High-Noon Trout

Base your Eastern Sierra fishing trip on snowpack.

2012-01-03T09:56:00.001-08:00

A few couple years ago, my late July run to the Eastern Sierra featured ideal conditions in terms of water conditions in lakes, water flows in creeks and backcountry access. Keeping this in mind, I made sure to schedule last season’s run during the same time of year. Little did I know at the time I made the reservation, the area was blanketed with enough snowfall in the winter that people we still skiing through the 4th of July. The lesson here is, no matter what conditions you prefer when visiting the Eastern Sierra seeking trout or otherwise, it’s best to gauge the dates of the visit based on the snowpack.
Generally speaking, more snow is a good thing. A good snow pack ensures fishable conditions in the creeks later in the season when precipitation is minimal, and it recharges area aquifers which supply the spring fed creeks and rivers including the mighty Owens. Not to mention, much of the state’s domestic water supply depends on how much snow the Sierra Nevada range got that season.
However, heavy snowpack could adversely affect your trip in a variety of ways if you go too early. Even last summer when I spent a week in the Mammoth area in July, there was still a ton of snow in the Mammoth Lakes Basin to the point where Volkswagen-sized chunks were breaking off into the lake as we fished the shore of Lake Mary, and even if you could get to Lake George, it was unfishable. There were no backcountry options (the bread-and-butter of my trips) because the trails were still buried in snow, and even if you could get to the closer high-country lakes, they were either just beginning to thaw, or at higher elevations, still completely frozen. The road to my favorite area — Saddlebag Lake and the 20 Lakes Basin — was also closed due to snow.
While I had decent success fishing the lower level drive-up lakes, I spent way more time at them than I usually do as a result of essentially not being able to fish creeks or get into the backcountry. Speaking specifically for last summer, a mid-to-late August trip would have been ideal.
While there can never be a hard formula for determining the conditions in the Sierra Nevada mountains — especially if you are making reservations months ahead of time — monitoring the early-season snowpack is a big step in the right direction in terms of increasing your odds of getting up there and finding the conditions you are looking for.

Eastern Sierra Trout Opener is April 30.

2011-04-12T10:48:00.001-07:00

4/6/11 April 30

While the well-publicized record snow pack in the Sierras will prove beneficial to the area’s trout fishing and has already officially helped propel California out of “drought” status, the extended winter will also mean tough fishing conditions during the Mono County trout opener which arrives on the last Saturday of this month.

Families have been attending the opener like clockwork for generations regardless of the conditions, so the one thing you can count on at the opener — snow or shine — is crowds. Other than those families that automatically head up every year, there is an even larger group of attendees including those of us who have spent the entire off season pining over maps, message boards and guidebooks as we unsuccessfully try to shake an annual case of highway-395 trout fever.

This early in the season, especially with this much snow, these crowds are going to be converging on to the limited amount of open water available. The entire back country, and even some drive up lakes, are typically not accessible by the opener, or sometimes, the whole first month or so of the season. This usually includes the entire Mammoth Lakes Basin and for sure the areas up around Tioga Pass. The lakes in the June Lake Loop should be very fishable on opening week along with Crowley Lake.

Obviously it’s a popular event, so it’s not an entirely negative experience. It’s just different than heading up later when the hype dies down a bit, the weather warms, and the bulk of the blue specks and lines in your topo map become legitimate fishing options with their newly thawed out accessibility.

The water that is open is chock full of DFG-stocked rainbows as well as trophy fish from the Alpers ranch that are typically a couple pounds on the SMALL end, not to mention last year’s holdover fish that are ready to pig out after over five months of dieting under a dark ceiling of ice.

Spin fisherman should focus on slower techniques like jig fishing with or without a bobber. Spinners and spoons can be effective, but they should be fished slower and deeper than usual. Fly fishermen will probably find the most success drifting nymphs or stripping larger streamers while waiting for a mid-day hatch to occur before switching to dry flies.

It’s a good idea to keep tabs on fishing message boards and related websites right up until the day you leave so you have the latest scoop on the conditions, especially during opening week.

The River Why trailer has been released.

2010-08-14T12:12:00.001-07:00

http://www.moldychum.com/home-old/2010/8/14/the-river-why-trailer.html

Fish Report: Bishop Creek drainage direct from local expert.

2010-06-21T18:14:00.000-07:00

Jared Smith of Parcher's Resort on Bishop Creek regularly churns out detailed and timely trout reports specifically targeted toward his area. Contact information for Smith and Parcher's are at the end of the report. Also, check out his book "Fishin Trails" if you know what's good for you.

6/20/10

Conditions
Like most of the season thus far, the weather has been varied with some cold, some warm and some wind mixed in. Still, daytime highs are now approaching seasonal averages and sunshine dominated most of the week.

The water level rise at South Lake stalled this week after Southern California Edison discovered some minor damage to the dam face. They will be holding the lake down for at least one week while they determine the best way to make repairs. Due to SCE having to increase the flow at the South Lake outtake, the South Fork Bishop Creek flows greatly increased on Friday. It’s going to be at least a few weeks before private boaters will be able to launch at the lake.

Regardless of the water level, the docks and a fleet of 10 rental boats - soon to be 14 - are in the water and ready to go.

South Lake Fish Report

The big news this week was a double stocking of trophy Alpers Rainbows that hit the water on Friday. Part of the load was courtesy of Inyo County and the Bishop Chamber of Commerce and the rest were purchased by Parchers Resort. South Lake staffers were extremely excited to see some HUGE Rainbows in this batch of fish - easily the biggest fish stocked in South Lake since 2008. Some of these monsters were estimated to be in the 8 to 9lb class!!!

Anglers are still finding a solid bite on holdover 'Bows, Browns & Brooks using a variety of baits and artificial presentations. Pink or Orange Gulp! trout worms were a top producer this week along with salmon eggs and Silver/Blue Thomas Bouyants. Trollers are picking off some fish but the lure tossers and bait dunkers are still doing best.

The DFG has not stocked yet this season but we're expecting a stocking this coming week as the water is now high enough to get the fish from the truck to the water.

South Fork Bishop Creek

Fishing in the South Fork was steady this week as both DFG and Alpers plants hit the stream. Gold Thomas Bouyants and Salmon Eggs were the top producers for DFG fish, Chartruese Jigs were hot for the Alpers trout. Multiple fish to nearly 4lbs were caught in the creek this week making for some very happy anglers. Father & Son angling duo Mark & Jacob Christoph used Thomas Bouyants and nailed a pair of beautiful Rainbows weighing 3lbs 11oz and 3lbs 5oz in the stream right by the resort.

Intake II

Just about everyone I've talked to has picked up a few fish at Intake II this week. Anglers fishing crawlers, salmon eggs, red Gulp! trout worms, various colors of Powerbait and lures were all catching some fish. Anglers using 3ft leaders and longer seemed to be doing best. No one spot on the lake seemed to be producing better than another so just find some empty shoreline and set up shop.

North Lake

Still waiting on two field surveys, one in July and one in August, before it can be determined if North Lake will be stocked with trout this season. This will obviously affect the bite up there. To preserve the fish that are still in North Lake - we strongly encourage anglers to practice Catch & Release on all fish in North and to use artificial presentations whenever possible.

Backcountry Conditions

The snow is steadily disappearing but there is still a lot of the white stuff up there. The trail to Brown and Green lake is now open, as is the trail to the first Tyee Lake. The trail to Long Lake is passable but there is still a gob of snow up at that elevation. No reports from the Treasure Lakes as of yet. I still have not heard from anyone who's been up to Bishop Pass but from what I understand of the conditions at Long Lake - Bishop Pass is probably loaded with snow at present.

