High Lake Cutt's - Olympic National Park

[Jar Head]

Here's some fresh pics of this mornings action on a little obscure Olympic Mountain lake - Jupiter Lake. Actually, it is a cluster of lakes and tarns; the fish in the pics below were from the largest of the lakes.

Quick story - Years ago, I was reading some book, I don't remember the title. It was about high lakes fishing in Washington. The author mentioned that he had caught Golden Trout in the Olympic NP. So, I contacted him to find out where (I MUST KNOW!). All he would say is that one of the Jupiter Lakes had 'em. So, twice now, I have visited the basin in search of Goldens (They're on my life list of fish to catch). I think now I can say that the author of that book either had poor eyesight or he has a awful mean streak. The lakes require a dedicated bush-wack to reach and right now, my legs are chewed up like they went through a sausage grinder.

Anyhow, the lakes do have some beautiful Cutthroat's. I think they even resemble Golden's slightly. Notice the underwater shot (sorry, it's blurry) - the markings are very similar, I think.

I know there is a lake in the Washington cascades that has Golden's - Guess I'll resume my quest there.

One of the Jupiter Lakes (the big one)
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Jupiter_Lake_2.jpg (http://www.ifish.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/101125/size/big/cat//ppuser/1069)

Mr. Cutt
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Cutt_from_Jupiter_Lake_2.jpg (http://www.ifish.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/101123/size/big/cat//ppuser/1069)

http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Cutt_from_Jupiter_Lake.jpg (http://www.ifish.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/101122/size/big/cat//ppuser/1069)

http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Cutt_from_Jupiter_Lake_3.jpg (http://www.ifish.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/101124/size/big/cat//ppuser/1069)

[Chester Allen]

Pretty fish!
You should check with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife -- they will tell you locations of high-country golden trout. And Olympic National Park has fish biologists....

[5-Cents]

Those are some very cool pics - in a trip like that the "adventure" of getting there is half of the fun! :applause:

[BarroomHero]

Awesome pics! I wish I knew of a couple little gem lakes like that to throw flies at some cutts and brookies around here!:applause:

[Jar Head]

Awesome pics! I wish I knew of a couple little gem lakes like that to throw flies at some cutts and brookies around here!:applause:

Not exactly close to Canby, but you might try Bull of the Woods Wilderness area in the Cascades. There are half a dozen lakes there and most of them have either Cutt's or Brookies. The lakes require about a 1.5 to 7 mile hike in, depending on which lakes you target. Most are off of an established trail, but some you can bush wack to - if you're into solitude and route finding.

[BarroomHero]

Not exactly close to Canby, but you might try Bull of the Woods Wilderness area in the Cascades. There are half a dozen lakes there and most of them have either Cutt's or Brookies. The lakes require about a 1.5 to 7 mile hike in, depending on which lakes you target. Most are off of an established trail, but some you can bush wack to - if you're into solitude and route finding.

Awesome. I will have to try to organize a trip in and check it out one of these days! Thanks a lot!

-BH

[Ryan Pultz]

good luck on the golden quest If you ever git sick of looking in Washington and break for California let me know I will send you in the right direction we use to catch them once a year down on the Kern Plateau lots of fun and have to be tops as the prettiest fish I have ever caught. rp

[Jar Head]

good luck on the golden quest If you ever git sick of looking in Washington and break for California let me know I will send you in the right direction we use to catch them once a year down on the Kern Plateau lots of fun and have to be tops as the prettiest fish I have ever caught. rp

Good deal RP - Thanks for the help. Funny that you mention the Kern area. When I was about 16, I fished the Kern River and was hoping to bump into a golden - Never did, but that's what started this itch to scratch. Now, I'm 42 and still on my quest :) I figure I got the whole next half of my life to catch one and if the man upstairs takes me early, well, he probably has goldies waiting for me up there too :D

That reminds me, I still need to get my sins and good deeds in order....:whistle:

