6. RAT LAKE
Rat lake is located just outside Brewster, and has leapfrogged a number of lakes in recent years, which is why it’ s in our Top 10 list. Rat, perhaps short for Rattlesnake, has a number of slithering creatures around its banks( watch your step), but the numbers of worthy fish make the lake a bonafide destination despite the risk. Rat covers 62 acres and welcomes anglers with an improved boat launch at its south end.
Resting in a beautiful valley, Rat is a great day-tripping lake due to its proximity to Highway 97 and its cooperative fish. Best times to hit the lake are spring and fall, considering that the lake is fairly low at 1,670 feet of elevation. Rat is part of a short list that provides year-round opportunity. So, depending on the ice, or lack thereof, anglers can chase fish with flies at this lake most of the year.
Speaking of the fish: Rat’ s rainbows do not disappoint. The lake grows thick-shouldered, feisty trout that do not come to hand easily. In addition, the state plants fingerling brown trout, and if anglers are to be believed, many browns have grown to impressive size in Rat.
Catch-and-release regulations are in place from April 1 through November 30. At other times of the year a five-fish limit prevails, which keeps the fish population in check and feed abundant for the remaining fish.
Once spring has sprung, predatory fish charge Balanced Leeches and Seal Buggers, in a variety of colors. Rat isn’ t known as a chironomid fishery although we would still recommend trying a Bomber just to check for interest. Nor, is the lake known as a match-the-hatch fishery— instead of dry flies, damselfly nymphs are preferred throughout the warmer months. When, September and October arrive, leeches, buggers and water boatmen, stripped off of intermediate and fast sinking lines, are the best rigs.
7. LONG LAKE
If you’ re looking for seclusion in a wild and gorgeous fly-fishing locale, look no further than Long Lake, which is located near the frontier town of Republic. Long is known for a serene Forest Service campground and for its dry-fly scarfing westslope cutthroat trout.
Though we’ re told Long has become popular with families and reunions during the summer, you’ re likely to have all 13 acres to yourself during fall— when its fish are at their hungriest for topwater flies. At 3,220 feet of elevation and 56 feet deep, it takes a while for Long to warm up at the beginning of the season, meaning spring. Therefore, it might not be the place to be on the spring opener, which falls on the fourth Saturday in April each year.
Make no mistake that the westslope cutthroat in Long are a sight to behold. With golden-olive coloration, red sashed gills, and heavy spotting near the tail, these fish delight. Due to Long’ s ample depth and food sources, the fish grow well here, with many running into the 15-inch range. There are tales of very long-lived and well fed cutts that have broken tippets and surprised unwary anglers, so be ready with heavier leaders when fishing deep.
Long is non-motorized, so bring your fins and oars to explore both ends of the lake. It is also one of the few fly-fishing-only lakes in the state, with a twist— flies must be non-leaded. Lead is prohibited to protect loons that feed in these waters. This shouldn’ t be a problem during the best months when most anglers are floating unweighted dry flies over its eager cutthroat anyway. And, if you’ re a fan of pan-fried mountain trout, Long is a great place to practice your culinary skills with a generous limit of five fish per day.
A variety of dries work at long, including the old standbys, such as an Elk Hair Caddis and a Royal Wulff. Parachute Adams’, Humpies, and other general attractors take fish, too. Once you’ ve torn up a few dry flies on voracious cutts and you’ d like to