the report !
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A buddy of mine use to go there but I never have . I hear there are grayling in Marjorie which is near by . May have to trek up there sometime with a little less snow hopefully . It has been years since I been up there . I wonder if my secret big brookie lake can still be productive with all the drought in recent years .
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You're killing me. I can't believe the lengths you go to do some ice fishing.[]

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Hey man, been having withdrawals! If you were there about 1 week sooner, I'm sure you could have safely ice fished.
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