Top Catches of the Week!

Jacob (left) and Mark (right) of Indio, CA with a pair of beautiful Alpers from South Fork Bishop Creek caught on a Thomas Buoyant lure.

Becky Roberston of Redlands, CA with a 2lb 4oz rainbow caught on a Salmon Egg in the South Fork Bishop Creek.

South Lake staffer Ryan Wischnack of Santa Clarita, CA with a solid 4lb Alpers caught in the creek using a pink Berkley Powerworm.

South Lake staffer Jeff "Jefe" Chowdhury of Santa Clarita, CA with a 3lb 11oz rainbow caught on a jig in Bishop Creek.

Jared Smith
GM Parchers Resort
Phone: 760-873-4177
Email: reservations@parchersresort.net
Web: www.ParchersResort.net

Some non-tackle items to always have with you when trout fishing the Sierra backcountry.

2010-06-17T12:52:00.000-07:00

It's easy to remember your rod, reel and tackle, but there are a few items that do not take up a lot of space that can save your backcountry outing. Here are five items that every Sierra trout fisherman should have on hand on every hike, if not at all times.

Extra fishing line - Most backcountry anglers only carry one rod and reel with them, and typically that is is enough, but it doesn't take much for the worst-case scenario in terms of fishing line to occur. Keeping in mind how small the typical trout reel is in terms of line capacity, one of those mother-of-all tangles can be devastating if you end up having to pull a good amount of line off the spool just to get the tangle out and make the reel operational again. If you can get up and running after one of these monster tangles, you may find yourself casting to the end of your spool and limited to a casting range that is quite a bit less than you're used to. An even worse problem that can come of this, is you may hook a fish of a lifetime and not have enough line on the spool to let the fish run with. Packing an extra reel, a spare spool for your reel, or at the very least, burying a spool of new line at the bottom of your backpack can give you a lightweight insurance policy that sure beats calling it a day after a long hike to your backcountry trout spot.

Water - Typically, everyone has water on them during a backcountry outing, but not everyone thinks to bring more than usual when hiking to a new location when it is not known how rigourous or long the hike may be. Case in point, just about everywhere I go I can get away with 100-ounces of water or less. I decided to make my way up to Hilton Lakes above Rock Creek Lake, and I even saw that it was a couple miles longer than I typically do in a day but I carried my usual amount of water on me anyway. By the time I made my way up five miles of dusty switchbacks culminating with a staircase-type steep ascent to the lake I was aiming for, I found myself with very little water left. Luckily there was still a lot of snow around, so I dug down to the nice white stuff and filled my bottle with it in hopes that it would melt in time for the trek back down. It was better than nothing, but it did not melt fast enough and I was only able to drink small amounts at a time leaving me parched for the entire hike back down. Another option would be to carry a water bottle with a built in filter and fill it up in creeks you come across before heading back.

Tip repair kit- Repair kits to replace a broken rod tip are even lighter and less space consuming than extra line -- which weighs next to nothing -- and can also save a backcountry outing. If a rod tip breaks -- even a crack in the ceramic insert because it will cut line -- and you do not have an extra rod or a tip to put on, the only option you have is to cut the rod off right above the next guide down and there's your new tip and your rod is six inches shorter. A tip repair kit consists of the tips (usually there are three, all different sizes) and a glue stick.The first step is to heat the broken tip (with the lighter that should already be on you for survival purposes) to melt the glue holding it on and it should come off easily. Next, heat the hot glue and cover the tip of the rod with it, then heat the new tip and slide it over the glue. Make sure it is in line with the other guides, let it dry, then you can pick off the excess glue and you are back in the game.

Extra Socks - Yet another item that weighs almost nothing and takes up barely any space, an extra spare of socks won't necessarily make or break a backcountry fishing experience like the other items can, but it sure can make you more comfortable if you are unlucky enough to get your feet soaked. A couple years ago, I invested in Gore-Tex hiking boots so I could have some degree of waterproofing (since I don't bring waders into the backcountry) while getting into a good casting position or crossing a shallow section of creek. I was immediately impressed at how quickly I could navigate these crossings while other hikers searched for rocks to hop on so they can stay dry. But, one problem with waterproof boots is while they don't let water in, they don't let it out either.

Sure enough, while fishing a creek a few miles up the Duck Pass trail, I stepped into deeper water and it leaked in through the top of my boots. Before heading back down, I took my shoes and socks off to try to dry them out, but it wasn't happening so I had to miserably squish-squish my way all the way back down. The whole way I was thinking, "If only I had dry socks to put on, this would be a lot more comfortable."

Sunscreen - Like water, sunscreen is something that most fisherman have at all times, but it is even more important in the mountains. At higher altitudes, there is less natural protection from the sun because there is less atmosphere to block UV rays than there is at lower altitudes. SPF 15 is the lowest level you should use up there, but on days when you know you are going to be exposed (no trees) all day and there is not a cloud in the sky, making the jump to SPF 30 is a good idea. I am somewhat of sunscreen junkie, and my arms still got burned after an entire day on the Upper Owens. As a result, I made the decision to not only make sure I am using adequate sunscreen, but before my next trip up 395 I want to get one of those moisture-wicking, long-sleeved shirts made out of lightweight nylon with the vents on them. These are the shirts that flats guides in Florida use to protect them from the sun while stilll keeping them cool.

None of these things are expensive, heavy, or space consuming, but clearly they are worth having on hand in case you run into some bad luck.

2010 Eastern Sierra trout season preview (link)

2010-04-25T22:11:00.001-07:00

http://www.examiner.com/x-4358-San-Diego-Fishing-Examiner~y2010m4d23-Eastern-Sierra-2010-troutseason-opener

The demise of the Panther Martin continues.

2010-01-25T08:24:00.001-08:00

A while back, the company that makes my (And many of your) favorite trout lures decided to switch its base of manufacturing from Italy to China which resulted in a new Chinese version that performs about as well as dragging a pork chop through the water column.

While I plan to write about this discovery a couple years ago, as well as the ensuing e-mail battle with the company in great detail, I noticed yet another idea of theirs crapped out on them.

Soon after the lures became communist, they decided to come out with a spinner made out of stainless steel (which I must admit caught my interest initially) with a price tag of $7.99 per lure. That is right, eight bucks for a trout spinner that --if you are fishing the way you should be-- very well could end up in a creekside tree the first time it is cast.

Well, said lure has found its way into the Cabelas bargain basement, and you know what that means.

Stainless steel Panther Martin on the cheap

I am still kind of tempted to buy one, just to see what a $7 trout spinner feels like, kind of like in Pulp Fiction when John Travolta just HAS to see what a "five-dollar shake" tastes like.

Anyway, fear not as I have found a replacement lure that is far-beyond worthy. A through-blade spinner (like the Panther Martin) made in a shop in Tillamook, Oregon with all American components (other than the Gamakatsu hook, which I am more than fine with) that performs better than EITHER version of the Panther Martin, and wait till you see the price.

Check out these spinners at www.wyldedge.com

At Least 3 Dead In Fish And Game Helicopter Crash Accident Reported In Sierra National Forest

2010-01-05T14:54:00.000-08:00

MADERA, Calif. -- Authorities said three state biologists were killed when a California Fish and Game helicopter crashed Tuesday in the Sierra National Forest. The pilot is also believed to be dead.

