Fish rap: August is for exploring the high country

By Roger Phillips - rphillips@idahostatesman.com

Published: 08/07/08


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The dog days of summer have arrived. The low-elevation reservoirs are the temperature of bath water and trout in the local rivers have seen more flies than a feed lot.

There's still prime fishing in the high country. Most anglers have their favorite spots, those gorgeous places they return to once or twice a summer. They're fun and reliable, but there's a lot more out there.

Idaho's backcountry has thousands of lakes, and most of them have trout. Grab a map and spread it across your table at home. Look for clusters of lakes and plot your strategy.

Some people get the wrong impression it takes a long, steep hike to reach them. There are lots of mountain lakes you can drive to, or that require only a short hike. There are others that you can reach with a motorcycle or ATV, just make sure it's allowed and you stay on trails.

Same goes for mountain bikes. You can cover a lot of ground on one and a lot more quickly than you can hike it. Be creative and don't be afraid to take a gamble on finding a new spot.

If you have the energy to pack in a float tube, go for it, but don't think it's required. You can catch a lot of fish from shore. Take a few of your favorite flies or lures or bring your favorite bait. If you want to catch a ridiculous number of fish, find a lake with brook trout.

Mountain lakes fishing is about more than hooking a fish. It's about enjoying the tranquility of the mountains and discovering new places.

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