Kayak fisherman needs info on Flaming Gorge

[donny]

Hi all, first post, I hope you can help.

I will be paddling a kayak on Flaming Gorge for most/all of June, I did this last year for two weeks.

Last year, I stayed in the south end of the lake, this year, I'm going to the north end as well.

Can you tell me what the shoreline is like in the Wyoming section? I have topo maps, but I can't tell if the shoreline is 'tent friendly', with frequent camping spots, or if it's more straight up and down like the south end.

The other big question is, is there a prevailing wind direction in the north end?

I couldn't determine a pattern to the wind in the south end last year, but I figured all those canyons turn the wind every which way, and maybe the north end is more predictable.

So those are the two big questions, campspots and wind.

All the descriptions I see on the Wyoming portion say it's 'less scenic' than the Utah portion, but does that mean it's not worth seeing?

Everywhere must be 'less scenic' than the Utah portion of the Gorge, because the Utah portion is so frigging awesome!

Is there a Wyoming stretch nicer than others?

I'm wondering how far north should I explore, well north of Buckboard? Is the Blacks Fork arm of the lake worth seeing?

Any advice is deeply appreciated, I'm looking forward to my second ever season of fishing, as a rank beginner I caught a bunch of big rainbows last year on the Gorge (mostly Carter Creek), and a few smallies.

I can't ask y'all for fishing tips, I don't speak the 'lingo', and the tips will probably fly right over my head unless you dumb it down to 'fishing for dummies' level.

This June, keep an eye out for a big guy in a little yellow kayak and say 'hi'.

Thanks again.
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[wiperhunter2]

Welcome to the site Donny. I'm far from being an expert on the Gorge but I can tell you a few things that I found out this past year while fishing the Northern part of the lake. There are plenty of places to camp on the Wyoming side, the good part is they don't charge you for using most of them, the bad part is they are primitive camping. There are so many places to camp, I'm sure you can find a place that is out of the wind no matter which way it's blowing. What you will need to do is get out there and check it out but there are a lot of places you can camp that are by the shore, unless the water level comes up. You might want to post your questions about the Wyoming side of the Gorge, on the Wyoming board, those guys live up there and can give you better info. Good luck and let us know how you do. WH2
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[Coldfooter]

The Wy. side of the pond is a lot more open and for the most part far less steep along the shore.. Its basically a camp where you like situation other than the two marinas. Remember its a nation Park though and does require a day use fee whether you camp or merely spend the day.. 2 bucks a day or 20 bucks a year as I recall..

The wind commonly flows from the north west and with the lake more open on the northern portion it can get the pond pretty stirred up.

As far as scenery, I'm not one to judge because I'm a bit of a rock hound so the Wy side suites my liking better. I like the tall rock cliffs and soft sloping beaches of the northern portion of the lake.
My suggestion to you is to spend a couple hours roaming the dirt roads of the north west shores. Theres probably more than 100 miles of dirt roads to explore along the north west shoreline of FG..
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[donny]

Thanks for the tips guys, I did go post this in the Wyoming section as well.

I'm glad to hear about soft, sloping beaches, as beautiful as the southern Gorge is, there aren't many flat spots for a tent, right on the water, away from the masses.

It's gonna' be a fun summer.
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[bassrods]

If you have more then one car or truck leave one up north and one south and see the hole lake...

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