Decided to hike up to Boardman Lake off of the Mountain Loop Highway just past the Verlot Ranger Station today with my dad and 2 friends for some fly fishing. It was an easy hike about .08 miles, and not very steep. the trail comes out right at the outlet creek, but there are two un-maintained trails that run along the east and west sides for about half the distance of the 47 acre lake. We wanted to go all the way around, so we got off the trail and walked the shoreline. Bad move. There are steep cliffs that shoot straight into the water on the east shore that are very difficult to scale, especially while carrying a fly rod. But we made it around them without anyone falling in, and came to a rock slide on the southeast shore which provided good back cast room, so we gave it a shot. Only two of us fished, my friend and I, but we tried Wooly Buggers, Irresistable Adams, Elk Hair Caddises, and Royal Coachmens. My friend picked up two cutthroats on a Royal Coachman, a 4 and a
6 incher, and then we moved on. I fell in off a cliff on the south shore, but still managed to catch a 6 inch brookie right afterwards. We then headed home. This lake's fish seem to be quite small, but I'm guessing it's because it has no inlet stream, so fry plants keep the fishery going, and it was probably planted within the last year or two. All in all, it was a good day, though.

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