Fishing the Uintas

Other popular flies at this time of year are those that look like common insects, such as ants, beetles and damselflies.

For those not proficient at throwing a fly line, there's the alternative of using a spincasting outfit and throwing bait, lures or a bubble with a fly below.

A good method of fishing any of the Uinta lakes is with a spincasting rig throwing a bubble and fly. This allows a fisherman to match hatches with flies and allows them to cast without snagging up on the thick vegetation usually found around the shorelines.

The secret here is to apply trial-and-error tactics. Start, for example, putting the fly the recommended distance of three to four feet behind the bubble. If there is no action, go shorter, even up to two feet. Then, start with the bubble half-full of water and floating, then work to where it's full and sinking. If there is surface feeding, obviously, then float the bubble, and if there's no sign of feeding, then sink the bubble.

Midday, lures work well. They, too, should be cast out and allowed to sink to different levels in order to find where the fish are holding.

Good lures to try include the Jake's Spin-a-Lure, preferably brass colored with red dots, and a Maise, and spinners like the Panther Martin.

Inlets are another place to concentrate attention. Incoming water brings food and fish know it.

Best fishing in the higher lakes is in the mornings and evenings, when shadows start to appear.

During the afternoon hours, try fishing around lily pads and on the shady side of fallen trees.

If the fishing slows in the afternoon, a good alternative is to fish the streams flowing into the lakes.

"The streams are often overlooked," said Byron Gunderson of Fish Tech Outfitter. "Because of the limited food supply in the streams, these fish need to feed all day, which can result in some good fishing."

Opportunities, of course, vary with time and interests.

There are those lakes that are very easy to reach, like Lost, Trial, Moosehorn, Teapot, Lilly and Mirror. Parking is less than a minute's walk to the shoreline.

There are those fishermen, however, who prefer to leave the pavement for hiking trails and solitude. For those, there are a number of lakes within an hour's hike.

Alexander Lake is a short drive off the main highway from the Spring Creek turnoff.

There are a number of lakes accessible from the Trial Lake Trail, like Blue, Hourglass, Haystack and Crystal.

Same is true over the Bald Mountain Trail. Along the trail are Clegg, Notch and Bench lakes.

All are within a few miles of parking and require little strenuous hiking for young and/or old to reach.