Author Topic: My Fantastic Fishing Adventure (Read 3595 times)

High On Octane · **on:** July 08, 2014, 01:18:36 pm

Yesterday, I decided to try out a new fishing spot up in the mountains. I was originally just looking for some new dirt roads to take the Blackhawk on. I had the bike all loaded up and my gut told me to unload the bike and take the Subaru instead. I am glad I decided to do that, because the road was nothing more than a rock trail that sometimes makes your butthole pucker.

I only got a small amount of video traveling the actual trail, because I needed 2 hands to drive and I didn't bring my dashboard mount for the camera.

As I'm traveling up the trail, I come to a sign that says the next seasonal gate doesn't open until July 15 and this is the last area to turn around. And it was as the trail is mostly a single track for trucks. I parked my car and called the number on the sign for the ranger district and found out the lake is only another mile up the trail. So I loaded up my gear and started hiking the rest of the way up. About a 1/4 mile later as I get to the gate I see that the gate is actually open. Then a father and son, Rick and Jamie, were driving up in their Explorer and asked if I wanted a ride up to the top. I took their offer and ended up fishing with them for the afternoon. As we start nearing the lake we find that there is a glacier covering the road to the parking lot. So we packed up our gear and hiked the last few hundred yards.

Once we got to the lake, we were rewarded with some of the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen. Absolutely gorgeous. I need to get going to work so I'll add some more details and video later this evening. But I will say that I did catch 1 brook trout. And it was delicious.

Scottie J

barenekd · **Reply #1 on:** July 08, 2014, 09:39:00 pm

That road looks about like the Nate Harrison grade I took my Guzzi on going up to Palomar. Definitely an EPIC moment!
Bare

azcatfan · **Reply #2 on:** July 09, 2014, 12:13:58 am

Great pics, would be hard to not camp and stay a while...

High On Octane · **Reply #3 on:** July 11, 2014, 11:55:09 am

I finally put together a video last night.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdAiBObafog&feature=youtu.be

ERC · **Reply #4 on:** July 11, 2014, 02:10:09 pm

Way to much traffic and homes built along the way there. Can't you find a more rural place to fish?

ERC

Arizoni · **Reply #5 on:** July 11, 2014, 11:34:45 pm

Good lookin' fishin' hole you found up there.

High On Octane · **Reply #6 on:** July 12, 2014, 01:45:47 am

Quote from: ERC on July 11, 2014, 02:10:09 pm

Way to much traffic and homes built along the way there. Can't you find a more rural place to fish? ERC

Well, I could hike to the top of that waterfall and fish the lake on top of there. It's a little bit more rural.

I'm going out again first thing in the morning before the sun comes up. There is a reservoir about a mile from my house that sounds promising. You have to pay to fish there which deters a lot of people, and when I talked to the ranger there he was saying most everyone catch and releases there. So much in fact that they have been encouraging the fisherman to take some home to eat, which is exactly what I plan to do. The reservoir is full of HUGE tiger muskies, trout, large mouth bass and perch. Actually the state record for tiger muskie was caught there, 53" 40 pounds 2 ounces! Now that I have my schedule changed to working 4 10's I have more free time to do what I want so I plan on doing a lot more fishing. I've only been out a handful of times since I moved here which is a shame. When I lived in Wisconsin I would go fishing at least 2 or 3 times a week, some weeks every single day. I miss catching/fighting walleye, but I sure do love me some fresh trout on the barbie.

Scottie J

mattsz · **Reply #7 on:** July 12, 2014, 01:51:58 am

Scottie - you're headed in the right direction!!!

High On Octane · **Reply #8 on:** July 12, 2014, 01:53:09 am

Hey, I bust my hump at work. I deserve 3 day weekends.

mattsz · **Reply #9 on:** July 12, 2014, 01:59:56 am

I agree - you do!

I bust my hump for seven 12-hour days. Despite the numerous hassles of my job, I get a 7-day weekend for my pains!

