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Brown Trout Of The
Boulder Mountain
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Are there any brown trout on Boulder Mountain? The answer to that question is YES! There are no brown trout in the lakes of Boulder Mountain, but the streams that flow from this mountain hold plenty of browns in the lower reaches. The rocky bottoms and undercut banks of these cold clear streams provide outstanding habitat for Brown trout [Salmo trutta]. Sandstone cliffs line either side of the winding boulder strewn canyons that run from the base of the Aquarius Plateau for many miles, down through the slickrock country of the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, finally reaching their confluence with the Escalante River. Brown trout were first introduced to this area in the 1940's by wildlife officers and sportsmen attempting to bring some diversity to the local fisheries. The first stocking of brown trout fingerlings was in Calf Creek located midway between the towns of Boulder and Escalante on Scenic Byway 12. The browns thrived in the little spring fed stream that was a series of small but deep beaver ponds. It was just a matter of time before the trout migrated downstream and into the Escalante River. From there they spread like wildfire, upstream and down, entering all of the cold water tributaries flowing from nearby Boulder Mountain and the Aquarius Plateau.
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The streams that flow from the Boulder Mountain and into the Escalante River are very remote in their lower reaches. Hiking to these remote areas with the intent to flyfish for the brown trout there can be a difficult process. Some streams can be reached by hiking over rough boulder and slickrock terrain for 1 - 2 miles one way. The hike to the stream at this relatively short distance, under these conditions can still take as much as 2 hours. This allows for several hours of flyfishing and then it is time to go, as the trip back to your vehicle is usually uphill and an arduous trek on tired legs. Other streams are even more difficult to access, requiring a hike of 3 - 7 miles one way, over very rough country. It is best to plan on camping atleast one night to visit these areas. When you plan a trip to these remote streams, it is always wise to consider the possibility of inclement weather and pack the appropriate gear. Waterproof tents are a must have. Sleeping bags, warm clothing, rain jackets and pants, extra food, strong insect repellant, first aid etc.. Don't be caught unprepared without the necessary gear in this rugged country. Once you have made it to your destination, a remote stream in a secluded sandstone canyon far from the highway and any sign of civilization....it's time to flyfish!
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The trout that you can expect to cast to in these lower elevation streams that empty into the Escalante River will almost certainly be browns. Rainbows and occasionally even cutthroats have made their way downstream into these lower canyons. And so these other species of trout are sometimes caught in the deeper holes, but not very often. The water temperature at this elevation is just not suitable for rainbows and cutthroats in the warmer months. Brown trout will tolerate the warmer water better....up to a point. There are also schools of suckers in these deep pools. These fish may seem undesirable to some anglers. Considered as trash fish, or rough fish by most flyfishers, they are actually quite difficult to hook on a fly. They hunker down on the bottom of the deeper runs and pools and refuse most offerings. When you realize that they will take small nymphs drifted naturally along the bottom, it won't be long before you hook one. When you do, get ready for a fight! These suckers will average 3 - 5 pounds and are tough to land on a light flyrod. If you do land one, you will notice that they are really a beautiful fish, except for the downturned mouth. It is best to release them unharmed though, as you never know for sure if you are holding a Flannelmouth sucker [Catostomus latipinnis] or another sensitive / endangered fish species of the Colorado River system.
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The Escalante River flows into Lake Powell. Consequently, a variety of fish species are free to migrate upstream and then into the tributaries that feed the Escalante River. catfish, bluegill, walleye, and especially carp have been found in many of these small streams. There is always the possibility of a rare fish such as the Humpback chub [Gila cypha], Colorado pikeminnow [Ptychocheilus lucius], Razorback sucker [Xyrauchen texanus]and other sensitive / endangered species from the Colorado River system making their way up and into the Escalante River system. The suckers that are seen in the riffles and pools of these streams are the Utah sucker [Catostomus ardens] and quite possibly the Flannelmouth sucker [Catostomus latipinnis]. Colorado pikeminnow, formerly known as the Colorado sqauwfish were common on the upper Colorado River as recently as 1940. Anglers would hook these huge fish along the banks of the upper Colorado River, some of which weighed in excess of 60 pounds, with a light rod and reel. Imagine hooking into a fish of that size from the bank, holding on for dear life as the monster ripped the line from your reel! It must have been exiting to land a fish like that!
