Lake Alturas Adventure

Utah Fishing Reports & Discussion Utah Fishing General
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I know - it’s in Idaho, and this is the Utah forum, but I’m from Utah, so - I’ll share. I finally hooked into some fish! So stories to tell.

Took the kids up to summer camp by Lake Alturas - between Ketchup(m) and Stanley Idaho. Camped at the inlet campground for the week. Hit some hot springs, hikes, and of course - fishing! Had heard the inlet was a good spot, and proved to be true.
Caught a fair variety of fish - rainbows, first Bull Trout (C&R required), Brookies, Cutties, SquawFish, and a sucker - which I tried as bait.

Tried a variety of lures, spinners. But the big winners seemed to be worms, and especially salmon eggs, or gulp baits that looked like eggs.

Tried my waders for the first time, and even flung a fly. Weather was great - cold at night, usual after noon thunder bumpers - some big rains, and hail. Some exciting lightning shows.

I’ll break this up into a couple posts so I don’t overwhelm with photos. But I’ve got a few to share…

First day at the inlet a young angler from Poke pulled in what had to be a 4 lb bull. I had the chance to handle it, and snapped a couple photos as he pulled it in. Nicely played! I know I hooked into some bigger ones than I landed - need to learn to play 'em more!

Also my first evening’s catch, and some of the other campers enjoying sunset at the inlet.

NOTE: It has been determined that Bull trout should not be lifted out of water, at all. Not to measure, not to photograph, not to remove a hook. They are endangered and should be kept in the water to ensure safe release.

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Part2:
After soaking in some hot-springs, took a hike up from RedFish Lake along the FishHookCreek Trail. Views were awesome. Didn’t take a rod along, but sure would have been some nice fly-fishing along the river, and around the beaver dams. Probably lots of little Brookies. REALLY clear water. Big deep pool below the beaver dam.

I took a Panoramic that I’m gonna have to get a nice poster-print of. Maybe even on that canvas style print.

So - some “non-fish” photos.

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what makes this post so bad ass is the fact that you are wearing a Cubs hat, good on ya!

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Part3:
Drove/Hiked up to 4th of July Lake in the White Cloud mountains (other side of the snake). Packed my waders, fly gear, and some select spinning tackle. The road in was a burn area, with some interesting looking charred trees bent in all kinds of directions. The lake was very picturesque. Got lots and lots of bites up there - from the swarms of mosquitoes! Group of fellas camping there - don’t know how they could stand it!

I put on the waders, and tried stepping into the lake - gush gush muddy bottom, sink holes - uh, no thanks. Needed a float tube for that water! So fished the shore. The campers were doing well with flies, so I flung some skeeter patterns, but after a stretch went back to my more familiar spinning gear. Worked around the lake, swathed on the skeeter goo - but they’d find anywhere, fingers, back of the hand - ugh. I HATE it when they fly in your ears or eyes!

Lots of risers and more as dusk approached. Found a big hole with a couple logs across that was “owned” by a group of big cutthrouts. I threw everything in the tackle box at them. Spinners, minnow patterns, swimbaits - got a few follows, nothing more.
Finally resorted to a single small salmon egg on a small hook. WHAM! He jumped it!
Again - drives me nuts - spend all this dough on flashy shiny colorful lures, and the simple bait does the job!

A nice native CutThroat. Wish I’d got a better shot of his red-neck. Pretty fish! Good break from all the planter-bows. Made the hike a winner!
Then as the thunder cracked, and lightning flashed - I decided it was time to step OUT of the water, and put down my graphite lightning rod. And as the rain’s chased me away from the lake, I hiked back to the trailhead rather than the extra two miles up to the next lake.

Late start - that’s what I get for spending the morning limiting out at the inlet. Made up some crunchy bkfast fillets. Cornmeal stuffing on seasoned fillets - cooked over a fire. Ah yes.

The rain pounded pretty good, and turned the trails to rivers. Then came the hail - ah, good times. At least I’d had me fish 'venture!

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Ok, last part.
Back to Alturas, more sunsets and inlet fishing. Got dumped on pretty good the last two nights, but the fish didn’t seem to mind.

The cub’s hat isn’t actually mine. I’m in the straw hat or black hat mostly- though I am a die-hard cubs fan. Grew up in the windy city many moons ago. Guess I have a thing for teams that NEVER win championships. Now I’m a Jazz Fan!

NOTE: Per request - post edited, photos removed.

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Excellent.

Great pics!

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Great report!! Love that area!

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That one bull trout is huge! I don’t know anything about them, do they fight good? Why don’t we have them in Utah?

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The do live up to their name. This fella - Tanner - had a good hand and letting off the drag, giving them a run. He worked 'em pretty good!
He could tell when they hit if they were a bull or not. Most of the planter-bows are pretty cooperative about coming to shore, and smaller mostly.

I hooked into something that just did not budge. And it was not a snag - but it just held ground and - - - then it was gone! :angry: Still had my hook - I’d guess it just ripped right out. Shoulda let the drag off and “enjoyed the ride”. I’ll learn someday!
The squaw fish were pretty energetic too.

