With grizzly bears, sometimes you get cute and sometimes you get grumpy.

When bear biologists noticed a mother bear beginning to wake up this spring from her Island Park den, they set up a trail camera in hopes of recording the action.

The trail camera captured video of a sow and two new cubs attracted to scent bait, the mother reaching high on a small tree for a taste.

Idaho Department of Fish and Game posted the video online combined with another clip of two large bears having a physical argument.

The 1-minute video clip are snippets from two different cameras set up by bear biologist Jeremy Nicholson and wildlife technician Kyle Garrett. The segment of the sow and cubs was shot east of Highway 20 after a 2-mile trek to “the middle of nowhere” and the segment of the brawling bears was taken not far from Harriman State Park. The video can be seen on YouTube at tinyurl.com/pr-griz-cam.

“They put a little scent bait on the top of that tree,” said James Brower, regional communications manager with Fish and Game, about the video of the sow and cubs. “You can see her sniff it and smell it because there’s some scent lure up there. It helps her pose for the camera a little bit. She just happens to have two cute little baby cubs with her.”

Brower said the clip of the disagreeable bears is a bit rare.

“To have two bigger bears come in and decide to get in a brawl right in front of the camera is a pretty unique instance,” he said.

While most cameras are set up to determine if an area is suitable for placing a bear trap to sedate and collar bears passing through, the camera set up near the sow was to learn more about the bears.

“Because she has a GPS collar on her, they were able to tell when she had completely left the site,” Brower said. “They went back in to retrieve the camera, and they were able to go inside her den and check it out and see what went on there during the winter.”

Nicholson said bear trapping in the Island Park region began in June.

“This is a reoccurring thing,” he said. “All the data we collect, we combine it with all the other states, the park service, the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team and analyze it and go from there with it.”

Nicholson said his team wants to understand how bears are surviving, what’s killing them, their movements and what they are eating. Collaring bears is one of his main tools.

Brower said the scent used to attract bears to trail cameras is made mostly of rotting fish or roadkill.

“They let it rot and turn it into a mush,” he said. “The back of the bear trapping truck is the stinkiest thing you’ve ever smelled. They wash it out pretty frequently but it is rank. It stinks. We try to keep everything contained in a plastic bin that fits in the back of the truck. But it inevitably splashes out and it’s pretty rank.”

Besides bears, Brower said the cameras and traps sometimes attract other interlopers, such as coyotes, pine martens and humans.

“We get hikers every once in a while,” he said. “They’ve had a few individuals with little to no clothing walk by on occasion. Most people are aware that they’re on camera.”

With summer heat comes lethargic trout in some of the region’s smaller lakes and ponds.

To keep the fishing action going, Idaho Department of Fish and Game has planted hundreds of warm-water-loving catfish in four popular area ponds.

“We put 300 catfish each in Becker Pond and Riverside Pond (in Idaho Falls) and 300 in the Rexburg Nature Park pond and 900 in the Jim Moore Pond (near Roberts),” said James Brower, regional communications manager for Fish and Game.

Brower said the channel catfish are about 12 inches long. “Not huge, but they have the potential to get fairly big.”

He said a good way to fish for catfish is with a sinker and worm on the bottom of the pond. Because heat often drives trout to the bottom, anglers might also catch a trout from the bottom as well.

“One of the reasons we put catfish in ponds when it gets warmer is so there are some fishing opportunities,” Brower said. “They are still actively biting because catfish are way more tolerant of warm weather than trout are.”

Young anglers might enjoy the novelty of catching a different type of fish.

“I know that my kids like catching them just because they are a different looking fish,” Brower said. “They have big long whiskers on them and they enjoy that.”

DENVER — Rock climber Alex Honnold meticulously chalked his hands before pulling himself up to the thin ledge inside the climate-controlled climbing gym. He dangled by his finger tips for a bit and then fell back to the bouncy mat.

Nice and safe. No heart-pounding fear of a 3,000-foot drop, either.