High On Octane · **Reply #10 on:** July 12, 2014, 02:05:44 am

Don't you work on a ferry or something like that? You could fish on the clock.

mattsz · **Reply #11 on:** July 12, 2014, 02:12:55 am

Seriously, no point. There's fishing, and there's... fishing.

I would be fishing. You're fishing!

High On Octane · **Reply #12 on:** July 12, 2014, 09:42:57 pm

I got to the reservoir about 5:45 this morning and ended up catching a real nice 17" largemouth. I was reeling him in when went in thicket of weeds and a sapling tree about 10-15 yards out and got tangled up. Luckily there was another gentleman fly fishing about 40-50 yards down from me so he came down and netted him and got him untangled for me. I guess it was about 2 pounds or so, but 1" under regulation so I had to put him back.

I'm going back down again right now and work the damn shoreline for trout.

Scottie J

High On Octane · **Reply #13 on:** July 13, 2014, 12:24:31 am

My video finally published on youtube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9wuNb8DcPc&feature=youtu.be

Arizoni · **Reply #14 on:** July 13, 2014, 01:46:54 am

Nice guy for helping you out.

High On Octane · **Reply #15 on:** July 13, 2014, 02:15:44 am

Yes he was. I was actually looking for a place to set my rod so I could take my boots and pants off when he noticed I was having trouble. I need to get some waders.

Arctictanker · **Reply #16 on:** July 13, 2014, 03:29:19 am

Great pictures and waders are well worth it. Once I finish my classes and get my bachelors I hope to spend more time outdoors.

Arizoni · **Reply #17 on:** July 13, 2014, 07:39:57 am

If you had dropped your drawers and gone out in that lake, that guy wouldn't have need to help you but I bet he would have some good advice for you.

I can hear it all now......

"Howdy. I didn't see you at first but then I heard that giant sucking sound so I figured someone had dropped their drawers and gone out into the lake in his skivvies.
Ya' know? That water is just a hair over freezing, coming off o' them snowcaps like it is. Ohh dogies! Ah still remember the first time I did a fool thing like that. That was over 30 years ago and I just noticed another small piece of ice fell off just last Sunday!

Oh. After you get back out and put your britches back on, hunker down near a camp fire for about an hour. Don't let anyone get behind you durin' that last 15 minutes though.
Folks get real riled when they're behind you and all that wind you sucked up finally thaws and changes direction. It'll mess up a fellers hair from 40 feet away.
Like I say, I did that 30 years ago an I still remember how mad that feller got when my blast blew his wifes skirt up over her head. She was a good 50 feet away too!

Don't forget what I said. Oh, and another thing. Don't aim yer rear at that fire either.
Blowing them burning logs all over the place can start a forest fire when you add the gas you got from that empth can o' Pork & Beans I see laying over there.

You have a good evenin' now, you hear?
I got's to be moseying back down the hill before your blast o' wind has a chance to escape. "

mattsz · **Reply #18 on:** July 13, 2014, 11:36:18 am

I just love that video! Nice guy, nice fish... and it wasn't a keeper - I'm amazed at the size limit for large-mouth bass there! Last summer before my Dad died, we went up to Ontario for warm-water fishing - mostly LM and SM bass and "snakes" (their knickname for northern pike - too boney!). I don't think we caught any as big as yours, but we caught plenty, and we ate like kings!

RIP, Pop!

pushrod · **Reply #19 on:** July 13, 2014, 04:56:43 pm

Quote from: High On Octane on July 11, 2014, 11:55:09 am

I finally put together a video last night.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdAiBObafog&feature=youtu.be

Man, I loved that video, I miss livin in the Rockys and goin fishin in the high mountain lakes and streams. With any luck I'll be headin back real soon.

Wife Bonnie @ McDonald Lake GNP

High On Octane · **Reply #20 on:** July 13, 2014, 05:02:16 pm

Jim, that made me laugh!

Matt, awesome story! I haven't had a chance to fish Canada yet, but I hear the water is amazing there. Regulation at that particular reservoir is 18" for small and largemouth. I was all excited fighting him to the shore, and then we measured and I was like "Are you kidding me?!"

pushrod, I love fishing in the mountains. Great times and beautiful views!