High Lakes

jaredoconnor

jaredoconnor

Peabrain Chub
I’m finally going to get off my butt and do the high lake thing this summer.

I currently only have a regular Fish Cat. For my first trip, I plan to just go somewhere I can take that, fully inflated and with my waders on the whole way. If anyone is feeling generous, please PM me any short hikes where that would be feasible.

If the trial trip goes well, I plan to invest in some proper gear. That brings me to pack rafts vs. float tubes. I’ve had a conversation with @Dave Westburg about this and he’s solidly in the float tube camp, but I figure I had better get other opinions before committing. Any thoughts?

Lastly, assuming I do go the float tube route, how many of you just hike up in your waders and boots? It seems like a hassle to carry those on my back. I’m open to buying lightweight waders and boots, if it makes the setup less cumbersome.
 
In my experience you're doing two things, hiking and fishing. Dress appropriately to hike, then get geared to fish. I always carried a 7.5# raft with hand paddle oars. All over the north cascades, even on that Bath Lakes traverse, and plenty of 20+ milers into the Paysatin and Bridger. Better than shore fishing but not as good as a modern tube. I always inflated at the lake. Get a good pack, the stuff you're gonna want is bulky and heavy. Give yourself several outings to get a real feel for the details.
 
If you're only doing a day trip the float tube is the way to go. However, for multi day trips or really long hikes I really prefer a packraft even if it's not the best tool to fly fish out of. Put a short skagit head on your euro setup if you don't feel like packing a tube/raft and you're fishing with brush behind you. I also know a lot of guys who use a small spinning reel on 6 piece rods and that works really well.
 
Last edited:
jeradjames said:
However, for multi day trips or really long hikes I really prefer a packraft even if it's not the best tool to fly fish out of.
Click to expand...

At my fitness level I think any hike will feel like a really long hike. That’s why I’m thinking a pack raft might be the way to go.

It also gives me different type of watercraft than what I already have.
 
jaredoconnor said:
At my fitness level I think any hike will feel like a really long hike. That’s why I’m thinking a pack raft might be the way to go.

It also gives me different type of watercraft than what I already have.
Click to expand...
I think thinking ultralight is smart and I've never fished out of a pack raft. But, I know that when I have fished out of anything floating where I don't have flippers or an anchor or something, and there's any wind to blow me around, that it sort of ruins the fun of fishing, it's so annoying. So as long as there's no wind, or you're okay with wind drifting being your fishing method, that's where the ultra light pack raft would be great, in my opinion.
 
Matt B said:
I think thinking ultralight is smart and I've never fished out of a pack raft. But, I know that when I have fished out of anything floating where I don't have flippers or an anchor or something, and there's any wind to blow me around, that it sort of ruins the fun of fishing, it's so annoying. So as long as there's no wind, or you're okay with wind drifting being your fishing method, that's where the ultra light pack raft would be great, in my opinion.
Click to expand...

Would a small drogue help? Is there any light weight anchor thing that could work?
 
jaredoconnor said:
Would a small drogue help? Is there any light weight anchor thing that could work?
Click to expand...
There probably is something or a way to rig something. I don’t have experience with that. You can also improvise an anchor out of a rock and some paracord if the lake isn’t too deep, the pack raft has some attachment point, and the wind isn’t nukin’.
 
An easy anchor for a packraft is 20' of light nylon rope and a small mesh sack. You can buy em or make em. Get to the lake and fill it with a few rocks and you're good to go! My 6lb Alpacka Llama has several anchor points that I use when the wind is blowing so I can stay oriented to the direction I want to cast.
 
jaredoconnor said:
I’ve had a conversation with @Dave Westburg about this and he’s solidly in the float tube camp... Any thoughts?
Click to expand...
^^^^!
jaredoconnor said:
At my fitness level I think any hike will feel like a really long hike. That’s why I’m thinking a pack raft might be the way to go.

