Jigging for Browns at Fontenelle!

A few weeks ago I was fishing with a friend and I got completely humbled! I can usually pull my weight and then some when it comes to catching the numbers and quality fish but on that day I got beat on pretty much every level. I watched him closely and quickly picked up on his strategy.  He introduced to me a new way of fishing with jigs that I had honestly not considered.  Typically when fishing with jigs I would simply cast them AFAP (as far as possible), leave my bail open and allow them to sink straight down to the bottom. I would usually employ a fast and aggressive retrieve, jigging hard and allowing a brief pause while reeling in the slack.  Jeremy taught me a new technique: begin a slow retrieve immediately after the jig hits the water, use quick but very short switches of the rod only a few times per cast, be prepared for very soft hits and set the hook hard  If I hadn’t personally seen him tear into two great rainbows on the first and second casts, I wouldn’t have adjusted my fishing strategy.  

A few weeks later I was back to the same reservoir where Jeremy and I fished but in a slightly different area. I was accompanied by Shaun and Jason (aka Boogs) Harris, who are always great company and fun to fish with!  I went with a 3/8 oz.  black jig and followed the technique I just described.  The water was very murky and most of the fish were in the upper column of water. We started catching great fish like these right away and within a short time we had hooked into six browns.  Had Jason not decided to take a nosedive off the ice sheet and into the icy water we may have been able to catch a few more! All things considered, it was another awesome day on the water!

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...