Prospectors- A Golden Trout backpack fishing expedition

[@noelslater822]

Beautiful fish! Yep, you fellas have been able to experience one of those finer aspects of life that the majority never will. Congrats & well done!

[@thebeartoothflyfisher]

Hello Ryan - That basin is legendary for great fishing. I spend my share of time hiking/fishing the Winds.....mostly above Lander. But have never made it to that basin where you filmed this. Coincidentally, I'm from Bishop as well.....class of '85. I live in Great Falls, MT now. I hear and read there are still some decent goldens in French Canyon/Humphreys Basin. Desolation Lake is still on my list!

[@jammnjoey]

Bravo 👏 my friends,nothing like it!I love it prospecters...

[@kenogster3059]

Goldens are beautiful fish, never mind the scenery. The hike was well worth it awesome trip guys.

[@mizzyride]

Wow man. Great job, very pro! Great fish!

[@RyanCoston]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@lunkerking74]

We went to his drainage two years ago got snowed on around September 1 fishing was tough but we got into some good ones!

[@HuckOutdoors]

Great video Ryan! It's great to see goldens that size. So hard to get them that size down in ca anymore.

[@RyanCoston]

Thanks! I haven't been to my Golden waters out of Bishop in 17 years, but the fish I caught then weren't much smaller than Wyoming fish. But that was also a while ago, and management of them by Game and Fish has changed since then as well. Anyways, glad you liked the video!

[@intothewildwego7085]

Really well done video and beautiful fish!

[@RyanCoston]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@nocturnal77]

This was an Epic video!! Loved every minute of it, looks like the trip of a lifetime... i hope to check this off my list someday! Those goldens are amazing!

[@RyanCoston]

Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it. It's hard work getting there, but it's worth it!

[@TheOldMadeira]

Amazing video- your narration is perfect as is the music

[@RyanCoston]

Thanks!

[@alexlaakmann4553]

Awesome video! Are there any big goldens around the Titcomb Lakes Area. I am going there soon and wondering if i can get a nice golden. We are stopping at Elbow Lake, but I here that it is super heavily fished. If you could point me in the direction of a couple lakes or streams that would be awesome! Thank You!

[@RyanCoston]

It's all over fished. There's no more big Goldens in the Winds. If you go to any lake out of Elkhart Park especially, you'll be joined by dozens if not hundreds of people. A ranger that patrols the Titcomb Basin was coming across a little under 700 people a week. That's in the Titcomb Basin alone. He's also picking up as much of their trash and buried their poop as possible. Sorry to burst your bubble, but the Winds are completely infiltrated any more. It's sad to see these mountains die.

[@CDAFishboy]

@@RyanCoston I went from Green River Lakes to Elkhart with a side trip up Titcombe in August 2020. Did not see anybody in the Elbow Lakes- Upper Jean Lake area. And nobody seen at Island Lake until dark when you could see a few headlamps. Great trip! However! Coming out the hoardes were coming, hundreds on their way to Island Lake- just in time for the big blow down.

[@mantismamba]

Utterly amazing

[@RyanCoston]

Thanks, man!

[@phishndad]

Awesome trip and video. I love fishing for these beautiful fish too. Not going to ask where these lakes were other than what state you were in? In CA where Golden’s are native, lakes with Golden’s that size are very few and far between.

[@RyanCoston]

Thanks for the compliments! I will disclose that it was in Wyoming. But, I have caught bigger Goldens than the ones in this video in the Sierras. Don't count them out! I live in Wyoming, but born & raised in Cali. I scoured the Sierras for years before coming out here.

[@phishndad]

I know there are some nice ones in CA. I’ve got a few trips planned to some of the classic trophy golden lakes this year. One trip to the Mt Whitney area and another to the French canyon area. Hoping to finally find the 18”+ Golden I’ve been looking for. I came very close last season

[@ricksorensen2527]

That's because these are not pure strain Golden Trout! These are genetically altered! The only pure strain of Golden Trout are the volcano creek variety in the little Kern drainage in California! The fish seen here don't even look the same as the pier strain! Really I don't even know why you call them goldens? They're a rainbow highbred mix genetically altered!

[@jayk.2276]

Have you done any fishing for goldens in Utah? Our DNR started planting them about 6 or so years ago at some nice high alpine lakes, so there should be some good chunks by now!

[@RyanCoston]

No, actually. I just came across that info a couple of months ago, and am trying to locate the locations of those lakes. I was thinking the same thing about them being chunky by now! I live in Evanston, not far at away at all. I've never done a Uinta mtns expedition before. Time to explore new waters!

[@jayk.2276]

@@RyanCoston well, if you dont mind me making suggestions, i say to hit Castle Lake as well. The tiger trout and cutthroats in it are MASSIVE and average 20+ inches since it gets very little angling pressure, and while you're in the Uintas id go by Echo Lake (not to be confused with echo reservoir), that is where our goldens are and its a bit rough access, but 4wd and a little clearance should get ya in! If you're in town for uintas I'd like to get on some of these waters with you, good luck and tight lines!

[@antlersoutdoors9103]

Where is this at?

[@MAGirlable]

What time of year did you guys go? I'd love to make a trip during spawning season next year.

[@RyanCoston]

This trip was at the end of June, but the lakes were over 10,700 feet and we had a milder winter that year. On an average winter it would be mid July for ice out, and a heavy winter would have it icing out the beginning of August. Tough to plan unless you live here and know the years' conditions. Definitely worth it if you can time it right.

[@ndt270]

@@RyanCoston Beautiful work Ryan. I really enjoyed it. In the early '90's we went into some of our favorite golden haunts and literally watched one of our lakes break up and become ice free on July 18th. At around 10:30 am as the breeze kicked up, the ice disintegrated and sounded like tinkling crystal as it was blown to the downwind shore. The fish were hungry, and the fishing was good.

[@RyanCoston]

Thanks, John. I had a similar experience in the Sierras in '96. The lake had just iced out the day we got there, we vertically jigged spinners of the edge of a drop off and caught 15 to 18 inchers all day. Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@hikerboy16]

When was this trip?

[@RyanCoston]

This was almost 3 years ago! Just preoccupied for a while unfortunately.

[@jeromedamian5740]

yeah what area is that , absolutely beautiful location and Goldens.

[@hikerboy16]

Where did you camp?

[@RyanCoston]

Sorry, man. I can't disclose that. Gotta keep these locations a secret!

[@jeromedamian5740]

@@RyanCoston I understand, , I used to work for the fish and game department planting goldens in the Yosemite area. I also do fish surveys in and around my region. I'm just always looking for more data and information another locations.