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“Forgot to cover the Burnboot Creek route. Yes, people have gone that route, but, usually, only once. I never took that route because I heard so many stories about the notorius brush jungles. – mossback”
“In late 60's and 70's, I went to Alaska Lake more easily than to Joe Lake. Unless things have changed a lot, the “trail” turnoff from Gold Creek should be relatively obvious; the route going up the hill is in an old creek channel; you climb up through rocky stuff, but it isn't dangerous. When you get up to relatively open area, you start angling left. You enter timber hat takes you to Alaska Lake. ^^^^Remember, I'm talking years ago. I suspect most people take the PCT, then drop down to Alaska Lake.^^^^Must have been sometime in late 60's, I'm at Alaska L. with son and friend of his. I'm standing near outlet when I see two young women coming toward me –in bathing suits!! They get to me, and ask “Is this Joe Lake.” They had come up through the creek bed and through brush in their bathing suits. I was flabbergasted. They also wanted to know where the mines were; I told them, in general, but said they didn't dare go to the mines in bathing suits–too brushy. – mossback”
“Before PCT, one had three options:^^1 Go past Red Mtn cross country to cliff above Alaska, cross dangerous, cliffy spot, then up through Bumblebee pass to lake^^2 Go to Alaska Lake, go around right side (preferable, although left side easier, but have to cross dangerous, cliffy spot) up to Bumblebee pass to lake^^3 Go to Joe Lake, up to pass, down rockslide to lake (generally speaking, longer but easiest route before PCT)- mossback”
“Did you go over Bubmblebee Pass? Trail to the lake now? Stay at the outlet? (best campsite)^^^^The fish in that lake are tempermental. You can fish, say, an evening, and swear no fish are in the lake. The next morning you can catch more than one–not necessarily hot fishing, but can be OK. No particular time for best fishing. Best time is when they are in mood to feed.^^^^Relocation of Crest trail had bad impact on Edd's. Used to be NO trail of any kind. Within 5 years after trail was put in, was a trail from saddle above Joe down to lake. Last time I was there, still no trail from Bumblebee Pass down to lake. – mossback”
“Thanks for posting the link. Forest Service denial of CnR fishing didn't/doesn't surprise me. However, details about the research that presumably is going on should be made available, not used as (an excuse?) (reason?) to deny fishing. ^^^^I assume you realize that the Forest Service is getting more pressure to reduce fishing opportunities in mountain lakes that to increase fishing opportunities. – mossback”
“One last message, and I shut up . . . I subscribe to Montana Outdoors, and to BC Outdoors Sport Fishing. Both magazines offer similar tips; thus, excerpts from BC article should be OK…..^^^^Ice auger drills holes quickly and with ease. General guideline calls for 10 centimeters of ice to hold a person…and 30 centimeters for a vehicle. (Personally, I wouldn't be comfortable walking on ice on large lake–e.g., Isabel, Dorothy, etc. that was less than 30 centimeters–about 12 inches thick.) Beware of rotten ice–old ice that has had a chance to deteriorate or thaw and refreeze. WHERE TO FISH: In early winter, under first ice, RB and BT in smaller lakes are noted for hanging out in shallows in search of feed. Fishing the shoreline with worms or salmon eggs is the way to go. As ice thickens, fish are forced into deeper realms. Larger trout are roamers, and in bigger lakes can be found in middle depths in earlier parts of season, moving down as ice grows thicker. Tried and true technique: With baited hook, drop sinkered line to bottom. Wind in to desired starting depth. Plant twig, rod or tip-up firmly in snow with tip centered directly over hole so line is not rubbing on the ice. If no bites at expected depth, try lowering or raising line. Jigging is the most productive method of catching big fish under the ice. Any spoon that can be worked to resemble lively minnow action is ideal for jigging. OK, have at it. Good luck. – Oldtimer”
“I'm no expert on ice fishing for trout, but yes, I believe you will find “active” trout in large lakes. That doesn't mean you won't find active trout in small lakes, but I believe you are more likely to find trout in “poikilothermic” condition–meaning (I think) they become less and less active as more and more water in a small lake becomes ice (and snow gets deeper on top of the ice). Assuming that premise is correct, I believe you will find “active” trout in small lakes *if* the lake has springs in it, or if the lake has an inlet flow large enough to keep the water reasonably moving and oxygenated.^^^^Re-reading your 1st paragraph, brownster 145, I think we are saying pretty close to same thing, just with different words.^^^^As to wwarner's explanation being science (scientific), I consider it being an anecdotal theory. That does NOT mean I consider it hogwash. I do think it might be possible. I've read about a couple incidents where a child was submerged for more than enough minutes to die, and didn't; or where someone was subjected to cold temperature for hours (days?), and survived, etc. How do you explain that India person who was submerged (fetal position) in a glass “box” filled with water for (I can't remember how long, but it was) hours, and came out breathing (alive!)?^^^^If you haven't ice fished on a large lake, be prepared ^^to (a) hear ice creaking or cracking at times (temperature changes affect ice pressure), and (b) see “cracks” sporadically. Con Mattson (has bio link) and I fished Banks lake several years (for perch). Watching ice cracking got my attention, even though I knew it was more than 3 feet thick. That's my round-a-bout way of saying being a little nervous is your first step to be safe. – mossback”
