Just got back from High Lake. I caught several nice Rainbows and Splake. The Splake I caught all had deformed fins and tails. Anybody have an idea why this would occur? It seems that they were stocked this spring.

Please post a picture if you have one. I’d be interested in seeing them.

Nice catch! Probably clipped to indicate stocking.

It looks like a bigger fish nipped at the fins. The only reason I say that is I used to have Piranhas and feed them Minnows. They would first eat the fins so they could not swim, then move in and take them out. Just a wild guess though.

I caught 3 more Splake with the same issues.

Nice fish Egknuti. Were you fishing from shore? Do you live on the trail?

I was fishing from a canoe. I caught them in about 10-15 ft. Don’t live on the trail, but I wish I did.

egknuti: "I caught 3 more Splake with the same issues. "

Sometimes they get that way from being in the hatchery to long. But being splake it doesn't make sense for they are not brood stock. A splake is a cross between a male brook trout and a female lake trout.

Anybody else fishing when you were there?

Did not see a soul.

egknuti: "Did not see a soul."

thanks

egknuti: "I caught 3 more Splake with the same issues. "

Looks like fish that were in hatchery runs and got scarred up and looks like they were fin clipped also .

Forgot to ask, egknuti -- how was the hike back to High? I figure if you can hump a canoe back there I should be able to manage with a small otter sled this winter ;)

It took me about an hour to get from the parking lot to High Lake. The portage to Bass Lake is wide and flat and mostly down hill (it was widened to accommodate snowmobile traffic). The portage from Bass to Dry is about 40 rods, but the beginning is straight up hill. I'd imagine you'd have to pull your sled up with a long rope. It should be an easy walk across Dry Lake. The portage into High is slightly up hill but shouldn't be a problem. I've thought about going in there during the winter, so I'd like to know how you do.

egknuti: "It took me about an hour to get from the parking lot to High Lake. The portage to Bass Lake is wide and flat and mostly down hill (it was widened to accommodate snowmobile traffic). The portage from Bass to Dry is about 40 rods, but the beginning is straight up hill. I'd imagine you'd have to pull your sled up with a long rope. It should be an easy walk across Dry Lake. The portage into High is slightly up hill but shouldn't be a problem. I've thought about going in there during the winter, so I'd like to know how you do."

Thanks! I will definitely remember to throw a longer length of rope in the sled. Sounds like a fun trek. I'll hope for good snowshoe conditions. If I make it up I'll definitely write up a report.

I seen the same thing on a trip there this spring.
We caught 40 some trout that almost all had deformed fins. The bows were better shape but some of them showed the same fin damage as the brookies.. Id say we caught mostly brookies and a few splake as identifying was a bit more difficult without the tail.

My best guess was that there were so many fish they may have been over crowded and nipping at each other not sure..

Talked to the forest service on the way in they said they plan on building a road and water access.. :(

TwistedCisco: " I seen the same thing on a trip there this spring.
We caught 40 some trout that almost all had deformed fins. The bows were better shape but some of them showed the same fin damage as the brookies.. Id say we caught mostly brookies and a few splake as identifying was a bit more difficult without the tail.


My best guess was that there were so many fish they may have been over crowded and nipping at each other not sure..


Talked to the forest service on the way in they said they plan on building a road and water access.. :(

I read this too about the new access. Very disappointing. I fished High many years and I usually don’t see anyone. I guess no more.






"

TwistedCisco: " Talked to the forest service on the way in they said they plan on building a road and water access.. :( "

This would be a bummer. I really feel the need for lakes that are near the BWCA, but not in the BWCA, that offer a similar type of experience without the need for a permit.

Just ran across this thread. High Lake was stocked with brook trout during the spring of 2019 that had been held in a hatchery until they reached adult size. As others indicated, fish in raceways often have deformed fins. Splake have been stocked in High in the past but not in recent years. Odds are your fish is a brook trout.

Also, for what its worth, the USFS plan is to create a carrydown access. Improved road will still end well short of the lake requiring a portage to get to the water. So, yes better access, but not a boat ramp. I agree, some lakes should be worth the effort to get there!

JE1776: "Just ran across this thread. High Lake was stocked with brook trout during the spring of 2019 that had been held in a hatchery until they reached adult size. As others indicated, fish in raceways often have deformed fins. Splake have been stocked in High in the past but not in recent years. Odds are your fish is a brook trout."

I had a good email exchange with the Tower area DNR fisheries supervisor recently. They still plan to stock splake every 3 years in High and 2 out of every 3 years in Dry. For High, they missed the 2017 stocking but the 2020 stocking is still planned.

The fish in egknuti's photo sure looks like splake to me. I see a lot of laker in that fish. They were stocked in '11, '13, and '14.

JE1776: "Also, for what its worth, the USFS plan is to create a carrydown access. Improved road will still end well short of the lake requiring a portage to get to the water. So, yes better access, but not a boat ramp. I agree, some lakes should be worth the effort to get there!"

Will make it easier for me to access for ice fishing, but that means easier for everyone else too. I'd be curious to know how long the portage from end of road to High will be.

The terrain between the end of the road and the water access will matter as well. If it's relatively flat, a fool like me might portage a boat back there.

This probably be good example of why people shouldnt post about there fishing exploits online naming the lakes. They wont need to make a road now, the people coming in there will trample the portages down wide enough.... :)

motox380: "This probably be good example of why people shouldnt post about there fishing exploits online naming the lakes. They wont need to make a road now, the people coming in there will trample the portages down wide enough.... :) "

It's probably true, but is High Lake really a secret lake? Plus, as of right now, it takes three portages and two lakes (about an hour) to get there. That's enough to keep most people out.

egknuti: "

motox380: "This probably be good example of why people shouldnt post about there fishing exploits online naming the lakes. They wont need to make a road now, the people coming in there will trample the portages down wide enough.... :) "

It's probably true, but is High Lake really a secret lake? Plus, as of right now, it takes three portages and two lakes (about an hour) to get there. That's enough to keep most people out. "

Exactly and there are trout lakes that are way more accessible , also you still need to know what you’re doing when you get there, I’ve seen many a fisherman leave a trout lake shaking their head with no fish .

egknuti: " "

Nice fish !

Basspro69: "

egknuti: "

motox380: "This probably be good example of why people shouldnt post about there fishing exploits online naming the lakes. They wont need to make a road now, the people coming in there will trample the portages down wide enough.... :) "

It's probably true, but is High Lake really a secret lake? Plus, as of right now, it takes three portages and two lakes (about an hour) to get there. That's enough to keep most people out. "

Exactly and there are trout lakes that are way more accessible , also you still need to know what you’re doing when you get there, I’ve seen many a fisherman leave a trout lake shaking their head with no fish ."

Unfortunately, I've been one of those fisherman.