I've been enjoying hiking smaller rivers/creeks this summer and have not yet been to a high lake. Last year I went to 5 or 6 so I'm a bit behind and with a baby on the way, fall plans that will be focused on the two hander, this was one of the few weekends I had to spare to stock my lone lake for the year.
Spoiler alert: no fish were caught.
This lake hadn't been stocked in 7 years. I did have a strike from a fat rainbow on a beetle but it didn't stick. I think there's a lunker or two down deep but I didn't bring my tube and I had to haul in a 5 gallon jug full of 270 fry so my pack was pretty full.
I picked up the fry at about 7:30AM, met up with my buddy in Cle Elum at 9:00 AM, stopped for a breakfast sandwich at Basecamp in Roslyn, and got to the trailhead around 10:00ish AM. The trail is not too long, around 7 miles round trip but I had us down for 3200 ft of gain so it does go up quickly. Tons of thimble berries, huckleberries, and grouse kept us busy on the way up.
Curious to see how the fish do here. Different strain than previously stocked so will be interesting to see how they fair. Not a lot of trees around the lake and insect life seemed a bit sparse. There's a lake nearby that has been putting out 20+ inch bows that I wanted to get to but we were properly pooped after our hike up and didn't feel like pushing it for a day hike.
Saw the Roosevelt Elk herd at Meadowbrook Farm Preserve after I picked up the fish. A good sign for the day to come.
Great views looking west back down the trailhead. Anyone ever fish the stream below?
My friend, just hitting the top of the ridge.
Buddy taking a breather before we drop down to the lake.
My friend waiting for a fish to rise again. Alas, it did not rise.
Bad photo but can anyone ID this? Is this just a Cascades Frog tadpole or salamander?
Spoiler alert: no fish were caught.
This lake hadn't been stocked in 7 years. I did have a strike from a fat rainbow on a beetle but it didn't stick. I think there's a lunker or two down deep but I didn't bring my tube and I had to haul in a 5 gallon jug full of 270 fry so my pack was pretty full.
I picked up the fry at about 7:30AM, met up with my buddy in Cle Elum at 9:00 AM, stopped for a breakfast sandwich at Basecamp in Roslyn, and got to the trailhead around 10:00ish AM. The trail is not too long, around 7 miles round trip but I had us down for 3200 ft of gain so it does go up quickly. Tons of thimble berries, huckleberries, and grouse kept us busy on the way up.
Curious to see how the fish do here. Different strain than previously stocked so will be interesting to see how they fair. Not a lot of trees around the lake and insect life seemed a bit sparse. There's a lake nearby that has been putting out 20+ inch bows that I wanted to get to but we were properly pooped after our hike up and didn't feel like pushing it for a day hike.
Saw the Roosevelt Elk herd at Meadowbrook Farm Preserve after I picked up the fish. A good sign for the day to come.
Great views looking west back down the trailhead. Anyone ever fish the stream below?
My friend, just hitting the top of the ridge.
Buddy taking a breather before we drop down to the lake.
My friend waiting for a fish to rise again. Alas, it did not rise.
Bad photo but can anyone ID this? Is this just a Cascades Frog tadpole or salamander?
