07-01-2019, 03:07 AM
Hey there BFTers
Cookie and I took on Whiskey Island grayling Saturday in the Unitas. Man it was a brutal ATV ride (getting in requires a high clearance 4x4 any time you go). Major snow drifts still, even now. Not able to get all the way to the place we usually start to hike from. Then the hike - wow - muddy and still major snow drifts down the north side. Cookie was a trooper pulling this one off with her MS. (it will cost me a trip, maybe two, to take her shoe shopping for sure). My hundred year old Beagle also managed one more trip over the top and in.
But we got in and the fishing was crazy hot. Good old standard high Mt rig consisting of a small plastic bubble half full of water on an ultralight and 4lb test, with a swivel, 2 ft of leader and a selection of wet flies (Renegade was the best followed by caddis and bead nymphs), slow reeled in brought strike after strike. They were bunched up in the shallow coves warming and feeding. I have went in before and found this lake to have winter killed but they were very healthy and getting some size on this check.
Father in law caught the State record from here many years back, but it winter killed shortly after and has never had that size since.
Anyway - great trip. If you want to give it a go I suggest waiting a few more weeks for the drifts to melt, but its worth the hike (apx a mile). Watch for the goats - they frequent the ridge behind the lake
Made a good video of the adventure - hope you enjoy
https://youtu.be/nSc2fSiqWUY
Also here is the link to video with a bit of treasure hunting inbetween fishing near Whitney - I was asked if I can really pan gold up there - and the answer is yes, but not enough to pay for the lures I lose each year..but proof of the boast is in the vid
https://youtu.be/BNWq_VlkxEM
Now - wipers - got to get that done before Willard shuts down
[signature]
Cookie and I took on Whiskey Island grayling Saturday in the Unitas. Man it was a brutal ATV ride (getting in requires a high clearance 4x4 any time you go). Major snow drifts still, even now. Not able to get all the way to the place we usually start to hike from. Then the hike - wow - muddy and still major snow drifts down the north side. Cookie was a trooper pulling this one off with her MS. (it will cost me a trip, maybe two, to take her shoe shopping for sure). My hundred year old Beagle also managed one more trip over the top and in.
But we got in and the fishing was crazy hot. Good old standard high Mt rig consisting of a small plastic bubble half full of water on an ultralight and 4lb test, with a swivel, 2 ft of leader and a selection of wet flies (Renegade was the best followed by caddis and bead nymphs), slow reeled in brought strike after strike. They were bunched up in the shallow coves warming and feeding. I have went in before and found this lake to have winter killed but they were very healthy and getting some size on this check.
Father in law caught the State record from here many years back, but it winter killed shortly after and has never had that size since.
Anyway - great trip. If you want to give it a go I suggest waiting a few more weeks for the drifts to melt, but its worth the hike (apx a mile). Watch for the goats - they frequent the ridge behind the lake
Made a good video of the adventure - hope you enjoy
https://youtu.be/nSc2fSiqWUY
Also here is the link to video with a bit of treasure hunting inbetween fishing near Whitney - I was asked if I can really pan gold up there - and the answer is yes, but not enough to pay for the lures I lose each year..but proof of the boast is in the vid
https://youtu.be/BNWq_VlkxEM
Now - wipers - got to get that done before Willard shuts down
[signature]
