After having 2 separate backpacking trips in a row come up short of the destination due to trail conditions, my family and I pushed thru some postholing in snow drifts and made it to a chain of lakes in the Pioneer Mountains. These lakes were absolutely gorgeous with one of them being partially frozen still in late June. I ended up with probably my favorite campsite ever. I love going porch mode on my tarp for occasions such as this.
After a beautiful sunset and s'mores by the campfire, I turned in and slept straight thru the night without having to get up for a nature call once (a first for me in a hammock).
The trail conditions kept everyone away and we had 2 lakes all to ourselves for the night. Between this and the recent ice out, the fishing was excellent. After picking away getting some fish on dries but lots of refusals, I switched over to a scud and it was practically a fish per cast.
I caught dozens of cutthroat all between 12-15"
I caught half a dozen golden trout all around 10"
I went 1/3 on tiger trout, only getting the medium sized one to the net at 17", the big one pulling the hook out inches from my net is going to haunt me, but I'm thrilled I caught my first tiger trout.
Bookmarks