My golden trout backpacking trip involved two years of scouring internet pictures and forums, Google Earth maps, and emailing biologists to hone in on several lakes that warranted a closer look. This hidden gem sits at 9075′ and is a perfect lake to catch a fish or take a dip. Rather, you need to strap on a backpack and hiking boots and hit the trails for a few days at a time. Download this stock image: small golden trout, Cave Lake, Crazy Mountains, Montana, USA - PEFH5J from Alamy's library of millions of high resolution stock photos, illustrations and vectors. Yikes! View High-Resolution Image. This is actually a collection of three lakes, though we just went to the main one. Montana Native:No. In early July 2012, my mom and I headed up into the Gallatin Mountains for our next hiking adventure: Golden Trout Lakes. CODY, WYOMING'S FRIENDLIEST FLY SHOP AND FISHIEST GUIDE SERVICE. Thread starter mcnerney; Start date Sep 27, 2018; mcnerney Administrator. Turn east at the Portal Creek turnoff – FS Road 984. South Fork Reservoir Elko County, Nevada Coho Salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch. South Fork Reservoir Elko County, Nevada Coho Salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch. Little Lightning is where the juvenile Trout stay until they are big enough to swim up the 100 yard creek to the big lake. Weight: 5.43 lbs. I can’t remember the exact moment I learned golden trout existed. They are native to California, but even there they are not nearly as common as they used to be. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Beautiful Alpine Lake. Sawtooth Lake is a tale of two species: the brook trout, which is notoriously outgoing and unafraid, and the golden trout, which is notoriously the opposite. Beautiful Trail; Even More Beautiful Lakes. Golden Trout Lakes from Mapcarta, the free map. 12 oz. Gallatin Range Largely roadless and untouched, the Gallatins run north to south from the Gallatin Valley to Yellowstone National Park, between Gallatin Canyon and Paradise Valley. You must log in or register to reply here. Fishermen will find a variety of fish including brown trout, northern pike, rainbow trout and whitefish here. Generally you can’t just do a quick day trip for these ornate fish. Length: 28.5 in. Golden Trout. Each trip reaffirms the fact that the road sucks. 25 miles northwest of Dillon, Montana, in the East Pioneer Mountains. Two such men. This is a Golden caught in Lightning Creek, Montana. Before you commit to taking time off, and miles of effort, do your research! Length: 35.5 in. Wyoming's record golden trout, which is also the current world record (an 11-pounder measuring 28 inches), was caught at Cook Lake in 1948. Comments & voting; Other parents; Image Type(s): Scenery. The largest Golden on record is an 11-pound, 4-ounce fish that was caught in Wyoming in 1948, and a 9 and ½ pound fish was taken from Virginia Lake, California in 1952. Golden Trout, native to the Kern River drainage of the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California, is a fancy fish that captured the hearts of many a man. Whether you’re baitcasting, spinning or fly fishing your chances of getting a bite here are good. Blue and Pear lakes also offer good fishing. I quipped that James Bond would have loved this road. Image ID: 977029. Fishermen will find a variety of fish including golden trout and rainbow trout here. Home to the first plant of golden trout (native to the Sierra Mountains of California) in Montana, Sylvan Lake has provided brood stock for numerous other lakes in the Treasure State that now have their own self-sustaining populations of goldens. Now get out there and fish! Angler: Mike Malixi. Jarbidge River - West Fork Elko County, Nevada Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus. Sawtooth Lake is a tale of two species: the brook trout, which is notoriously outgoing and unafraid, and the golden trout, which is notoriously the opposite. The entire hike covers 1300′ of elevation gain and is 5 miles round trip. Cave Lake White Pine County, Nevada Bull Trout Salvelinus confluentus. Length: 28.5 in. Some trails or park services may be closed this weekend so check with local authorities before heading out. To get to Golden Trout Lakes, head north out of Big Sky on highway 191 for 5.1 miles. We did this trail with two other couples in July...it