A Return to Goose Lake

This lake south of Mount Adams is located in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest west of the mountain community of Trout Lake just off the Pacific Crest Trail has long been a favorite of trout fishers. During the summer it can be quite crowded as it gets copious plants of cutthroats and rainbows. And despite the reports from my fellow club members about double-digit days I have avoided it like the plague. I am not sure whether my dislike of crowds, being too snobbish to admit fishing for planted trout or numbers fisheries or whether I was actually skunked my last trip long ago. How dare a mere planter turn up its nose at my fly?

Memory loss from advancing age overlooked all these reasons and I and the Silver Hilton spent a bluebird fall day in relative seclusion catching and releasing more cutts and rainbows than I deserved. All on dry flies to boot. The bonus were several holdovers pushing 15” and a number of brook trout in their brilliant spawning dress.

I should have never let so many years pass between trips. Ego will do that to you. Next fall, I will return.