Madera County sheriff's spokeswoman Erica Stuart said authorities were notified about the crash, south of Redinger Lake, shortly after noon Tuesday.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, preliminary information indicates the Bell 206 helicopter possibly struck a power line at 12:25 p.m.

Stuart said the crash has sparked a fire that has made the site inaccessible, but light winds and moisture in the area have slowed the fire's movement.

Sheriff's deputies and Forest Service officials are nearing the scene.

Stay tuned to KCRA 3 and refresh KCRA.com for the latest information.

California DFG Recognizes 100th Angler To Complete Heritage Trout Challenge

2010-01-05T12:38:00.000-08:00

(Old story but some good info about the Heritage Trout Challenge in there)

Sacramento, California - Gavin O'Leary of Fresno is the 100th angler to complete the California Heritage Trout Challenge. The challenge requires anglers to catch six of the eleven types of trout native to California. The California Heritage Trout Challenge highlights the diversity of native trout and provides an incentive for anglers to learn about native trout and their habitats.

This special program offers a unique angling alternative. While many California anglers fish for planted trout, pursuing wild native trout offers an intriguing alternative. These native trout can be found from San Diego County to the Oregon border and offer anglers an extraordinary look at California's heritage.

"We worked to develop a program that would highlight the diversity of native trout found in California and provide an incentive for anglers to learn about native trout and their habitats," said Roger Bloom, Department of Fish and Game (DFG) Program Manager for the Heritage & Wild Trout Program.

Anglers who complete the California Heritage Trout Challenge receive a custom certificate listing the name of the angler, color illustrations of the six different trout caught and a notation on the date and location of each catch.

"The certificate I was awarded for achieving the California Heritage Trout Challenge is one my most treasured documents," said Steve Berg of Carmichael.

"The Heritage Trout Challenge was a great way to introduce my son to fishing the backcountry," said Chris Bell of Sebastopol. "He is hooked - and so am I -- on pursuing native trout throughout California and beyond."

The first 100 anglers completing the challenge came from 11 different states. There are no time restrictions and the releasing of fish is encouraged and may be required depending on the regulations for different waters.

Anglers interested in participating in the challenge can contact a DFG regional office or the Heritage & Wild Trout Program headquarters in Rancho Cordova. For information on drainages, different waters, where these fish are available and a downloadable application, please visit: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/fish/Fishing/.

High-Noon Trout is now on Facebook.

2009-12-10T15:41:00.001-08:00

I figured this would be a good component to add to the site to make it a little more interactive. Check it out.

High-Noon Trout on Facebook

End of trout season in Eastern Sierra brings challenging but sometimes favorable fishing conditions

2009-11-19T15:35:00.000-08:00

As I neared the exit for Mammoth Lakes and slowed down to the actual speed limit I executed my first of a long list of annual traditions by glancing down at Mammoth Creek as it crossed under highway 395 so I could get an idea of what kind of water levels I would be dealing with on this trip. Just like I had been reading for months in WON as well as in first-person reports on the fishing message boards we have all grown to love, I saw that the water level was extremely low and the fishing was taking a hit as a result.

This just a few years removed from a 2006 Sierra winter that saw the most snow to ever fall on the area in recent history, I am now heading up for a late season jaunt coming off one of the worst snow packs ever, and I knew I had my work cut out for me. As I sat in the condo that first night I formulated a game plan that would take me to the highest altitudes that my legs and lungs would take me in one day in hopes of finding better water levels and low-fishing pressure.

On day one I made my way up to North Lake on the middle fork of Bishop Creek where I was greeted by many more fellow trouters than I was hoping to find at the end of the windy, one-lane road so I opted to check out the creek feeding the lake rather than find a spot betwixt the lawn chairs to launch my Kastmaster. Like the other creeks in the area I had come across, the water was low, skinny, and slow enough in some areas that it didn’t even look like it was moving. I found my first spot a short bushwhack from the parking lot and switched to a small Panther Martin spinner and saw four eight to ten inch Browns dart out from below the under cut bank only to have the fastest of the fish nip my lure and retreat back to the safety and shade it came from. Subsequent casts to this spot drew no more interest, and I would soon find out that the name of the game not only on this creek but on every creek I visited during these low-water conditions was that I had one, maybe two casts per location to hook and land one of these spooky native browns because once they took a look and realized my offering wasn’t the real deal, they weren’t coming out for a while.

As I worked upstream I repeated this process three to four times before I would actually land one, but the creek was clearly full of trout, I just had to have the stealth and patience to nail them. I noticed that if I landed my lure within six inches or so of the undercut bank, overhanging bush, or anything else creating shade, that I would draw more aggressive strikes than when I clumsily dragged my spinner across a pool. I also noticed that if I found white water followed by a calm spot, I would also find more aggression from the browns due to the cooler, more oxygenated water found there (that’s what it says in all the trout books anyway!). By the time I made it from South Lake all the way up to a waterfall that told me that I had fished as much of this creek I could today, I had caught and released over 20 Browns and a fat Rainbow that torpedoed from under an overhanging bush for my sinking Rapala, and I probably missed three times that many.

Over the next week I found these conditions at every creek I visited, namely McGee, Saddlebag, Convict Creeks and I even managed the two biggest Rainbows of the trip in Mammoth Creek but it was in a spot well downstream from the heavily fished area near the museum in town. Getting dialed in on skinny water trout fishing paired with mixing in two to five mile jaunts to the backcountry lakes that seem relatively unaffected by the low-water conditions resulted in my calling it a week with a respectable fish count while many anglers I ran into around town griped about their lack of success in their favorite roadside spots because they did not adapt to the conditions.

Rooster Tail

2009-11-14T23:22:00.000-08:00

Rooster Tail (spinner)

Pros:

-Come in a ton of different colors (blades, body, and tail)
-Effective in both lakes and streams
-Suprisingly castable
-Inexpensive and easy to find (but catalogues such as Cabelas or Bass Pro Shops have the best selections of them)
-Tracks straight and blade spins even if the shaft gets bent
-Blade spins on even the slowest retrieve

Cons:

-They don't sink very fast so for deeper holes in bigger streams, other lures would work better

Applications: If you had nothing but Kastmasters and Rooster Tails you would have most of the bases covered for Sierra trout fishing. They don't appear to be a very castable lure, but you can chuck it pretty far on 2-pound test and a longer rod. Rooster Tails probably have more color possibilities than any other lure, so it is best to pick four-to-six colors and a few of each. After a couple trips you will discover your favorites and can swap out the ones that don't get bit as much with new colors. I stick to the most natural-looking colors like brown/red, dark green, black, and I maybe have one loud one like yellow and black or rainbow trout. Once cast into a lake, it doesn't take much to get the blade turning like in some spinners. A quick two or three cranks gets the blade going before slowing down to your retrieve speed, and once it's spinning (you can feel when it's spinning because of the slight change in drag as you wind it in) you can slow down quite a bit before it stops rotating. This feature is also useful in streams because it is easy (well, easier than most spinners) to get the blade going even if you are retrieving downstream, and you can also get the blade going immediately after it lands in the water which can entice bites from meadow-stream browns sitting under banks waiting and waiting for a grasshopper to fall in. While the wire that makes up the body is pretty light, the lure will perform well once you tweak it back into shape if it ever gets bent.

New section - Lure Profiles

2009-10-06T18:14:00.000-07:00

I know this season isn't over yet, but if I want to detail every lure I use in the Sierras and have a respectable list of them to check out by next season I have got to start now.

Naturally I led off with the Acme Kastmaster, and I plan on starting off with the standard stuff that everyone has and whittle it down to lures that I use that you might never have heard of.