is a beautiful trail that leads to an even more beautiful lake, Golden Trout Lakes. Sylvan Lake’s golden population is so pure that the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks regularly uses the eggs laid by goldens at Sylvan Lake for stocking other lakes in Montana. FWP Photo The Montana state record brook trout was caught from Lower Two Medicine Lake and the state record brown trout came out of Wade Lake. Date: 7/16/00. They are one of the prettiest fish that swims, with orange and olive sides, small black spots, and white fin tips. "Located far off the beaten path most tourist follow, the Boulder River offers great fishing with..." Boulder River, "Oh ya, it might be helpful to know that the lake was last stocked in 2008...." Campfire Lake, "When stocking was discontinued back in the early 80s it was expected that Cascade Lake would become..." Cascade Lake. The Golden Trout Lakes trail (Trail #89) is located up Portal Creek in the Gallatin Canyon near Big Sky. If you have info on Golden Trout Lakes, Gallatin County, Montana please submit it here to improve this web site. CODY, WYOMING'S FRIENDLIEST FLY SHOP AND FISHIEST GUIDE SERVICE. Golden trout up to 4 pounds have been caught in Montana but typical size is usually 6-12 inches. Cave Lake ; Mike Malixi . Fortunately for anglers targeting a golden trout, extensive stocking did occur in numerous lakes and rivers outside the fish’s native range. DISCUSSION Present Status Of the 14 lake systems in Montana with golden trout in 1981, only Lightning, Sylvan, Sawtooth, Island, Hidden #5, 6 and 7 and Golden Trout lakes appear relatively secure. Finally, that afternoon we caught a few beautiful Golden Trout around 16/18 inches. Weight: 5.43 lbs. 9.0 . Golden Trout Lakes trail is a 5 mile out and back hike to a beautiful alpine lake in the Gallatin Range of SW Montana. Hickson’s Pond . I have never heard of the lake but the FWP website states the golden trout state record came from Cave Lake. William Musso 1974 8 lbs. Golden Trout are extremely rare in Utah, and are only found in a select few high mountain lakes in the High Uinta Mountains. Montana's Rocky Mountains harbor thousands of high country lakes that offer anglers the chance to catch trophy fish. There are several unique things about Golden Trout. His martini would have been extremely well shaken. The first challenge in catching golden trout is determining which lakes hold them. Golden Trout Lake – The hike to Golden Trout Lakes begins at the Upper Portal Creek Trailhead. 25 miles northwest of Dillon, Montana, in the East Pioneer Mountains. Like other mountain lake trout species, they are opportunistic feeders, surviving off a variety of aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates. Here's a look at some excellent Montana Brook Trout we tracked down last summer. The Montana state record brook trout was caught from Lower Two Medicine Lake and the state record brown trout came out of Wade Lake. Golden trout were originally found only in a few rivers in northern California. These outdoors activities are available near Golden Trout Lakes. Sylvan Lake’s golden population is so pure that the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks regularly uses the eggs laid by goldens at Sylvan Lake for stocking other lakes in Montana. If you seek the purest golden trout in the Beartooths, you should look no further than Sylvan Lake. Comments & voting; Other parents; Image Type(s): Scenery. Fairy Lake Campground in Custer, Montana | The high elevation Fairy Lake campground is rugged, remote, and good old fashioned fun. Bozeman, Montana 346 contributions 83 helpful votes. Does anyone know if there is still Golden Trout in Cave Lake at the North End of the Crazies? Midway through the climb you will cross the border of Montana and at the top of the pass you encounter Albino Lake at mile 6 and exactly 10,000 ft. Albino Lake is another incredible lake for fishing so if you want to stop and have some lunch and get a little fishing in, Albino is a great place to do so. Originally the golden trout was described as a subspecies of the salmon species, with a name Salmo mykiss agua-bonita, and it is still often considered a subspecies (now called Oncorhynchus mykiss aguabonita) along with several other rainbow trout subspecies commonly known as redband trout. The trip to Lightning Lake is