In the aftermath of the Academy Award-winning documentary “Free Solo,” Honnold is trying to get a grip on his sudden fame (he’s recognized everywhere), his image (he’s not really that aloof) and most of all what exactly he does next to top that spine-tingling feat.

His realization: Maybe his 2017 ropeless climb of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park that’s chronicled in the film just might be the summit of his career. Maybe his cliff-hanger sequel doesn’t exist.

If so, he’s at peace. These days, he’s content taking a less treacherous path inside climbing gyms.

“Everybody already thinks I’ve done the best thing I’ll ever do,” Honnold said in a recent interview as young climbers gawked, pointed and stared at him before a competition at Earth Treks Englewood in Colorado. “So I don’t feel any obligation to top that. Even if I did top it, there would never be a better film about it. It will never be documented in a better way. It’s just not possible to make a better film than that. So it’s like, ‘Cool — a-once-in-a-lifetime kind of thing.’ It’s like, ‘Let’s move on.’”

Move on to what? That’s his hang-up.

There’s no new endeavor he’s eyeing. Perhaps, at 33, he’s proceeding through life with a little more caution. He’s dating the same person he was in the film — Sanni McCandless — and has a house in Las Vegas.

“So far, I haven’t been taking the same kind of risks in climbing, but it has more to do with opportunity,” Honnold said. “I’ve been promoting the film and not out climbing crazy mountains all the time. We’ll see.”

In the film, Honnold took an MRI of his brain to see how he responds to fear. Turns out, fear didn’t seem to faze him. Still, there was one poignant scene after he halted an attempt to scale El Capitan, when producer Jimmy Chin commented, “It’s reassuring that Spock has nerves” — an ode to the stoic nature of the Star Trek character.

Undeterred, Honnold remained persistent. It’s just one of the takeaways from the documentary — a tunnel vision that drove him and sometimes made him come across as aloof.

Especially in his blossoming relationship with McCandless.

“People come out of it thinking I’m super cold, but you’ve got to keep it in context. Whereas when we first started dating, the relationship was much less important to me than this climbing goal I’d been holding on to for the last nine years,” Honnold explained. “Everybody comes out of the film taking what they want. They cherry-pick the lesson they want, cherry-pick the personality traits they want. Everybody chooses their own adventure.”

Around the climbing community, Honnold remains a polarizing figure. That’s due in part to his free soloing ways, which is when a climber doesn’t use any ropes, harnesses or other protective equipment and is forced to rely on their own strength. He’s got numerous free-soloing firsts under his belt. But nothing quite like scaling El Capitan, a feat he accomplished in just under four hours.

For the record, he doesn’t have a death wish. He diligently trained for the danger-filled climb that included sections called Freeblast (precariously smooth), Monster Offwidth (shimmying his way up a vertical crack) and Boulder Problem (executing a karate-kick move to reach a toe hold).

“That’s why I spent two years practicing, to make sure I wouldn’t fall off and die,” said Honnold, who has a foundation dedicated to supporting solar energy and serves on the board of a company that operates indoor climbing facilities (El Cap). “If I didn’t care, I would’ve gone the first day and rolled the dice.”

Ashima Shiraishi, a teenager who’s become one of the big names in climbing, said she watched the documentary on a plane and felt, well, “terrified.”

“Free soloing? I can’t,” said Shiraishi, who figures to be in the medal mix as climbing makes its debut at the Tokyo Olympics next summer. “It’s a different world.”

Should anyone want to follow his lead, his advice would be basic: Be careful.

“It’s a very long, personal journey,” Honnold said. “If someone wants to spend the time and dedicate themselves to the process, more power to them — as long as they do it slow and carefully.”

To promote the film directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Chin, Honnold traveled around for months, which meant putting his outdoor climbing pursuits on the backburner. Along the way, he met some big names — Prince William, actor Bradley Cooper — and lost some privacy.

He’s constantly recognized on subways, in grocery stores and of course anywhere he climbs.

