Gold in the Hills

[Dave Westburg]

You have to want it. 100 switchbacks climb above 6,000 feet on an exposed hillside where a fall would be dangerous, summer temperatures soar and there's no water.



At trails end is a small Washington high lake with an abundant, naturally-reproducing, golden trout population. The tributary stream runs ice cold from a snowbank.



There's a shoal at one end of the lake where my son and I caught many golden trout with blood red gill plates, golden-yellow sides and orange stomachs on size 14-16 hares ear, greenwells glory and black ant wet flies and floating and intermediate lines. I fished my trusty 8'6" phillipson 5 weight bamboo fly rod.






We kept a couple golden trout for dinner, dipped in flour, salt and cayenne pepper and grilled in olive oil over a jetboil stove.



The weather turned nasty overnight with 20 mph wind gusts, low clouds, rain and a 40 degree temperature drop. After oatmeal, coffee and a couple more goldens to hand it was time to climb into the snow and mist to find the trail home.



I'm sore three days later but can't think of a better way to spend a summer weekend than visiting the high country with my son.

 

[Bruce Baker]

Very nice. How long of a hike was it? Glad for you that you were able to do it with your son!

 

[Dave Westburg]

About 5 miles. Took approx 4 hours to hike in due to the climb.

 

[Long_Rod_Silvers]

Awesome.

 

[Josh]

How cool is that? Goldens are on my bucket list someday. I always think that the way to do it legit would be to go to the High Sierras in CA. But I'd also find a lot of satisfaction in a WA trip like this I think.

 

[Buzzy]

As usual, wonderful photographs, a dream trip! Thank you for sharing!

 

[IHFISH]

Dave, good for both of you. Did you both pack in tubes and waders? Looks like you fished from the shore some also.

 

[dep]

wow! what a memorable trip. thanks for sharing. beautiful country for sure

 

[Dave Westburg]

Dave, good for both of you. Did you both pack in tubes and waders? Looks like you fished from the shore some also.

We brought in one wilderness lite and two sets of waders. You can get by without a float tube because there’s a wadeable shoal. Prob won’t bring the wilderness lite next time.

 

[John Svahn]

I have a golden stash nearish where i work. I’ce caught them but never eaten them.
Do they taste different? Pink or red on the inside?

 

[Dave Westburg]

These fish were white fleshed but delicious. Terrestrials and small chironomids in stomach. No shrimp. Both fish were males with developing milt sacs. Not sure what to make of that because i thought goldens spawn in late spring or early summer.

 

[Robert Engleheart]

Good size for Golden trout.

 

[Matt B]

These fish were white fleshed but delicious Terrestrials and small chironomids in stomach. No shrimp. Both fish were males with developing milt sacs. Not sure what to make of that because i thought goldens spawn in late spring or early summer.

Fish don’t always read the right books or keep track of the calendar very well. If they spawn soon, it’ll be a tough winter for any emerging fry. Maybe they’d just stay in the gravel.

 

[Salmo_g]

developing milt sacs.

Probably to reach sexual maturity next spring. They have to begin now because they won't develop much or fast under the winter ice.

 

[Gyrfalcon22]

Nicely done. Golden trout make the leg burn well worth it. Makes for a long winter, spring and early summer waiting for the next chances

 

[Islander]

Fabulous!

 

[Jim in Anacortes]

I guy named Muir would have appreciated the post. I sure did.

 

[Greg Armstrong]

Well done Dave. Happy for both of you that you got into them, with that climb you deserved it!