Reply by: bron Posted: 8/21/2014 2:24:24 PM Points: 45686
I put the posting "Froze out in July?" a few weeks ago. I've fished it a few times and caught some cutthroats. It's a tough fish--the weather changes constantly, lots of snags, and if the weather turns nice there are bugs everywhere.
Reply by: Jacob J Posted: 8/22/2014 6:52:03 AM Points: 1679
Thanks bron, I saw your post. The reason I was curious is that I have met a gentleman, who mentioned that lake quite enthusiastically. As I understand, you did not caught anything in July. What tackle you been using?
Reply by: bron Posted: 8/22/2014 7:08:39 AM Points: 45686
This year I got skunked but we were only there for 15 minutes. Last year I caught 3 cutthroats in about 2 hours using salmon eggs. We were there in June last year and the lake was still iced on one side--chunks of ice kept floating past us. This year the wind off of the glacier was pretty harsh--my son's only 10 years old and he was miserable so we left.
Reply by: Fiddler1986 Posted: 8/22/2014 8:44:25 AM Points: 10219
I went up in July last year with fly gear. There were a few fish rising, but past my casting distance. There was a big 15" dead in the shallows. A tourist thought it was alive and said I should try and catch it lol. But from what I heard early am and later pm they cruise right along the shelf and are easier to get to. The temp in late July was pretty cool around noonish so a jacket wouldn't be a bad idea. Also when I was up there it appeared you could only fish a couple of spots due to signs all over wanting to protect the tundra. This may be only around the parking area, so I'm not sure about the rest of the lake but I figured better safe than sorry. If you go on a weekend its really busy with tourists, but not to many fishing. I saw one other guy on the way out. I was thinking of bringing my waders next time I head up.
Reply by: bron Posted: 8/22/2014 8:52:43 AM Points: 45686
It was 95 degrees in Denver and 48 degrees at Summit the last time I went. My son had on pants, boots, a t-shirt, a coat, and the fleece blanket from my truck and it still wasn't enough. You're right about the tundra but if you stay on the path you can get on the rocks on the bank and work big sections of shore-line.
Reply by: Fiddler1986 Posted: 8/22/2014 9:04:50 AM Points: 10219
One time I was going to go up and the conditions board read summit: 32*. I decided I'd go back another day, and this was early august. I can only imagine how cold it must get up there!
Reply by: not too old to fish Posted: 8/22/2014 3:49:59 PM Points: 8374
The fences they put up around the lake are a real eye sore and make the place look like some part of a ranch. Definatly not something you want to see in a wilderness type setting. The best thing to do would be to make trails around the lake, that would preserve the natural look and keep people off the tundra and wouldn't be such an eye sore like the fences.
