Sierras Again
 

Sorry about the smiley faces, I wrote the report on MS Word, and I don't know how to get rid of 'em.

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Just got back this weekend from one of my trips up there this year. Fishing was excellent (100+ fish for the weekend), Company was great (Daughter + Wife), and the Eastern Sierras Never Dissapoint (Have you seen this place!).
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Hope you guys like more Pics than words
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Day 1
Drove up the 395. Stopped at cottonwood, just to break the skunk.
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The drive up
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First trout of 2011! A stocker, but 2 lbs+ and good enough for dinner later that night
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Stopped in Bishop for cheap gas @ the casino, went with the daughter to look @ cows. Probably her highlight of the trip.
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Our destination. I highly recommend it. For those of you that pray, Dale, the owner, has been battling cancer, and chemo has been taking a toll on his body. Pray with your families for him.
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Next morning I launched the Yak @ June Lake. Launch is free, but watch out for the surf
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Alone on the glassy water for 2 hours
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So nice
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Hint- Look for these
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Cool Spot
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In the Afternoon I went to fish Rush Creek. Rush connects Silver lake to Gull lake and beyond. The fishing @ Rush Creek was Phenomenal this year. All Good grade fish. While I’ll take a 50 lb wsb any day, I’d gladly pull on one of these full tailed pitbulls in current to fill the time…
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Natures Stringer
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Later that night I launched again @ June. Weather was coming in, @ June I usually know what weather looks like. Tonight is was rain. Fish aren’t scared of the rain, but my camera was.
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Next morning, I knew weather was coming, but I launched @ Grant anyways. Every lake in the loop is practically this easy to get the yak to.
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1 fish before the 30 mph + 40 gusts blew me off the lake.
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After I got blown off, I went to the shelter of Rush again, and it didn’t disappoint. This is one of my favorite stretches. Make a cast just a little off your mark, kiss your $4 panther martin goodbye (I lost plenty). Make the right cast, BOOM! A fish every time. 4 lb test with a pissed off fish in that current is no joke.
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Later that day, wind was still howling, so I took the family into Mammoth. This is what @ family photo looks like in 40+ mph wind @ Twin Lakes.
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I really only went into Mammoth to knock another species out. Brookie @ Lower Twin- Check!
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The days get a little fuzzy, but I think later that afternoon I went to Lee Vining? Maybe not. Either way, here is a pool I pulled a bunch of fish out @ Lee Vining.
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Even later that afternoon I took my daughter to the park @ Gull lake. 2 min from our hotel, can you beat that view?
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Side story. My daughter decides that Sierra vacation is a good time to dislocate her elbow. 11 o’clock pm visit to the E.R. in Mammoth and, whahla! 1hr later, and a skilled Dr, and she good as new!
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Next morning we wake up to falling snow. This is what my car/yak looked like.
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Model status.
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That afternoon I drove up to rock creek with the intention of Ice fishing
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The weather had a different idea. It was seriously blizzard conditions. 40+ mph wind and driving snow kept me off the frozen lake.
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Tried fishing the snowy Rock Creek for no luck. The fish were there, but not hungry. Probably the low pressure? Either way, I’ll take it. Where else would you rather be?!?
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On the drive home I swung by Convict to take a pic. Haven’t yakked it yet, but it’s on my list. Snow still falling…
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Later that night, I launched @ Grant again. IMHO, Grant is your best shot @ a trophy fish in the loop. Big Browns cruise these waters, but they are smart.
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Shout out to my BT Bros<o></o>
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I got snowed on. Low pressure + snow, shut the fish off. One small fish on the big plug an that was it for me.
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Next morning I fished Rush, then took the fam out for some scenery.
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Did some offroading
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Went for a walk in the cold
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Last day it was a little cold
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I fished Rush again. Rush was good again. This is what a trout tail looks like.
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One of Rush’s great runs
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Time to head back down the hill. Gotta stop here
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Picked up a few fish on the way back down. Browns are so friggen cool to me. Here is a juvi
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A Teenager
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Bigger (Kept this one cuz she ripped a gill)
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This one is my favorite. Caught her from sex pond (named by a good friend that accidentally stopped here to get lucky with his wife). Nice colors, feisty fish, truly special.
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Stopped one last time to play @ a park with the daughter. She LOVES swings. I LOVE fishing, so I pulled one last fish literally out of the sewer.
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Here is what meals in the sierras look like.
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For those that fish Irvine & the local lakes, I’d put this on your “to do list”. It truly is a special place.
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Thanks for letting me share my trip.
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Tight Lines,
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Steveoo
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Thanks for the post..I made my way to the sierras 5 times last season and have been iching to get up there,but have been scared because of the weather...Looks like you all had fun..