He recently went back to Yosemite, but didn’t dare venture out too much in public because, “I’ve got serious anxiety,” he said.

While hiking in the area, Honnold overheard a group in front of him actually discussing the movie. Then, he sped right by them.

“They’re like, ‘That’s the guy!’” Honnold recounted. “As I’m hiking by, they’re like, ‘Did you get him on the ‘GoPro?’”

That’s just his reality now.

So is this: Making the most of his training sessions at climbing gyms. He invents challenges for himself, like attaching heavy weights around his waist and suspending himself from a ledge by his fingers.

Any chance of another free solo ascent of El Capitan?

“If I had a reason to. If I was excited,” Honnold said. “Because I know I can now.”

Salmon-Challis National Forest staff and volunteers this month are preserving the Lower Parrott Cabin at the confluence of Nugget Creek and the Middle Fork Salmon River within the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness.

The Lower Parrott Cabin is a small log cabin built around 1917 by Earl King Parrott, who was known as the hermit of Impassable Canyon. The project will stabilize the cabin so Middle Fork visitors can better enjoy the site, according to Amy Baumer, forest public affairs officer. The river cobble foundation will be fixed and several deteriorating sill logs will be replaced. In addition, purlins and roof shakes will be reinstalled following the original design of the cabin.

Parrott’s life symbolizes wilderness living and his lower cabin is a popular stop for visitors wishing to embrace the wilderness experience, Baumer said.

Johnny Carey and Cort Conley, in their book “The Middle Fork and the Sheepeater War,” describe Parrott as “intelligent and industrious,” but also “stubborn, aloof and lacking in humor.” Parrott spent 30 years living a solitary existence in the Middle Fork country panning for gold, hunting, trapping and growing fruits and vegetables. He would make an annual trip to Shoup for supplies including salt, matches, tea and bullets for his .30-30 Winchester. Most of the time, he lived in a cabin dugout several thousand feet above the river where he had an extensive garden. A series of ladders and ropes provided access up the steep canyon walls to his main residence, Baumer said.

His lower cabin sits next to the Middle Fork. While floating the Middle Fork in 1936, the Hatch-Swain-Frazier Expedition reported “a small log structure” and “a tiny shed” just past Nugget Creek.

“Inside the small, crude shed the men saw cornmeal, a frying pan and plate, a gold pan and blanket.” An entry in Charles Kelly’s diary at the time notes “Parrott’s cabin on the river is very small but weather tight. Looks like a boar’s nest.”

Parrott died in 1944 and is buried in the Salmon Cemetery. Parrott’s upper cabin burned in a forest fire in the late 1980s, leaving the lower cabin the only surviving architectural feature associated with him in the wilderness.

The Central Idaho Wilderness Act of 1980 requires identification and management of cultural resources including historic cabins in wilderness, Baumer said. The cabin was identified in the historic preservation plan for the wilderness as a good candidate for preservation. Because of its location in the wilderness, non-motorized and non-mechanized methods will be employed on the project.

Tim Canaday, Salmon-Challis National Forest archaeologist, said, “Without a willing cadre of volunteers, preservation projects such as this are nearly impossible to accomplish.” Joe Gallagher of Heritage Preservation Resources Inc. volunteered to lead the effort. Volunteers have supplied materials including replacement logs. Personnel, materials and supplies will be transported to the site via raft.

“The Salmon-Challis National Forest is fortunate to have partners such as Heritage Preservation Resources, the Backcountry Horsemen of Idaho and the Heritage Action Team; which is composed of Middle Fork outfitters and guides, forest staff, the public and the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, to help us with our wilderness work,” Forest Supervisor Chuck Mark said.

An interpretive brochure describing the history of the cabin and the preservation activities will be prepared after the project is complete.

Southern Idaho is a wonderful place to spend the summer as a birder. With diverse habitats there is no shortage of places to explore the avifauna. A few of my favorite places to watch birds during the summer are in the sagebrush steppe, juniper foothills and Snake River riparian corridors.

