Splake have been stocked into many of the lakes of Boulder Mountain and also some of the remote lakes on top of the Aquarius Plateau.

Links / Add A Link / Aquarius Plateau Lakes / North Side Lakes / South Side Lakes / East Side Lakes / West Side Lakes

Splake Of The Boulder Mountain

Splake have been stocked into many of the lakes of Boulder Mountain and also some of the remote lakes on top of the Aquarius Plateau. These hybrid trout were stocked into these waters by the Utah Division Of Wildlife Resources [UDWR] to offer anglers some diversity and to help control brook trout populations.

Splake [Salvelinus namaycush X Salvelinus fontinalis] are a hybrid cross between the Brook Trout [Salvelinus fontinalis] and the Lake Trout [Salvelinus namaycush]. Like the another hybrid trout of Boulder Mountain, the tiger trout, it is hoped that these hybrid fish will control the brook trout and also control rough fish such as Chub and Red Side Shiners that have found their way into some waters here. These rough fish did not evolve here but were brought here by anglers and used as bait, ironically, these minnows are still being brought here to lure the very large splake and tiger trout that are there to control such rough fish in the first place. It seems that no sooner does UDWR complete the arduous task of rehabilitating a lake and removing the undesirable fish, then restocking with valid sportfish such as native cutthroat, tiger trout and or splake, than someone comes along and puts the rough fish back in the lake. This transplanting of these rough fish has occurred many times at a few lakes on the Boulder Mountain. When anglers bring these live minnows in coolers and use them as live bait, they often release the leftover live bait when they leave. These bait fish are available in many places in the area around the Boulder Mountain. These minnows are used extensively at nearby Fish Lake where anglers troll with them to catch large lake trout and splake. It is illegal to use or transport live bait fish in Utah, and for obvious good reason!

It has been said that splake will readily consume warm water species and other undesirable rough fish such as the Utah Chub and the Red Side Shiner, but they will not eat other cold water species such as trout. Nothing could be further from the truth. When these hybrid trout reach maturity and attain maximum size, they eat mostly other fish. In mid July the UDWR aerial fish stocking program for the Boulder Mountain lakes begins. Airplanes deliver thousands of various trout fingerlings [some of them splake] to these waters. If you are there at one of these lakes soon after a drop is made and happen to catch a large splake, you may notice a discernable bulging of it’s belly. If you choose to harvest this big fish, just have a close look at what the splake was feasting on before you caught it! There could be a variety of newly planted fingerling trout such as Bonneville cutthroat, Colorado River cutthroat, tiger trout etc.They can and will eat all other smaller fish. That is the primary reason that UDWR has stocked them here initially, to control brook trout and other fish from propagating to the point of overcrowding the water. The obvious secondary reason is the exciting diversity that these beautiful hybrid trout provide to anglers who catch them.

In the mean time, the splake have thrived wherever they have been stocked on the Boulder Mountain. The first lake on the Boulder Mountain to receive these hybrid trout was Blind Lake. This is the largest and deepest natural lake on Boulder Mountain. The lake is approximately 50 acres and has a maximum depth of more than 55 feet. There are several springs that percolate up from the bottom of this lake. When you walk around the perimeter of Blind Lake, and that is quite a long hike, you will not find much in the way of springs flowing into the lake. There is a small trickle here and there, but not enough to account for the size of this body of water and it’s rather consistent levels throughout the year. That means the supply of water to keep this lake full is coming from springs within the lake itself.

Blind Lake holds a variety of trout. There are reintroduced native Bonneville cutthroat trout [Oncorhynchus clarkii utah], rainbow trout [Oncorhynchus mykiss], brook trout, tiger trout, splake and who knows what in this lake. All of these fish grow well with the abundant food source and the spring flows in this lake. Blind lake has not been treated with rotenone for several decades and as such holds mature splake as well as mature specimens of the aforementioned species. Splake will live for at least 5-6 years on average and perhaps longer. Splake have been stocked into Blind lake periodically by UDWR since the early 1980’s. Prior to that time, splake were stocked into nearby Fish Lake in 1984 where they have also thrived. Anglers there routinely catch these hybrid fish weighing more than 10 pounds. Given the abundant variety of food in this large natural sub-alpine lake [Blind Lake], the largest splake on Boulder Mountain are undoubtedly found here at this point. By the time anglers are able to reach this high elevation lake, which is typically by late May and sometimes not until mid June, the water has warmed up enough to drive the cold water loving splake to the bottom. Even though this lake will usually thaw by early April, snow pack on the steep rocky roads leading up the mountain to the trailhead that ultimately leads to this lake makes getting there very difficult. After two months in the sun, temperatures at or near the surface are undesirable for the splake which prefers water temperatures below 60 degrees. They find more suitable habitat near the cold springs that percolate from the bottom of the lake. Pontoon boaters and floattubers have become quite sophisticated these days and come equipped with fish finders on their boats.

