Mountain lakes require some challenging logistics when you consider the travel and hiking required to access them, and when you arrive, there’s the challenge of catching fish, right?

Fortunately, hardest part of fishing a mountain lake is usually getting to it. The fishing tends to be pretty simple, so don’t overthink it. Remember these fish have a very short growing season, so they tend to be pretty aggressive and active feeders. The fishing pressure at mountain lakes also tends to be light, so the fish aren’t real cagey, and basic trout fishing tackle and tactics are usually all you need to catch them.

But one thing to consider is the best way to get within casting distance of the fish, which depending on the lake, can be a little tricky, and you may get wet. A pair of lightweight quick-drying shorts or pants and some sport sandals can be handy so you can wade the shoreline and get in better position to make a cast.

Bring a hat and polarized sunglasses to help you spot cruising trout and protect your eyes from fishing lures and intense alpine sunlight. Trout in mountain lakes tend to be cruisers looking for a meal, so spotting where trout are holding or cruising can increase your chances of catching them and keep you from wasting time on vacant water. Also remember that trout aren’t equally distributed throughout a lake, but concentrated in certain areas.

Whether you’re a fly angler or use conventional tackle, you don’t need a bunch of specialized tackle, flies, lures or bait for mountain lakes. You have to pack your gear in, so keep it simple, portable and preferably lightweight.

Basic fly fishing setup

Choose a fly rod between 8.5 to 10-feet long with three- to five-weight line, preferably a rod that breaks down to four pieces for easy travel. Longer rods are usually better because they can make longer casts to reach fish and are better for roll-casting when up you’re stuck against brushy shorelines.

Spool your reel with a floating fly line and rig it with a 9- to 12-foot monofilament knotless tapered leader with a 4X or 5X tippet. Trout don’t tend to be line shy, so you can probably get away with a heavier tippet, but the water tends to be clear, so adjust accordingly.

Your kit should include forceps, fly floatant, extra tippet spools, line clippers, and a basic box of flies. Alpine lakes can be great places to catch trout on basic, traditional dry flies such as parachute Adams, black ants, beetles, hoppers or other small attractor flies. Don’t feel like you have to perfectly match a certain hatch. Flies that mimic basic insect shapes and are similar in size to naturals will usually catch fish.

If the trout aren’t taking dry flies try suspending a small bead-head nymph 2 to 3 feet below the surface from a strike indicator, or strip it slowly on a long leader. Common nymphs like the pheasant tail, hare’s ear, prince nymph, zebra midge etc. in sizes 12 to 16 are good choices. Small streamers like woolly buggers in black, brown and olive can also be productive.

Basic spin fishing setup

A spinning rod/reel combo from 5 to 7-feet long with a light or ultra-light action is a good choice. Rods should break down to two to four sections for easy travel so they can be strapped to a backpack. Spool the reel with 4-pound test monofilament line to cover most situations. Using lures is a good way to keep things simple without the need to carry bait. A few casting spoons and spinners in the 1/16 – 1/8 ounce size are a great option. You can also cast flies with a spinning rod by using casting bubble or float and use the same flies mentioned above.

If you prefer to fish bait, bring some barrel swivels, some size 6 to 10 baitholder hooks and a few sliding egg sinkers or split-shot to get your offering on the bottom, or suspend it 2 to 3 feet beneath a bobber. Traditional trout baits work well, such as worms, salmon eggs, etc. But if it’s summer and there are grasshoppers around, they can be great trout bait fished live or dead. A live grasshopper fluttering on the surface can be almost irresistible to a mountain lake trout.

While patience is often a virtue for anglers, don’t wait too long for a fish to bite in a mountain lake. Keep moving around until you start catching fish and concentrate on that area.

Where are the fish?

Trout in alpine lakes are usually on the lookout for food, so finding fish is much easier with a basic understanding of where trout typically hunt for food. Most of the food in alpine lakes are insects living in the lake, or terrestrial insects that blow onto the water from surrounding trees. Insects often hatch in shallow areas of a lake that are usually 2 to 10-feet deep where the sun can reach the bottom.