See and hear the songs of sagebrush

The sagebrush is never devoid of life, but in the summer it is the birth place of the next generation of sagebrush obligate songbirds. Ubiquitous in any sagebrush ecosystem, Brewer’s sparrows can be heard vigorously defending territories. Though drab, this smallest North American sparrow has an amazing vocal repertoire.

The sage thrasher is another songbird that breeds exclusively in sagebrush. The thrashers also have a unique vocal range and can imitate many species, including sora, though they are more frequently heard including portions of meadowlark and sparrow songs in their amazing vocal collections.

The large, elegant sagebrush sparrow can be found in extremely dry sagebrush ecosystems. They require large tracts of intact sagebrush and can be difficult to find until you are at a good site for them! If you are seeing lots of interspace and cactus near you, be sure to listen closely for the sagebrush sparrow’s plain but lovely song.

Junipers attract birds, too

The juniper foothills around East Idaho are full of birds in the summer! Breeding black-throated gray warblers are at the northern extent of their range in East Idaho. They are easy to hear as they sing their buzzy, simple songs, but finding them can be tricky.

Blue-gray gnatcatchers are also at the northern extent of their range. These tiny songbirds are not associated closely with juniper across North America, but in Idaho they are only found in juniper. Another specialty in Idaho’s juniper is the Juniper Titmouse. This drab crested songbird nests in old woodpecker cavities or natural cracks and crevices in juniper trees. Unlike the gnatcatcher, they are associated with juniper throughout the ranges and like the gnatcatcher, they are at the northern extent of their range.

Also found in juniper ecosystems in summer are green-tailed and spotted towhees and chipping sparrows.

Listen to Snake River serenades

The Snake River and its riparian corridors are important to many species of breeding birds like yellow warblers, cedar waxwings and song sparrows. These common birds occur in very high densities. Also present along these corridors are more uncommon species such as the Yellow-billed Cuckoo.

The Western population of yellow-billed cuckoo is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Habitat degradation among other things have negatively affected this specialist species, which requires large tracts of undisturbed cottonwood-willow gallery. Cuckoos are also very difficult to detect, even when they are present. Intensive survey efforts are undertaken each year to quantify this population in Idaho.

Protect breeding birds

Summer is an important time for all birds because it is when most are able to breed, recruiting for the next generation of their species. We can take some very important steps to protect birds during this important stage in their annual cycle.

One study found that more than a billion birds are killed by outdoor cats annually in North America alone. It is especially critical that cats be kept indoors in the summer because bright collars, bells, and other tricks do not work when cats are stalking naive baby birds. Even de-clawed cats are extraordinarily skilled hunters, especially when they encounter baby birds that don’t know to be afraid.

If you want to help protect birds this summer, and at all times of the year, keeping your cat indoors or contained on an outside “catio” is one of the best ways to do so!

Windows are overlooked bird killers

The second largest source of human-caused mortality in birds are windows. Windows reflect the surrounding habitat so the windows looks like an extension of the habitat and birds cannot see that there is something they can hit. Products such as Acopian BirdSavers and other methods are encouraged to prevent birds from flying into windows.

Note that falcon or hawk shapes and other stickers on windows have little to no effect. If you are curious about how to stop birds from hitting your windows, the American Bird Conservancy has information for preventing bird strikes on residential windows.

A new place for birders at Market Lake WMA

One of the best places in East Idaho to observe birds has a noteworthy new blind that will help visitors get a better view of the massive migration of waterfowl during the spring.

The new wildlife viewing blind at Market Lake Wildlife Management Area in Jefferson County opened its windows this year and offers WMA visitors a unique opportunity to get an up close and personal view of migrating and resident ducks, geese, and waterbirds that utilize the WMA.

The viewing blind takes advantage of the natural habitat and proximity to a pond, which attracts birds and other wildlife.

