One early June, I was awakened by some compelling idea. A supernatural conscience driving my "curious" gears into motion. A sub-alpine lake calls my name, with all the mystery to hold until I know. After much contemplation on this adventures viable success on short terms notice, I am bound to my determination and confidence I can complete what I get myself into. With some prior knowledge on distance, it is roughly 5 and a half miles up old logging roads to a less known lake on the sub-alpine tree-line. Currently under motor vehicle restriction, it gives me an early observation of this lake, if I can find it! There's plenty of side roads which," look like the right way", but indeed leads you further into the forest. Being careful, I set GPS before I lost signal as to not lose my way as easy.
Patience and beautiful views of the canyon below gives me pride to keep going further and further. The Mountain bike creeping across all that it confronts, obsorbing the many technical foundations of the ground. I missed the turn for the lake once, riding about half a mile before realizing I kept going uphill, past it. Coming back down the hill that wee bit, up a rocky split, I found what I was looking for. A smaller lake tucked up in an inconspicuous part of the mountains, is fascinating. The lake is still, and all to my own with the trout and chipmunks. Not too long observing the water, a nice sized trout swims under the submerged logs foraging and seeking concealment, then it was gone.
I eagerly assemble my fly rod, and attempt some casts where I could. No success right away, I make my way around the lake. I end up army crawling through some dense trees, in search of a catchable trout. This lake is tricky, the subliminal trails are very dense, with tons of branch's and tree's attempting to grab your gear and pull you down. I feel like a soldier, no tight crevice or tough obstacle will hinder my pursuit in finding a wonderful fish. The trees accompany the edges as I do, there is very little room for conventional overhead casts. Hard to fish, the bow and arrow cast was my only producer.
As I make my way around the lake, I find spring water entering the lake, un-noticable from afar, this cold water attracted the best specimens of cutthroat in the lake. Many fish swam in pairs, searching for an ideal area to spawn. The males with the most brawn and size guarded the best areas, leaving the rest to fend their own territories.
There is lots of dispute whether angling for spawning trout is an ethical practice. IN MOST CASES, I agree with NO. The fish are in a fragile state of energy consumption, and are also drawn into more vulnerable reach's of poaching humans. Which is why many known spawning areas are always closed to fishing. As to not destroy important spawning specimens and habits which in turn make more trout! Lot's of anglers vow their is no ethical catch for a spawning fish, but I disagree in respect that there is a very small window for respectable safe return of a magnificent fish in a fragile timeframe.
Most spawning trout will feed more seldom as their efforts are concentrated on finding suitable spawning territory. Making them harder to catch by deliberate take. All the regular fishing tactics ignored, they do of course still eat....I believe in undocumented spawning areas, if a spawning fish does,"Deliberately and Voluntarily" take a barbless, single hook, they can be enjoyed in the net and returned without damage to the fish or the population under the most courteous handling practices. This is that very small window of human competance which doesn't exist within every fisherman. The true angler will precisely convey the fish without harm, leaving no gore upon an animal so pure and graceful. The vibrant crimson bellies of spawning Cutthroat Trout are one of the most stunning observations and rewards in the trout angling experience. After two magnificent trout were quickly caught, I left them be to their important duties.