a difficult off-trail backpacking adventure to a high mountain lake in the Beartooth Mountains and one of the only lakes in Montana hosting beautiful golden trout. Be the first to submit input for Golden Trout Lakes. Owens said each lake is different, … 23.5 . Golden Trout Lakes is a water feature in Montana and has an elevation of 9078 feet. Does anyone know if there is still Golden Trout in Cave Lake at the North End of the Crazies? Golden Trout found in Flathead Lake Area. They are one of the prettiest fish that swims, with orange and olive sides, small black spots, and white fin tips. Length: 22 in. All rights reserved. We have updated our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy as of May 5th, 2020. Golden Trout . Help keep our trails and parks open during COVID-19 by committing to social distancing. Scott Barrett 2011 32 lbs. Golden Trout found in Flathead Lake Area. Golden Trout Lakes trail is a 5 mile out and back hike to a beautiful alpine lake in the Gallatin Range of SW Montana. 7 oz. We ran into another set of hikers on the way up and they had on very large bells (they had run into a couple of griz the day before while hiking). Cave Lake Crazy Mountains; Cave Lake Crazy Mountains. Col. Sherman Stevens and his brother, transplanted 13 goldens from Mulkey Humans brought golden trout to Montana in the 1900’s. Golden Trout Lakes is a lake located just 11.9 miles from Big Sky, in Gallatin County, in the state of Montana, United States, near George Norman Trailer Court, MT. Kokanee … Dogs are also able to use this trail. Ashley Lake has the honors for the state record hybrid trout and Flathead Lake for the state record lake trout. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from June until September. HookandBullet.com, a Montlake Media brand. Daughter wants to add Golden Trout to her species list. Tips, tactics, gear reviews for everything from bass and bluegills to stripers and bluefish - if it's fishing related, we cover it. The Golden Trout lakes offer a scenic getaway just out of the Gallatin Valley Canyon. Thread starter mcnerney; Start date Sep 27, 2018; mcnerney Administrator. The trip to Lightning Lake is a difficult off-trail backpacking adventure to a high mountain lake in the Beartooth Mountains and one of the only lakes in Montana hosting beautiful golden trout. 0.84 lbs. Lure ; 7/16/00 . JavaScript is disabled. Length: 35.5 in. Please remember to check with the local Fish and Wildlife department to ensure the stream is open to the public. Everything we would need in our packs all weighing near 80 pounds, we had dehydrated food, water filters, sleeping bags and a the fly fishing gear we would need. They provide a unique opportunity to catch a beautiful fish in a pristine environment. Red Eagle Lake yielded the state record cutthroat trout and Cave Lake gave up the state record golden trout. But for those who make the trip, catching a golden trout, the state fish, is worth the effort. Check out our Fishing Times chart to determine when the fish will be most active. Method: Lure. Worm . Fishermen will find a variety of fish including brown trout, northern pike, rainbow trout and whitefish here. On July 6th in 2015, my good buddy Chase Schott and I were putting our packs together for the long haul to lightning lake to catch Golden Trout. It may not display this or other websites correctly. The road is in rough condition and is better suited for vehicles with a higher clearance. Scope Adjustment: 2-Shot Method to Scope Sighting. Location: Cave Lake. These fish are located only in very small areas in four northwestern states in the United States. Golden Trout Lakes Dayhike I've bumped my way up the Portal Creek road a bunch of times over the past forty years. Scott Barrett 2011 32 lbs. Wanderwege in Gallatin Gateway; Beliebte Kategorien für Gallatin Gateway 6 oz. Rex Shelburne 1985 4 lbs. Like Cottonwood Lakes, the portion of the Kern River where golden trout can be found is extremely tricky to get to. FISH MONTANA NATIVE LENGTH (inches) WEIGHT GIRTH (inches) SITE ANGLER BAIT TACKLE DATE Goldeye 3.18 lbs. The California golden trout, or simply the golden trout (Oncorhynchus aguabonita or Oncorhynchus mykiss aguabonita), is a species of trout native to California.The golden trout is normally found in the Golden Trout Creek (tributary to the Kern River), Volcano Creek (tributary to Golden Trout Creek), and the South Fork Kern River.It is the state freshwater fish of California. Method: Lure. Date: 7/16/00. At about 9,400 feet, there is no easy way to Lightning Lake. Each rock threatens to jar the fillings out of ones teeth. The states known to have stocked golden trout are Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming as well as Alberta Canada. Cave Lake is a lake located just 24 miles from Big Timber, in Park County, in the state of Montana, United States, near Sioux Crossing, MT. The golden trout is a California species that was introduced in Montana in 1907. Golden trout were originally found only in a few rivers in northern California. Cave Lake is a lake in Montana and has an elevation of 7562 feet. Later that morning before lunch we would stop by Little Lightning Lake. True to form, I’ve landed countless brookies and seen only one golden, which quickly swam away. For the first time in more than two decades, I planned not to attend this year’s annual conference of the Outdoor Writers Association of America. The Beartooths alone have over 300 trout-filled lakes––some of which hold 20-plus-inch cuttys and multi-pound golden trout. If I ever come back up here, ill bring a spinning rod. Cave Lake Crazy Mountains. Golden Trout Lakes is a lake located just 11.9 miles from Big Sky, in Gallatin County, in the state of Montana, United States, near George Norman Trailer Court, MT. Multiple Montana’s state record golden trout weighing around 5 pounds have been taken from Lightning Lake over the years. Cave Lake Crazy Mountains Save « PREV NEXT » hyalite01. Updated on 11/13/2017 Page 2 of 3 . Golden Trout Lakes Trail: Beautiful Trail; Even More Beautiful Lakes - See 4 traveler reviews, 3 candid photos, and great deals for Gallatin Gateway, MT, at Tripadvisor. Taxonomy. Cave Lake White Pine County, Nevada Bull Trout Salvelinus confluentus. View High-Resolution Image. Angler: Mike Malixi. Sawtooth Lake. Daughter wants to add Golden Trout to her species list. At about 9,400 feet, there is no easy way to Lightning Lake. Montana Native:No. Cave Lake Crazy Mountains Save « PREV NEXT » hyalite01. Cave Lake from Mapcarta, the free map. Rex Shelburne 1985 4 lbs. Bette Schmieding . Cave Lake is a lake located just 24 miles from Big Timber, in Park County, in the state of Montana, United States, near Sioux Crossing, MT. Because of this, the Absaroka-Beartooths are likely the most popular mountains for alpine anglers in our area. on Jul 15, 2016 4:18 am. To access the trail head, turn east onto Portal Creek Road #984 and continue southeast for 6.8 miles. In fact, much of the South Fork of the Kern River is only accessible to the dedicated outdoorsmen who are willing to ride in by horseback. Wyoming's record golden trout, which is also the current world record (an 11-pounder measuring 28 inches), was caught at Cook Lake in 1948. Multiple Montana’s state record golden trout weighing around 5 pounds have been taken from Lightning Lake over the years. Golden Trout Lakes Trail is a 4.8 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Gallatin Gateway, Montana that features a lake and is rated as moderate. Join us as we discuss the Montana Fishing License options, fishing rules and fishing regulations. Although this trail presents a few difficulties, finding the trailhead is not one of them. Nelson Reservoir Don Nevrivy Jig/Power Crawler 7/4/00 . Whether they are a native fish or not, it’s hard not to like how golden trout look. The trailhead for Golden Trout Lakes is located off of US Highway 191 south of Bozeman, Montana… Humans brought golden trout to Montana in the 1900’s. Goldens had also, however, been stocked in certain alpine lakes … There are currently about 20 golden trout populations in the high mountain lakes of western and southcentral Montana. However, though golden trout are not native to Montana, the crimson-red lateral band, grease-black parr splotches, buttery gold belly, white-tipped fins, and the mud brown back that renders even their vibrancy next to invisible in gin-clear water, paints a wildness into the wild populations in the Beartooths that draws anglers to the mountains like 49’ers to gold. “I caught a bigger golden – 8 pounds – but I … Image ID: 977029. Length: 22 in. 13 . Multi-day trips are the norm. 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