The ADA-compliant blind improves public access at Market Lake WMA. It has a wheelchair access and windows of various heights and sizes to accommodate observers of all ages, benches for sitting, interpretive bird signs, and room for lots of people.

Acquired in 2018, the pond and surrounding area is the latest addition to the WMA. It lies across Interstate 15 from a conservation easement that helps to conserve the open lands buffering the WMA. The easement’s agricultural fields and the acquisition’s wetland areas are valuable to many important bird species.

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game and Idaho Foundation for Fish and Wildlife funded the project.

The viewing blind is on the former Western Wings Pond on 800 North near the overpass that crosses Interstate 15 two miles north of Roberts.

Visiting a supervised shooting range for the first time can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Shooting ranges are designed for safe firearms practice for shooters of all abilities, and they can be a great place for beginners to learn more about responsible, safe shooting.

Most of the anxiety that first-time range-goers feel stems from uncertainty. There is also the added pressure of shooting in front of more experienced firearms handlers, which can make an inexperienced shooter feel intimidated.

By learning more about how public shooting ranges work, you can put a lot of that anxiety to rest. If you are a responsible and safe firearm handler, have good range etiquette and follow the range rules, more experienced shooters shouldn’t intimidate you. In fact, many veteran shooters will be happy to offer help or advice if you ask them for it.

While every shooting range is a little different, this general guide provides the basics, and will hopefully make you more confident during your first trip to a public shooting range and make it safe and enjoyable.

BEFORE YOU GO

Know the shooting safety fundamentals

Before heading out to a public shooting range, you absolutely need to know the basics of gun safety. If you’ve taken a Hunter Education course in Idaho, which covers firearm safety extensively, you should already have a good handle on this, but it doesn’t hurt to review the “Ten Commandments of Firearm Safety” again:

1. Watch that muzzle! Keep it pointed in a safe direction. At the shooting range, that’s toward the sky or downrange.
2. Treat every firearm with the respect due a loaded gun.
3. Be sure of the target and what is in front of it and beyond it.
4. Keep your finger outside the trigger guard until ready to shoot.
5. Safely check your barrel and ammunition for obstructions.
6. Unload firearms when not in use.
7. Point a firearm only at something you intend to shoot.
8. Don’t run, jump or climb with a loaded firearm.
9. Store firearms and ammunition separately and safely.
10. Avoid alcoholic beverages before and during shooting.

Learn the language

At supervised public ranges, the person responsible for ensuring that firearm safety rules are followed is known as the “range master.” Following their rules and directions keeps everyone safe, so it’s important to know some of the common commands they will give and phrases they might use:

• Commence firing: Firing may begin as soon as the shooter is ready.
• Ceasefire: This command means to stop shooting immediately, unload your weapon, remove the magazine and leave the chamber open, set it on the shooting bench, and step back from the firing line. There should be no handling of firearms during a ceasefire.
• Firing line: A line parallel to the targets, from behind which firearms are discharged.
• The range is open (or hot): Shooting is taking place, and no one is allowed beyond the firing line.
• The range is closed (or cold): All shooters have ceased firing, have made safe and moved away from their firearms, and shooters can now move forward of the firing line to set up or check targets.

Research the range

Each range is a little bit different, and you need to know the specific rules, restrictions and procedures for the range where you plan to shoot. For many ranges, you can find the rules online prior to your visit. Make sure to find out if targets are provided, or are available for purchase at the range, otherwise, you’ll need to bring your own.

Ask an experienced shooter to tag along

Whether it’s a friend or a family member, ask someone who has experience shooting at public ranges to join you. Having someone you know show you the ropes will make you feel more comfortable.

Plan your trip

Make sure to check the range’s days and hours of operation, and plan your trip accordingly. Give yourself some extra time in case the range is busy. It’s possible that there won’t be a shooting bench available when you first arrive. Also check the range’s calendar and see if there’s a shooting competition or special events there, which can close or restrict portions of the range.