Steve-

Nice (but cold)! I've kayak-fished Convict without much success and nearly froze my arse off in June! Your family is, no doubt, tougher than I.

John

Beautiful story and picture layout. Some of those areas, we've never been to, but look very, very nice. I especially like the photo of the beautiful looking pool at Lee Vining. Looks very fishy. Panther Martins were always my favorite choice when fishing streams and creeks in Idaho.
Thanks for a nice Sierra report.

Steve, can you recommend a good campground up there that can fit a 30 foot trailer? I have never been but it looks like the perfect place for a week long trip after the kids get out of school.

Thanks,
Jim

awesome post, steve... Your daughter is a trooper!

Awesome, you are inspiring me to do something like this with my family! :cool:

Great post! Im itching to get up there again this year.

Nice brook, now youve got to find the elusive golden, but i think to do so your going to have to leave the yak behind because they like higher elevations...

great post Steve-o. I enjoyed your trip almost as much as you did! Thanks!

Love your post.

My wife and I stay at Mono Village, Twin Lakes and I've got to say that all of that area up in the Sierra's is heaven.

Thanks for sharing

Your're livin' the good life Steve-o. Some of life's special moments.

KILLER post dude...you seem like an awesome father and husband..You should be proud...hope your daughter is all good..Thanks for sharing..the Sierra's are on the calendar now!

Steve,

Awesome report with great pictures, I have fished all those areas many times and hope to go up with my daughter Sierra in June. We pretty much live up in June Mountain during the winter with a season pass to access great back-country. Summers there are filled with fishing and mountain biking. One of the most beautiful places! A very special place to visit and I'm sure your daughter will remember these family trips her whole life as I do with my parents. Thanks for sharing and way to HOOK SOME TROUT!!! :cheers1:

- Joe

Awesome Steve, I took out most of the smileys and added this one :D

Awesome, I'm got a trip planned for the end of July to lake alpine and plan on stopping on my way through the mammoth area for some action. May is a little cold for my wife since were in a tent.

Beautiful trip; cute kid; gamer wife.
I do know Mammoth Hospital is adept at fixing dislocations. The cows, tour d'swing and all the swag she got in the hospital are going to be good memories for her.
:you_rock:

Awsome Family Shots
 

Thanks for sharing Stevoo, The sewer fishing while "watching" your daughter in the park is a classic. Looks like a great family trip. How many fish did you catch from the yak? It looks like most of your landings came from the beautiful creeks? I love walking the banks and seeing the fish in the pools and shallows. Did you try and dry flies?

Thanks again for sharing the joys of family fishing, Kurtfish

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great pics!!! thnx for the read

I love it! Havnt been up tehre in so long, May have to try to make a trip in the fall or something. Some of the best trips I ever had were up there.

Thanks for the pics and story...

Haven't been up there in years! Lots of good memories though. Glad to see you made the mandatory Schat's stop.

Wow looks like you guys had fun! Great pictures! Thanks for posting!

Thanks for the great report. My family is going camping at Twin Lakes next month. I can't wait.

I prayed for Dale.Cancer is tough.My son Dylan is now 8 months cancer free(Thank you JESUS !!!)Prayer works.