It also gives me different type of watercraft than what I already have.
Click to expand...
I didn't - don't have the grit that @Tom Butler speaks of. A 12lb float tube gets heavy in a hurry. My high lake fly kit with 4wt pack rod, reel(s), Wilderness Lite Bp Pro float tube (3.2#), pump, inflatable PFD(!), UL nonbreathable waders with nylon feet (~18 oz), neoprene wading socks, UL (neoprene Beach Skins) volleyball (or water) shoes, and plastic backpacking fins weighs 11# and all fits into a 25L Fishpond pack along with the essential daytrip gear.

I would start out looking for lower elevation lakes around 4 mi RT. I know easy access lakes have that had decent fishing back in the day where I did not need a PWC. But not many folks bring rafts or float tubes so it feels a lot less crowded once you're away from shore. I have been to lakes where a point, inlet or outlet, or logjam you can stand on where fish tend to hang out provides room for a backcast. Talus slopes into a lake often have ledges with steep dropoffs close to shore you can easily reach with a roll cast. These features are easy to spot on Google Earth.

And then there is this... I happened to see the owner of the local flyshop after I bought my first good gear and took casting lessons from him fishing with a spinning rod at an easy accces subalpine lake. When I greeted him he said "Why did you bring a flyrod up here?"

If you need distance and are concerned about backcast room but want to save weight and bulk, bringing along a spinning reel to use on a fly rod is an effective, unconventional "hybrid" method for casting small 1/16 -1/8 oz lures you've caught fish with before. It feels a bit awkward at first and you may have to zip-tie the reel to the handle if the reel foot won't fit into the reel seat.

That setup provides superior lure distance over traditional fly casting, especially with 4lb-6lb test and a few lures. I have used spinners in high lakes but had the best results with the classic OEM Red & White - Nickel back Daredevle "Midget". There are videos on it.
1778286076883.png

Or skip the flyrod altogether and bring a LW-UL spinning outfit with an aerodynamic 1/8oz "Torpedo" casting float to cast flies. It Works!

Double X Tackle: Torpedo Floats

1/8 oz Fishing Floats Corks or Bobbers. This go to float has been time tested and proven. Made from premium quality plastic and components in the USA!
www.doublextackle.com
1778286632809.png
 
Last edited:
I bought a Wilderness Lite Backpacker Pro float tube (weighs only 3 lbs) and got an external frame backpack for alpine lakes. The float tube is attached to the backpack with bungee cords and is partially deflated, which I learned about from @Dave Westburg. I pack my waders,booties and fins and put them on when I get to the lake. I personally would not want to hike in waders to a lake.

I also had a FishCat float tube and it was a bear to hike with (did not more than a mile). I really like my alpine set up.
 
Unless the trail is especially wide and devoid of trees hiking with an inflated tube is going to be a hassle. Climbing, descending, going over logs, yata yata all no fun with an inflated tube. Plus you risk damaging it. Get a light tube like the Wilderness Lite or Outcast Summit.
+1 on the comment about wearing out your waders while hiking in them. For anything more than a mile pack them in imho. Also, hiking in wading boots doesn't compare to hiking in boots meant for the job.
Get a small battery operated pump and small hand pump to inflate and top off your tube when its time to inflate. Get a small sheet of Tyvek or something similar to stand on when you get to your destination and suit up.
I pack it all in. It's just easier not wrestling with an inflated tube lashed to your back. My $.03USD adjusted for inflation.
 
Last edited:
Find a used Klymit Litewater Dingy raft online (~2lb) and then keep yourt fishing setup simple and light (one fly box, single 3-5wt 4pc rod, small light net, forceps)

You are not going to want to walk even 1/2 mile wearing waders.

You DO NOT want to have to carry waders+tube+Fins+extra shoes to alpine lakes for traditional float tube setups.
 
Brian Miller said:
^^^^!

