The Mysterious Kubswin Lake

I thought the forecast this week was leading into the equinox storm, the few days of cold bad weather that after it passes we don’t see the 70ºs again until May.  It’s also the storm that knocks all the colorful leaves off our trees.  Fortunately however, the unstable weather was short lived and it’s been pushed out of the area by more beautiful 70º temps. 

Granny and I fished these last two days with friends Dede and Barb.  Sad to say, but this was the first time we’ve got together with them in a couple years.  In 2010 we went to the famous Kubswin Lake and absolutely crushed big fish.  Last year however, this high desert lake legendary for huge brown trout and respectable brook trout, fished poorly and we didn’t go.  Although this years report is about the same as last year we decided to take a gamble.

We met up with Dede and Barb Monday night and began the weekend crashing at their house after a feast.  We went to sleep in rain and the coldest temps we’ve experienced in months.  Then Tuesday we woke up to a thick frost and pea soup like fog that didn’t exactly put is in the get up early and go fishing mode.  Instead we lounged around their place drinking coffee and Granny and I strategically set up our Fantasy Baseball teams for the final playoff round until nearly 10 AM. 

When we arrived at Kubswin the fog broke and weather was quite pleasant.  There was a perfect light wind disturbing the surface of the lake under mostly sunny skies.  In the distance however, some nasty looking clouds loomed.  I was overdressed for the sunshine but as we made our first few casts the clouds ate up the sky and the pleasant day turned into a cold windy one fast.  Kubswin Lake was covered in whitecaps.

We thought the changing weather would be a plus but it wasn’t.  We fished our usual hot spots and tried everything from leeches, streamers and some of my special lake nymphs.  Unfortunately after the first four hours of fishing we’d caught two measly brook trout and had a couple “possible” strikes. 

By 1 the weather conditions were miserable so we angled the cars in order to create a wind block and kicked back to eat and enjoy some tasty beverages.  You never go hungry when fishing with Dede and Barb.  We had everything from hot soup and coffee, chicken, hot dogs, homemade chocolate chip cookies and the list goes on.  We are pros; if the fishing stinks we make up for it in food. 

We never saw blue sky again but at around 5 the drizzle and wind subsided.  There were some fish jumping around within casting distance of shore so we began trying for them from the beach.  These weren’t so much fish eating off the surface rises but more jumping for joy splashes that are common with prespawning brown and brook trout.  We covered the rises with leeches and streamers the best we could in hopes we could entice a take.

Not surprisingly we started catching some fish.  As for action and actual numbers of fish caught, our evening session on Kubswin was fantastic.  I’ll bet between the three of us (Granny took the fishing off) we landed about fifteen.  We caught a brown trout each and the rest were brook trout ranging all the way up to 14 inches – beautiful brookies. 

The brown trout we caught were no slouches.  All three were fat and healthy and gorgeous in color.  But these were much shorter than the monster browns Kubswin is well known for.  If you’ve not checked out the blog for Kubswin in 2010, you must.  This lake has giants and although tonight’s fish were quality anywhere else, they were not why you come to this lake.

We headed back to Dede and Barbs house last night and ended our evening with a spaghetti meal to die for.  Then we were up early today despite another thick frost and back to Kubswin.  Today we fished a half day under clear blue sky and almost no wind at all.  As I often say on my lake fishing blogs, no wind is a curse.  We fished hard from 9 till 1 and between the four of us not one fish was caught. 

Kubswin Lake is feast or famine.  This weekend provided a day of each, although yesterday really isn’t why we come here.  Nonetheless it was a great two days with friends.  Tomorrow it will be back to work then on Friday it’s off to Blackfoot Reservoir to bang up the carp one more time.

Jeff Currier Global Fly Fishing