I've been getting the itch to do some camping and fishing in the mountains. Unfortunately that's still months away, so I thought I'd post some pictures of an overnight backpacking trip to Moose Lake in the Grand Valley of Olympic NP. It's a good trip for someone new to flyfishing or anyone who wants to see some beautiful country and enjoy as many guilt-free trout as you can possibly eat.
The Grand Valley http://www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/grand-valley.htm is reached from the Obstruction Point trailhead (6100) feet, so the hike doesn't open up until mid-summer. Moose Lake is slightly more than four miles from the trailhead, and mostly downhill on the way in, through open country. You will need to get a campsite permit, available at the Wilderness Information Center in Port Angeles. That said, the weekend I was there (early September) there was no one else camping at Moose Lake.
There are really too many brook trout in Moose Lake, but this makes it a great destination for someone just learning to fish. The fish are hungry and will rocket towards just about any dry fly. Use a fly that floats well after repeatedly being lodged in fishes' mouths. And don't be concerned about keeping fish for breakfast, lunch and dinner -- NPS would love to see every single invasive trout fished out of the lake, however impossible that task would be. I carried a float tube in, but didn't need it (and regretted bringing it on the hike out).
The Grand Valley http://www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/grand-valley.htm is reached from the Obstruction Point trailhead (6100) feet, so the hike doesn't open up until mid-summer. Moose Lake is slightly more than four miles from the trailhead, and mostly downhill on the way in, through open country. You will need to get a campsite permit, available at the Wilderness Information Center in Port Angeles. That said, the weekend I was there (early September) there was no one else camping at Moose Lake.
There are really too many brook trout in Moose Lake, but this makes it a great destination for someone just learning to fish. The fish are hungry and will rocket towards just about any dry fly. Use a fly that floats well after repeatedly being lodged in fishes' mouths. And don't be concerned about keeping fish for breakfast, lunch and dinner -- NPS would love to see every single invasive trout fished out of the lake, however impossible that task would be. I carried a float tube in, but didn't need it (and regretted bringing it on the hike out).
