Found Lake

When @Dave Westburg suggests a lake to me, I generally find it worthwhile considering his advice (never mind the two skunkings I've taken with him.) So, I got out to this westside lake earlier in the week. The weather was spectacular!

One approaches on several miles of gated, well maintained gravel road. Next time I'm taking the MTB. The lake itself is pretty; surrounded with second growth timber and an impressive cordon of floating bog. The Bog Laurel is in flower, giving everything a cheery look.



I was loudly warned and a bit surprised by a beaver letting me know I was getting too close to its lodge. But hey, when you gotta pee, any solid takeout is fair game. A pair of Loons are calling the lake home; they remind me of days long ago in the Adirondacks.



Nice habitat.



The lake has a self sustaining population of fish and all age classes were present. I caught a half dozen or so 6-7 inchers, and one decent full grown Cutthroat. 'Lost a few that felt about the same size.



Saw a couple of Garter Snakes on the way out. One was as big a Garter as I've seen, and had cool green markings, but he didn't stick around for a portrait.



Nice day out.

 

[Salmo_g]

Westside loons in the spring? Wow, that doesn't happen every day. I think the only westside lake I've seen nesting loons on is Hozomeen, which isn't far from the crest between east and west.

 

[Phil K]

Westside loons in the spring? Wow, that doesn't happen every day. I think the only westside lake I've seen nesting loons on is Hozomeen, which isn't far from the crest between east and west.

I'm just not used to seeing them in WA at all, so it was a real treat.

 

[Divad]

I love those lakes, nestled away where various habitats and wildlife flourish. Awesome trip!

Pictures look familiar, if the lake has an abandon campground I’ve fished it with the same results.

 

[Dave Westburg]

I took my annual trip to this same lake yesterday. The trail has seen better days...



Mostly smaller fish on carey specials and black hackle peacocks fished with a wright and McGill bamboo rod and an intermediate line...



There are some big cutts. After lunch my fishing partner put on a full sinking line and found this...



Saw the loons, the garter snakes - and two turkey buzzards near an animal kill on the hike in. Couldn't see the kill but we could sure smell it.

 

[jeradjames]

I need to get out to a lower elevation lake, think I visited this one last year. Great looking cutthroat.

 

[Greg Armstrong]

Westside loons in the spring? Wow, that doesn't happen every day. I think the only westside lake I've seen nesting loons on is Hozomeen, which isn't far from the crest between east and west.

I know of a couple west side foothills lakes that have nesting loon pairs. The state (pretty sure it’s WDFW) places floating nesting platforms out each spring and removes them in the fall. The crew I ran into told me that it was necessary because ice would destroy them otherwise. Signs are posted banning lead weights to avoid poisoning them.

It’s nice hearing that loon call while fishing!

 

[Greg Armstrong]

Is that your impregnated Granger you were using @Dave Westburg ?

 

[Dave Westburg]

Is that your impregnated Granger you were using @Dave Westburg ?

Yes. 9' impregnated Wright and McGill Granger WaterSeal FA. it's a 6 weight. I use it for lowland lakes and salt water. It's a three piece so has also travelled with me to Alaska and Iceland.

 

[Greg Armstrong]

They’re nice rods, I find them to be a little bit faster action than their non-impregnated equivalent models. I have both in model 8642 (8’-6”).

I’m jealous of the cutthroats you guys are getting

 

[Phil K]

Oh yeah, it is getting to be lake season! I sort of consider this particular lake ‘a day at the office.’ The hike to the upper lake takes two hours if I hustle, and then another half hour of granite boulder hopping down to the lower lake. I typically only catch one or two fish here, but the quality is consistently high.

If you look (very) closely you’ll see a Bald Eagle; I spotted one at the upper lake a week ago on a scouting trip. Again- something of a surprise; I don’t typically expect to see these birds at high lakes.



I’ve been fooling around with a Dragonfly variation on @Wetswinger ’s floating leech, and may be on to something.