Last week I took some leave. I had to get away from the dry hot unrelenting Yuma Arizona sun, and escape to the mountains of central Idaho. So the wife and packed our bags and moved out at 0530 in typical Marine Corps fashion.The closer we got to Idaho the more excited I got, I began to see the trout rising on a mountain streams pool at sunset as the sun sliped over the sharp rocky faces of the Sawtooth Mountains. I’m rudely brought back to reality as the gps tells me to take a right turn.The first thing I do is stop at the local Sportsmans Warehouse to stock up on flies and a new set of waders. My wife laughs because I’m like a little kid in a candy store.Finally the next day after a 15 hour drive from Yuma Arizona to Redfish lake Idaho, I’m out on the water testing out the new waders and getting back into the rhythm of casting a fly rod. That night my Father in Law and I prepare to make a three and a half mile hump up in to the mountains to reach a set of lakes called the Bench Lakes. It’s 0730 when I step out on to the trail head, after a hour half hike we reach the first of four lakes. The lakes get higher as you go along. The trail was in good shape to the first and second lakes. We didn’t fish them as they looked more like bass rather than trout ponds with all the lilly pads. But, after the second lake the trail dissappears. Not too many people try for the last lake I guess or maybe its beacause it’s in a wilderness area? Who knows but the Marine side of me pushed me on up the mountain. We ended up making our own way up a steep boulder field until we at last reached the last lake. It was quite the climb! The air was so thin it made it really hard to catch your breath! But the view! it was like some thing off of a post card! The lake was as clear as fine crystal.I pulled out my 6 weight fly rod and began casting out onto the lake. As soon as my fly hit the water a small rainbow trout took it and began fighting. The trout in the lake fought like the dickins!They weren’t very big but they fought hard and it was so pretty up there that it was worth the long steep hike. I can not wait to be done with active duty so I can return to my trout streams and rivers and once again begin chasing my trout!
Great read! Ya know, it got me to thinking .. Like so many other fly fishing locations that people write about on this site, I have never even casted a fly into Idaho waters. People always say it’s a “small world” .. in some respects I agree and in other respects .. not at all. It would be no “small” feet for me to get to where you are standing in that picture! And, there is a very good chance I never will. And that realization is what makes things pretty cool … There is just no way on earth that any 1 person could “do it all” (even though we can try our best) .. but, collectively it is amazing what we get done. And, another thing I realized while reading your article is that although the fish are the prize and the fish are ultimately what we are chasing … it’s the total journey of any fly fishing trip that matters … It must have been pretty cool when the “trail vanished” and getting to the 4th lake was something more than just being satisfied with getting to the 2nd lake. From the looks of that picture – it seems like at the 4th lake you found what you, and many of us, are ultimately searching for.
The most I have experienced Idaho is to fish Henry’s Fork. I was in the Corps 66-71 and can understand getting to the top of that hill, sometimes you have to dig a little deeper but to fish, I can dig pretty deep. I was watching a show on fishing Idaho the other day and relized how much fishing I still had to do out there. Gorgeous scenery and great fishing I’ve been told and will be out again. Semper Fi!
Good read, i’m sure it was ultra satisfying when you conquered the boulder field and reached that last lake! The sawtooth range is an amazing backdrop to cast a fly against. the stanley area is totally captivating and i travel their in my memory quite often.
Great story CK, I haven’t been out to Redfish lake or that area in awhile, since I was a teenager, seeing the Sawtooth mountain range reminds of the good times I had with families and friends, and some folks think that when they do go out to fish it’s all about catching the big ones or trouts by the hundreds, and alot of us tend to forget that when we do go out it’s about the serenity and peace that we have in us that makes us go out in the first place, it’s about the breathtaking scenery that we share with families and friends when the adventure is over.
thank you for your service if it wasn’t folks like you we might not have that peace of mind everytime we go out into the wilderness to chase our dreams and enjoy our lives.