“I see I forgot to include the punch line for Lavoie Lake in Nulki Lake, B.C. area. During the good fishing years, getting to the lake was REALLY tough, even with 4WD, but it could be done–carefully. Unfortunately, that also allowed locals to use snowmobiles to get to the lake during winter. In less than 10 years, they ice fished the lake population into mediocrity. 🙁 – mossback”
“This is a long one – I posted wwarner's 10/24 message on Trail Blazer e mail group list. Here are excerpts from replies…^^^^[fisheries biologist]Like all poikilotherms (gotta use that expensive degree every so often), they simply get, as Jamie said, more and more lethargic.^^Respiration and activity rates drop to very, very low levels. This is similar to hibernation in those respects, so I suppose for the lay person^^it's close enough.^^^^But think about it. We've all caught or seen fish very strong and active in very cold water. Take your basic native char in icy headwater streams like the Sauk. But, a lake that has a lid of snow and ice is probably on the order of 35 degrees F near the bottom, unless influenced by springs or snowmelt coming in under the edge of the lid. The guy who “exhumed” the fish found it in water that was obviously NEAR freezing. We all know fish^^can survive in streams with anchor ice. But, this is definately at their edge. Even “coldwater” fish suffer physiological damage, even death when they are forced to be exposed to 32 F or below. ^^^^[Trail Blazer] – I used to catch trout in the Clark Fork River in Montana when I was a boy. We would fish through the ice for white fish but also caught some rainbow trout. I also caught trout in Washington from Fish Lake through the ice. One time I was trying to catch some perch in Fish Lake but couldn't get the bait down to them because the trout would grab it on the way down. I got tired of releasing the trout so I packed up and went back home.^^^^[Trail Blazer]- A lake we go to in B.C. each summer, Charlotte Lake near Nimpo . . . west of Williams Lake . . . freezes over during the winter. The lake is at about 4,600 feet. The locals go ice fishing and catch RB up to 10 lbs . . . or so they tell us.^^^^[Me, Mossback] – I forgot about citing any lakes in B.C. ^^^^When Con Mattson, Gene Rose, Bruce Tanggard, Jack Pfister, etc., and I used to go to Nulki Lake (and later to Tachick Lake), some of us also hit backcountry lakes while there. One of the best used to be Lavoie (about 3,300 feet elevation). It had fish up to about 10 lb, too, for awhile. [Snip–I just snipped about 400 words. I had included too many interesting activities that happened in that area, including a woman who repelled a grizzly with an umbrella, but that's something for another time.]^^^^Has anyone tried to ice fish on Lake Isabel? It is 2800 feet elevation, about 180 feet deep, and ices over during winter. I used to visit it about every year over Memorial Day week end. It was my “gauge” of what to expect in that area's mountain lakes during summer. Probably 4 of every 5 years, the lake was partially or completely frozen over. At “big rock point” (near the east-side camping area) one year, ice was gone, and I saw Lake Trout cruising by the point no more than 4 feet under the surface. – Virg^^^^P.S. Tanggard said he ice fished Lake 22 and Annette Lake. He said essentially the same thing that was in the attachment I posted. He said the fish were in such a hibernated or lethargic state they wouldn't even move toward a lure. (A biography for Con Mattson and for Gene Rose is in Biographies link) – Mossback”
Atlin is interesting looking area. You and your dad know how to find them!! I caught my Northern Pike (in B.C.) at almost the opposite side: Charlie Lake, just north of Ft. St. John. They were minnows, however, compared to what you and your dad caught. About how much does a 37″ NP weigh?
When we are together sometime, I’ll tell you about how I caught a 12-lb Northern Pike on a safety pin (at lake in Minnesota). Interesting experience
. I found fireline so limp it was hard to keep it from mouse-nesting (no big ones, like rats). And, like Sooperfly says, it doesn’t seem to last very long. I don’t use it any more.
I think I bought it several years ago at Cabela’s, Brian. At the moment, I only have the hunting catalog; sorry.
Be careful about wrapping that line around bare finger or arm. You will bleed before it breaks!
P.S. How far north? I watched 10 lb RB SE of Merritt starting two week ago.
“The only Trail Blazers I know (including me) who fish/ed for salmon were on saltwater–Ilwaco, Westport, Neah Bay, Sekiu, Port Angeles, Point no point, Possession, etc. Maybe someone is holding out on telling stories, but I doubt it. Several steelheaders, though.”
“You beat me to it, Dave. I was going to mention Lime Ridge. Nothing to brag about on the fishing side, but nice scenery and not hard to do. It also is among my favorites because Con Mattson and I made what I call the North Trip (to Box Mtn Lk to Twin Lks to Milk Creek and out) and South Trip (up Milk Creek to Mica Lk to Twin Lks to Milk Creek and out). Trail Blazers who have been around awhile will understand why I enjoyed those trips–with Con. On the South Trip, I took 8 oz of Black Jack so I could share some with Con; Got to one of the Trail Blazer Lakes, dug out my cache, and Con dug out his cache, 8 oz. We had a VERY enjoyable evening. Chikamin was worth the trip, too.”
