Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/893386
84 | SignatureMT With the sun high overhead, I grimaced under the weight of an overloaded pack and began the off-trail grind towards alpine fishing nirvana. Hours later, I pushed through the last patches of stunted timber and broke into the open on the edge of an emerald green, ice cold mountain lake, teeming with cuhroat's. Sore feet and aching back were immediately forgoen at the sight of trout rising to slurp bugs from the surface. Within minutes, hastily stripped fly line was zipping through polished eyelets and sailing through the air, sending an artificial insect in the direction of the ruckus just below the surface. Although human error and a fickle wind resulted in less than perfect delivery, the fly had barely begun to sele when a brilliantly colored cuhroat struck from below, shaering the mirrored finish of the otherwise serene lake. With rod bent and tight line peeling away against a loosely set drag, I took a deep breath, relaxed and embraced the gi of the moment. While releasing the ambitious cuhroat back into the dead calm waters he'd risen from, I wondered to myself, "Why don't more people do this?" Although I'd like to keep all of Montana's mountain lakes to myself, the peaceful adventures to be earned in the high country are worth sharing (and I'll never get to them all anyway), so here's a few things I've learned the hard way that may make your time in the mountains memorable. Where to go Finding an alpine lake to fish can be as simple as looking at a map, selecting a circle of blue in an area you'd like to explore and geing aer it. However, "winging it" in lieu of a carefully considered plan in the backcountry tends to result in an inordinate amount of preventable road rash. Research need not be intimidating and USGS topographical maps, online forums, backpacking shops and hiking clubs are great places to start. ose that have discovered hidden gems holding numbers of quality fish don't oen divulge the evidence freely though, so cross-check "facts" from multiple sources before burning boot-leather. Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks (FWP) (hp://fwp.mt.gov/fishing/) continues to be a solid source of information on mountain lake fishing and a great place to start detailed investigation. Stats on fish stocking, survey information, and access tips are readily available and unbiased. is info is essential, as not all mountain lakes produce well, with some even being fishless thanks to winterkill or intentional poisoning by FWP. Avoid assumptions and do your research ahead of time to ensure a quality experience. Aer completing initial research and draing the skeleton of a plan, reach out to a representative of FWP or the National Forest Service in the region you plan to explore; explain what you're up to, ask lots of questions, take good notes and you'll walk away with actionable intelligence. Mid-morning sun is a welcome thing at the higher elevations of Montana's mountain lakes. Even summer evenings tend to be crisp with cool mornings that make backpackers immediately appreciate the warmth of the first sun beams that break over the ridge and spill into camp.