BLUE / ELBOW / DOREEN / SLIDE / ASHLAND / BOARDMAN LAKES / INDEPENDENCE / COAL LAKES

7/17/2006
        
Blue Lake W/Martin.  Packed float tube.  Trail mostly clear of snow, just a few short areas of snow easily crossed.  Lake still covered with ice/snow.  Didn't fish.  Went on to South Fork Nooksak, Pioneer Camp Area caught a couple of 8" Rainbows, Bridge area Martin got 3.  NOTE:  river is closed July-October.   

10/6/2006  w/Martin
Blue Lake.  Morning.  Chilly and overcast.  Fog blew in around noon.  Water 50°.  Very few fish seen on surface.  Carried float tubes in.  No strikes.  Beautiful colors.  Nice hike.  Ate lunch 1300 and decided to go on  up to Elbow Lake. Hiked to Doreen and Elbow Lakes.  About 30 minute.  Didn't carry float tubes but did take rods.  Walked to end of Elbow Lake but saw no activity.  Several fish rising in Doreen so fished far side and caught several pretty 7 to 8" Rainbow.  Fished about an hour and a half.











10/8/2006  w/Martin
Hiked with float tubes to Elbow Lake.  Fished from about 1100 to 1500.  Water 48°.  Very calm most of day, overcast and cool, air about 60°.  Occasional fish seen rising.  Each of us caught quite a few 7-9", several 9-11", and I got two very nice 13" Rainbows.  All fat and healthy.  Most fish caught at far end of lake.  Martin did well casting along shore.  I got most and biggest in mid lake near far end.  Black Muddler, white wing wet fly, Brown Carey Special, Royal Humpy dry, Royal Coachman dry all worked well, all on dry line. 
About 1500 cleaned fish and then walked over to Doreen Lake.  Martin caught several more fish, including one nice RB 11" fishing from tube.  I just walked along far shore and got a couple using a Royal Coachman dry.

10/21/2006 w/Martin
Hiked with float tubes.  Fished from 1100 til 1500.  First two hours very slow - I got only one fish.  Then picked up after lunch.  Got some very nice RB along shore just north of launching spot.  Several  11-13" Cutthroat on variety of dry and nyphs.  Good day.  Both of us brought 5 nice fish home for dinners.  Fished Doreen about half an hour or so on way out from shore.  Got a couple of small RB.


8/31/2007 w/Martin

Fished Elbow Lake from 1100 til 1530.  Cloudy til after lunch about 1300, then light rain and breezy rest of afternoon.   Both caught quite a few fish before lunch, mostly on drys.  Fish were larger than last year, almost all in 12 - 13 inch range.  After lunch fishing was very slow with rain and breeze.


8/14/2008  w/Matin
  
Slide Lake.  About 45 minute hike from trailhead.  Packed in float tubes.  I used pack frame to carry mine.  Fished from about 1030 til 1530.  Caught many 7" to 12" Cutthroat on drys, streamers, etc.  Most caught along north side and south side toward west end.  Beautiful day, lots of fish.

6/20/2009        Ashland Lakes w/Martin

Hiked to Lower Ashland Lake, about 2 hours.  Good trail, lots of plank sections.  Cool overcast day.  Caught quite a few Cuthroat and Brook Trout 10-12", largest 14".  Beautiful fish.  Used small streamers and various drys.  Caught most fish from 1100 to 1330.  After lunch fish went to sleep. 

Free counters provided by Andale.
We did not fish Upper Ashland Lake.
Lower Ashland Lake
6/26/2009   Boardman Lake w/Martin

Hiked about 1 hour to Boardman Lake.  Very good trail.  Cool cloudy day.  Caught quite a few 8-11" Brook Trout.  All fish were quite thin.  Occasional surface feeding action.  Got most fish on #12 Elk Caddis.  Fish would hit surface fly even when no surface feeding was visible. 
7/03/2009  Independence and Coal Lakes w/ Martin

Hiked about 30 minutes to Independence Lake.  Several areas of snow at shores of lake, water quite cold.  Fished from about 0900 to 09045 with no sign of fish - water too cold, no fish???  Hiked back down and went to Coal Lake.  Fished 1100 to 1400.  Got quite a few 6-7" RB and 7 - 9" Brook Trout.  Brook Trout had dramatic bright red color along entire belly lengty.  Two beautiful lakes, beautiful hikes.
INDEPENDENCE LAKE
COAL LAKE
10/30/2009  Elbow Lake w/ Martin

The road is now closed at Pioneer Camp so we hiked the trail from there, about 4 1/2 miles from Pioneer Camp to upper end of Elbow Lake.  It is VERY steep between Pioneer Camp and the junction with the other trail above the old parking area.  Shortly after crossing Bell Creek the trail switchbacks directly up the contours gaining 1000+ feet in about a mile distance.  2+30 up, 2+20 down.  Go very slow, it's a long climb up and a long climb down.  It's a worthwhile hike, though, through beautiful forest the entire route.

Fished from 1300 to 1530.  Got quite a few nice Cutthroat and RB.  Most 11-13", a few larger.  Fish noticeably larger and fatter than previous years.   Hard muscles are evident when holding the fish.  Must be a good year for them.
Bridge about ¼ mile from Pioneer Camp.  Trail splits here, take right fork across bridge.  My pack with float tube, fins, waders, and gear weighs 28 pounds.
Creek just before joining the trail to the old parking area.  About 2 hours from Pioneer Camp.  This is a nice stop to rest, wash off with cold water, and get a drink.
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