I give you, the Kastmaster.

Kastmaster

2009-10-06T18:12:00.000-07:00

Kastmaster (spoon)

Pros:

-Very castable due to shape. Easily cuts through high wind.
-Maintains it's intended side-to-side motion at low-to-high speed retrieves.
-Relatively inexpensive and very easy to find
-Line twist is almost non-existent
-Bulletproof. Impossible to bend, continues to swim true no matter what kind of punishment it takes.
-Made in the USA

Cons:

-Not very effective in moving water, but works ok in slower sections of creeks and deeper pools. Best suited in a lake.
-Hook can swing forward and wrap catch the line, but it doesn't happen often enough to be a problem.

Applications: Kastmasters have been around forever, and there is no reason to not have them with you while targeting trout in a lake environment. They allow you to cover a lot of water because they can be cast very far, and they are effective at any depth. The best sizes for Sierra trout are the 1/12 or 1/8 ounce size, and the top colors to use are gold, silver, copper (little harder to find than the others but they are out there), and the silver ones with a colored stripe on half. There are some painted ones (rainbow or brown trout, frog, etc) but I haven't had much luck with them.

Kastmasters --especially the smaller 1/12 ounce ones-- have proven especially invaluable in the backcountry for me over the last few years. It seems that in these small lakes, there is always a mid-afternoon lull when the breeze dies down for an hour or so and fishing grinds to a halt, but I have found that making very long casts, letting the Kastmaster sink in the deeper section of these lakes can result in good numbers of trout caught while anglers who can't reach this far struggle to get bit. Pair a Kastmaster with at least a six-foot (I use a six-and-a-half) ultra-light and 2-pound test line and no one will be able to cast as far as you.

Singlebarbed shares my strong opinioon on Frankentrout.

2009-09-22T09:17:00.000-07:00

I added Singlebarbed to my RSS reader, but I have not had a chance to really take site in or read a lot of his stuff, but apparently that has to change immediately. For those of you who liked my last story ripping on triploid trout, check this guy out.

Welcome to my blogroll singlebarbed!

http://singlebarbed.com/2009/09/22/a-triploid-world-record-rainbow-is-so-last-week/

Day-by-Day rundown of 2009 Sierra trip.

2009-07-22T17:29:00.000-07:00

Day-by-Day rundown of 2009 Sierra trip.

Day 0 – I call day zero day zero because that is the day I got there, and there is usually only a limited amount of fishing done in the afternoon/evening so I don’t want it to throw off the daily average if I only go for an hour or something. Anyway, caught one stocked rainbow at the Owens above Crowley and below Benton Crossing and the guys I was with did about the same. Usually this place is a good spot to get some easy stockers and in turn, get the numbers up and the rust out, but that wasn’t the case this year or last. On the way back we stopped and checked out a meadow section of Convict Creek and I caught a brown (always good to get that brown early) and found a lot of aggressive fish in every hole but a lot of missed strikes. We called it a day after this.

Day 1- Went to McGee Creek which quickly became a favorite spot of mine a couple years ago but it was not as good as in years past. The creek that gave me my biggest brown ever (and then one that beat it four days later) and great numbers of fish produced only three rainbows and one brown for me. Some of our group did a little better but it was disappointing overall.

Day 2- Headed down to the Bishop Creek drainage, specifically the area around North Lake because we did well in the creek that feeds the lake. Creek was weak (which would prove to be the theme of the trip…cold snowmelt meant sluggish fish) and I went back to my truck for something to eat. While sitting on my tailgate I saw the DFG stocking truck leave North Lake. I considered this breach of personal etiquette and decided we needed to get some numbers on the board. I called my crew on the walkie-talkies and told them the situation and that I would be checking out the lake. When it was all said and done, we each caught and released about 30 each, and I caught at least one on every lure in my spoon box. Forgive me Father for I have sinned. A quick stop at Mammoth Creek resulted in a brown and a rainbow for me before calling it a day.

Day 3- Wanted an easy hike so opted for the Mosquito Flats area above Rock Creek Lake and it was dead EVERYWHERE. I couldn’t believe it. I could also not believe the brown I saw cruising Heart Lake that was easily four pounds and the biggest trout I have ever seen in the backcountry. That evening I went up to Horseshoe Lake in Mammoth and landed eight brook trout in a couple hours.

Day 4- We went to the stretch of Convict Creek that we scouted on Day 1 and killed it. I landed 25 browns, which I believe was good for 4th place out of the five people in our group. A brown the size of my forearm came out from an undercut bank and chased my Wyld Edge (that lure killed it this year and is the perfect replacement for a now substandard Panther Martin that is now made in China) spinner for about six feet before backing off to his undercut never to come out again. This was in a section of creek about a foot deep, slow, and three-feet wide.

Day 5- Virginia Lake was also slow for me but I didn’t plan on staying long as I had intentions of giving Blue Lake another try which is a short hike away. Blue Lake was dead, so I came back to a packed shoreline of bait dunkers. I managed one out of Virginia but my brother and friend scratched out a good amount around the back side where there is a big rock slide and no people due to it’s inaccessibility. After lunch at the gourmet gas station we pulled up to Ellery Lake – which was a new spot for us – and found a school of willing stockers right by where we parked. I nailed six (out of maybe 30 bites and chases), and we caught maybe 20 among the three of us. On the way back down Tioga Pass we found a great looking stretch on Lee Vining Creek but the fishing was slow. The two I did catch were good-sized rainbows though, and the spot was definitely one we marked to check out again when we had more time.

Day 6- We saved our hike up the Duck Pass trail near Lake Mary in Mammoth for the last day and when we neared the three-mile mark we started coming across a lot of snow in our way. The first two guys in our group traversed a gnarly bit of snow to get to Barney Lake, and my dad and step-mom did so soon after. My leg was cramped and snow crossing didn’t seem like the greatest idea so I stayed down at Skelton Lake and caught 18 brookies but had to work for them. No one spot produced more than another. It seemed like I would catch two or three and have to move on to catch more.
Anyway, so ends the trip and my unofficial fish count (just for me) was 90, just under the triple-digit goal.
For photos from the trip go to www.trout395.shutterfly.com and check out the 2009 group.

Peep the Crowley Cam for real-time conditions

2009-06-15T13:43:00.000-07:00

If you are like me you monitor the weather around Mammoth Lakes every day in anticipation of your trip. If you have done so over the last two months, you have seen the same cloud/rain drops/lightning bolt symbol every single day, but reports from friends calling me from the area have reported anything from t-shirt weather to 50 degrees and hail, and given the moody nature of Sierra weather, regular regular reports should only be used as a guideline.

I recently discovered the Crowley Cam which is a web cam aimed at the marina at Lake Crowley. It also allows you to check out conditions of crowds at the ramp itself, but I like it for weather.

Granted, it could be partly cloudy at Crowley while up in Mammoth it is blowing 40 mph with hail and down at bishop it could be 80 degrees and clear as a bell, but at least it offers a visual.

http://www.thetroutfly.com/crowleycam.html

Addition to the "Sites and Resources" section

2009-06-12T09:16:00.000-07:00

I found this blog while doing that google search (that we all do) for all things Sierra and it looks pretty legit. Some of you guys who actually rough it will appreciate the campground information, most of which comes with a photo.

Also looks like it has info on highway 395 itself and the things you see on the way up.

Anyway, I guess we can never have enough sources.

