Brookies generally don’t get all that big in the Uinta
Mountains or in most mountain waterways.
Now and again you stumble into an area that where you start off by
catching a few small brook trout and then… Whammo! You rip into the lips of a trophy
brookie that takes you for a ride! This lake is definitely one of those areas
where, on the right day, you can catch a lot of good cutthroats and brookies
and now and again hook into one that goes into the 4-5 pound range. Brookies have always been one of my favorites
to fish for. Generally, they are much
more aggressive than other trout, will hit almost anything you throw at them,
and put up a strong fight. Pound for
pound they are among the strongest of the trout and char varieties and among
the tastiest as well. 
Island Lake is nestled just beneath the rocky peaks of the western
Uinta Mountains. It’s not a very popular destination and it requires a good
amount of hiking on less than well-traveled rocky trails. The hike isn’t terribly aggressive in terms
of vertical ascent but it is a solid six or seven mile jaunt. The trail is poorly marked and dead fall occasionally blocks it all together. A few areas will test your scouting skills and may present difficulties
in choosing the right path to follow. I’ve
hiked in and out of this lake in a single day with a few hours of fishing in between.
If you plan on the same trip you better be prepared for a full day and have
flashlights with you just in case you fish longer than planned and end up
hiking a few miles in the dark.
The trail usually is muddy and even into late June and July
you can run into a few deep snow drifts. Good water proof hiking boots are a
must. Horses will certainly do well on this trail but be aware of the bogs and
swampy areas where elevated platforms have been built up for hikers.
Flies work well on this lake and so do gold and black
panther martins, red and white Daredevils, the frog patterned Daredevils, and
gold, hammered brass Krocodiles. Don’t be afraid to let your spoons sink to the
bottom and jig them back slowly. Often the large brookies will follow your gear
in right to shore and strike just a few feet away. In doing so you will occasionally snag into sunken logs and hook up on rocks but the risk is worth the reward...
