ATV/high mountain lake adventure.

[hooknhunter]

I'm looking to go to a high mountain lake I know about (and don't want to name here) on my ATV this Friday afternoon and come back on Saturday afternoon. If anyone has an ATV and is interested, send me a PM.
[signature]

[hooknhunter]

Well, I didn't get any takers, so I went by myself. Man! What a trip it turned out to be. Some of you probably know this place, but please don't pipe in and say where it is publicly. I'm not opposed to sharing, I just don't want to "hotspot" this place. It really can't handle that kind of pressure.

The first 2 pictures are of the area where I started the ATV ride. The destination is high up on the mountains in the upper right of the first picture and upper center of the second.

Once there, I immediately walked up on a deer that really didn't care I was around. (See the third picture).

The fishing in the first lake was pretty slow for me. Perhaps because it gets more pressure than the others or because there were several groups who had already fished it that day? Perhaps I just wasn't using the right thing or in the right way? But it was beautiful just the same. (See the fourth picture).

I moved on to the second lake and had a hit on my 3rd cast. I figured out the type of retrieve the fish wanted and I had a hit every cast after that for about 30-40 casts. A thunderstorm was threatening, so I left the lake and went to set up my camp so I wouldn't have wet bedding. After setting up camp I went back, but the bite just wasn't the same.

The next morning I moved on up the system and investigated 2 more lakes. Both of the lakes further up the system were beautiful, but didn't seem to hold any fish.

There were 2 more lakes on the next creek over, but I left my map at the truck so I wasn't sure exactly where they were. I did a little hiking looking for them but never happened upon them. While I was looking for the other 2 lakes, I stumbled on a grouse that had 5 or 6 babies. They were awful cute and scattered into the bushes. Even as small as they were, they could fly (at least a little). I was trying to get pictures of the babies, but the mother just wouldn't leave me alone. She kept running in on me and pretended to have a broken wing so I would follow her. I'm sure it was her way of trying to protect her babies. If I tried to approach the babies for a picture she would run in and position herself between me and them, fake the broken wing, and try to lead me away. Not wanting to put the babies in too much jeopardy, I left them.

Even though the fish were small, I caught several. According to fish and game stocking reports, there should be some Grayling in those lakes, but I never did find them. Perhaps I need to go back again with my map.
[signature]

[hulapopper]

nice lookin' fish !
[signature]

[windriver]

Thanks for the report and pics. Looks like a great time.

Windriver
[signature]

[Untangler]

Nice report dude! I love running into grouse because they rarely fail to entertain. Great photos.

E
[signature]

[mikkfin80]

Thanks for posting the pics. I love the landscape of the high mountain lakes. Looks like you had a great time.
[signature]

[Mac7]

Some nice fish and beautiful country.Thanks for sharing.
[signature]