Big Brook Trout in the Uinta Mountains

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...