04-24-2008, 12:31 AM
I finally got an oportunity to fish for spring trout at the Gorge. We headed to Flaming Gorge Friday eventing, depsite the wind warnings and forcasts. As has happened many times before, this was a mistake, but just couldn't resist the opportunity.
The main story and highlight was the brutally fierce wind. The boat hardly got wet in two days. We fished for less than five hours both days. On saturday morning we launched at Antelope Flat, with a light wind. We caught 8 rainbows, 17-20 inches, and three that were 23 inches. After about two hours, the wind really picked up and we ran from the lake. We headed to the Mustang Ridge Ramp, hoping for better conditions. Those conditions did not exist. We ended up not launching any more that day, and just cooked up the fish we had.
On Sunday, the wind was even stronger. It would have been a shame to just leave, so we tried to get wet again at the Antelope ramp. Couldn't even back-up the trailer far enough, before a huge close-to-shore wave filled the back of the boat with many gallons of water. Dang it. We waited a couple of hours and launched in narrow window of calm wind. With the calmer water, we could see browns and bows staging to build redds in 5-12 feet of water. We couldn't even cast before suddenly, a blast of wind started the big waves again. Got out in a hurry.
After realizing the wind would not stop, we decided to head to Sheep Creek since it was already 4 pm and almost time to start heading back. We found better conditions there and started fishing around 5:40 pm Sunday. Caught 8 rainbows and kept 7 nice ones for home. Two around 23-24 inches, the rest ranging 17-19.
Water temp was 37-38 degrees.
No macks, no burbot, no browns, no kokanee. Too yearly and cold for bass. Not enough time to fish. Did not venture out further than about a mile in any direction. The wind was just too fierce.
[signature]
The main story and highlight was the brutally fierce wind. The boat hardly got wet in two days. We fished for less than five hours both days. On saturday morning we launched at Antelope Flat, with a light wind. We caught 8 rainbows, 17-20 inches, and three that were 23 inches. After about two hours, the wind really picked up and we ran from the lake. We headed to the Mustang Ridge Ramp, hoping for better conditions. Those conditions did not exist. We ended up not launching any more that day, and just cooked up the fish we had.
On Sunday, the wind was even stronger. It would have been a shame to just leave, so we tried to get wet again at the Antelope ramp. Couldn't even back-up the trailer far enough, before a huge close-to-shore wave filled the back of the boat with many gallons of water. Dang it. We waited a couple of hours and launched in narrow window of calm wind. With the calmer water, we could see browns and bows staging to build redds in 5-12 feet of water. We couldn't even cast before suddenly, a blast of wind started the big waves again. Got out in a hurry.
After realizing the wind would not stop, we decided to head to Sheep Creek since it was already 4 pm and almost time to start heading back. We found better conditions there and started fishing around 5:40 pm Sunday. Caught 8 rainbows and kept 7 nice ones for home. Two around 23-24 inches, the rest ranging 17-19.
Water temp was 37-38 degrees.
No macks, no burbot, no browns, no kokanee. Too yearly and cold for bass. Not enough time to fish. Did not venture out further than about a mile in any direction. The wind was just too fierce.
[signature]