08-25-2009, 04:34 AM
Hiked into Allsop Lake with the family (wife and three boys ages 12, 9, 8) last week (8/17/09). It is a pretty strenuous 8.5 mile hike from the trailhead near East Fork Bear River Scout Camp (Access via Hwy 150 about 33 miles south of Evanston, WY).
The hike takes you along the East Fork of the Bear River (lots of great fishing holes with 10-14 inch brookies in abundance). A very beautiful hike and a worthy stream fishing destination in itself with multiple camping sites all along the trail.
Once at Allsop lake we noted the fish tipping most of the day with periods of increased activity between 8-11AM and 7-9 PM. We spent two days at the lake and caught more than 150 fish-- mostly 12-14 inch cutts with a few brookies in the mix. The stream coming out of the lake was very productive for small brookies. Hoppers were the pattern of choice with green and brown being the flavors de jour. Most any small fly would draw attention and we caught fish using black ants, gnats, black beetles, elk hair caddis, bead-head nymphs, royal coachman and mosquitoes. Size 16 and smaller was key.
As for the live mosquitoes, we didn't have much problem as the temperatures dipped into the mid thirties at night. We were there for three nights and two full days, and didn't see a drop of rain or snow. A big hailstorm had swept through the area just prior to our arrival and piles of small hailstones were scattered in the shaded areas around the lake when we arrived.
The fish were not fat, but I have never had more fun with my fly rod. Every cast drew almost immediate attention from aggressive cutts and brookies.
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The hike takes you along the East Fork of the Bear River (lots of great fishing holes with 10-14 inch brookies in abundance). A very beautiful hike and a worthy stream fishing destination in itself with multiple camping sites all along the trail.
Once at Allsop lake we noted the fish tipping most of the day with periods of increased activity between 8-11AM and 7-9 PM. We spent two days at the lake and caught more than 150 fish-- mostly 12-14 inch cutts with a few brookies in the mix. The stream coming out of the lake was very productive for small brookies. Hoppers were the pattern of choice with green and brown being the flavors de jour. Most any small fly would draw attention and we caught fish using black ants, gnats, black beetles, elk hair caddis, bead-head nymphs, royal coachman and mosquitoes. Size 16 and smaller was key.
As for the live mosquitoes, we didn't have much problem as the temperatures dipped into the mid thirties at night. We were there for three nights and two full days, and didn't see a drop of rain or snow. A big hailstorm had swept through the area just prior to our arrival and piles of small hailstones were scattered in the shaded areas around the lake when we arrived.
The fish were not fat, but I have never had more fun with my fly rod. Every cast drew almost immediate attention from aggressive cutts and brookies.
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