The bamboo whisperer had suggested we visit this lake, but he wasn't available the day we had hoped, so I thought I'd check it out myself. The big advantage to this plan is that I opted to bike it which beats the heck out of walking 4.5 miles of rideable logging road. The route gains about 1200', and going in was a grind, but bombing back out made up for the effort. Duck under the gate and head on up.
The lowland forest smells wonderful at this time of year; so fresh and green. The cottonwood has a special aroma. Somehow, places like this always seem like the kind of place you might run into Sasquatch. I passed a few dog walkers and small creeks, and continued upward to where the business starts with clearcuts and this borrow pit.
Another steep grade and expansive views open up back toward the city.
The road levels out and there's a short hike down to the lake and a nice place to launch. I should post this major upgrade over in What Have You Done For Your Boat Lately? The floor is repurposed from a yellow foam bivi pad from back in the alpine hardman days. Now it keeps my aging butt warmer and DRY.
There were a few rises right by the launch as I was rigging up, and it's always nice to start out at least knowing that there are fish about. The water is quite dark with tannin; maybe 5-6' of visibility max. The bottom drops off quickly from the shore, and there is plenty of good structure with overhanging brush and woody debris.
I had a grand time picking around the shore and missed a few solid hits. The nimble little packraft is faster than a float tube and very quiet on the water, but sucks in the wind. This day was delightfully calm. There were quite a few callebaetis spinners about, and later in the day a few dark caddis emerging. Rises were only sporadic and quite random; fish seemed to be cruising about rather than holding in any particular spot. They all seemed like good sized fish. My guess is that there really aren't a lot of fish in this lake... or maybe I'm doin' it wrong?
Along the shore there's a rope swing. I've heard that 'Squatch loves rope swings.
I chased them about, tried this and that, but didn't manage to land a single fish and finally decided to call it a day.
And then it happened... confirmed Yeti sighting.
The lowland forest smells wonderful at this time of year; so fresh and green. The cottonwood has a special aroma. Somehow, places like this always seem like the kind of place you might run into Sasquatch. I passed a few dog walkers and small creeks, and continued upward to where the business starts with clearcuts and this borrow pit.
Another steep grade and expansive views open up back toward the city.
The road levels out and there's a short hike down to the lake and a nice place to launch. I should post this major upgrade over in What Have You Done For Your Boat Lately? The floor is repurposed from a yellow foam bivi pad from back in the alpine hardman days. Now it keeps my aging butt warmer and DRY.
There were a few rises right by the launch as I was rigging up, and it's always nice to start out at least knowing that there are fish about. The water is quite dark with tannin; maybe 5-6' of visibility max. The bottom drops off quickly from the shore, and there is plenty of good structure with overhanging brush and woody debris.
I had a grand time picking around the shore and missed a few solid hits. The nimble little packraft is faster than a float tube and very quiet on the water, but sucks in the wind. This day was delightfully calm. There were quite a few callebaetis spinners about, and later in the day a few dark caddis emerging. Rises were only sporadic and quite random; fish seemed to be cruising about rather than holding in any particular spot. They all seemed like good sized fish. My guess is that there really aren't a lot of fish in this lake... or maybe I'm doin' it wrong?
Along the shore there's a rope swing. I've heard that 'Squatch loves rope swings.
I chased them about, tried this and that, but didn't manage to land a single fish and finally decided to call it a day.
And then it happened... confirmed Yeti sighting.
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