Beat the Heat, Hike and Fish Utah's High Mountains
Whiskey Island Lake in the Uintas, by Dave Webb |
We are now moving into the hottest part
of summer but you don't have to simply endure the heat. Temperatures
are much cooler in Utah's high mountains. Even in southern Utah,
where red rock desert is the norm, there are cool mountains where you
will find spectacular timber, alpine meadows, cascading streams and
picture-perfect lakes.
The High
Uintas and Boulder
Mountain are famous destinations for hiking/backpacking and
horsepacking in wilderness settings. But there are plenty of other
high mountain areas that provide great summer escapes. Some of my
favorites that are not as well know include:
- La Sal Mountains east of Moab
- Pine Valley Mountains northeast of St. George
- Cedar Mountain east of Cedar City
- Skyline Drive through Central Utah
- Deep Creek Mountains in our West Desert
- Tushar Mountains in Central Utah
- Monte Cristo Range near Logan
- Book Cliffs southwest of Price
Utah's Division of Wildlife Resources
has this
great information about fishing the High Uintas and Boulder
Mountain. Below are excerpts.
(DWR's Paul)
Birdsey says trout feed actively when the water temperature is
between 55 and 65 degrees. "Fifty five to 65 degrees is the
ideal water temperature for trout," he says. "And,
fortunately, that's the temperature high-elevation lakes in Utah stay
at throughout the summer. That's the main reason they're such great
places to fish."
While
high-elevation waters throughout Utah provide quality fishing in the
summer, the Uinta Mountains and the Boulder Mountains should top your
list of places to visit.
If you're willing
to "travel off the beaten path," a unique experience is
waiting for you. In 2012, the DWR started stocking golden trout in
the Uintas.
"These fish,
native to California, are some of the most colorful of all trout,"
Birdsey says. "Starting in 2012, they were reintroduced to
several lakes in the Uintas."
While you won't
catch a fish that's trophy-sized, you will have a chance to catch one
of the most unique fish in the state. You can see where golden trout
have been stocked by visiting the DWR's online stocking report.
Birdsey says
brook, cutthroat and tiger trout are the trout you'll usually find on
the Uintas and the Boulders. "All of these species are more
aggressive than the rainbow trout most anglers are used to catching,"
he says. "A lure that flashes quickly through the water — like
a spinner — is something brooks, cutthroats and tigers will go
after."
In the High Uintas it often rains for
brief periods every days, and it can snow any day of the year. When
you go, go prepared.
-- Dave Webb
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