Kennedy Lake Aug. 2012?

[pork50]

So we are going to try Kennedy lake as a three day trip, but I'm really going to push my dad into getting into physical condition for a longer trip into emigrant

[justm]

I made that hike a couple of years ago in late Sept. It's a beautiful hike and not very difficult. I wished I could have had more time to fish Kennedy creek. I saw alot of great spots to fly fish. It's a beautiful creek with lots of pocket water, fast boulder water and calm stretches. The lake itself is very pretty, set amongst towering peaks. If you wait till fall, the place is covered with aspen, so bursts of yellow are everywhere. There is very little in the way of camping at the lake. Even in late fall, the meadow is very wet ( you will get your shoes soaked) One side of the lake is exposed wet meadow, the other is steep and rocky, with only a few very small sites cut into the rocky slope. It's best to find a spot along the creek before you get to the lake. I didn't fish much, but saw trout in the creek. Hope this helps !

[pork50]

I made that hike a couple of years ago in late Sept. It's a beautiful hike and not very difficult. I wished I could have had more time to fish Kennedy creek. I saw alot of great spots to fly fish. It's a beautiful creek with lots of pocket water, fast boulder water and calm stretches. The lake itself is very pretty, set amongst towering peaks. If you wait till fall, the place is covered with aspen, so bursts of yellow are everywhere. There is very little in the way of camping at the lake. Even in late fall, the meadow is very wet ( you will get your shoes soaked) One side of the lake is exposed wet meadow, the other is steep and rocky, with only a few very small sites cut into the rocky slope. It's best to find a spot along the creek before you get to the lake. I didn't fish much, but saw trout in the creek. Hope this helps !

Justm,

I appreciate your reply.We will probably end up hiking to the lake in one day, hopefully not two, but that may be a possibility. taking your advice, we will probably camp just before the lake, before the inlet. Leavitt meadows may also be a good option.

[justm]

I would recommend doing the hike in 2 days to the lake. I see no problem in hiking 4 miles to your base camp ( I do that sometimes, just to relax and fish) It will take you awile to set up camp and this creek will take alot of time to fish, brush, boulder hoping ect.. Plus most people don't camp in this area, better fishing. The next day you can get a camp closer to the lake, which is were most people camp, thus overfished. Beautiful lake though!!

[pork50]

Thanks again Justm.
Im aware that after the junctionof kennedy lake trail/relief reservoir trail, the kenendy lake trail ascends a little bit. Would there still be good enough camping along the creek past the junction?

[justm]

After the ascent you mentioned, you'll cross Kennedy creek via a bridge, and it's easy going after that. Just a gentle incline. There are alot of good spots all along the creek. There are several small spring creeks that flow into much larger Kennedy creek. If you follow one of those up to a flat spot off the trail, you should have yourselves a nice secluded spot with fresh spring water.

[pork50]

Alright Justm, thanks for the info, yet again... Last question. Because Kennedy Lake has a good amount of browns, would the Kennedy creek at up above the lake contain brown, or would the creek contain browns anywhere?

[justm]

I didn't catch much on my fly , some small browns and rainbows, but I was fishing the creek closer to the lake, there are some nice slow runs up there, but it's fished alot so the trout are vary wise. Thats why if you do some tough creek bushwacking downstream, you should do well.

[pork50]

Alright, will do. Thanks again for all of the good advice. So the first day we would hike until about 3.5 to 4 miles, or until we see a really good stretch of river along the way. The 2nd day we would hike to the lake and fish, the 3rd day would day hike the creek upstream/downstream from the lake,
and probably fish the lake itself for browns too. Im thinkign of bringing a float tube to fish the lake with. the 4th day back to a creek spot, then the 5th day back to the car.