Look for trout cruising the shorelines along tree-lined banks where they might find ants, beetles or grasshoppers blown in by the wind. Trout will often cruise the same routes looking for food, so if you see a trout swim by, there’s a good change it will come by again later. Trout like to cruise areas with some kind of structure or a change in the shape of the lake. Look for points, underwater islands or humps, and sudden changes in depth from shallow to deep.

Places were a stream enters or leaves the lake are also favorite spots for trout, especially early and late in the season. Trout are constantly cruising around the lake, so keep moving to try new spots around the shoreline if you aren’t having any luck.

When you first arrive, it’s often advantageous to find a high point where the sun is at your back and actively look for fish before you start fishing. You may be surprised how easy they are to spot from a good vantage point.

Floating mountain lakes

Floating obviously has its advantages, but you have to get your craft to the lake. Fortunately, there are lightweight float tubes that are relatively easy to pack, but remember you will need a pair of fins to propel yourself and likely waders because mountain lakes are cold by nature. You probably don’t want to be in a float tube with your bare legs dangling in the water for hours at a time. That’s a good recipe for hypothermia.

Another option is a “pack raft” which is very lightweight craft that compacts small for easy transport. These specialized craft can be paddled around, or you can just paddle out and drift and fish. Pack rafts tend to be expensive, so prepare for some sticker shock, but they were designed specifically for mountain lake fishing, and if it’s something you plan to do a lot of, they can be a good investment.

A small, inexpensive blow-up raft is another option. Be careful in direct sunlight, especially on hot days, because as the day warms the air can expand and burst a seam in the raft. That applies to all inflatables, but more so to inexpensive ones.

Other things to consider

Mountain lakes are incredible places, but they can also be unforgiving, and weather can be extremely unpredictable. Rainstorms can hit unexpectedly, and even snowstorms during summer. Always pack some warm clothes and possibly lightweight rain gear, or some kind of rain shelter (such as a lightweight tarp or poncho), even if it appears to be a warm, sunny day.

Bringing a multi-tool pocket knife is very handy on the trail and should be part of your kit. These pocket knives are great when fishing to remove hooks and cut line, as well as preparing snacks or clean a fish for dinner. If you plan to keep fish, a stringer can be handy to store your catch. If you plan to hike out with fish, bring a stout plastic bag to store your fish inside and try to keep them cool while transporting and have a cooler waiting at your vehicle.

Congratulations to Adam Mann of Mosinee, Wisconsin, on landing the latest record yellow perch from Lake Cascade. After being weighed locally on a certified scale and inspected by a Fish and Game biologist, Mann was awarded a new certified-weight state record for his 3.22-pound perch that was 16.25-inches long.

Mann landed the monster perch while ice fishing on March 9. As an avid ice-fisherman, Mann and several friends made the long trek to Idaho in search of trophy perch. Although fishing had not been hot that day, they had been finding a some large perch throughout the day.

While he ice fishes three or four days a week back home in Wisconsin, this was Mann’s first time on Lake Cascade. He hooked the fish using a tungsten jig tipped with a nightcrawler.

Mann described seeing the giant fish as it came up through the ice.

“It was incredible, I’ve never seen anything like that,” he said.

Lake Cascade has been a bright spot in Fish and Game’s fisheries management since it was overhauled in the early 2000s to restore perch populations after they crashed in the 1990s. Fish and Game removed literally tons of predators (mostly northern pikeminnows), and transplanted about 850,000 adult perch to seed the lake. Those initial transplants rejuvenated the lake and restored its famous ice fishing, which has resulted in numerous state and world’s record perch.

Mann’s new record of 3.22 lbs topped the previous record of 2.96 lbs held by Skye Coulter, which was set in 2016. Lake Cascade has produced three catch/release records and two certified weight records since 2016, all between 15 and 17 inches!

While conditions can be challenging, the largest perch seem to be caught in February and March, shortly before the ice breaks up.

When avid angler Jon Urban first started thinking about landing a state record fish, he was hoping for a white crappie. After all, beating the current 14.25-inch catch/release record seemed doable. After several trips, he finally landed a big one — but not his original target species. To his surprise, the big fish he landed was actually a black crappie — but no problem — it was still big enough to earn a new catch-and-release state record!

