Grouse Ridge Report

[Ed Wahl]

Well, I went up yesterday for a look around and a bit of fishing. The road is entirely snow free.

That is, until you get to about 200 yards down from the campsite. Close enough for walk-ins though.

I don't know who this is but his "screw it lets fish and deal with this later" attitude made me like him sight unseen.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/Grouse%20Ridge%20in%20August/grouseridge011.jpg

Above the stuck truck. The first campsite is just out of sight.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/Grouse%20Ridge%20in%20August/grouseridge012.jpg

Beyers Lake anyone?

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/Grouse%20Ridge%20in%20August/grouseridge013.jpg

Some of the drifts were 6ft deep still but shrinking fast. Here's the campground.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/Grouse%20Ridge%20in%20August/grouseridge016.jpg

Been a hard winter up here.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/Grouse%20Ridge%20in%20August/grouseridge017.jpg

So I walked over to the end of the ridge, where hikers park when the road's open. You guys who know the place probably stop and admire this view every time your up there. I know I can't get enough of it.
Here's a shot of Feely, Island, and Hidden Lakes. Hidden is in that depression at the base of the hill. Round Lake is just out of sight lower right.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/Grouse%20Ridge%20in%20August/grouseridge018.jpg

Milk Lake, taken from the spur ridge running just to the west of it.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/Grouse%20Ridge%20in%20August/grouseridge019.jpg

I walked down to Round Lake first, the direct route. I'm bettin our G.R. regulars use the same route. I haven't walked down or up the trail in years.

Wonder which way the prevailing winds blow.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/Grouse%20Ridge%20in%20August/grouseridge020.jpg

So I get to Round and gear up. I didn't see any fish cruising the shoreline and was a bit concerned. I used an I-line and a damsel nymph. After about 10 minutes I spotted a rise over by shore and moved in. First cast something hit and missed. Now I'm feelin good, there's definitely fish here. Another cast and it's fish on. Weird though, not the electric buzzing you feel from a typical pan sized trout. I'm feeling head shakes. Big head shakes. Then out it jumps and I'm awestruck. Big 'Bow. This thing is huge. After a short battle, it seemed a couple of jumps were all it had, I had it netted. Looked to be in the 18 to 20" range.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/Grouse%20Ridge%20in%20August/grouseridge026.jpg

That was the only biggee, I found plenty of Brookies this size to play with also.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/Grouse%20Ridge%20in%20August/grouseridge030.jpg

I moved over to Milk Lake in the evening. It looks like DFG had just done a recent bombing run. Tiny fry all over the place but nothing over about 6 inches. All rainbows.
Then back up the hill,(it wasn't anywhere near this steep on the way in) and out. There were 3 or 4 campsites in use, this on a Sunday and the road's not even cleared yet.

I'd like to find out how Sanford and Downey are fishing. Anyone going in this week willing to find out? ;)

Ed

[SHigSpeed]

That 'bow is a BEAUT! Thanks for the report - I gotta get in there some day...

BTW, I've probably said it before, but nice fins! Did you hoof the 'Cat in?

_SHig

[DFrink]

Ed,

Nice report. If I make it over to Sanford I will let you know how I do. By the way that Bow is quite a nice looking fish!

Dan

[Scott V]

I recognize that view.

[Larry S]

Ed:
Great shots of fantastic vistas. Thanks!
Give that ole dog you talked about (see Duke)
a big hug.
Best,
Larry S

[Ed Wahl]

Shig, these are the original fins I bought when I got my first tube many many moons ago. I replaced the laces with some elastic cords threaded through the original buckles. I did notice your greenies leaning against your pumpkin. Are those bungees for laces?
And oh yeah, I humped that thing in. Much harder on the way out.

Thanks Dan, Sanfords been good in the past. If there are fish in there they really fatten up on scuds. Downey always holds some big fish, it's just a matter of finding them in a lake that size.

Ed

[SHigSpeed]

Shig, these are the original fins I bought when I got my first tube many many moons ago. I replaced the laces with some elastic cords threaded through the original buckles. I did notice your greenies leaning against your pumpkin. Are those bungees for laces?
And oh yeah, I humped that thing in. Much harder on the way out.

Thanks Dan, Sanfords been good in the past. If there are fish in there they really fatten up on scuds. Downey always holds some big fish, it's just a matter of finding them in a lake that size.

Ed

Yup, my fins are probably 23(!!) years old! They were purchased to go with my Buck's Bags Hi 'n Dri II back back back in the day. I did replace the laces with fixed length spreaders and heel bungies so it's a slip in and pull affair. No fuss no muss. Classic fins for sure.

_SHig

[EricO]

Nice report and pics Ed. Those views bring back some memories!

I went into a small lake on Saturday north of you...still a tiny bit of
snow in the shade. It was a dinkfest for the most part, but
we did pull a few 11-12" out.

Damsel dries, damsel nymphs and ant patterns did the trick.

Nice rainbow! Haven't fished Round in quite a few years.
Hmmm......rethinking.

Eric

[gene goss]

Hey Ed ....nice to see a clean bright rainbow....great story, and pictures.....what was the water temp. ?????

[Ed Wahl]

Hi Gene.

It's funny, after I took that pic I thought to myself, 'this is good enough to get Gene's attention'.

As usual my thermometer was elswhere, I can say that the water was a bit cool for swimming but not by too much.

It was your Damsel pattern that worked out the best, I begged a couple off Scott last year. Would you be so kind as to share the tying recipe? I had 2 but eventually popped them both off on hooksets that were way too hard. Looked like Ultra Chenille body, and v-rib eyes? I should have taken notes before tying them on but it was all in the heat of battle.

There are more lakes up there than fleas on Duke. I intend to hit as many as I can before this short summer is over.

Company is always welcome.

Ed

[gene goss]

Hi Gene.

It's funny, after I took that pic I thought to myself, 'this is good enough to get Gene's attention'.

As usual my thermometer was elswhere, I can say that the water was a bit cool for swimming but not by too much.

It was your Damsel pattern that worked out the best, I begged a couple off Scott last year. Would you be so kind as to share the tying recipe? I had 2 but eventually popped them both off on hooksets that were way too hard. Looked like Ultra Chenille body, and v-rib eyes? I should have taken notes before tying them on but it was all in the heat of battle.

There are more lakes up there than fleas on Duke. I intend to hit as many as I can before this short summer is over.

Company is always welcome.

Ed

Hey Ed....You can find the tying recipe and some pictures at this web. site
http://gbflycasters.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=5202715
You will have to play with the CDC dubbing amount to make the fly suspended.

[Cranny]

Great report! Headed up to GR for the first time this weekend for a couple nights - thanks for the road info. Looks like an awesome place.

[Ed Wahl]

Thanks Gene, that's just what I needed.

Ed

[DFrink]

Fished Milk Lake yesterday morning. Should have listened to Ed, Lake was just planted with lots of hungry small trout. I caught about 10 on dry's from 7 to 9, water was 60 deg. After only having 1 good grad and not landing anything over 8 inches I packed up and headed over to Round Lake. Caught about 10 decent brookies. Some of these fish were just beautiful and full of color. Had takes almost every other cast, lake was 64 degrees. All brookies were caught with an I line and one of Scott V's frog snot patterns (love this pattern and rarely use anything else). On the hike out taking a quick break heading back to Grouse Ridge (nice steep hill!) I looked down at Sanford, out of time but heading back soon to find one of those nice big Bow's that Ed found and Round last week. There were 6 cars up there when I arrived at 6am (and this was a Thursday). Can't imagine heading up on a Sat or Sun. Beautiful day for float tubing in solitude.

Dan