Enjoy

http://www.guidetohighway395.com/

Places to eat in the Sierras

2009-06-05T16:13:00.000-07:00

There is a respectable thread on Fishing News Network right now about places to eat up 395. Check it out!

http://fishingnetwork.net/forum4/showthread.php?p=353108&posted=1#post353108

Complete image collection from 2008 Sierra trip

2009-04-30T15:53:00.000-07:00

This link should take you to a site with 120 photos from last summer in and around Mammoth.

Enjoy

http://trout395.shutterfly.com/

Another Barry Bonds trout from a well-known So Cal mud hole

2009-03-27T15:54:00.000-07:00

I do this sometimes via email with my fishing buddies, so I figured I would share. My commentary is in parentheses throughout the article.

Enjoy!

Background- Irvine Lake and Santa Ana River lakes are man-made lakes with their own hatcheries where they genetically create these roided up jabba trout.

exhibit A- look at the tail on this piece of garbage

World-class saltwater angler Greg Stotesbury of AFTCO Fishing Tackle Manufacturing Co. added another accolade to his already impressive array of fishing awards:

New Lake Record Holder for rainbow trout at Irvine Lake, with a monstrous 22.6 pounder.

World-class saltwater angler Greg Stotesbury of Mission Viejo nailed this new lake record 22.6 pound rainbow trout at Irvine Lake. The Mission Viejo angler just wanted to take a day off amid the grueling sportsmen’s show season (in which reps go from city to city putting on shows where they sit there with a cooler of beer under their table and go to nudie bars all night), so he headed down to Irvine Lake for only the second time in the last 10 years.

"My saltwater fishing club, Los Pescadores of Newport Beach (plug plug), was having a trout tournament at Irvine Lake,” related Stotesbury. “My wife and I anchored up in 19 feet of water off Trout Island. I saw a guy fishing nearby get a fish on something green, so that’s what I put on (I thought to myself, "I HAVE SOMETHING GREEN!").

Once the bait settled to the bottom, I got bit instantly, and the fish greyhounded (even though I dont know what it means, I love edgy angler banter) over the surface. (Ironically a greyhound is a skinny race horse and he is describing an obese frankenfish)

“The big fish hit on Turbo Dough Power Bait in the spring green/yellow color (well before it was just "something green" and all of the sudden he is pretty specific...wonder if Berkley sent you a case of bait as a result?), rigged on a #14 gold treble hook and 4-pound test Berkley 100-Percent Fluorocarbon line,” he explained. “We fought him for about five minutes (WHAT IN THE HELL WEIGHS 22 POUNDS AND ONLY FIGHTS FOR FIVE MINUTES? I spent 15 on a sierra trout that probably weighed 8 and it broke off), and my wife Dara did an expert job of netting it.

We had brought a very large net in anticipation of catching a big one,” Stotesbury said. “I’ve caught trout in the 8- to 9-pound class before at Lee’s Ferry. (should be another sentence here shouldn't there?) This fish was very powerful (not with half its tail worn off it wasnt), and would bust you off in a heartbeat if your drag wasn’t set properly.” (but I am a PROfessional)

Irvine Lake’s General Manager Dave Noyes added, “We’ve been dealing with our fish supplier, Tim Goodman at Calaveras Trout Farms, (the BALCO of hatcheries) for about 5 years now. When we got started, he promised that within 5 years we would have a new lake record fish. ("I am currently stuffing him full of andro and bacon and keeping him in a 10-gallon tank like a veal calf) We will have more of these big 20-pounders for the WON Tournament on April 18.” (because WON (western outdoor news) does full page, color ads for us)

(The people that run these lakes are actually trying to make it so their mutant dead-weight fish count as state records if they are HEAVY enough. Their ads in magazines look like ads for Truckasaurus making an appearance at Qualcomm Stadium during supercross)

First-person account of Sage casting clinic.

2009-03-15T23:13:00.000-07:00

I'm just going to put the link on here, since you should know about my San Diego fishing page anyway. If I write something trout-worthy on that page (even though it's San Diego, you know ill sneak my share of sierra action in there!) ill post the link here so High-Noon Trout followers can see it to.

So here ya go

San Diego fishing page

Twin Lakes in Mammoth

2009-02-27T19:57:00.000-08:00

Mammoth Lakes for dummies

2009-02-27T19:50:00.001-08:00

Another old previously published one...

As the local trout season comes to a close, Southern California “trout heads” still have something to look forward to a half days drive north of here. The last weekend in April marked the opener of the trout season in Mono County, and in the heart of it all lies the resort town of Mammoth Lakes, which caters to the multitude of outdoor enthusiasts that flood the town year round.

To this day, I still sometime get the “you can fish in Mammoth?” reaction from its wintertime clients. Despite having to explain to Joe snowboard dude that all that snow has to go somewhere when it melts, the world-class trout fishery in and around Mammoth is no secret to California trout fiends all over the state. Mammoth offers opportunities for non fishing summer travelers as well, so be sure and bring them along for the hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, shopping, golf, to name a few, that will keep them occupied while you are out chasing five kinds of trout. By the way, lucky us, several years ago the season was extended two weeks, now ending on November 15 rather than October 31, much to the dismay of spawning brown trout in the area.

As far as the drive, from San Diego, I like to simply take I-15 to its junction to historic US 395 and ride it all the way into Mammoth Lakes. The five or so hour trip up is no problem, as the closer you get to your destination, your surroundings become more and more alpine, and in my head, more and more “trouty”.

Once you reach town and begin to pitch the tent, or in my case, unload my truck into the condo, the first thing you will notice is your shortness of breath. Upon arriving at this 9000+-altitude town, you will see that climbing stairs or walking short distances could leave you dizzy and needing to sit down. Because of this, I try to limit my first day’s fishing jaunts to local stuff that doesn’t require too much of a hike, especially, those of the uphill variety.

Day one trips include Mammoth Creek or one of the lakes right there in town. Mammoth Creek flows right through the center of the city and is easily fished downstream of where the creek flows under I-395 just right outside of town. Mammoth Creek is an easy place to catch a lot of stocker rainbows in a short amount of time. Mammoth Creek is open to fishing with both bait and artificials most of the season, but there is a short time period where the regulations are different, and that period can vary so check with local tackle shops in Mammoth for the latest dope on area regulations.
For lake fishing in town, take your pick between Twin Lakes, Lake Mary, Mamie, and George, all easily reached via Lake Mary Road. These lakes are all heavily stocked with rainbows and have a healthy population of Brook and Brown trout. Anglers do well at the lakes with artificials such as Kastmasters, Thomas Buoyants, Panther Martins, and small tube jigs. Dough baits, worms, and other standard trout bait will also produce in these lakes. These lakes also get hit pretty hard by your weekend warrior trout heads, so don’t plan on getting your “getting away from it all” trouting fix in town.

After a couple days of your body growing accustomed to having less air than its used to and your endurance settles in, you are ready to do some real trout fishing. When looking at a topo map of the area, you can see that for every lake in town, there is a ton of backcountry options ranging in hiking distances from half a mile to over five. One popular route is the Duck Pass trail located at the far end of Lake Mary’s Coldwater Campground.

This is a well-maintained trail that will get you up and out of town, and into some excellent trout fishing. Arrowhead Lake is the first lake you come across on this trial, and is worth a stop not only for a break, but a chance to hookup with some aggressive fish that don’t see a whole lot of lures because most anglers hike right past Arrowhead on their way to lakes further up the trail. In Arrowhead as well as most other hike in lakes, wild Brook Trout are usually very easy to come by. Further up the Duck Pass trail, you will encounter a handful of tiny lakes (down to about an acre in size) that all hold good numbers of trout, but the most productive of them all seems to be Barney Lake, which sits about 3.75 miles up the trail. Some of the most agg and a cast with a small Pressive and best-looking brook trout in the area can be found here,
Panther Martin spinners anywhere on Barney will produce.

