Fishing a backcountry lake is one of the most unique experiences one can have in fly fishing. The time and effort that goes into these trips is often worth the solitude and beautiful views.
My fiance and I went on our first summer hike to an alpine lake this July. It was an adventure that inspired me to recap our trip and what goes into fishing the backcountry.
A backcountry fishing trip starts before leaving the house, sometimes weeks before. While many alpine lakes are scattered throughout the Yellowstone region, sorting through them to find potential fishing opportunities and a trip that matches your experience level is a chore. As a fly fisherman planning a backcountry trip, I weigh the potential for good fishing with how difficult the fishery is to access. Many lakes do not have fish populations, while others may be too difficult to access for our experience level.
I spent a few hours searching the internet and reading through books before deciding on the location for this weekend’s adventure. This lake had a moderate hike with the potential for big cutthroat and offered beautiful camping in the surrounding area. We planned to drive up on Saturday and camp in a dispersed camping site, hiking to the lake on Sunday.
Traveling to an alpine lake trailhead can be an adventure in itself. When I saw that we had to drive 16 miles up a dirt road to get to the trailhead, I knew a few miles would be on a rough road. The roads to these trailheads are full of potholes, boulders, and creek beds that often require a high-clearance vehicle, though I have seen some brave drivers in questionable cars at the end of these roads.
This road was no different, getting worse as we approached the trailhead. I had just got a patch in my worn-out tires a few days before this trip, so it wasn’t the smartest thing to be driving down a boulder-filled road. Though I’m still young (dumb), and wouldn’t let that hold me back from a weekend in the mountains.
It hurt to see multiple cars at the trailhead upon arrival at 8:00 a.m. Any worthy fishing spot within two hours of Bozeman has been discovered to a certain degree. However, I’ve learned that many people hike up to these lakes and do not fish or do very little fishing. So, I have grown less apprehensive when I come across other cars at trailheads of alpine lakes.
Most alpine lakes require a hike, whether a short walk or a long, steep climb. With many outstanding drive-to fisheries in the region, most anglers are unwilling to put a few miles on a trail to catch fish. Combining a few miles of hiking with rough roads makes these backcountry destinations much less pressured than many fisheries in the region. It still reigns true that the harder a fishery is to access, the less fishing pressure it will experience.
We hiked to the lake for about four miles, gaining 1300 feet in elevation. This trip was our first decent hike of the season, and as relatively inexperienced backpackers, we did okay on the way up. I love trips like this as they combine my top three priorities in my life: family, health, and fishing. Training for and completing these trips is an excellent way to stay in shape and live a healthy lifestyle.
The climb took us about two hours, and we stood on the lake’s shoreline, admiring the crystal-clear water with the snowy mountain backdrop. These fisheries often possess some of the most beautiful views I have experienced while fishing, making the hike worth it regardless of the fishing.
Fishing on these mountain lakes can be hit and miss. Some lakes provide the finest and easiest fishing you will experience in the summer, with trout willing to eat any fly you cast at them. A 50-fish day is a real possibility on some backcountry lakes. However, many lakes can be temperamental, making it more challenging to catch fish than anticipated. This is often the case for lakes that grow larger fish as they have enough food that the trout are not as opportunistic to feed.
This lake was one of the difficult ones, growing surprisingly large trout. I immediately saw fish as I started fishing, but they were picky. It took me more than two hours to crack the code and fool my only fish of the day. I used a dry dropper, with a beautiful Westslope Cutthroat eating the pheasant tail in shallow water. Some days, one fish is all it takes. The fish in alpine lakes are usually native species and have stunning colors.
We proceeded to hike down in the rain as a summer thunderstorm rolled over the mountain peaks. These storms are often short-lived but come out of nowhere. No matter the time of year, I recommend packing a rain jacket, as it can turn cold faster than you imagine.
It was a memorable start to the summer season and reminded me how much I love backcountry lake fishing. These trips may take more effort to plan and may be challenging to get to, but the fun is in the adventure. Backcountry lake fishing includes hours of research, rough roads, miles of hiking, temperamental fishing, and inclement weather. However, it offers a solitary experience in a beautiful place where the potential for fantastic fishing is just a bonus. I highly recommend you plan an alpine lake fishing trip before the snow flies this fall.
Please get in touch with me if you have any questions about how I plan these trips or what gear I bring along. I am happy to share what I know and learn more about the backcountry.