I didn't - don't have the grit that @Tom Butler speaks of. A 12lb float tube gets heavy in a hurry. My high lake fly kit with 4wt pack rod, reel(s), Wilderness Lite Bp Pro float tube (3.2#), pump, inflatable PFD(!), UL nonbreathable waders with nylon feet (~18 oz), neoprene wading socks, UL (neoprene Beach Skins) volleyball (or water) shoes, and plastic backpacking fins weighs 11# and all fits into a 25L Fishpond pack along with the essential daytrip gear.

I would start out looking for lower elevation lakes around 4 mi RT. I know easy access lakes have that had decent fishing back in the day where I did not need a PWC. But not many folks bring rafts or float tubes so it feels a lot less crowded once you're away from shore. I have been to lakes where a point, inlet or outlet, or logjam you can stand on where fish tend to hang out provides room for a backcast. Talus slopes into a lake often have ledges with steep dropoffs close to shore you can easily reach with a roll cast. These features are easy to spot on Google Earth.

And then there is this... I happened to see the owner of the local flyshop after I bought my first good gear and took casting lessons from him fishing with a spinning rod at an easy accces subalpine lake. When I greeted him he said "Why did you bring a flyrod up here?"

If you need distance and want to save weight and bulk, using a spinning reel on a fly rod is an effective, unconventional "hybrid" method for casting small 1/16 -1/8 oz lures you've caught fish with before. It feels a bit awkward at first and you may have to zip-tie the reel to the handle if the reel foot won't fit into the reel seat.

That setup provides superior lure distance over traditional fly casting, especially with 4lb-6lb test and a few lures. I have used spinners in high lakes but had the best results with the classic OEM Red & White - Nickle back Daredevle "Midget". There are videos on it.
View attachment 183696

Or skip the flyrod altogether and bring a LW-UL spinning outfit with an aerodynamic 1/8oz "Torpedo" casting float to cast flies. It Works!

Double X Tackle: Torpedo Floats

1/8 oz Fishing Floats Corks or Bobbers. This go to float has been time tested and proven. Made from premium quality plastic and components in the USA!
www.doublextackle.com
View attachment 183697
Click to expand...
Just started using casting bubble floats for my youngest, on a spin cast setup. They're amazing, will cast something weightless as far as you want. Never going back to the red and whites
 
Pink Nighty said:
Just started using casting bubble floats for my youngest, on a spin cast setup. They're amazing, will cast something weightless as far as you want. Never going back to the red and whites
Click to expand...
The XX Tackle Torpedo Floats are sealed and not adjustable for weight. My ex-flyshop owner friend likes floats that can be filled with water to adjust the weight but they feel too heavy and sloppy to cast for me.
 
I also have a Wilderness Lite. I also have an old Creek Company U2000 that is light enough to pack. When I'm backpacking my ultimate quest is to maximize fishing success, so I'm willing to take on the extra weight of waders (packed) in exchange for fishing from a watercraft more geared for fly-fishing. WetFlySwing podcast did a pretty good episode on Wilderness Lite and optimizing backpacking to fish high lakes:

www.wetflyswing.com

Fly Fishing Founders - Wilderness Lite Float Tubes with Phil Hayes - Ultralight Boats, Gregory, Outcast, REI, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers - Wet Fly Swing

Take the Survey: https://www.wetflyswing.com/fantasy Show Notes: https://www.wetflyswing.com/tube Phil Hayes breaks down ultralight backcountry fly fishing. He produces the Wilderness Lite float tube which is a good start to your gear list when heading out on a backcountry trip. We get into...
www.wetflyswing.com www.wetflyswing.com
 
For me it all boils down to a weight proposition. While I'm not totally a weight weenie but I'm not getting any younger and all those lakes are up hill. So I look at my route (distance and elevation gain) and make a decision. My pack raft is 2 lb vs 3lb wilderness lite tube plus waders and fins. I do take a small double action pump for inflation for both the raft and tube. I have considered a small rechargeable electric pump as well. My typical raft total pack weight is a little over 10 lbs. For overnights the tube/waders doesn't come into the equation.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top