Fly Fisherman Returns to Bigfoot Basin After Strange Encounter
Posted Wednesday, August 12, 2026
By Squatchable.com staff
So there's this video that just crossed my feed from a channel called TregsTravels, and honestly, it's one of those quiet, understated ones that sticks with you. The guy — Treg — went back to an alpine lake in the Uintas where he had a bizarre experience five years ago. And this time, he brought his buddy Aaron and a fly rod, and decided to walk us through exactly what happened that day and what the area is all about.
Here's the setup: the lake sits at about 10,400 feet, and there's no real trail to it. You park on a forest service road, bushwhack through some swampy terrain, scramble over boulders, and then suddenly this gorgeous alpine basin opens up. Treg describes it as his favorite part of the hike — that moment when the trees break and you see the water and the cliffs. It's the kind of place that feels remote even by Utah standards.
Now, the original incident. Treg and his friend Brek were fishing on the rocky side of the lake, catching grayling after grayling, probably getting a little loud and celebratory. Then a rock came flying in from the opposite side of the lake — not from behind them, not from anywhere they could see someone standing. It landed right between them in the middle of the water. Treg estimates it was around 100 pounds. Then came the sound — a deep, whooping call. Not quite a grunt, not quite a howl. Something in between.
In the video, Treg is careful not to make claims. He doesn't say it was Bigfoot. He just says it was weird, and a lot of people in the comments shared similar stories. But here's what makes this location particularly interesting: the area is part of what's been dubbed "Bigfoot Basin." About a mile and a half from this lake, a Boy Scout named Allyn Smith vanished in 2004 while on a fishing trip with his father. He walked roughly 100 to 150 yards from the lake back toward their campsite and was never seen again. No trace. That case has become part of the local lore, and the basin has accumulated a reputation over the years.
Treg mentions that several people have reached out with their own experiences in the area, and some folks he knows won't go to certain spots there. He also addresses the beaver theory — and honestly, it's worth considering. Beaver tails can make enormous splashes, and there are documented cases of beavers scaring the absolute daylights out of people. But Treg points out there's no real inlet or outlet to this particular lake, which makes a beaver less likely. Still, he's not ruling anything out.
What I appreciate about this video is the tone. Treg isn't selling anything. He's not screaming into the camera. He's just standing on those same rocks, pointing out where he was standing, where the rock came from, and letting the viewer draw their own conclusions. He and Aaron even throw some rocks into the lake to give you a sense of scale — and honestly, even their biggest throws don't compare to what he describes.
If you're into the Uintas, or if you're fascinated by the Bigfoot Basin area and the history around it, this one's worth the watch. It's a slow burn, but the details about the landscape, the previous experience, and the local folklore make it a really compelling piece. Check it out when you get a chance.