Lake Blanche in Big Cottonwood Canyon

I admit, we did this hike all wrong! Hiking at noon in 95+ degree heat on a bright sunny day was not the most comfortable of circumstances. I've been outdoors enough to know to plan for the unexpected--to a degree, so before we left home I threw in another large water bottle and made sure we had a water purifying straw just in case. I also mentioned something about sunscreen but didn't grab it. We could have used it. We used every drop of water and even drank warm water on the way back to the trailhead. This hike was all uphill. Several places on the trail had areas that felt like we were walking up stairs.

 

I've struggled with staying in prime shape this year, and have had a hard time finding the energy that I normally have in the summer. It's starting to play with my brain. I want to blame it on getting old, but I have a feeling it might be more than that. I have a lot of aches and pains this year and it is mentally effecting my motivation. I have a couple of mountain bike rides planned this fall, more hikes, as well as a 50 mile ride around Bear Lake. I better get with it!

My wife had suffered an injury to her left leg (possibly knee area) in a soccer game, and was in no condition to be hiking, but she wanted to go. I know she was in some pain. For a couple of old wounded people we made it and had fun too.

 

I heard there could possibly be brook trout in Lake Blanche so I carried my fly rod and some flies in. I wasn't disappointed. I caught eleven of them in about an hours time. They were all between eight and twelve inches but the colors were splendid.

Lake Blanche is a beautiful place. It is a popular destination. I found a measure of solitude, as I was the only one fishing while we were there.

Off to the west of Lake Blanche is Lake Lillian and another small lake. We hiked over to the area of the man-made rock dam and looked over the hill and down upon the two lakes. I thought about hiking down to the lakes and seeing if they also held brook trout, but to be honest, I was pretty tired and still needed to hike back out.

The lake surface was calm and reflections of Sundial Peak and the surrounding pine trees reminded me of a beautiful landscape painting. Every once in a while a very slight gentle breeze would ripple the lakes surface and push small cumulus clouds above the ridgeline.

The trail signs and the hiking book said that the mileage to the lake is 2.6. It seemed longer than that. I don't know if it was the constant up hill steepness of the trail or the heat, but it just seemed longer. It's a beautiful hike and the Lake Blanche, Sundial Peak, and the brook trout made it all worth it for me.

 

When we reached the car, we drove immediately into town and bought a couple of ice cold Gatorade drinks and thankfully drank them as we drove home.

Blacksmith Fork River Browns Have Butter-Yellow Bellies

Small water has intrigued me from my youth. I did go through a phase where I wanted to fish the big water for big trout (you know the sophisticated trout of the Henry's Fork), but my real love is the small stuff. Trout in the 10 to 14 inch range are real treasures for me. They are most times skittish, often hungry and willing, and always handsome--and I guess cute and pretty if they are females.

 

 

I was talking today with a gentleman that asked me if I was getting out. I told him that I try to get out when I have a day off from work, and that my wife and me have been using it as a "date." He thought that was funny. I explained to him that as we drive to the destination we get a chance to talk. We get to share in the beauty of the outdoors, and that both of us have always had an affinity for creeks, streams, and rivers. Our outing sometimes involve a lunch or dinner together.

 

I have to admit to some selfishness, however, as I'm the one who is fly fishing. We do talk a little while I'm fishing, and we even hold hands, sometimes, while we walk the trails to and from the water. It really is like a date.

 

My wife has taken on the responsibility of documenting our adventures with a camera--I do have to have evidence that I actually catch fish (even if they are little ones). She likes to have me in the pictures, and I like to have close-ups of the trout. So there is a little mix of both.

 

 

WET WADING ON A HOT SUMMER DAY

The bandito stealing a small brown from the water.

I was able to sneak off on July 4th for a little fly fishing adventure on a local water. The week long 100 degree temperatures sent me to the water for some wet-wading. I expected the river water temperature to be warmer than usual, but it felt too warm. I've been to the river in mid to late August on hot years and witnessed brown trout acting very lethargic, and also finding a few that had died. I think this may be another one of those years where we will lose some trout to warm, less oxygenated water. I saw several fish that already looked to be stressed. I decided to stop fishing sooner than I wanted to hopefully not stress the fish anymore than they already seemed to be.

 

I managed a couple of fish and had a few that took a peek at my offering, but for the most part, the fish just didn't want to play.

 

I did enjoy the wet-wading even though I expected cooler water. All of the typical places that snow melt runoff enters the river were pretty low. The lower water and large exposed rocks sure heat up quick and add to the waters warmness. This particular river has a lot of brown trout and the brown trout seem to handle the warmer water temps a little better than other species of trout. This river also runs through a canyon with a good gradient. The riffles and cascades keep the water churned and oxygenated. Hopefully, this will help keep the majority of the trout alive until some cooler weather comes our way. The Wasatch Front is entering the hottest time of the year. This makes me a little nervous for my fishy friends.

Wet-wading on a hot day is the only way to fish.

Typical brown trout for this river--although, bigger ones can be found.

Fly fishing always puts a smile on my face!

I might have to start fishing some of the higher elevation streams where the nighttime and daytime temperatures are about 10 to 15 degrees cooler. No reason to add to the stress of the fish by chasing them up and down the river.