Fishing Forum

Just returned from a couple days of R&R at Spirit Lake Lodge in the Uintas. The small stream fishng was very good for small (6-12 inch) cutts and a few stocker bows thrown in. All dry fly fishing, but the low water and clear conditions actually made presentations a bit challenging on the smoother pools. I actually had to make a stealthy approach and delicate cast to avoid spooking the fish. Fish in the riffles and broken water rose to a fly with wreckless abandon, however.

And the bear! There is what I would consider a "problem" bear patrolling the campground and lodge around Spirit Lake. I saw the bear, along with many others, on 4 different occasions Friday and Saturday, and again this morning. The bear has little fear of humans, was reported to have found its way into several coolers in the campground and at the lodge, and was still on the creek just 100 yards above the lodge this morning when I left. I waved my arms and yelled at the bear twice from about 100 feet away when he neared our cabin, and he laughingly just turned around and walked in another direction. It would return within minutes.

At one point, it stood there and gazed at us from less than 50 feet from the cabin. Many campers in the area, despite knowing the bear's presence, had food and drinks sitting out on picnic tables and the ground all weekend. Despite repeated calls from lodge management to both the Forest Service and DWR, calls they said that began on Friday, nobody reported seeing any officials in the area as of noon today.

This bear is going to end up damaging property and/or people. In the end, it will probably end up a dead bear. It has apparently associated people with food. Too bad for both us and the bear.

There was another "problem" bear in the neighboring Brownie Lake campground area eariler this summer that forced closure of that campground for a while, so it's high time that Ashley National Forest start promoting and enforcing a "clean camp" policy in the Uintas just like is done in the Jackson, WY and Yellowstone areas, and before the bears really do become a problem.

As I said, fishing was great if you like little 3-weight fly rods on small streams. Just be sure to holler "Hey bear, I'm here bear!" while you're walking along the streams and in thick vegetation. Especially upstream of Spirit Lake for the next little while. Let them know you're there, and there usually will not be a problem.
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hey jim nice trip its real pretty up there. my favorite spot to fish is brownie lake ive done real good there before with fish up to 18".and about those bears, they need too put some sighns up around the lodge, a month ago a little boy was killed up american fork canyon, and the bear actually attacked a tent at the same campsite earlyer that morning. im glad ya did good fishing we did good for the kokes this weekend. ill see you next tuesday, tight lines
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Sounds like a nice break for you, hard to imagine Jim catchin small fish for fun. But they really are! Im wondering if I want to take my kids camping in the uintas this year with all the recent bear activities and sightings. We went to Moon lake and it was closed to tent camping, you had to have a camper or trailer because of the bears. Drought? fire? why so many bear sightings? Thanks for the report Jim.
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With all the upcoming hunts starting soon, I hope the DWR or Forest service does some thing about these problem bears soon or there might be another mauling or death. Sounds like this hunting season could be a big problem if anyone has plans to stay in a tent[unsure].
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Thanks for the report.

That really is too bad that no wildlife officials have come to evaluate and take care of the situation. With the recent death of a child in American Fork canyon, you would think that they would be all over this.

Let's just hope that this doesn't turn out the same way. [unimpressed]
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Fish and Game shot the bear up there two days ago...
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Did they actually try and relocate it, or did they just kill it?
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Thanks for the update Anthony. Too bad it had to die, but that what often happens. You haven't heard of any around the campsites on "B" have you? I'm going to be spending a few weekends down there pretty soon, but I suspect that's a little low and hot for 'em.
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That's too bad they had to kill the bear but it sounds like it might have been the only thing they could do considering it's lack of fear of humans. Thanks for the info.
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I havent heard of any on B section Jim. I work at the flaming gorge resort, so I think I would hear if there were any down there. I've only heard of the one near browne and the one that was at spirit lake, but I'm sure there are more around. With the bowhunt opening tomorrow, I bet I hear of a few more with all the hunters that will come into the shop. I'll keep you posted.
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