I don’t really know the history on the Bull trout - but they make a big deal of them up there. I gather they are a native species. EVERY where you come to water there are signs showing how to identify them, and warning that they MUST be released. From what I hear folks question whether they still need protection. From what I saw of them - I wonder too.

I didn’t mention the fish-hatchery, but it’s a good stop to make. Free - my favorite price! And seeing 30-50 Lb Chinook right up close - all battle scarred and colored up - that’s a sight!

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I entered information on this on the Idaho site at some point but can’t seem to find it.

“Bull Trout” are actually a cousin of the Dolley Varden, which are a Char sub species. They were once all referred to as Dolley Varden even in Idaho. But when the need to protect the southern strain became necessary the EPA designated the Idaho, and Eastern Oregon/Washington strain by a local name “Bull Trout”. They are a diadromous fish, like steelhead and salmon. However, like steelhead a Bull Trout/ Dolley Varden can go back and forth from salt water to fresh water multiple times. They do spawn in the fresh water, and in fact the Idaho Bull Trout are not very successful at making it back out to the ocean after their first return to fresh water. They get stuck in the lakes, and reservoirs on the return trip.

So those very large Bull Trout simply go back and forth from reservoirs, to streams and upper lakes as well. Fish don’t make it back down the ladders they climbed up to get past the dams.

Utah doesn’t have them because none of our rivers make it to the ocean.

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Awesome trip!! I go up in the spring to that area and fish the Salmon river for Steelhead. But I keep hearing I need to go in the summer and fish the Red Lake, and 4th ofJuly Lake area as well.

Your report and photos have convinced me, I need to make that trip!!

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Bull Trout in Idaho never go out to the ocean, they spawn in streams and rivers. In fact I’m pretty sure that’s the main difference between Bull Trout and Dolly Varden, the Dollies are sea-run.

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I went to camp Perkins when I was a kid. We used to canoe up to lake Alturas. Man, I’ve been dreaming about getting back to that place for the last 20 years. Too bad I live in Chicago now. Planning on heading out west in the near future. I’ve got to make the trip up there! Great post! That is one of the most beautiful areas in the country.

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You might be right on that. I neverhave seen an literature that confirms if this is true or not. But I did find articles from the EPA that stated they were spliting the “southern Bull Trout Subspecies” in order to protect it. You can keep Dollie Varden in AK. But unless you smoke them, they aren’t really worth eating.

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Awesome - thanks folks for filling us in on the whole Bull-Trout-Business. Answers one question - a fella was drooling over one he caught - and just stared at it disappointed he had to let it go, saying “man I’ll bet they taste great” - guess not. Stick with less-filling!

So Dolly Varden go to the sea. Do they get all bumpy when they spawn? Maybe that’s where they get their name - cuz they end up resembling Dolly Parton! haha.

Our Kokanee should be getting ready to spawn. Might expect to see some red already if we can find any and boat em tomorrow! PIG BE KIND!

Heya - if you do come back out from Chicago to visit - bring your Cubs Hat - it’s good luck! You’ll get the Big-Bull!
(now realize I was wearing my black hat probably more than the straw hat…the Jazz hat didn’t make it in any photos)

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Downtown, you are right…that is a distinguishing characteristic between dollies and bulls…

this was some good, short, reading that you guys might find useful…

http://library.fws.gov/Pubs1/bulltrout.pdf

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So Dolly Varden go to the sea. Do they get all bumpy when they spawn? Maybe that’s where they get their name - cuz they end up resembling Dolly Parton! haha.

Dolly Varden is a character in the Charles Dickens’s novel “Barnaby Rudge” and was well known as being quite flirtatious, wearing her flashy attire and colorful dresses–one of which was green with pink polka dots.

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Great post! Very timely too! My family is head that way in a couple of weeks and this is great info for us. Thanks tons for sharing it on the Utah site.

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Ah - so I was close. Thanks for clarifying. A little history, and some literature to boot!

Sounds like some of the dodgers Wiperhunter showed me on Saturday at the Pig. Though they were more white - with various colored polka dots. Though I did throw one that was fluorescent - half green half red, with an eye.

But alas, wasn’t enuf to get the Koke’s to come play. We figured the boyz-n-gals must be moving up toward the river and getting ready to put on their red suits/dresses for the dance. I was pleased to learn I at least have some of the right toyz and colors and methods to find em. Just sometimes they’re not in the mood. The other angler’s we saw floatin’ were having similar results. Spotted up all kinds of schools down low, even some “boils” of little kokes on the surface. Nice morning out though. That’s one pretty lake (and no skiiers!).

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Someone posted this on the Idaho site. It’s Wyoming’s regs on Bull Trout. A little different. Interesting read - catch cards - sounds like hunting.

I know we (I) had some controversy regarding the Idaho regs, and it has been determined - with certainty - that you should NOT lift a Bull Trout out of the water, even briefly.
There is no harvest of Bull trout in Idaho.

You’ll have to go to Wyoming for that. And the good fireworks!