The Duck Pass trail is only one of many Mammoth area trails slithering through blue ribbon trout waters.

The Mosquito Flats trail that starts above Rock Creek Lake offers the same easy hike, small lake fishing that the Duck Pass Trail has, and if you want a shot at some Cutthroat Trout, take the half mile hike starting at Horseshoe Lake for the zero limit, barbless artificial only Lake Mcleod. Oh by the way, all of the little creeks connecting all these lakes shouldn’t be passed up either.
This is just a taste of the trout fishing that Mammoth Lakes has to offer, I will surely be reporting in more detail on specific spots, tactics, and secrets that will make your Eastern Sierra fishing trip more worth it this season.

Sweet Release

2009-02-11T18:38:00.000-08:00

I wish I could say the timing on this photo had something to do with my skill, but it didn't. It was pure luck, and at the time I had a digital camera that had one of those gnarly delays after you pulled the trigger. Anyway, my dad's style of C & R involves touching nothing but the hook with your forceps and just shaking the lure out. This was a Virginia Lake stocker, that is not in focus but, you can't win them all. At least the Kastmaster is in focus, and it should be because that lake is probably the Kastmaster capital of the universe.

The Legend of Urban Catch-and-Release

2009-02-11T18:21:00.000-08:00

I'm sure a lot of you guys are in the same boat (or tube) I am in at work. You know, when you have worked at the same place long enough that word gets out that you are an angler, and from that day forward you are the one the noobs (now don't you noobs get all butthurt because you have a nickname, because I love teaching noobs how to catch fish, and we were all noobs at one point...Noob!) come to for advice or to tell you about catching their first power cheese trout at Magic Johnson Park Lake.

Well I was that guy yesterday at work via email, and rather than type out a synopsis for you (I'm kinda busy watching Duke vs North Carolina, and waiting for SDSU vs Utah and later, the Lakers, it's a hoopy night) I'll just show you the emails.

I know it's not Sierra related, but a lot of us (and many noobs) fish their local, urban trout lake to hold them over until the opener. Many of these lakes don't allow catch-and-release, and you have probably been told a variety of reasons why, but I doubt any of them were being honest.

----------
From: Nooberson, Noob
Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2009 1:19 PM
To: Stevens, Mike (that would be me)

Hey Mike,

Irvine lake does not allow you to release trout once you catch them. I asked and the lady says it's because they usually die anyway. You release wild trout don't you? Are they stronger than planted farm-raised trout? What's the deal? Just curious.

NoobFrom: Stevens, Mike
Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2009 1:30 PM
To: Nooberson, Noob
Subject: RE:

Yea, some lakes around here unofficially discourage it, and some OFFICIALLY make it a rule (see Cuyamaca).

Wild trout are heartier, and are more likely to be fine after you C & R them, but that is not why you can't release trout down here even though they might say that.

The main reason is, most people who fish urban lakes for stocked trout A-are using bait, meaning the trout is actually EATING it, hence getting hooked deeper or guthooked, making unhooking the fish invasive surgery, only to plop them back and say "Have a nice day" as it goes belly up and B-the water in these lakes is warmer which makes them more at risk to infection, and it takes longer for them to recover from the battle.

Some purists who fish secret wild trout streams in So Cal mountains leave them alone all summer for exactly that reason. Those fish are not stocked, so they want to maintain the fish that happen to be there.

The best way to release trout is not even taking them out of the water (that also makes it less obvious if you are being watched...."ooops, he got away" and just shaking the lure out with forceps)......if fishing bait and the hook is deep, cut it off, it will rust out.

But I think the lake management that discourages release would rather just say you CANT do it, rather than trying to convince the masses to do it the right way. Their whole goal is not winding up with 100 belly up trout all over the place from NOOBS releasing fish they just disemboweled and held out of the water for 5 mins.

----------
From: Nooberson, Noob
Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2009 2:17 PM
To: Stevens, Mike
Subject: RE:

Thanks. I'm organizing a kayak group to fish the trout opener at Irvine. One guy said, "No thanks. If I can't release, I want no part of it" I just wanted to understand better the "why". You always seem to know about trout, even in urban situations. That guy sort of came off thinking he was better than us "Urban Meat Hunters"!

Noob

From: Stevens, Mike
Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2009 2:25 PM
To: Nooberson, Noob
Subject: RE:

That guy is a tool.

stocked trout are meant to be taken out of the lake. If they were all released they would all roll come summer when it is 90 degrees every day for 4+ months.

I release stocked trout when I catch them in the sierras because I move around a lot and dont want to be hauling dead fish around with me. Also, stocked fish can holdover from season to season because even when the air temps are at the hottest in Aug/Sept, the water temp is always cool enough to sustain them. They can also hold over through the winter into next season (that is, if they successfully evade several thousand more dunked worms and dough baits for the rest of this season), and if I release it only so it is caught two days later by some kid with a tub of worms, so be it, maybe I made his day.

Holdovers in low altitude lakes are rare, and only in the deepest ones. You can catch trout at 40 feet deep by the dam at Diamond Valley Lake in mid summer, but that is because it's up to 260 feet deep there, and they can seek out cooler temps whenever they want. Not sure if you can yak there but would be worth looking in to (doubtful since it is a domestic water supply).

2009-01-16T21:27:00.000-08:00

Mike Sr. fishing the Owens above Pleasant Valley Reservior in Bishop. No it's not as scenic as your summer spots up the hill, but if you are jonesing for trout in the offseason it beats sitting at home trolling for fish stories on your favorite message board.

Try Bishop for winter trout

2009-01-16T21:07:00.000-08:00

Disclaimer - I originally wrote this for Fish Taco Chronicles magazine in 2003 so you may notice a couple things. First, since it was written before it was announced that the Owens River up the hill as well as Hot Creek were open to fishing year around, info on those spots aren't represented. Also, I'm guessing my writing was crappier back then and I don't have time to polish it up, but there should be some good info in here if you feel like making a winter run up 395.

Enjoy

In the middle of November, the majority of the Eastern Sierra trout anglers will hang up their waders as most of the waters in the area close for the winter. Popular fishing locations such as Rock Creek Lake, Mammoth Lakes, the June Lake Loop and Bridgeport go into ski mode at this time and the lakes begin to freeze, keeping fisherman at bay until the opener in April. One option, other than bait dunking for corn fed hatchery trout in the local city lakes is to make the run up U.S. 395 to Bishop where trout fishing is available all year long.

The only spots to fish in this area in the colder months are Pleasant Valley Reservoir and the lower section of the Owens River. There is some risk involved while making the trip here because the weather can be unpredictable. At this time of year one can encounter calm, clear 60-degree days or anything from high winds to snow. Some anglers take that risk in hopes of some mid- winter trouting and some advantages they come across are inexpensive hotel prices and light fishing pressure.

“At this time of year only the Owens and Pleasant Valley are open and flows in the river are usually low at this time so the fishing can be quite good,” said Gary Gunsolley of Brock’s tackle in Bishop. “Good flies are midges in the river and streamers in the reservoir.”

Pleasant Valley Reservoir is located north of Bishop off U.S. 395. Although it is not the most scenic lake in the Sierras it has the potential to kick out some bruiser rainbows and browns. Fly fishermen fish sinking lines and streamer patterns and spin fisherman work their lures slowly and deep. The most popular spot on the reservoir is the inlet area where the Owens enters the lake. Float tubing is allowed but the cold water will make a tuber’s legs numb within an hour. Pleasant Valley Reservoir is also a popular location for bait dunkers.

