Weekend in Desolation Wilderness

[c_johnson]

Well, I was originally planning on backpacking around the North Fork based on Ed's advice, but because of the extensive fire damage, I decided to try my luck in Desolation Wilderness, around Suzie lake. I'm not originally from around here so this was my first experience up there.

A few of my friends and I took a two day trip in and set up camp around Suzie. Didn't have too much luck except for a couple small browns caught on a small prince nymph and a midge. I'm not sure if people have had more success on other lakes in the area. Throughout the whole weekend I didn't see but a handful of fish rising. I was starting to think after they stopped stocking the lakes a few years back, maybe the fish population is hurting a bit.

http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg127/chrisj098/P9130032_cropped.jpg

http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg127/chrisj098/P9130039_cropped.jpg



The last day we took a day hike up to Mt. Tallac which was pretty spectacular. I highly recommend it to anyone.

http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg127/chrisj098/P9130051_cropped.jpg
Gilmore Lake, below Mt. Tallac

http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg127/chrisj098/P9130067_cropped.jpg
Lake Tahoe looking north from Tallac

http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg127/chrisj098/P9130072_cropped.jpg
Looking NW from Tallac


I'm still going to have to try the North Fork after it recovers a bit.


Chris

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Great photos..........hard to believe it's that close.

[Foxyanne]

Looks like a brook trout in that first photo.

[Scott V]

Looks like a brook trout in that first photo.

I agree, the red spots with the blue circles makes me think brookie. And a very nice brookie at that.

[loganmike]

That is a gem of a lake with Brookies like that!

me

[Mik]

Tasty too!

[Phil Synhorst]

I concur Mik, Brookies are very tasty. Especially when they've been feeding on Scuds. 8)

Chris with Brook Trout that size you should have a sold us a grand fish tale, something like....packing into the Labrador wilderness. :D Nice fish, I'm glad you guys had a good time.

[schurmo]

Definitely looks like a brookie to me. The fire orange belly always gives it away. Man those are pretty fish, especially when you get the one's that have the heavy chocolate brown coloring! Beautiful photos and area!

schurmo

[Amador]

Nice Brookie! That't a heck of a fish for that area.

[Skunked again]

I was in desolation over labor day and I managed a couple brookies for the pan too. The interesting thing was that they were absolutely gorged, I mean stomach exploding, with ants. I worried that all the formic acid might effect the flavor, but they were delicious. The other interesting thing was the way that I managed to catch them. After a period of little success, I gave up on delicate presentation. I would see a few fish milling around but they would just ignore my fly. I found that if I really slammed my fly (dry or wet) on the surface to make a bit of commotion they would swim right up to it and with a couple of little twitches, usually they'd strike.