Posts: 236
Threads: 0
Joined: Mar 2014
Reputation:
0
I've been spending quite a bit of time fishing the grayling waters of the Uinta and Boulder mountains in the past month and a half or so. It's been a blast getting out exploring new waters! I'll spend hours on end analyzing fish stocking reports and making lists of potential waters to try. Some of the time they pan out, other times not so much. It's all part of the fun though.
[inline tmp_9284-20160820_172623(0)-1-715x715-1255164418.jpg]
The lake pictured above is probably one of my favorites that we visited. It is loaded with healthy grayling in the 14 inch range (not too bad for Utah grayling). I'm convinced that there are some behemoth brook trout lurking in its waters as well. We camped here over the 24th of July and had the whole place to ourselves. Always nice to find little gems like this.
[inline tmp_9284-Resized_20160820_175252_024-405x715-273268970.jpg]
Got lucky and had the sun hit the fin just perfect on this release photo.
We found the fish to be fairly finicky on our offerings of small dry flies and nymphs. Precise and delicate casts were required to coax some of the larger fish into biting. Smaller foam beetles and Griffiths gnats were the most productive flies overall on the different lakes we tried.
[inline tmp_9284-20160821_093459-1-715x514912201919.jpg]
I had a hunch that there was going to be a large grayling somewhere in the waters of this lake above which required a modest hike to reach. It took two separate trips here but I finally got the grayling I was looking for. The fish we caught here averaged 13-16 inches and they were very willing to eat large foam flies. I did catch an 18 inch brookie here which was a welcome addition to the trip.
Thanks for reading!
[signature]
Posts: 1,603
Threads: 78
Joined: Oct 2015
Reputation:
3
That really is a great picture. Truly a treasured spot. Thanks
[signature]
Posts: 15,575
Threads: 1,320
Joined: Feb 2002
Reputation:
15
Those are some great grayling for Utah. Thanks for sharing.
[signature]
Posts: 1,734
Threads: 0
Joined: Jul 2007
Reputation:
0
Nice! Love those tough grayling and they are welcome to hang with my brookies.🙂
[signature]
Posts: 4,096
Threads: 62
Joined: Sep 2007
Reputation:
22
[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]Very, very nice. Brings back some very fond memories of catching them in the Neknek River when I was stationed at King Salmon, AK. The favorite lure for them up there was an ant dry fly. If you haven't tried an ant fly for them, it might be worth a go.[/#800000][/font]
[signature]
Bob Hicks, from Utah
I'm 82 years young and going as hard as I can for as long as I can.
"Free men do not ask permission to bear arms."
Posts: 1,422
Threads: 18
Joined: Sep 2003
Reputation:
15
[quote ddmoogs] The fish we caught here averaged 13-16 inches [/quote]
I am not sure if you knew or are interested, but the state record grayling is 17 1/4 inches long. If you were averaging grayling 13-16 inches, it is safe to say that you were catching some fish over 16 inches and very near the state record.
I have spent considerable time on the Boulder this year catching grayling and have found a few lakes with grayling up, near, and probably above the state record. I have been surprised that no one has turned in a state record since 1998. The catch and release record is 19 inches long so that is a little tougher to beat (also not as prestigious either in my opinion).
Anyway, nice fish!
[signature]
Posts: 236
Threads: 0
Joined: Mar 2014
Reputation:
0
I'm convinced the new state record is still swimming in these waters. I'm thinking the grayling I posted in the last photo may be close to the the record in terms of weight, which is 1 lb 12 oz.
[signature]
Posts: 2,510
Threads: 0
Joined: Jan 2004
Reputation:
1
Weren't you saying on a thread that the DWR was moving away from grayling on the Boulders? In seeing these pics and other reports I've read, it seems like they are doing well there and they coexist decently with brookies.
I like to fish for grayling and to catch some like these would represent a unique and colorful experience.
[signature]
Posts: 1,422
Threads: 18
Joined: Sep 2003
Reputation:
15
No. In that other thread, I mentioned that one particular lake would no longer get grayling stocked in it. The grayling is this lake happen to have done very well and it is one that I believe holds numerous state records in it currently; however, the new Boulder Management plan is calling for this particular lake to be a brook trout only lake. Personally, I believe that both grayling and brook trout could be managed in the lake for trophy sizes. But, that's just me and not what the Boulder committee decided upon. As for other lakes on the Boulder, many are receiving grayling and will continue to receive them. Personally, I really like catching grayling and love the diversity they offer when combined with other species in the same lake.
[signature]
Posts: 1,422
Threads: 18
Joined: Sep 2003
Reputation:
15
[quote ddmoogs]I'm convinced the new state record is still swimming in these waters. I'm thinking the grayling I posted in the last photo may be close to the the record in terms of weight, which is 1 lb 12 oz.[/quote]
You are probably right...that fish looks like it could very well scare the record if not beat it. You must not be too interested in turning a record in...
[signature]
Posts: 236
Threads: 0
Joined: Mar 2014
Reputation:
0
They are fun little fish catch for sure. I originally was there searching for some of those trophy brook trout but only found the nice grayling. Hopefully next time I'll find my brookie!
[signature]
Posts: 236
Threads: 0
Joined: Mar 2014
Reputation:
0
Next time I'll be more prepared to get some measurements. At the time I didn't realize how close they potentially were to record size.
[signature]
Posts: 816
Threads: 0
Joined: Aug 2010
Reputation:
0
Something I was hammering Grayling on down there, and it might raise eyebrows, but were leech patterns I was using for brooks. Size 8 streamer hook, black marabou tail, and rust colored leach yarn bodies. Absolutely knocked the dog snot out of them on a sink tip and kick trolling it behind the tube.
[signature]
Posts: 24
Threads: 0
Joined: Jan 2015
Reputation:
0
[left]Pics look like the Uintas?
[/left]
[signature]
