The surface temperatures on the county’s alpine lakes only hit summer normal three or four weeks ago and already they are cooling. In something of a paradox, the warming trend in late July improved the bite, and now cooling in early September is also improving activity by the high lakes trout population.
The instinctive trigger of a cooling surface means the trout are trying to stock up for winter, making them less fussy about either the bait (or fly) and the presentation. As the insect supply dwindles, a hungry trout will strike at almost anything.
If your weekend plans call for an overnight trip to the beauty of the east county’s high lakes, plan to spend a little time exploring for pockets of feeding trout wherever a food resource is likely to collect. On Horseshoe Lake off the 2339 Road, for example, some boaters we contacted had found a spot straight off the campground point and nearly to the far shore where breezes tended to concentrate pre-emergent larvae. The pair took limits of larger, dominant trout in short order while others on the lake were struggling for the odd bite or two all morning.
Anglers at Takhlakh Lake have been scooping up some of those oversized summer plants and taking home fish larger than usual for the highest lakes. There was a plant of something over 300 fish in the 2-pound range, always something of an eye-opener up where the summer average is just large enough for a breakfast skillet.
The number of really big fish taken at Walupt Lake, meanwhile, seems to be down from the average, but there are more fish coming to the net and many of these are larger than the general average from the lake. Plugs and small spoons are connecting in this artificials-only lake, but a large nymph pattern wet fly is the best bet, trolled a full 30-yards behind the boat and pulled a little faster than one might think.
At the lower elevations there is considerable activity at Riffe and Mayfield Lakes, with fishing rated as at least “good” on both lakes. Mayfield will suffer a bit this weekend from Last-Card-Charlies on their jet skies and power boats, but trollers along the shoreline dropoffs should continue to take plenty of fish. Bank anglers on Mayfield continue to score well over by the Mossyrock Hatchery, off the beach at Mayfield Park, and around the Ike Kinswa boat launch, especially on the southern edge of the lower parking area.
The bite is returning at Riffe Lake on both ends, and there is a striking increase in action from the plentiful smallmouth bass. Natural food sources are stressed right now and some bass are being caught on standard bait offerings by anglers seeking landlocked coho and resident trout.
Look for a few surprises in Riffe, where anglers at the Mossyrock side of the dam and in the creek up to the base of Swofford Dam are getting some unusually large silvers.
Late night catfishers are getting some braggin’ size whiskered fish at Swofford Pond, even as the trout fishery seems to be slacking off. The cooling of the surface could restore the trout for a nice fall season, but that depends on a lot of factors. Fortunately, it’s fun to go up and give the pond a couple hours of prospecting, even if the fish don’t cooperate.
If past experience is any indicator, Mineral Lake will produce well for the brief remainder of its short season. Anglers tend to gang up on Mineral during September to skim the cream off a fine crop of rainbows and browns. The season closes there on Sept. 30 — about a month ahead of the rest of the seasonal lakes — and fishing should remain great for both boaters and bank/dock anglers just about every day.
There hasn’t been much change in the bait choices or techniques at Mineral Lake, where a dab of power bait and liquid scent is almost a necessity these days, but the world around the lake is changing by the day.
Even if you forget your fishing rod, a trip to Mineral is worthwhile just for the fall colors, welcome nip in the air, and to watch the eagles and osprey collect their share of the lake’s seasonal largess.
Pack a lunch, your binoculars, and plan to enjoy a day at any one of the fall lakes of Lewis County.