[dubl_t]

Ditto with Wyoming. Let me know when you want to go. Like you probably already know, Goldens aren't easy to get to, but they sure are worth it! (If for nothing more than the scenery).

http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg124/dubl_t/WY07%20hunting/P1020548.jpg

[Jar Head]

Ditto with Wyoming. Let me know when you want to go. Like you probably already know, Goldens aren't easy to get to, but they sure are worth it! (If for nothing more than the scenery).


dubl_t: Looks like a very lonely trail - Just my kind of place! I never thought to consider Wyoming for the quest for the Gold. That would be a dream trip for sure. Thanks for the offer - I may take you up on it one of these days.

[Phillip Catalano]

Super pictures ! I would love to get there some day.

[Navigator]

Way cool. Those fish look as good as gold to me. Thanks for sharing!

[Paman]

Here's some fresh pics of this mornings action on a little obscure Olympic Mountain lake - Jupiter Lake. Actually, it is a cluster of lakes and tarns; the fish in the pics below were from the largest of the lakes.

Quick story - Years ago, I was reading some book, I don't remember the title. It was about high lakes fishing in Washington. The author mentioned that he had caught Golden Trout in the Olympic NP. So, I contacted him to find out where (I MUST KNOW!). All he would say is that one of the Jupiter Lakes had 'em. So, twice now, I have visited the basin in search of Goldens (They're on my life list of fish to catch). I think now I can say that the author of that book either had poor eyesight or he has a awful mean streak. The lakes require a dedicated bush-wack to reach and right now, my legs are chewed up like they went through a sausage grinder.

Anyhow, the lakes do have some beautiful Cutthroat's. I think they even resemble Golden's slightly. Notice the underwater shot (sorry, it's blurry) - the markings are very similar, I think.

I know there is a lake in the Washington cascades that has Golden's - Guess I'll resume my quest there.

One of the Jupiter Lakes (the big one)
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Jupiter_Lake_2.jpg (http://www.ifish.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/101125/size/big/cat//ppuser/1069)

Mr. Cutt
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Cutt_from_Jupiter_Lake_2.jpg (http://www.ifish.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/101123/size/big/cat//ppuser/1069)

http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Cutt_from_Jupiter_Lake.jpg (http://www.ifish.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/101122/size/big/cat//ppuser/1069)

http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Cutt_from_Jupiter_Lake_3.jpg (http://www.ifish.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/101124/size/big/cat//ppuser/1069)
Nice pictures, I fished the Seven Sisters Lakes in Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming and heard about golden trout in the upper glacier lakes. I tried hiking up with my wife and daughter but terrain was rough going along with a scary Thunderstorm. Good luck with your quest.

[Badgerj]

Here's some fresh pics of this mornings action on a little obscure Olympic Mountain lake - Jupiter Lake. Actually, it is a cluster of lakes and tarns; the fish in the pics below were from the largest of the lakes.

Quick story - Years ago, I was reading some book, I don't remember the title. It was about high lakes fishing in Washington. The author mentioned that he had caught Golden Trout in the Olympic NP. So, I contacted him to find out where (I MUST KNOW!). All he would say is that one of the Jupiter Lakes had 'em. So, twice now, I have visited the basin in search of Goldens (They're on my life list of fish to catch). I think now I can say that the author of that book either had poor eyesight or he has a awful mean streak. The lakes require a dedicated bush-wack to reach and right now, my legs are chewed up like they went through a sausage grinder.

Anyhow, the lakes do have some beautiful Cutthroat's. I think they even resemble Golden's slightly. Notice the underwater shot (sorry, it's blurry) - the markings are very similar, I think.

I know there is a lake in the Washington cascades that has Golden's - Guess I'll resume my quest there.

