Been lurking here but never posted.
Thought I'd share a fun fishing day in S. Idaho last weekend. We had a ball catching fish in the Independence Lakes, about 25 miles SE of Burley. The state website says they've planted grayling in there, and sure enough!
These lakes are a great 4 - 5 mile hike. We had a ball.
[signature]
Got to agree with you. Grayling fight better pound for pound than any fish (trout) (well maybe close to Tiger Trout) NICE SIZE to that guy. We have then in Utah in the Uinta's but not quite that big.
Right On, thanks for sharing.
FG
[signature]
Welcome to the board and thanks for the report. I have only caught greyling at Grebe lake in Yellowstone.
Windriver
[signature]
Well, ------------, can't agree on the fight. Caught lots in the Uintah Mtn Lakes in Ut. They are different, beautifull, especially in the water with their iridescent colors in the sun light, great scenic locations, tasty, but ------------ fight, ----, just medium. I'll take a smallie any day amongst some of the other pan fish ( size for size). Good on ya though, didn't realize they were available in that area. Wish I had the energy to back pack in for some more dwn here.
Leaky and the Sparkinator
[signature]
To each their own. I have caught both LM and SM the 6" range and yes a good fight, but Grayling and Tiger...ummmmmm they put the bend, the run, the fun specially on a 2 wt.
I also think the Trout In Strawberry are some of the strongest pulllers.
[signature]
Idaho Fish and Game also planted Grayling in Louie Lake near McCall a few years back. I didn't make it up to Louie last year and haven't made it in there this year yet either, so it's hard to know whether or not if any have survived from those initial plantings. Louie is one of those alpine lakes that features good depth and extremely good feeding conditions for fish, aka lots of insects, hence the trophy designation and 2 fish-20 inch minimum length for keeping trout. I did get one Grayling two years ago that taped out to 17 inches and it fought just as hard as any trout of comparable size, at least in that lake. Of course there are no Tigers in there, just Rainbows and Cutthroat.
[signature]
Every year we fish for grayling in Wy and an avg fish is 14" with many over 18". Decent fight but get serious an 18" smallie vs an 18" grayling- there isn't a comparison. The smallie is just genetically built for the fight. I enjoy the grayling but for many other reasons rather than being a top notch fighter.
[signature]
I definitely agree with what you've written, that's why the comparison I originally made was based on the fight you get from a trout of similar size. About the only fish I've caught that put up a comparable fight to Smallies are Steelhead on light tackle, but even that's not really a fair comparison because the Steelhead are 1.5 to 2x their size. When I go out I mainly target trout, and it's interesting how the degree of the fight in the fish will vary greatly depending on the location whereas with Smallies, it doesn't really seem to matter at all where you're catching them, pound for pound they'll out fight any other fish in the water.
[signature]
Thanks And welcome!
Awesome on the grayling, was just talking about them today at work. The walk was it mild or strenuous? To bad you had the fin in front of your face or was that on purpose[
]
[signature]
As I have said, I am not a newbie to either species. I caught a 19" Smallie in the river with current, and the fight was fun, but not comparable to the Tiger Trout of equal size. I have not had the pleasure to catch a Grayling that size, but in the 6" range I have, I stand by my statement. The 21" LM I caught, I thought was a snag, that was all. Pulling up a football.
I am total fly fishing and I do fish slow action rods.
[signature]
Hummmmmm,
I think maybe this fish fighting stuff is detracting from the original post. Sorry.[:/] The Artic Grayling are few and far between to experience and should be appreciated accordingly !!!!!I I too, am not a newbie, and have caught em all. What do you expect from a 74 yr old retired guy. [shocked] Anyway, if ya want a discussion, compare the fight at equal weight to a channel. [crazy] Ir's all subjective though ain't it? Maybe a new thread?[:/]
Leaky and the Sparkinator
[signature]
Thanks for the warm welcome.
