I'm going on my first ever trip to Electric Lake with some family in about a week. We'll be camping and doing lots of fishing.
We have no boat or tubes or anything, so we'll be shore only. My understanding is that the lake has trout and some kokanee? Can anyone shed some light on what we can expect to catch from shore? Any chance of catching kokanee from shore this time of year (or ever...? haha)
Any tips on where to camp, where to fish, how temperatures range this time of year, and effective baits/lures/flies would be much appreciated. I'd like to know as much as I can going into this trip in order to make it a success.
Thanks in advance!
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There is great camping all over near e-lake. There is some good areas around benches lake just above e=lake. There are several campgrounds near Cleveland lake nearby, Just depends if you like primitive or campgrounds. With the cooler weather expected (no shade needed) You can just camp in the meadows at the top of the lake, there is a nice pit toilet there and it's free camping.
As for fishing, try a jakes lure, or repalas. Good flies are wooly buggers, and pistol petes. Fishing with red shiner minnows is one of the best methods for bait. The fish are pretty good size in there. expect mostly cutthroat and tiger trout. Kokanee will be tough exspecially now ( in full spawn run) but you can view them in the tributary's.
There are several lakes nearby that can be fun right now with a fly and bubble , boldger , benches , gooseberry, Fairview lakes, millers flat. Huntington and Cleveland are all within a 10 mile drive. Cleveland and Huntington and e=lake are the best bets for larger fish.
there are some good streams to fish also.
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Also, expect temps to be in the mid 50's lows 35-40 this week end , your at around 8500 to 9000 feet there.
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Great info, thanks. The weather report for Huntington says 70s, but I suppose elevation will bring that down a ways. Either way, we'll be sure to keep warm.
Is there a place close to the lake (or on the way there from Provo) where we could stop and buy some shiners?
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The little store in scofeild may have some shiners. Just take the road (paved) going past the lake , it's about 10 miles to scofeild from e-lake. If you have a minnow trap you may be able to catch them there. Or catch some chub minnows at scofeild (just remember to kill any you catch before using them for bait) Live bait or transporting live minnows is illegal
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Also the gas station in Fairview (on the way from Provo) sometimes has bait - worms and sometimes minnows.
Also fairly close from e-lake on the south side is Miller's Flat. I find it is usually pretty fast fishing - a little smaller fish, but easy to catch if you have kids along. Drive around by the dam/spillway and catch plenty of rainbows.
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Fairview is about empty. All the other lakes are good choices.
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The kokanee are spawning? I looked this week to see if there was any and didn't see any spawning yet. I don't know if they are old enough to spawn in there yet I think they will be next year. I could be wrong maybe I wasn't looking in the right spot. Did you see them spawning?
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I talked with a DWR biologist on Friday and he said there were several kokanee up Huntington Creek. I don't know how far upstream they were but they should be easy to locate in their spawning colors.
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I'm thinking our best bet for picking up some good cutts and tigers will be to trap some redside shiners there and fish them (dead of course) under a slip bobber.
Will one of those DIY numbers made of 2 liters soda bottles do the job for catching some shiners?
Also, any thoughts on the ethics of following the inlet upstream a bit to target spawning kokanee?
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I have done exactly what you are describing at Electric Lake and caught plenty of fish. Not sure about being able to catch them in a DIY minnow trap, because I have always used an actual minnow trap. You could also probably catch some minnows using a fishing rod with the smallest hooks you can buy tipped with a small chunk of worm.
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I'm not sure about the DIY minnow trap, it might work.
As far as the ethics of chasing the spawning kokanee, as far as the guidebook goes it looks like it's legal now.
Myself, I'd just like to walk upstream and see them. It sure is nice to have another species to try for in Electric.
Quote:Electric Lake tributaries, Emery County From Electric Lake upstream to the headwaters • CLOSED to the possession of kokanee salmon with any red color from Aug. 15 through 6 a.m. on the last Saturday of September
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Yeah, I would really love to catch some kokanee (never caught them before), and I did check the regs. Saw the exact paragraph you posted, so as far as I can tell it's legal (this year at least... heh). Just wanted to get opinions on whether that's considered a party foul.
I mean... I go after Provo River browns while they're spawning. And apparently the kokes just spawn and then go die somewhere quietly anyway, so I think I'm going to go for it.
Anyone have advice on lures or bait? I have never even targeted Kokanee before.
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Bump, and additional question.
I'd like to come with some preserved minnows in case I have bad luck catching shiners while there. I'm pretty sure the ones Walmart sells in vaccuum packs are gizzard shad. Anyone have info on that? Would shad work as well as shiners?
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