One of the Jupiter Lakes (the big one)
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Jupiter_Lake_2.jpg (http://www.ifish.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/101125/size/big/cat//ppuser/1069)

Mr. Cutt
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Cutt_from_Jupiter_Lake_2.jpg (http://www.ifish.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/101123/size/big/cat//ppuser/1069)

http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Cutt_from_Jupiter_Lake.jpg (http://www.ifish.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/101122/size/big/cat//ppuser/1069)

http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Cutt_from_Jupiter_Lake_3.jpg (http://www.ifish.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/101124/size/big/cat//ppuser/1069)

That is a beautiful fish! What strain of cutthroat is that? Very vivid color. Thanks for sharing...that's one of my favorite fish.

Isn't there a lake in the Eagle Caps that has Golden trout? I noticed that ODFW lists the Oregon state record Golden from there. Thats the only thing I've heard about them here. Good luck on your quest and please post picks when that day comes.

Jason

[Jar Head]

I have no idea what strain these Cutt's are, but I do plan on contacting the fish bio for the Olympic NP (like Chester Allen suggested in his post above). If I find out, I'll post. Also, thanks for the tip on the ECWA Golden's. I've made one trip out there for a backpack - Got trail dusted by horses and eaten alive by 'squitos, so I haven't been too anxious to return. A chance at a Golden could change that attitude though.

Here's some more pics - I think these little guys are just gorgeous too. Their red bellies really make them distinct. I have't seen that in another Cutt. Has anyone else? If so, would love to see some other Cutt's that look similar - Post pics if you can.
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Cutt.jpg (http://www.ifish.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/101372/size/big/cat//ppuser/1069)
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Cutt_-_red_belly.jpg (http://www.ifish.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/101373/size/big/cat//ppuser/1069)

If anyone is putting Jupiter Lake on their list of backpacking destinations; here's some beta on getting there. It's on the East side of the Olympic's - between Duckabush and Dosewallips River drainages. It's about a 7 mile ridgeline backpack and then, about 1/2 or so before the Mt. Jupiter Summit, you take a right turn (going North) off the ridge to drop down to the Jupiter Lakes basin. Roughly about 3/4 of a mile from the trial to the largest of the set of lakes, where these fish were caught. In the pic below, the lowest point in the horizon is about where you leave the trail to bushwack to the lakes.
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Jupiter_Lake_-_Largest.jpg (http://www.ifish.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/101374/size/big/cat//ppuser/1069)

[Badgerj]

I have no idea what strain these Cutt's are, but I do plan on contacting the fish bio for the Olympic NP (like Chester Allen suggested in his post above). If I find out, I'll post. Also, thanks for the tip on the ECWA Golden's. I've made one trip out there for a backpack - Got trail dusted by horses and eaten alive by 'squitos, so I haven't been too anxious to return. A chance at a Golden could change that attitude though.

Here's some more pics - I think these little guys are just gorgeous too. Their red bellies really make them distinct. I have't seen that in another Cutt. Has anyone else? If so, would love to see some other Cutt's that look similar - Post pics if you can.
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Cutt.jpg (http://www.ifish.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/101372/size/big/cat//ppuser/1069)
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Cutt_-_red_belly.jpg (http://www.ifish.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/101373/size/big/cat//ppuser/1069)

If anyone is putting Jupiter Lake on their list of backpacking destinations; here's some beta on getting there. It's on the East side of the Olympic's - between Duckabush and Dosewallips River drainages. It's about a 7 mile ridgeline backpack and then, about 1/2 or so before the Mt. Jupiter Summit, you take a right turn (going North) off the ridge to drop down to the Jupiter Lakes basin. Roughly about 3/4 of a mile from the trial to the largest of the set of lakes, where these fish were caught. In the pic below, the lowest point in the horizon is about where you leave the trail to bushwack to the lakes.
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Jupiter_Lake_-_Largest.jpg (http://www.ifish.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/101374/size/big/cat//ppuser/1069)

They sure are beautiful. Thank you very much for sharing.

Jason