After his initial success, Jon became motivated to chase more state records. Teaming up with his daughter Hayleigh, also an avid angler, the pair have set off on a mission to fill in the blanks in the record fish list. Jon introduced his daughter (and son) to fishing when she was just 5 years old.

“We have been fishing together for 18 years. What we like most is we’re family, so it’s something we both love and can do together,” he said.

Jon and Hayleigh began searching local ponds for green sunfish — a species less common than typical the bluegill and pumpkinseed found in most Idaho ponds. With a little homework and a bit of luck, they not only found an 8-inch green sunfish, but also caught a 6.25-inch green sunfish/bluegill hybrid, clinching two vacant records in the process.

More recently, Jon noticed the state record list did not have an entry for Lahontan cutthroat trout, one of four sub-species of cutthroat in Idaho. While not native to Idaho, they have been stocked in a few remote high desert lakes in Owyhee County. After researching the fish stocking records, Jon and Hayleigh set off to find the elusive Lahontan cutthroat. In early September, they found success at Grasmere Reservoir, and submitted the first record application for Lahontan cutthroat. The angling duo caught several Lahontans, earning both a 1.17-pound certified weight record, as well as a 15.25-inch catch/release record.

When asked who is the better angler, Jon thinks it’s more about how fishing is a way to make new discoveries.

“We get competitive with each other sometimes, but what we like most is discovering, exploring new waters, and catching new species regardless of size,” he said.

When it comes to getting kids interested in fishing, Jon recommends getting started on panfish.

“I started out by taking Hayleigh to catch bluegills and crappies — fast bites and big numbers to keep them busy. I find it gets them really excited about fishing by giving them a lot of confidence early, and the patience comes later when they get the basic skills down,” he said.

Congratulations to Jon and Hayleigh Urban of Eagle on an outstanding summer of hooking state records!

Fishing alpine lakes is a great reason to strap on a backpack and hit the trail. There’s nothing quite like the experience of catching a trout in Idaho’s backcountry, but with more than 1,000 high mountain lakes that hold fish in Idaho, deciding on a destination can seem daunting. If you don’t know where to start, the Idaho Fishing Planner might help narrow your search. First, filter the list of waters for “high mountain lake,” which can be found at bit.ly/30b3Tpy, then add more filters like “Region” and the fish species to further narrow the list.

Before you lace up your hiking boots, a little pre-trip planning is in order. By asking yourself a couple of questions, you can whittle down your list of possible fishing spots:

• How many days do you have to spend in the backcountry?
• How far are you willing to hike? Know your abilities and hike accordingly. Keep elevation gain in mind, as altitude can make a big difference on the trail.

Once you’ve answered those questions, it’s helpful to split high mountain lake excursions into three categories: day trips, short multi-day trips and extended trips. Here is a basic breakdown for each and some things to consider:

Day trips

These are easiest in terms of logistics and planning. Since you eliminate much of the work involved in staying overnight, day trips are great for beginners looking to get started. Equipment needs for a day hike fishing trip are pretty simple: some basic tackle, a water bottle, water purifier, snacks, rain jacket and a daypack to carry everything. Invest in some comfortable hiking boots and your feet will thank you later.

For most people, expect to only cover 2 miles per hour on good trails and 1 mile per hour cross-country. To determine how much time you’ll have to fish, factor in the amount of time it takes you to access the lake and return home. Day hikes are almost always shorter, so your choice of lakes will likely be limited to those within a few miles of a road.

Although summer days are long, think about how much time you want to spend hiking and fishing to plan the length of the hike.

Lakes that lie off the trail usually see less pressure, but they can be challenging to access, especially through dense forest or over steep terrain.

In addition to standard fishing gear, day trips can be a good time to bring along a float tube or pack raft, since you are not carrying a lot of camping gear or multiple days of food. Taking a float tube to any backcountry lake can increase your chances of catching fish when they move away from shore.

Make sure to do your homework in terms of pre-trip planning. Check on trail conditions and access to the trailhead. While the hike might be short, carefully study the elevation gain. A 3-mile hike with moderate climb will be much easier at 6,000 feet than at 9,000 feet. This is where it is important to know your abilities and hike accordingly.

