Marion Lake

[Bait O' Eggs]

I took yesterday off and hiked into Marion Lake for the day with the family.

It was my boys 5th birthday and that is where he wanted to go. :grin: :grin: We got to the trailhead and found a guy stranded with a dead battery after spending 3 days at the lakes and just hiking out that morning, after a jump he was on his way. For those that have not been to Marion, it starts off with a 2.5 mile hike thru old growth timber. The scenery is second to none on the way, and once you get there. My boy took his field bug identification book and if it crawled he was all over it. My 2 year old daughter didnt seem to show the same love for the creepy crawlys that he kept catching and showing her.

At last minute I decided to leave the rods behind as I had my hands full just getting the family in and out of the lake. We got to Ann lake (the first lake on the hike) and saw a few fish taking bugs from the surface. When we got to Marion Lake we got an incredible show of watching 2 to 4 trout in the air at a time trying to catch bugs. This was right in the outflow to the lake where it is maybe 20 feet wide and about 2 feet deep. There were hundreds of big flying bugs hovering over the water. I have no idea what they were, but they were big and fuzzy white looking. It appeared the trout were trying to catch them in mid flight as the fish were coming clear out of the water. It was really quite a show to watch. I tried to take a couple pictures catching the trout in mid jump, I hope the photos turn out.

We had lunch on a short ridge that allowed a view of Mt. Jefferson one way and Three Fingered Jack the other way while we were looking down on the lake. :smile:

I wish now I would have taken some rods in to the lake and did a little fishing. But dont we all feel that way about missed fishing opportunities. :depressed:

A great day, and I look forward to getting back in there with the family and fishing rods again soon. :cool:

[Salmonator]

I think that was a salmonfly hatch. I've watched it from the little foot bridge before. That area is closed at least it has been in the past to protect spawning rainbows. We used to catch leaches under the rocks right there at the mouth of that outlet and catch some nice fish on them.

[ 07-12-2002, 09:14 AM: Message edited by: Salmonator ]

[Bait O' Eggs]

They might have been salmon flys, I have seen Salmon Flys on the Deschutes once or twice but I dont know if these were the same bugs. They were not in my field identification book :wink:

And yes we were on the foot bridge when we saw this. I have never fished this side of the lake. I always go the other way and fish the other side of the lake near Mist Creek or I think it is called Mazama Creek.

[rainrshine]

BOE.....is there still snow along the trail higher up? I remember snow along the one side of the lake would always stay around longer cause it was shaded by the trees so I would set up camp next to a pile of snow and use it to keep the beers cold ................Oh yeah and I know its extra work but if you can get a raft up the trail its great to get out in the middle of Marion........ nice big ones out there!!

[Bait O' Eggs]

I saw no snow. I took the fork to the right after Ann and then circled back along the edge of the lake and came out the main trail which would have been the left fork.

If you are packing beer in there, I wanna go with you :grin: I usually take the raft, oars, pump, sleeping bag, tent, food, water filter etc...... when I go and beer gets heavy quick so it gets left behind.

I would not be surprised to find some snow along the trail to Jorn Lake. I would almost bet you could still find snow if you climbed the ridge to Prill lake, though you had better know the way or that lake is tough to find. I did find a blaze trail that leads you to Prill but it is 1000 feet higher than Marion and only about a mile hike or less from Marion.

A raft will make fishing 100 times better than banking it. Though banking can be pretty good some times.

When I was a little kid my dad had a boat chained to the trees in there and a 5 HP gas motor in a 55 gallon drum. Then they banned all that and the boat and motor had to come out.

[BigSpinner]

A few years ago me and my dad and a few of his brothers hiked up the salmonberry we went way way up there 8 miles I think. Well I was to young to drink but they packed me up till I could not take it anymore and then we made our way up river. We fished our way up and every few miles we would stop and put a few beers in the river and mark it with the GPS so they would stay cool and so we could find them later . We caught some great fish up there 18in cutts it was a blast. And on the way back it was so funny the one with the GPS saying ok only 1.5 miles left till our next beer it was a great time. And I drove us back to camp so it was a great fun safe trip.
I just thought I would share that, I dont know why I think it was because that one guy said beer is heavy and that is very true. Well everyone goodluck fishing and stay safe.

Jeremy,