Awesome trip.:you_rock:

awesome!

Killer report Steve!!! :luxhello:

Great report!!

My two boys have been up to the Sierras every year of their lives. We can't wait to make it up there again.

Very, very nice!

Steveooo,

Really enjoyed the post and great pics. Thanks.

Just insane Steve. Way to drag the ladies along too :D

Steve, you always have the best posts, few words and the best pics or videos. After seeing your pics, I cant' wait to go backpacking in July. I am going to get some high country rainbows and goldens and also some browns on the fly in the Owens.

Looks like you had a great trip, always nice to see the inspirational family outings.

Steveooo,

I was up in Mammoth last weekend to do some teaching with the Fire Dept. and try to get some fishing in but unfortunately it did not work out. The lower twin was like Alaska and the road blocked to Lake Mary. I stopped at Convict Lake on Friday and it was packed! Deck hand said it was busier than opening day! Kayaked that last year, awesome! A pair of Bald Eagles live in the trees mid lake to the south. Never been fishig with Bald Eagles flying over your head! The trout congergate to the south west near the inlet. Love that lake! Thanks for sharing the photos makes me feel like I went fishing. Oh I did see a big black bear walking behind the Best Westren Hotel at 1130 PM, looked ouside to see if it was still snowing. Took a picture of the foot print for my son...

Tight Lines
Todd:cheers1:

Awesome Post. I am going in Mid August to the loop. I also will midge fish crowley.

Great report. Some beautiful fish and scenery.

Used to make trips up the the sierras every year growing up. Learned to fish in the Sierras starting at about 4 years old. Have fished both Twin lakes, Crowley, and Convict as well as June and Silver lakes. Absolutely amazing place to visit.

Impressive story. One of the few FJ's getting to see the terrain it wants to see. WTG.

Very Nice Post... I know this is older, I dug it up because I am headed to Mammoth this weekend. Blues and Brews Festival, and of course a little fishing! ha ha

Any special tips for June Lake?

Do I need anything special for my Outback up there?

Tips for June Lake? Go visit the Tiger Bar, bring a condom.

Or, head to the swim beach end and troll 1/4 and 3/8 oz thomas buoyants, one in gold, the other in silver. If one gets hit more than others, switch it up. I've also had good luck trolling Rapalla Jointed Rebels, brown trout color, size 5 or 7. There are some big fish in the lake if you want to chase them.

You do not need to pay to launch @ the swim beach side, but its a 25yd haul over gravel, so you may want to bring wheels. The swim beach side is the first part of the lake that you see coming in to the loop from the 395.

Troll till you find the fish. Sometimes as shallow as 5-7 feet, sometimes mid lake. There is a natural spring that feeds the lake there, so it can be pretty productive, usually about where the watyer changes color. There is also a weed line on the road side of the lake that seems to hold cutthroats in the summer.

Nothing special needed for the outback @ June. If you head down to Crowley you will need a mussel inspection.

Good luck:cheers1:

very nice post Steveoo!!! Thanks for all those beautiful pics.:)

leopoldo

I am a Tiger Bar Regular! ha ha No better way to Wake up than to wash down amazing food with an excellent inexpensive Screwdriver!

Thank you for the tips! I am pretty new to Trout fishing, I have really only had luck in streams by being a super stealthy fisherman. This will be the first time my Kayak gets wet with unsalted water!

If anyone else is headed up there for the Bluesapalooza give me a ring....

Ryan (951) 473-3202

ok this report I hope to be able to duplicate, very well done, I am going up the last week of August, I know that pool in Lee Vining, love that place, your pics are awesome and you now have got me all excited to go on my trip, first vacation I will have had in years, so thanks for sharing, I know many of these places well and I am looking forward to following your lead :reel:

too bad that you are up there this weekend rather than next. stinkymatt and i will be up there with some others camping at Brown's campsite next to the lower owens if anyone would like to join us next weekend hit us up. :cheers1: