Closing out the high lakes season?

With the weather coming I decided to take advantage of the last few days of decent weather. Headed out after work on Tuesday and got in a few hours before it was too dark to fish. I am always hopeful that the brown trout will be in the mood to eat a big streamer this time of year. Didn't take long for this one to appear behind the fly. It followed for quite a while then I increased the speed and got it to commit.



Unfortunately that was the last one I got to chase a big bug. I got out the beetle with an egg dropper and got a couple more including this pretty fish.



I did LDR one on the beetle, but the egg was money - especially the next morning.





A couple more of that croc





Seems to have different genetics from most of the fish up there - tail shape and such. You would think they would just have one strain in the hatchery. Let the egg show continue:





Yes, it was cold



Even the parents were eating the egg.



Did catch a handful on buggers in a different part of the lake. Wish they all had the colors of this one



Last fish of day 2 was on the egg. Another 22 inch class fish with beautiful colors. Sure wish this pic was sharp - I took it just as he kicked out of my hand

 

[CanoeGuy]

When the sun dropped below the mountains I loaded up and headed to another popular lake. Was the first one to the landing yesterday morning. Took me a while to get the canoe in the water as the sky required my attention. Love being on the lakes at sunrise.







When I got to my spot fish were rising to tiny midges - that continued all day long. They were more than willing to eat a bugger at times.



Not all the fish were so pristine. This hatchery fish must have hit the concrete wall too many times.



Later in the day the fish were really keyed in on the midges. I hooked one invasive



Figured I would pump his stomach as the midges I tried were not getting it done. My effort didn't produce much, but these made for an interesting pic.



I did see a big caddis fly by. Actually got one to come up and eat that. Sometimes if matching the hatch isn't working...





Last pic of the trip. Last one that doesn't give away my spot anyway



Sure hope we get some late season warm weather to melt the snow that is coming so I can get back up there!

 

[Wade Rivers]

Fantastic!

 

[steeli]

Great photos! Sounds like a great season ending
trip.

 

[Cabezon]

Figured I would pump his stomach as the midges I tried were not getting it done. My effort didn't produce much, but these made for an interesting pic.

View attachment 171075

Excellent report. If I had to give an id, I would say that these are three-spined sticklebacks. The body shape is right and you can see the stiff pelvic fin spines (clear on the top individual) and the two prominent anterior dorsal spines (see here and here). In Washington this species is typically anadromous but there are some populations that have become trapped behind dams and have evolved to a totally freshwater lifestyle.
Steve

 

[CanoeGuy]

Excellent report. If I had to give an id, I would say that these are three-spined sticklebacks. The body shape is right and you can see the stiff pelvic fin spines (clear on the top individual) and the two prominent anterior dorsal spines (see here and here). In Washington this species is typically anadromous but there are some populations that have become trapped behind dams and have evolved to a totally freshwater lifestyle.
Steve

Yes, they are sticklebacks - very small ones

 

[Brian in OR.]

Sweet report, never thought of using eggs in a lake. Are there inlets that the fish can spawn in?

 

[Canuck from Kansas]

If I recognize correctly, not at that second lake - it is a giant spring.

When do the roads close, it's now usually before Thanksgiving (not snow dependent when they put the gates up)?

 

[CanoeGuy]

If I recognize correctly, not at that second lake - it is a giant spring.

When do the roads close, it's now usually before Thanksgiving (not snow dependent when they put the gates up)?

Not sure when they put up the gates heading up to the crater. The latest I have ever been is November 14th.

 

[The Fish Whisperer]

When the sun dropped below the mountains I loaded up and headed to another popular lake. Was the first one to the landing yesterday morning. Took me a while to get the canoe in the water as the sky required my attention. Love being on the lakes at sunrise.

View attachment 171070

View attachment 171071

View attachment 171072

When I got to my spot fish were rising to tiny midges - that continued all day long. They were more than willing to eat a bugger at times.

View attachment 171073

Not all the fish were so pristine. This hatchery fish must have hit the concrete wall too many times.

View attachment 171074

Later in the day the fish were really keyed in on the midges. I hooked one invasive

View attachment 171076

Figured I would pump his stomach as the midges I tried were not getting it done. My effort didn't produce much, but these made for an interesting pic.

View attachment 171075

I did see a big caddis fly by. Actually got one to come up and eat that. Sometimes if matching the hatch isn't working...



View attachment 171077

Last pic of the trip. Last one that doesn't give away my spot anyway

View attachment 171078

Sure hope we get some late season warm weather to melt the snow that is coming so I can get back up there!

Cool shots of the Alto Cumulus Standing Lenticular clouds. Every once in a while when conditions are right with the winds, it is amazing to see them stacked up above Mt Rainer.