The hike starts at about 7800 and is 3 miles to lake #1, at 8800 feet. 99% of the fish are in lake 1. Lake 2 has a handful of fish, but is about 1/2 mile further and 200 feet higher. Lake 3 is the prettiest of all, and about 1/4 mile further. According to Fish & Game website, fish were planted here up to 1996, but it must be too shallow. We saw no fish, just lots of frogs. Lake 4 is slightly further and higher still, and has no fish.
The lakes are heavily visited by campers and day hikers in July - August. While technically not wilderness, there are no improvements of any kind.
Interestingly, there are (supposedly) only 6 alpine lakes in all of Idaho South of the Snake River. The 4 Independence Lakes, Lake Cleveland (on Mt. Harrison, a short distance from Independence), and Bloomington Lake, near Bear Lake.
[signature]
Actually I've enjoyed reading the different responses so I'm glad you started this particular thread, and you're 100% correct in that it's all subjective. Besides, with us fishing people isn't it always the one that got away that put up the best fight? [
]
Fishing of any kind is typically one of life's best moments, and I enjoy the experience regardless of species or fight qualities. It's always even more exciting when you're able to catch something new and different, and Grayling are limited to so few waters (at least in this general area) that they definitely provide even that much more of a memorable experience.
[signature]
I guess it depends a little on what the true definition of alpine lakes is. There are a few lakes in the high desert area in the Owyhees south of the Snake that might qualify as being considered alpine lakes or (maybe alpine reservoir is the more appropriate description). Shoofly, Bybee, and Blue are the ones I'm thinking about. I've only tried going up there once myself and wasn't too keen on the lack of any pine trees or trees of any kind in that area. They do supposedly have Lahontan Cutts in those reservoirs though. One things for sure, there's a whole bunch more alpine lakes in Idaho north of the Snake than there are south of it!
[signature]
I've never heard of anybody catching those in Idaho. That was my wife's favorite fish to catch in Alaska. We lived up there for three years and she would rather catch grayling on a fly than 40 pound kings[crazy]. I personaly love to catch any fish. A large grayling on 3 weight is just as much fun as a big salmon on a 10 weight.
[signature]
I rode a horse into Independance lakes on Thursday August 7th. It is beautiful up there. There were small fish jumping at the 1st lake, but we went on to the 2nd lake to check for camping spots for Boy Scouts to use. About that time a thunder storm rolled in and talk about lightning bouncing off the cliffs and the rolling thunder. We left and got out of there before I even had a chance to fish. Oh well. It was still fun to see a new area. Jack forgot his poncho and by the time we got back to the horse trailer he was soaked to the bone and starting into hypothermia. We got him stripped down and warmed up with the truck heater, so he is okay. You never know when the weather will change in those high mountain areas. I have never fished for grayling before. What kind of flies, or lures work best on them? I hope to make it back up there with better weather and camp overnight. I guessed it to be 4 miles in mostly uphill on a gradual climb around the mountain. There is one area with switchbacks. It took and hour and a half to come out on a horse. Hiking in would take me 2-3 hours one way I guess.
[signature]
I think you miss-understood there Leaky.[
] She said compared to the other [#ff0000]trout[/#ff0000] they fought harder. She never said anything about [#00bf00]smallies[/#00bf00]. If you want to talk hardest fighting fish pound for pound, the [#0000ff]bluegill[/#0000ff] has them ALL beat. Believe that. As far as brute force and absolute fight, the wiper has it hands down. Smallies are second in my opinion.
Tatohead, Nice fish in that pic. I have caught them to 13" in the Uinta Mtn's. They are very beautiful and tasty. [cool]
[signature]
Quote: To each their own. I have caught both LM and SM the 6" range and yes a good fight, but Grayling and Tiger...ummmmmm they put the bend, the run, the fun specially on a 2 wt.
[
][
][
] I do agree about the Blues - absolutely!
[signature]
I agree with you on the Blues...and WIPERS....OMG!
But those TROUT in Henry's made my arm hurt, not to mention the burn from spooling me.
Lunker, STRAWBERRY Saturday the 20th!
[signature]
Have to agree on the Wipers tooooo. Good on ya.[
] I might suggest the bum that spooled ya was a big un!!! [shocked] Were you on the fly, less than a 6# tippet?? [unimpressed]
[signature]