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The Escalante River for all intents and purposes looks like the ideal trout stream. There are beautiful flat riffles that run into deep pools on every bend. Undercut banks with overhanging trees, log jams, boulders and sandstone cliffs are everywhere. Hiking in this river corridor is very strenuous if you try to navigate along the banks. Since cattle grazing has been virtually eliminated in the river bottoms, the riparian is so thick you have to walk in the river whenever possible! The insect hatches are fantastic, with March Brown mayflies and clouds of Little Yellow stoneflies starting off the season in late March and early April. Various caddis and mayfly hatches occur daily throughout the Summer and Fall. However, all of this cannot help the trout to flourish in this seemingly perfect stream. During July and August the water temperature averages 70 degrees or more. Water this warm won't support wild trout, even browns. The tributaries that flow from the Boulder Mountain are much cooler and will hold healthy populations of wild trout year round. As you progress upstream into these smaller streams, you will begin seeing more trout in the riffles and pools.
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The brown trout pictured at left has quite a humpback of his own. This strange looking trout was caught and released in one of the tributary streams that feed the Escalante River. As you can clearly see by this image, he has not struggled to find enough to eat! Brown trout are really quite versatile in their feeding habits. Once they mature, they will eat, or attempt to eat anything that they see in the water column. This includes invertebrates, terrestrial insects of all types and sizes, salamanders, frogs, snakes, lizzards, minnows of all species, even mice or young birds that happen to fall into the stream. Not much drifts unnoticed past a big brown laying up under the bank, including your well placed fly! Large terrestrial patterns such as ants, hoppers and cicadas get noticed. Heavy streamers like # 2 or # 4 muddlers work exceptionally well here.
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Farther upstream in the tributaries of the Escalante River, the number of rough fish decreases, and the numbers of brown trout increase. This is due in part because the suckers and other fish seem to prefer the slower deeper pools, and the warmer temperatures of the lower elevations. The structure of the streambeds change considerably as you progress upstream. The gradient is a bit steeper here, with a rocky streambed and less sand. This creates more riffles between pools. The high sandstone cliffs that loom over the stream on both sides in the lower country give way to wide open areas. The riparian also changes, providing more trees along the banks, and less willows. There are still sandstone cliffs along the way, but not as many. Brown trout are everywhere as you wade up the stream.
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The mid elevation areas of some of these streams will often flow through private property. This restricts access to most anglers. Since these areas are prime for brown trout, a guide is recommended. The brown trout continue to be the majority of fish caught here, but are beginning to give way to the rainbow as you move upstream closer to the Boulder Mountain. These streams are secluded and as close to pristine as you can get. Very few flyfishers ever get the opportunity to walk and wade in a fine trout stream with no other anglers. Boulder provides that special setting for this to occur. Rarely do you ever encounter another angler while flyfishing a secluded stream on Boulder Mountain. With private access, this is assured.
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The private waters are managed as wild trout only. This means that no fish are stocked. The wild browns are totally self-sustaining and receive no food other than their natural diet of insects etc.. They are not casted to often in the streams. Consequently, they will take your fly readily. They will sometimes chase a fly downstream as it drifts, finally grabbing it right at your feet! The wild brown trout that inhabit the private ponds are not as easy to hook, however. The water is crystal clear and these fish are wary. They will rise to a dryfly or take a nymph with a decent presentation. Your guide will help you with your cast so that you can accomplish this. If you have never flyfished, what better place to get started, than a stillwater setting where you could hook and land a trophy wild trout on your first flyfishing trip.
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