These mobile anglers are able to move around the lake until the fish finder alerts them to the presence of these schools of large splake centered over the springs on the bottom. Having a GPS with you or better yet, integral to the fish finder makes marking the location of the springs easy. Since the splake are seeking their preferred temperature zone in the water column, the fish finder will also reveal their exact depth. These tactics can also be employed at the smaller lakes where splake have been stocked. Anglers using fly rods either from the shoreline or in floattubes or pontoon boats can find these fish even without sophisticated tools such as GPS equipped fish finders. Just concentrate your search at springs flowing into the lakes and fish deep everywhere else. How deep? The lakes on Boulder Mountain are usually shallow with typical maximum depths of 18 feet or less. The water temperature at 15 feet can be considerably colder than near the surface. Most anglers, and this is especially true of fly anglers [floattubers], don’t allow their offering to sink anywhere close to the bottom. Often times fish won’t move very far out of their zone to grab a passing lure or fly. How far is that? Sometimes just a few feet can make the difference. That is why many anglers will give up after making what seems like hundreds of casts around the lake with no results. They try every lure or fly they have and still nothing. Failing to vary the depth and retrieve with lure or fly is the most common mistake.

Splake resemble both of their parent species. They have the general appearance of a brook trout to some degree, and also resemble a lake trout. However, the spots on a splake above are different than a brook trout below. On closer observation you can see that the spots on a splake above have a light pink center without the familiar blue halo of the spots on the brook trout below.

Splake have rather pronounced teeth like their parent species the lake trout. As fall approaches and male brook trout become very red below the lateral line as does the brookie in the image above, and at that time the male splake takes on an orange hue on the fins and below the lateral line.

The head structure of the male splake is slim and longer in comparison to the male brook trout. Splake also have a noticeable fork in their tail. The brook trout has a definite square tail.

Splake have also done very well and are thriving at some lesser known waters on this mountain. Catching them on a fly rod is very exciting! They will often exceed 5 pounds and put up a great fight when hooked. Fly fishers cast a variety of flies to these hybrid trout with mixed results. However, when you find the right pattern, that triggers a response, the fishing can be fast and furious. Splake will often attack big streamer patterns such as Clouser Minnows, Muddler Minnows, Zonkers etc.

Large splake like the fish in the image above can be seen lurking where springs enter the lakes. They will suspend motionless near the bottom facing the current entering the lake. Other trout such as Bonneville cutthroat will be on the move all around them, but the splake will just stay in one spot unless disturbed. Many anglers have cast every pattern in their fly box at these big lunkers to no avail. It seems that they will not bite anything. However, there is always a pattern that will provoke one of these large splake into striking. The fish in the image above fell for a large Clouser Minnow. This splake was just over 24 inches and weighed in excess of 5 pounds.

Call Steve Stoner at 1- 435-335-7306 Your call will always be returned

Click on this link for an easy to use Utah Road Map http://www.utah-map.org/utah-road-map.gif

The Fly Fishing Loop is sponsored by flydepot.com This Fly Fishing Loop site is owned by Steve Stoner

Home Contact Us 2010 Rates Questions? Online Store View Cart Area Map Equipment

Guided Trips Why Hire A Guide? Private Waters Area Streams Remote Streams Area Lakes Remote Lakes

North Side Lakes South Side Lakes East Side Lakes West Side Lakes What Are They Taking?

Brook Trout Brown Trout Splake Tiger Trout Colorado River Cutthroat Bonneville Cutthroat

Interesting Articles Fishing Licenses Links Add A Link