Drove up to Challis over the weekend to pickup our new Golden Retriever pup and on the way drove by MacKay lake. Looked nice and full and fishy. For a Saturday it was quite empty and only counted one boat ! Couple decent looking campgrounds on the lake too. Anybody know what's in this lake and if it's any good ? The creek coming in was beautiful but of course heavily posted. Any info or should I just check the proclamation ? Thanks !
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I have never fished it but know that there are Kokanee there. Besides the normal planter trout I think there might be some Cutts there as well. So many places to fish and so little time!
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Kokanee and Rainbows for sure. I also believe there are Brooks and Cuts in there, but I'm not certain. It's a popular winter fishery. Should be good in the warmer months too. I've only fished it during the winter and not a lot of that.
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Thanks for the info. Bout a four hour drive for me but I'm always lookin for new places to pull my boat and camper. Salmon river right there in Challis looked awfully tempting too !
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[#0000FF]I live in Salt Lake but have an aunt that lives in Moore, a few miles south of Mackay. We have taken our tubes out on the lake a few times...usually after Labor Day. That is when the small sockeye are washing up on shore after their spawn. And the rainbows from earlier plantings are getting some good girth on them. There are brooks up and down the Big Lost River system...including Mackay Reservoir.
Breaks my heart every time I go up there any more. The river used to run full flow down through Arco and out into the desert...with great fishing for 'bows and brookies all along it. Now it is all diverted out to agricultural uses before it even reaches my aunt's place in Moore. And wherever there is water in the river it is all posted against pubic use. Lots of spots that used to be fantastic are no longer accessible.
The locals seemed to do well from the back with "Niblets hackle"...and left lots of empty cans to mark their spots.
It can be good fly fishing with a wide range of subsurface stuff. I did well the last time pitching a gold spinner with orange spots.
Talked to my aunt recently and she said that there was more snow on the mountains after all this spring rain than they have seen in years. Should help the reservoir keep more healthy fish.
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I know exactly what you're talkin about with the dry river beds. Crossed a lot of bridges on the way up going over the Big Lost.....all dry as a bone at least until you get up closer to town and the lake. The river above the lake was once accessible then ? That is beautiful and looks to be all spring fed. Drove up and checked out the hatchery above the lake and let the new pup fiddle fart around. Sounds like a possible late summer / early fall destination. Thanks Tube Dude !
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[#0000FF]Sorry, but I can't answer whether or not the river above the lake was once open. Probably was.
I do know that some of the irrigation canals that come off the river a short ways down from the dam have some big brookies in them. But you have to schmooze the farmers to let you drive across their fields and park out there to fish them. Can't remember exactly how we got there...with my cousins...but we were pulling some 16 to 18 inch brookies out of an ugly old dirt banked canal.
By the way, the best fall fishing is usually right out in front of the dam spillway/outflow...where there is some current. But we also caught quite a few near shore all along the rocks on both sides of the dam. Also caught a few over in the SW corner.
Here are some early September pics.
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Good stuff....appreciate the effort TubeDude. Did you hit where the inlet is on the lake on this trip ? I know the big fat Bows like to hang around the mouth of Sheepcreek on the Gorge that time of year cleaning up on Koke flesh and eggs. Wonder if it's the same deal at MacKay ....
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[#0000FF]Again, I can't answer that from personal experience. But my cousins mentioned fishing it when the water was up and flowing. By September the flows are usually low and the water levels are down so I suspect the better fishing is nearer the outflow.
Probably different every year. I would probably give it a shot if I had the time and found a way to access it. Most of the lakes I have fished in my lifetime have been good fishing at the inlets...if the conditions are right.
From what I have picked up the winter ice fishing is often best right in the middle...straight out from the main ramp and parking. My cousins really whack the kokes up there. But I have a tough time driving all the way to Mackay for "underfooters" when I can drive the same distance to Flaming Gorge for 3 and 4 pounders...as well as 50 pound macks and 24" rainbows.
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Breaks my heart every time I go up there any more. The river used to run full flow down through Arco and out into the desert...with great fishing for 'bows and brookies all along it. Now it is all diverted out to agricultural uses before it even reaches my aunt's place in Moore. And wherever there is water in the river it is all posted against pubic use. Lots of spots that used to be fantastic are no longer accessible.
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It's called big LOST river for a reason. It sinks before it hits Moore on a dry year, like the past few years. The river never ran full flow through Arco for the season. Only during high runoff. It ran higher longer in the past when everyone flood irrigated, but most folks run sprinklers now. Look at all the dead cottonwood trees along the river as a hint. You can thank the dept of water resources for the over allocation of water in the valley. There hasn't been a good snow year for quite a few years now. If it wasn't for the rains this spring the valley would be a dust bowl. It's pretty green this year because of the spring rains, despite the less than normal snow pack.
As for accessibility I know I won't let anyone fish or hunt on my property any more, nor will any of my neighbors. People trash it, destroy private property and steal things in return for our good will. People never ask permission, just assume they have rights on our private property. And when confronted about trespassing they get belligerent and quote their rights to be on your property. No more.
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