Dress appropriately

Hot brass and bare skin don’t mix. The shooting range is not the place to wear open-toed shoes, short shorts or a V-neck or low-cut shirt. Some ranges actually have dress codes, which you might be able to find online. If you can’t and you’re not sure, it’s best to call the range ahead of time. Think tight-collared shirts, pants (especially if you plan to shoot from the prone position) and a baseball cap for sunny summer days.

Ears and eyes

You can rent eye and ear protection at many gun ranges, but it’s not a bad idea to pick up your own set of glasses and earplugs or earmuffs before your first trip, and make sure they fit you well. Even if they’re wearing quality ear protection, new shooters are often surprised by how loud the range is, especially if it is busy — so mentally prepare yourself for the noise.

Pack a cooler

If you’re planning to spend a chunk of the day on the range, it’s not a bad idea to bring along a ice chest with some water or sports drinks to keep yourself hydrated. Most ranges don’t have drinking water available.

Case your firearms

You don’t have to spend a fortune on a fancy hard case, but when you pack your firearms in your vehicle for the trip out, make sure they’re unloaded and securely cased. Most ranges have rules against carrying uncased firearms into the facility.

WHEN YOU ARRIVE

Check in at the range office

If you’re visiting a supervised range, the first thing you’ll need to do is check in with the range officer. At this point, you should leave your cased guns in the car. Depending on where the range office is located, you might want to have your ear protection on if the range is hot.

You will likely have to review the safety rules for the range and sign a waiver stating that you understand their range safety policies. After signing in and paying any range fees required, you will be assigned a shooting range number and given a target, target stand, and firearm action indicator. Find your shooting lane, and set these items there before heading back to your vehicle.

Be open about being a new shooter

If it’s your first time at the range, let the staff there know, and they will help walk you through the process.

Move your firearms from your vehicle to your shooting lane

At this point, they should still be cased and unloaded. If the range is closed, leave your firearms cased and set them down away from your shooting bench. The only time you’re allowed to handle any firearms is when the range is open.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE

Follow the range rules and the directions of the range master

You should already know the range rules, and that the job of the range master is to keep everyone safe. Their word is the law on the shooting range. Make sure to listen carefully for any commands, and follow them immediately.

Feel free to ask for help or advice

While they’re not there to be your personal coach, the range master can help you and answer questions you might have. If you’re uncertain about anything, ask them. More experienced shooters are often happy to help out a newcomer, too, and can be a tremendous resource. But with that being said…

Be respectful of those shooting

Safe shooting takes concentration, and it’s critical that you don’t distract active shooters. Don’t strike up a conversation on the firing line. The best time for that is during a ceasefire, when the range is closed.

Have fun

As long as you’re being safe, responsible and following the range rules and the directions of the range master, you and everyone around you should enjoy the time spent on the range.

BEFORE YOU LEAVE

Clean up your lane

Pick up your spent brass and anything else you brought with you. Leave your shooting lane in better shape than it was in when you arrived.

Wash up

Wash your hands after you’re done shooting for the day to rinse off any lead residue.

Distant mountain peaks loom in the summer heat and stand like a cool oasis for anglers. Hidden in the bowls, basins and valleys are many lakes brimming with trout and waiting for intrepid anglers.

Idaho has many mountain ranges, nearly all of which have lakes that contain fish. Idaho Fish and Game has long been committed to keeping those lakes stocked with fish by a variety of methods, including aircraft, horseback and backpack.

Most mountain lake stocking is done by aircraft these days, and Fish and Game crews annually drop hundreds of thousands of fingerling trout into distant lakes where they can grow and adventurous anglers can catch them. Some also have grayling, which are rarely found in Idaho outside of mountain lakes. Which lakes are stocked is no secret. You can find that information on Fish and Game’s Fishing Planner at bit.ly/2Yji26t.

Choose your adventure

One misconception about mountain lakes is you have to strap on your hiking boots and scale a mountain to reach them. It’s true that some lakes are hidden-away secrets guarded by the mountains and the few hardy souls who hike into those remote, wild places. But many other lakes are reasonably accessible with a short hike on well-marked and maintained trails.