Short multi-day trips (two to four days)

Trips of two to four days are a great way to fish alpine lakes. They offer all the advantages (and fun) of spending a few nights in the woods. Such trips take a bit more planning, but the payoff is usually worth the extra effort.

A trip over several days allows you the option to hit multiple lakes, increasing your chance of finding good fishing. Having a few days also gives you the option to access places fewer anglers visit, generally making for a better backcountry experience and better fishing. Plan the number of days according to how much territory you want to explore, or the area of interest. Moving camp allows you to cover lots of ground and explore new areas each day. On the other hand, setting up a base camp and day-hiking to nearby lakes gives you more time to concentrate on fishing a specific area (or group of lakes) without hauling all your gear the whole time.

Multi-day trips give you the option of several trip formats. Besides the typical in-out along the same path, think about combining trails to form a loop back to your start point, or set up a vehicle shuttle to move your car to your exit point. While a multi-day trip gives you the opportunity to push further into the backcountry, it doesn’t mean you have to hike far. Some careful map reading can discover clusters of lakes with 3 to 6 miles that can easily fill a long weekend.

Extended trips (five-plus days)

Keep in mind that we’re just focusing on fishing trips here, not planning a six-week quest into the wilderness. With that in mind, anything beyond a long weekend counts as an extended trip.

These trips are not for beginners — or the faint of heart. The longer you are in the woods, the more likely you are to encounter challenges like bad weather, fatigue, hunger, injury or equipment failure. Extended trips offer great rewards, but the added time in the field presents very real logistical challenges and risks that you need to consider. The added food usually makes for a heavier pack, so be prepared for the extra load.

That said, extended trips can get you deep into the woods and provide a rich backcountry experience. Longer trips are great if you are looking to hit many lakes, catch a variety of species and see the most scenery.

With good trip planning and creativity, you can find ways to “lighten your load” on extended trips. Selecting a location for a food cache you can come back to every few days is one option, but be sure your cache is secure from wildlife, especially bears. Identifying what gear is necessary, versus additional “comforts” may also help you with packing light. However, dialing in your backcountry gear is typically something that comes from experience.

As a beginning backpacker, it’s recommended that you get several shorter trips under your belt before planning an extended trip. The consequences of mishaps are much more serious the farther you venture from civilization, so plan accordingly.

BOISE — You may have heard about sturgeon being collected from the Snake River below C.J. Strike Dam in southwest Idaho during April. Don’t be alarmed. This is all part of ongoing conservation efforts to help boost the number of sturgeon in the river.

Sturgeon are getting a helping hand below C.J. Strike Dam to increase the population and improve fishing in the Snake River. Working together, Idaho Department of Fish and Game and Idaho Power Co. have stocked since 2014 more than 500 white sturgeon below the dam. This is part of a larger conservation program that includes partnering with the College of Southern Idaho to raise sturgeon at the college’s Twin Falls fish hatchery.

To do this, Idaho Power biologists capture up to six reproductive sturgeon below C.J. Strike Dam during late winter and take them to the Twin Falls College of Southern Idaho for spawning. After the eggs are collected at the hatchery, all the adults are returned back to the Snake River.

During surveys below C.J. Strike Dam, Idaho Power biologists have found some of the stocked fish have already grown to more than 3 feet long in just a few years. Of course, there are already bigger fish in the population. Biologists estimate there are currently about 243 sturgeon between 3 and 8 feet long in the section downstream of C.J. Strike Dam. The number of larger fish should improve as the hatchery sturgeon stocked as small juveniles grow into adults.

Idaho Power is also experimenting with an alternative strategy to using hatchery sturgeon as part of the conservation program. This unique approach collects naturally spawned sturgeon eggs directly from the river. The eggs are collected using specialized nets placed downstream of sturgeon spawning areas. Fertilized eggs are carefully removed from the nets and taken to the CSI Twin Falls hatchery.

Within five to six weeks after hatching, the tiny sturgeon larvae will grow to size, then these naturally spawned baby sturgeon are raised at the hatchery until they are about a foot long. Before stocking into the Snake River, each fish will be tagged so that biologists can monitor their growth, survival and migrations.