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The Hiddens have rainbow and bull trout (the latter in two of the three).
You can get to the Swallows from Tuck and Robin or you can go from the Tonga Ridge Road past the Deception Lakes. The Tonga Ridge Road was washed out in the 2006 floods. I don’t know if it is open yet or not.
You don’t have to be a member to go along on stocking trips. You just need to get somebody to take you along.
We’ve found that most members who have a really long commute normally don’t last too long. The long drives both to the meetings and the hatcheries take their toll and interest tends to wane. That being said, we do have some far off members. One is temporarily living in Wenatchee, in fact.
They can be seen near shore if you look carefully. They tend to like grassy areas, but can often be seen anywhere. They look like little shrimp swimming around. They are one of the food items that will give fish pink or red flesh. Sometimes that can be a clue they are around. A diet of copepods will also result in red flesh so that is not an absolute measure, just a possible clue.
Scuds are also known as freshwater shrimp. They are a small amphipod, normally of the genus Gammarus, that run about a centimeter in length, plus or minus. They are the number one food for growing big fish. If you can find a lake with scuds there is a good chance of multi-pound fish.
Check out the Hi-Lakers. They are a less formal club that is much better for someone who can only attend an occasional meeting.
Sorry about the delay in replying. I was hiking in Idaho for a week and a half and I missed your messages before I left. The PMs do function, but the email notification is broken and my pop up blocker blocks the pop-up notification so sometimes I’m slow to see the message.
In September I’ll be heading out with my dad on an 8 day trip. He’s 76 so you may still have quite a few years left.
I have a tough time answering your actual question. You won’t go wrong no matter where you go, it is beautiful country. The lakes in the Park are not stocked, but they are worth visiting because they could have reproducing populations. The lakes on Forest Service land are stocked. I’m heading out the door for a day trip so I can’t give a longer answer right now. Hopefully someone else will chime in.
As it happens, I needed to refill my reel so I went down to Sportsmans Warehouse this afternoon. The cheapest way to go is to have them fill the reel with Stren or Trilene. It is dirt cheap and really quick and easy. But I ended up spending a bunch to get 4 lb clear Fireline. That’ll be a new one for me.
You’ll quickly start remembering to flip your bail when you pay the bill to replace those Whoopies. 😀
Your car was vandalized? Or did you keep going because you saw problems? I hate that!
If you catch your line, or forget to flip your bail and you are casting the way you should be you’ll snap a Whoopie off and it’ll fly a loooong ways. Sometimes a loop can come off your reel and catch on something. You’re using a snap swivel with the Whoopie? Let your lure hang down so your line can untwist occasionally. That can help prevent loops flying off your reel.
I don’t remember the sign. The route I’ve taken in there is via the rocks at the west end. You could take the trees, but it is probably brushy.
The Fireline 10lb diameter = 4 lb mono is a bit of marketing hype. It is true that the diameter is equivalent to a thick mono of that test, but they’ve been constantly reducing diameter in recent years and you’ll find clear 4 lb mono or other types of line in smaller diameters these days. The downside to Fireline is solid instead of clear so it is more visible at the same diameter. I’m convinced that in crystal clear high lakes visibility is a major concern.
All that being said, you will catch fish with that line. The Fireline is very strong and casts very well. Fireline is a bit fussier about knots and you need a knife to cut it (as opposed to cutting 4 lb mono with your teeth like I do).
I carried an extra spool with the 10 lb Fireline when we were kayaking in Alaska to use in salt water. It was a blast catching rockfish with my high lake gear and that line.
With mono you have to constantly check your line for nicks. After catching fish always feel the line above your lure with your fingers. If you feel nicks in the line cut it off and tie a new knot. The other problem mono has is that it gets weak with exposure to UV. If you’ve been fishing a LOT or left your line out in the sun it will get brittle. Test a bit by pulling on it and see how strong it is. I find that I pretty much always need to replace my line every year.
That’s totally cool. I’ve seen a dragonfly larvae grab a fry I’d just planted. I’ve also seen a salamander grab a newly stocked fish.
Good advice from uncoolperson. I’ll reinforce some things and add a couple.
The chair has to go. You need to be brutal with ounces and when you can knock pounds right off the top that’s where you start.
Ditch the Whisperlite. For weekends get a canister stove. White gas set-ups earn their keep if you are going for a week or longer, but for short trips you’re better off with a canister. Or, if you want to go really light there are pop-can type alcohol stoves.
Get rid of all the cotton. For dry camp socks get a pair of Polarfleece socks. The only T-shirt you should have is a synthetic one on your back. With a synthetic it will dry quickly when wet so you don’t need two. Don’t take the gaitors unless there will be snow issues. Look at your rain gear. Is it heavy Gore-tex designed more for skiing then hiking? You can almost always shave rain gear weight. Consider down or a puffy synthetic layer instead of fleece. It’ll save bulk and weight.
Get a smaller multi-tool. I just carry a little tiny knife that weighs a few ounces.
Get a smaller, lighter pack. The 2007 version weighs six and a half pounds. Consider something smaller (so you are forced to carry less) and lighter. ULA-Equipment makes great packs that are rugged and light.
What is your sleeping shelter?
Put on your rain gear and go fishing. It can be great on days like today. Changing weather can put fish down, but it seems like they hit just fine on days like today.
The first place to start is to look at your shelter and sleeping pad. There is often room to cut a fair amount there. What are you using? What clothes are you bringing? What do you use for cookware? How much does your pack weigh? Do you use a bunch of heavy stuffsacks that can be eliminated or replaced with silnylon versions? What luxuries do you carry? I guess we ought to look at a pack list with weights and see what we can cut out.
