Living the high life: Backpack to fantastic fishing in Idaho’s alpine wilderness
Huffing and puffing, my friend Clayton and I crested the saddle we had been climbing for nearly three hours. After gaining 1,800 feet of elevation, we finally laid eyes on our backpacking destination: a gem of an alpine lake nestled deep in the granite peaks of the Idaho backcountry.
Thoughts of heavy packs and tired legs instantly vanished into the thin mountain air as we scrambled down to the lake. Dark clouds were gathering overhead, so we took refuge in a cave and kept our gear dry during a 30-minute downpour. It was a serendipitous start to the weekend!
Every time I visit a high mountain lake, I’m reminded of how happy I am these places exist. It takes real planning, preparation and effort to reach most alpine lakes, but I’ve never been to one that wasn’t worth the trip. This particular lake featured aquamarine water, stunning views and a perfect campsite right on the shoreline. Once our camp was made, my top priority was inflating my float tube and catching dinner.
For me, float tubes are a must at alpine lakes. On top of their practical advantages, immersing yourself in a pristine mountain setting is a one-of-a-kind fishing experience. As I began my lap around the lake, it became clear this wasn’t one of those alpine fisheries where you catch a ravenous trout on every cast. I was fine with that — lakes with lighter densities usually hold better quality fish.
Sure enough, after catching a handful of smallish westslope cutthroats, a bigger trout demolished my spinner and bent my ultralight rod with force. I eventually brought a 15-inch cutthroat to the net. A perfect keeper for the campfire!
The rest of my afternoon unfolded in similar fashion. The fishing wasn’t easy, but some tried-and-true tricks helped me land 16 trout, including three nice keepers. My favorite catch was a chunky cutthroat that hit my Rapala so hard, it nearly pulled the rod out of my hand. What a thrill!
After a dinner of lemon pepper campfire trout, Clayton and I enjoyed the campfire and admired the breathtaking brightness of the stars on a cloudless night. A perfect Day One was in the books!
Early the next morning, we woke to an unmistakable sound — our buddy Randal belting out a spot-on Tusken Raider war cry that echoed off the peaks. We hollered in response, thrilled the other half of our party had found its way to the lake. Randal and Travis got off to a late start, took a wrong turn in the dark, camped along the trail atop the ridge and had to do some intense scrambling to make it down. But by mid-morning, they joined us in camp.
Saturday brought a little of everything for our four-man crew. We enjoyed hours of bluebird weather interrupted occasionally by pesky wind and, once, by an unexpected rain and hail storm. We ate ramen around the fire; took a refreshing swim in the 60-degree water; and hiked around the backside of the lake to toss rocks and take in the scenery.
In the afternoon, a float tube regatta set out to catch dinner. It took us a couple hours to land four nice keepers, but it was enjoyable work. As I kicked back to shore, I was stuck on 16 fish — the exact number I’d caught the day before. Less than 50 yards from camp, the biggest trout of the trip crushed my Rapala and took me on a tugboat ride. After hefting him into the net, I took a moment to admire his dramatic pink hues and bright orange “throat slash” patterns. This was, in many ways, a perfect alpine trout — certainly an ideal one to end the trip on. I happily released the fish and watched him swim back to the sapphire depths he calls home.
Once again, adventuring to an alpine lake had left me utterly contented. Nothing recharges your soul like spending 48 hours surrounded by your best friends and Idaho’s immaculate beauty. I miss it already, but rest assured, we are already planning next year’s trip. Tight lines!
Jordan Rodriguez has been fishing Idaho waters since he was a teen. Share your fish stories, adventures and questions with him at tightlinesboise@gmail.com, or visit www.tightlines208.com for the latest local fishing reports and upcoming class offerings.
This story was originally published August 28, 2023 at 4:00 AM.