Perhaps a better spot to try would be the Owens River starting in the area known as the Owens Gorge, which is above the Reservoir to well south of town on U.S. 395. Most of the river is open to lure or bait fisherman but the area just below the reservoir for several miles down is reserved for fly fishing only. The lower section of the river below town is the most popular area for spin and fly fisherman, and where several guide services in town take clients on float trips down the Owens.

“We drift boat secluded sections of the Lower Owens River and pull streamer patterns in the winter,” said Tom Loe of Sierra Drifters Guide Service. “It is a great time of the year to spank some big fish.”

This area is easily accessible, with a dirt road running parallel to the river you can drive along until you see a spot you would like to try, and literally park a cast from the river. Just don’t lock your keys in your truck way out there like I did, it’s a long walk back and you feel pretty silly walking the main drag in Bishop in chest waders.

A good section of the river for the angler going out on foot is the stretch between East Line Street in Bishop, south to Warm Springs Road located just south of town. Working bait or lures close to the bottom as slow as possible as the trout are not as aggressive this time of year and the water is slightly off color in the Owens. Some effective lures for the river are small panther martins, floating and sinking Rapalas and Rebel lures, and Berkley trout worms bounced along the bottom with a small split shot.

If you hit it just right and the weather cooperates wintertime trout fishing in the Bishop area can be a heck of an alternative to fishing your local urban trout holes.

For a year around guide service, Tom Loe can be reached at 760-935-4250, or visit the Sierra Drifters website at www.sierradrifters.com.

Brook Trout Porn

2008-12-14T21:42:00.001-08:00

Here is a good look at what your typical backcountry Brook Trout is going to look like

This backcountry Brookie t was fooled by an orange and red Wyld Edge spinner at Skelton Lake. Skelton is one of the larger lakes along the Duck Pass Trail.

The trail head is located near the parking lot at the back of the Coldwater Campground near Lake Mary in the Mammoth Lakes Basin.

I have caught 1,345,891 Brook Trout on Panther Martin spinners, but they are now made in China, and consequently, they are garbage. So hang on to all of your old Italian ones (they say Italy on the blade), and see if you can find the last remaining Italian ones in the stores
that carry them.

Brook Trout

2008-12-14T21:28:00.000-08:00

A hooked Duck Pass Trail Brook Trout

There is a good chance that the second type of trout you will catch in the Sierras will be an Eastern Brook Trout. Native to our east coast, brookies aren’t actually trout, scientifically speaking, but they are a member of the Char family. Not that it makes a whole lot of difference, but you can use that tidbit of information to impress your fishing partners.

-How to identify them

Like most fish, brookies can vary in appearance depending on a variety of environmental factors and what they eat. I think they are one of the best looking trout (err, char, whatever) available in the Sierras, perhaps second only to Golden Trout. They have irregular “worm-like” markings on their back which give way to red, blue, even purple dots on their sides. Usually they have at least a touch of orange along their belly, but sometimes the orange appears to be the dominant color of the fish which sometimes results in noobs misidentifying them as goldens. If those aren’t enough distinguishing features, throw in the fact that they are the only trout (char, DAMMIT!) with a mouth that extends well past their eyes and white stripes on their pectoral and rear fins, almost looks like someone took some whiteout to them and turned them loose.

-Where to find them

You may accidentally catch your first Brook Trout in one of the local lakes (they seem to find their way into more sierra water than the “experts” know about). I believe my first one came in the middle of the three Twin Lakes (I know, that doesn’t make a lot of sense does it?) in Mammoth, and I have caught a few more of them in the lower one on a fly-and-bubble cast from the shore.

If accidentally catching one at the normal drive-up haunts isn’t good enough and you want to target them, then you need to get into the backcountry. That doesn’t necessarily mean hauling $10,000 worth of Gucci REI gear 25 miles into the wilderness with a team of mules and five days worth of dehydrated grub, but it does mean you have to hike, at least a little. The lakes along the Mosquito Flats and Duck Pass trailheads are chock full of brookies, and those trails in particular are well marked and highly traveled, so you don’t have to worry about getting lost or breaking a leg where no one can find you.

How far up the trails you go is up to you and your lungs. On those two trails, you will get to your first Brook Trout friendly lake in less than an hour of hiking. If you have it in you, head further up the trail, fish all the lakes, and pick your favorite.

Oh yea, don’t forget to fish the creeks that connect these lakes. Usually the fish in them are small but they are crazy aggressive and eat whatever you throw at them, so it’s worth a shot just to get your numbers up.

-How to Catch them

This is the easy part. In backcountry lakes, the amount of Brook Trout per lake borders on overpopulation for a variety of reasons. For one, the feeding period is shorter than in lower elevation lakes because they stay frozen longer, sometimes into the beginning of summer, so for the most part brookies are not too picky about what they eat or when they eat it. The overpopulation and small amount of time to fatten up also translates to a large number of trout competing for a limited amount of goodies.

If you haven’t figured it out by now, throw your favorite lures or flies and chances are you’ll get some action. Smaller spinners (Wyld Edge, Rooster Tails, etc) in the 1/16 ounce size are probably the most consistent choice, and they allow you to cover a lot of water without spending too much time in one spot. If it is early in the season and the fish seem sluggish (following your offering for a short distance and giving up) try switching to flies (on the fly rod or fished with spinning tackle and a bubble) or trout jigs (alone or under a bobber) or anything else that you can fish slowly.

Sometimes in the middle of the day up there the fish hang out in deeper water towards the middle of the lake, and you need a long cast to get to them. A few years ago I upgraded from the short rods we all start with and picked up a 7-foot ultra light spinning rod that a fish 2-pound test line on (there is no reason to go heavier than 2-pound in the backcountry), and when I pair that thing with a Kastmaster lure in the 1/16 ounce range, I can outcast anyone in town. So have some Kastmasters or other aerodynamic spoon that you can launch out there and you can find wide open action when fishing near the shore is dead.

If you have yet to catch a brookie, you may be thinking that the Eastern Brook Trout sounds like the greatest trout there is, so, I’ll throw a couple negatives out there just to stay fair and balanced.

Once you have caught your 20^th brookie in an hour, you will notice that they don’t fight worth a squat. Even stocked rainbows with worn-down tails will give you a better battle than a brookie, and the lazy east-coasters NEVER jump, well, maybe big ones do but I have never caught one over 14 inches (9-12 inches being the average).

The selling points of a brookie is in their looks, availability, aggressiveness, and I hear they are the best tasting trout up there, and you might even be doing some lakes a favor by keeping a few to help keep the population down.

Hitting some brook trout water is a big step into moving up and out of “noob” status and beginning your trip into become a bona fide Eastern Sierra Trout jedi.

Rainbow Trout (stocked)

2008-11-26T21:05:00.000-08:00

Dumb Stocked Rainbow that ate a Trout Trap

Peep the worn out tail fin from being raised in concrete!

-Where to find them

Most likely the first trout you caught (or will catch) in the Sierras was a rainbow trout, and chances are it was of the born-in-captivity, raised in a concrete pool variety. They are heavily stocked at the easiest to get to, and as a result, the most heavily fished waters in the area. These areas include waters along the Bishop Creek drainage such as the creek itself, Lake Sabrina, North Lake, South Lake, and Intake II.

