BIG fish

[1fly]

Before the web-site "restructure" someone wrote about a place in Cache County called Mountain Valley. Over the holidays I got a gift to fish there for a day. The place sells trout, but they also have a small lake that they keep for fishing. I still can't believe the size of fish there. The rainbows probably average 5 #s. I caught an 8 pounder and the guy there is pretty sure there are some in the 14# range. He also has cutts, browns, brooks, and tiger trout. I caught a few tiger trout that might be as big as the state record. (I got pictures yesterday and I will try to put them in the photo section.)

[Jeff Brooks]

What is the normal fee to fish there for 1 day?

Can you put a pontoon on the ponds?

JB

[1fly]

He charges $40 per day.

I have seen a picture of a float tube on the lake but you can get anywhere you want by wading.

The owner's name is Leland his phone number is (435) 563-3647

[Doug S.]

Jeff, Did you find anything out about this place I'd go in a heart beat...Doug S.

[Ed Kent]

Jeff, I'll drop everything....lets do a trip.....everyone!!!

[ollie]

I know of this place also. I haven't been there myself, but my little bro was pulling out 20"+ rainbows on dries last July. From what he says, the guy that owns the place is about the nicest guy around. Sounds like a good time.

[Jeff Brooks]

I just called and the pond (less than 2 acres) is not frozen and access for float tubes or pontoons is very easy. Parking is about 50 ft. from the water.

The fee is $40.00 per day or $50.00 for a month (Hmmmm 2 trips?).

It is open on Saturdays, unless we want to call and make an appointment. This time of the year the place is vacant, so if we want to go, it is best to go before Spring.

The species of fish are: Rainbows, Brook's, Tigers, Cutt-Bows, and Cutts (Oh that Strawberry offered such a menu???). They said the Tigers fight like devils

So, Who's up for going. It sounds like Doug and Ed are in... We should watch the weather over the next week or two and pick a day where the January thaw is in full swing and head up to Smithfield.

Jeff

[Scotto]

Hello all,

Mountain Valley is quite an interesting site to fish, they have a cement pond full of large fish that will rise to or chase any fly, but the pond you are talking about was created 1 or 2 years ago and is quite small. When Leland told you less than 2 acres, he should have said by how much. I suspect that if you guys all show up with float tubes or pontoons in hand there will be no open water to throw your line in. True, my son and I go to Mountain Valley to practice his flyfishing in the cement pond and we have viewed the fish in the new pond. They are monsters and a heavy tippet would be advisible if you do end up visiting. This reply is by no means trying to discourage you guys from planning the trip or to hurt Lelands business, but just a heads-up on what the ponds are acutally like. Maybe Larry S. or CROSBY can provide some input since they live in the valley of Cache and may have visited the ponds.

Good Luck,

Scotto

BTW-- Let me know when you guys get the trip planned, I only live 5 miles from the ponds and the chance to put some faces with names would be great!!!

[Crosby]

Scotto--- never been to the ponds---- and I probably never will.
I have a buddy 2 miles from my house that has a decent size pond with Browns over 8#--- fished it twice last year. Just doesn't yank my chain. If I can jump the fence ( over the border)
and fish So. Idaho and catch fish consistently on the river- thats a much bigger thrill to me than somewhere where I know I will catch a fish. Not getting down on anyone who enjoys it-- everyone has their own desires and one thing that may excite someone may not being anything to someone else. To each his own. It just doesn't feed the need that I have that causes me to fish a river at 22 below. Tight lines to everyone that goes and hope they have a great time.

[Larry S.]

Me neither. It just doesn't interest me. Basically 'cause Im mostly a stream fisher. I just haven't got into the private pond thing(Ooops! With one exception. That being a small pond or two west of West Yellowstone and adjacent to an RV park).

Perhaps you may be interested in Willow Valley Sportsman in Paradise. More expensive by far but bigger ponds and a stream(Little Bear). I suspect though that their ponds are frozen now.

[Jeff Brooks]

Thanks guys for the additional info. I was imagining a small earthen pond of maybe 1 1/2 acres (I talked to a younger female and she was struggling to describe the exact size of the pond...) but she did not mention the cement pond.

This reminds me of Paul harvery's "The rest of the story"

Hmmm I'm not so excited now...

Thanks,

Jeff

[1fly]

Curtis,

There is a small cement pond on the east side and the west side has the main pond. I couldn't tell you how big it is so I contacted the owner to get the story on this. Here is what he said:

"True, the main lake is more like 1 acre, but that is plenty of room for a half dozen or more people to fish at a time. Half the fun is watching your friend fight a fish and wondering whether it is a huge rainbow, a tenacious tiger, a monster brown, or maybe a real nice cutthroat, or cut-bow, or blue rainbow, or oh my gosh, I almost forgot about those awesome brookies, that may not be as big as the others, but they are so beautiful, and bigger than any brook youv'e ever seen I bet.

A little over a year ago, while spawning fish there were some Tiger Trout with eggs in them, so we fertilized the eggs with Browns and Brooks, and then a few months later planted them in the "other lake" that not many people know about.

This other lake is just to the west of the 1st lake, and is bigger and deeper. It is probably close to 2 acres, with holes as deep as 25 feet or more. There is a variety of fish in it also, and right now they are not very big, but give them a little time, and this lake will provide some awesome fishing as well. I predict that by this fall the Tigers will be 2-3 pounds. There may be some migration from the 1st lake to the second, so who knows what will be in there this summer.

Just to the north of the other lake is yet a third lake. This one is about 1 1/2 acres, but mostly shallow, as it will be stocked with largemouth bass and bluegill, just for a little variety. Mountain Valley has some awesome fishing now, and some exciting prospects for the future."

I have never fished or seen the two other ponds, so I can't tell you much about those. But I can confirm the size of the brookies and tiger trout. (By the way there were no pushovers when I was there!) I sent pictures to Jason when I first posted this but I have not seen them.

[cardiac]

"THE CEMENT POND". I just can't help think of the Beverly Hillbillies when those two words are put together. Gotta laugh too.

[Quill Gordon]

That sounds like a canned hunt, I don't see the thrill or for that matter the challenge. Especially on a cement pond.

[1fly]

Pictures are up in the photo section. Page 6. The first one with the lake and snow in the background is a Tiger Trout. The other two in the dark are brown and bow.

The owner says he has seen Tiger Trout with eggs. Have any of you 'fish scientist' heard of that. I thought they were supposed to be sterile?

[DrewTrout]

1fly...

Sterile does not mean non-egg producing. Sterile means for the most part, the eggs or sperm are not viable and fertilization will not occur.

[Larry S.]

Talked with Chris Wilson of the DWR Experimental station in Logan who says pretty much what Drew says. When the DWR creates a Tiger they "Zap" the eggs to make them sterile. He also says they can occur naturally between Brook and Brown trout but the DWR does not stock them.

[RHeppy]

Right hand fork of the Logan River has had reports of natural occuring tiger trout. The DWR does stock Tigers in Utah. UM creek, Mill Medow, Barney Lake, just to name a few.

[PowerBaitHeppy]

Those sterile fish will even try to spawn. They still have their natural insticts to reproduce. It's kind of like some of us that just shoot blanks!