There are also mountain lakes you can drive to in a family vehicle and others that are accessible by four-wheel-drive roads or motorized trails that allow you to drive or ride a UTV, ATV or motorcycle. You will need to check with land management agencies, such as Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management, to see what type of trails access certain lakes.

Even if motorized travel is allowed on a trail, make a call to the land management agency and determine trail conditions because some motorized trails can be challenging to navigate. Same goes for hiking trails.

A call to a local office can often prevent disappointment when a trail is blocked by downed trees, washouts, etc.

How to choose a lake

This can be a tricky proposition because if you’re looking at a map or satellite image, how do you know which lake to choose? One thing to remember is all mountain lakes are not created equal. Typically, a lake in a valley or meadow with an inlet and outlet and shallow areas will be more productive than a deep lake in a rocky basin strictly fed by snowmelt, which can create a very sterile environment. But that’s not always the case, and that’s where exploration and a little luck come into play.

A good initial strategy is to find an area with a cluster of lakes, which is fairly common in the mountains. If one lake isn’t producing good fishing, another is nearby. Don’t assume that hiking farther will improve your odds of catching more fish. Most mountain lakes don’t get a huge amount of fishing pressure, so don’t overlook an accessible lake, which might have outstanding fishing while a distant lake has similar or lesser fishing opportunity.

If you’re planning your trip based on stocking reports, remember that most trout stocked in mountain lakes are fingerlings, and it can take three to four years for them to grow to catchable size. However, catchable-size trout are sometimes stocked in lakes that are road accessible, and some lakes have naturally reproducing populations.

Some mountain lakes have brook trout, which tend to dominate where they are present. That can be good news and bad. Brook trout can provide lots of fishing action, and they can be a lot of fun to catch for young or new anglers. There’s typically a 25-fish bag limit for brook trout, but check the Fishing Seasons and Rules booklet because there are exceptions. While lots of fish and a generous bag limit might be enticing, brook trout can also become overpopulated in mountain lakes, which means there are lots of fish, but few over 6-inches long.

Savor the experience

There’s little argument the main point of the trip to a mountain lake is to catch fish, but don’t get fixated on them. Mountain lakes are found in some of Idaho’s most spectacular places, and let’s be honest, you could probably also catch a trout in a neighborhood park pond, lake, reservoir or river within a short drive of your home.

But mountain lakes are special places with the opportunity to experience spectacular scenery, wildlife and solitude. Definitely enjoy the fishing, and chances are good you will catch some nice fish, but don’t let a lack of fish spoil your outing. Chalk it up to experience and use it as a springboard for your next outing.

Another benefit of Idaho’s mountains is they contain thousands of lakes — probably more than you could explore in a lifetime of summers — so you will likely never run out of new ones to explore or favorites that you can revisit.

Fishing tips for mountain lakes

• Mountain lakes fishing tends to be a fairly simple affair. Basic bait and tackle will usually work well. Bring a small assortment of spoons and spinners, maybe a few different types of baits (or catch grasshoppers if available). For fly anglers, woolly buggers, small nymphs and attractor flies are usually sufficient.
• Remember fish are not evenly dispersed in a lake. Start looking for them in obvious places, such near inlets and outlets, or where there’s structure, such as downed logs, lily pads, boulders, bluffs, etc.
• Bring polarized sunglasses and find a high spot. Water in mountain lakes is often clear, so you can often seeing cruising trout just beneath the surface if you watch carefully. Also look for rings from rising fish, which is a clue that they’re feeding on insects on, or near, the surface.
• If feasible, bring a float tube or small raft, which will allow you to access more shoreline and also catch trout cruising in the center of the lake.
• Like any waters, trout will go on and off the bite, so don’t give up if you don’t immediately catch something. However, if after a reasonable length of time you don’t get any bites or see any signs of fish, move to a different lake if that’s feasible.