Heading further up 395, rainbows are also planted in Lake Crowley and parts of its tributaries such as Upper McGee Creek, Hilton and Convict Creeks, and the Owens River from the Benton Road crossing all the way downstream to the inlet of Crowley.

About 15 minutes further up the road, all the Mammoth Lakes basin (except Horseshoe Lake) is regularly stocked with rainbows as is Mammoth Creek which snakes its way through town until it merges with Hot Creek a ways downstream from where it crosses under 395. Sherwin Creek, which runs through a nearby camp ground gets rainbows too.

Continuing north on 395 you come upon the June Lake Loop, and of the lakes therein, and the creeks that connect them are all stocked by the Department of Fish and Game, as well as a couple local hatcheries.

To put it simply, if you can easily drive to it, or it has a parking lot, and it is in the Sierras chances are it is stocked with rainbow trout.

-How to identify them

Unfortunately, if the fish is hatchery born and bred and dumped out of a truck, the build and coloration of the rainbow most likely not going to live up to its name. The signature red band running horizontally up both sides of the fish is usually not very pronounced (at least when compared to that of their native cousins) and most of the fish is predominately a silver color tapering off to a white belly. Black dots cover the back and on the better looking stockers will continue down along the sides of the fish.

Hatchery rainbows also can have worn down fins, especially the tail, which is a product of swimming around in concrete “raceways” rather than in natural environment.

-How to catch them

In lakes, stocked rainbows like to school up and orbit the shoreline for a few days after they are dumped off the truck. Typically they won’t bite until the initial shock of being introduced into an environment a million times larger than what they are used to, but it doesn’t take long for rods to start to bend in the vicinity of the stocking location. Loud and easily detectable lures are good ways to bag a quick five-fish limit
(or catch-and-release them by the dozen). I mean, you can use dough bait or worms or whatever but, you want to be able to make a lot of casts to locate these fish as they patrol the shoreline checking out their new digs, and usually when they are doing this they are only within casting range for a minute or so.

In creek, it seems to take a little longer for stocked rainbows to bite. They are usually stocked at where a road crosses over or at least near the creek so the hatchery guys have easy access. While you will see a lot of dillholes chasing the stock truck in hopes of shooting fish in a barrel after they stock, it usually doesn’t work. You are better off coming back and taking a shot a few hours later or even the next day after the shock wears off.

When you find a nice pool that holds trout, small spinners or crappie jigs are a good way to nail stockers.

I will get into specific ways to catch stocked rainbows – as well as other types of trout – in more detail in future write ups, and hopefully once you get your feet wet so to speak on STOCKED rainbow trout in your first few trips to the Sierras, you move on to some fish that are a little more challenging, natural, better looking, and maybe even native.

The Quarry

2008-11-25T21:49:00.000-08:00

The first bit of content I am going to work on here is going to be called "The Quarry" aka, the fish you are after.

I'm going to write a little something about each trout you can catch in the Sierras, and I'm going to do it in the order most people catch them, of course starting with the plentiful, fun (at first) and vanilla STOCKED rainbow trout.

The content on this site is going to start off pretty basic to get some archived stuff for beginners to get into, and hopefully it will be up to speed by the 2009 Trout Opener with more stuff like secrets, advanced techniques, and the real meaty stuff.

So for those of you Sierra Trout veterans out there, I can't say it enough. Be patient! Roll your eyes through the kid stuff I'm starting out with and trust me, this blog is for you!

TypeCast

Reminder!

2008-11-06T12:42:00.000-08:00

Attention followers, subscribers, and lurkers!

Just a reminder that this page is a work in progress. I plan on adding content over the next year and hopefully have a good amount of stuff on here and in the archives by next sierra trout season.

Have patience amigos!

Type Cast

The Deal Here

2008-10-23T21:30:00.000-07:00

So here's the deal.

Over the last couple of months I have taken to collecting blogs on topics I am interested in and linking them to my yahoo homepage. Blogs attached to Field and Stream, Outside Magazine, and a couple of independent fishing ones are the ones I have been keeping an eye on, but none of them focused on the Sierra Nevadas in particular save for a Yosemite one but I am a trout guy and that one is more of a hiking one.

It didn't take long for the wheels to start turning and for me to look into what it takes to run one of these blogs and long story short, it's pretty damn easy, at least for a simple one like this. I started thinking about what kind of information could I have on here, and my train of thought first led me to think about what I DIDN'T want on here.

Allow me to make a list of things you will not find here.

I don't want week-old reports that were supplied by a local tackle shop simply suggesting the lures or flies that they have the most backstock of.

I don't want gear reviews done by a magazine that is only writing the review because the manufacturer of said gear has just secured a deal for six months of a full-page color ad in that magazine.

I don't want to continue to be bombarded with fishing reports from only the stocked lakes you can drive to as if Joe and Martha Power Bait Dunker and their lawn chairs are the only ones seeking information.

And if I see another damn thread where some wannabe Ansel Adams posts a half-dozen photos of either black and white, color saturated, or that freakin' motion-blur creek close up that Trout Unlimited has been filling its magazine pages with for years I am going to barf. I must admit though, I am always entertained by the two-word "titles" that Ansel Jr. and his new photoshop toy slaps on each one like "Morning Mist," "Sierra Dawn," and "Majestic Mountains" to add to the overall douchebaggery of the post.

Basically, I want a place where I can share info that is not in the magazines, on the message boards, or even talked about in tackle shops. Or stuff that has resulted in my getting flamed on the boards by those not appreciating my diction.

I want to share a little knowledge gained from five years in the fishing tackle industry that you may not know about.

I want to get into detail about techniques that I have come up with over 20 years of sierra trouting that you won't find in a book.

I want to talk about non-fishing things like where to eat along 395 and in the towns, why you really should condo-camp instead of tent camp (when practical), where the hot chicks are in Mammoth and why you should never think a bear can't smell something in your backpack when it is still in it's packaged and in a ziploc bag.

I want to review gear objectively because I honestly like or dislike it, not because the manufacturer advertises with me. On the same token, I want to talk about what tackle shops are good and which ones suck based on my experiences with them.

I want to talk about the little things that can make a trip a lot more successful and talk about backcountry tactics that are never covered the usual publications while not broadcasting a treasure map on how to get to these places on the internet so they get sprinkled with foam worm containers and Strohs cans.

Rods, reels, lures, spots, what's in my backpack, trail food, regular, readable dude information on each species of trout in the area, what's not in my backpack, tackle shop secrets, transitioning from bait to lure, or lure to fly, highway 395, photography, things that suck, things that are cool, Rule vs Reality, lists, ranks, making fun of stuff, etc etc etc, I have too much in my head to keep it bottled up or to spew it forth all at once after six Fat Tires.

Anyway, that is where my head is at, I'm going in blind but I have plenty to say.

Let's see how it works out.

Sincerely,

TypeCast

PS UPDATE 11/20/08 - The content on here is straight out of my head from over 20 years of fishing in the area. If the info isn't scientific enough, well, that is the idea, there are plenty of sites to go to for that. My goal is to provide info that common sites don't. 100% unbiased and objective. If something sucks, I'll say it sucks.

Photos will all (hopefully) be my own (or from my dad or brother's camera) but on the trips, I take 90% of the photos (all of them other than the ones I am in!). Later I might let some worthy trouters I know submit their stuff, but I'm not going to scour the net for images.

Former personal best Brown Trout (caught a bigger one three days later)

2008-10-23T08:14:00.000-07:00

Eastern Sierra Trout Blog

2008-10-22T19:47:00.000-07:00

This Blog is under construction!

bookmark it and stay tuned!

TypeCast