Camper Van at a Mountain Lake

About this drawing

A lakeside camper van is the perfect base camp for a fishing trip in the mountains. High mountain lakes, many carved out by ancient glaciers, hold cold, clear water where fish such as trout thrive.

In the United States, anyone old enough must carry a fishing license, and each state sets its own rules and age limits. Seasons, size limits and the number of fish you can keep change from place to place, so anglers check the local regulations before casting.

Many people practice catch and release, gently returning fish to the water. To do it right, anglers use barbless hooks, handle the fish with wet hands and let it go quickly. Traveling by van means you can be at the shore at sunrise, when fish are often most active, with all your gear within reach.

Responsible anglers also protect these places. They pick up lost fishing line and hooks, which can tangle birds and other wildlife, and they never leave trash on the shore. Moving fish from one lake to another is often illegal, because invasive species can crowd out native fish and upset the whole lake. A quiet morning on the water and a van parked under the pines can make the trip worthwhile even when nothing bites.

• camper van
• lake
• fishing
• mountains
• camping