Onion Valley Campground - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

roby · 10-12-2017, 09:42 PM

This is not a kayak report, but I thought it would be fun to share.

My two boys, 11 and 8, and my brother-in-law and his nephew, camped at Onion Valley Campground this past weekend. The campsite sits at 9600 feet just west of Independence and north of Lone Pine.

The leaves just turned and it made for some beautiful scenery. There was still a bit of snow on the mountain peaks and the creeks were still flowing.

Our plan was to hike 2 miles to Gilbert Lake and Flower Lake, a gain of about 1300 feet, and fish for trout.With kids in tow, it took about 2.5 hours just to hike 1.5 miles. The elevation was tough on the heart and lungs. We made many snack stops - and heard a lot of complaining, but we ended up at our destination.

At both lakes, the brookies were plentiful. They bit the mice tails and the bubble and fly. It was non-stop action for pan-sized trout. Even though the trout were small, it was fun on 2lb test and an ultra-light rod. The colors on the brookies was phenomenal.

We ended up staying two nights at Onion Valley Campground. On our last day, we hit up Taboose Creek for a dozen trout. It was the first time for any of us to catch trout from a creek.>>

Overall, a trip to the Sierras in the fall is becoming an annual event since the scenery, tranquility, and fishing is just amazing.

Murray · 10-12-2017, 10:46 PM

Memories dad. You are doing a great job. The boys will remember the times you spend with them. Awesome photos.

MrPukaShell · 10-13-2017, 05:55 AM

Something the kids will never forget. Great job

battleborn · 10-13-2017, 06:55 AM

remember...wild trout don't live in ugly places. trout fishing will take you to some epic scenery. great memories for the kiddos!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

Saba Slayer · 10-13-2017, 07:34 AM

Thanks for the report Roby...the colors on those Brookies is amazing...they are so beautiful....it looks a little chilly up there...

Chuck D · 10-13-2017, 07:37 AM

So cool Roby!$!$!

steveooo · 10-13-2017, 08:19 AM

Love everything about this trip. I'm sure as the kids get older these will be some of their best memories.

I'm sneaking in a late late sierras trip 2nd week in nov. Thanks for wettin' the whistle!

roby · 10-13-2017, 09:33 AM

For the trout experts. What kind of trout is pictured below?

My son caught it in one of the creeks.

Iceman · 10-13-2017, 09:43 AM

Far from expert but maybe native rainbow?

Memory makin! Love it! I was up around 6300 feet earlier this week camping with my wife and it got down to 28 degrees one night brrrrrrrrrr.

WestFork · 10-13-2017, 09:43 AM

It's hard to tell from the photo but appears to be a Golden Trout. It's a type of rainbow trout. Ichthyologists ague about how to classify it. It's still pretty! Gorgeous photo of the brookie, and it appears your priorities-taking the kids fishing and camping-are clearly in order, btw! :-)

alanw · 10-13-2017, 12:41 PM

Awesome place. Loved the camping trips with my kids when they were younger. Good memories for life.

StumpFisher · 10-13-2017, 01:11 PM

Great photos thanks for sharing.
Hard to tell from the pic but that looks like a hybrid rainbow golden. Nice job!

steveooo · 10-13-2017, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roby

For the trout experts. What kind of trout is pictured below?

My son caught it in one of the creeks.

No expert here, but its a Rainbow IMHO.

FISH11 · 10-13-2017, 01:08 PM

Looks like that was an awesome trip. I'm sure you all will have great memories of that trip and will want to repeat it in the future. It sure looks like it got really cold especially because of the altitude. Beautiful pictures, thanks for sharing Roby.

10-12-2017, 09:42 PM	#1
roby CEO of Team Roby Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 905	Onion Valley Campground This is not a kayak report, but I thought it would be fun to share. My two boys, 11 and 8, and my brother-in-law and his nephew, camped at Onion Valley Campground this past weekend. The campsite sits at 9600 feet just west of Independence and north of Lone Pine. The leaves just turned and it made for some beautiful scenery. There was still a bit of snow on the mountain peaks and the creeks were still flowing. Our plan was to hike 2 miles to Gilbert Lake and Flower Lake, a gain of about 1300 feet, and fish for trout.With kids in tow, it took about 2.5 hours just to hike 1.5 miles. The elevation was tough on the heart and lungs. We made many snack stops - and heard a lot of complaining, but we ended up at our destination. At both lakes, the brookies were plentiful. They bit the mice tails and the bubble and fly. It was non-stop action for pan-sized trout. Even though the trout were small, it was fun on 2lb test and an ultra-light rod. The colors on the brookies was phenomenal. We ended up staying two nights at Onion Valley Campground. On our last day, we hit up Taboose Creek for a dozen trout. It was the first time for any of us to catch trout from a creek.>> Overall, a trip to the Sierras in the fall is becoming an annual event since the scenery, tranquility, and fishing is just amazing. Attached Images

10-13-2017, 07:34 AM	#5
Saba Slayer Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Palos Verdes Posts: 1,857	THANKS Thanks for the report Roby...the colors on those Brookies is amazing...they are so beautiful....it looks a little chilly up there... __________________ Jim / Saba Slayer

10-13-2017, 09:33 AM	#8
roby CEO of Team Roby Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 905	For the trout experts. What kind of trout is pictured below? My son caught it in one of the creeks. Attached Images

10-13-2017, 09:43 AM	#9
Iceman Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: 1-2 miles off the point Posts: 6,948	Far from expert but maybe native rainbow? Memory makin! Love it! I was up around 6300 feet earlier this week camping with my wife and it got down to 28 degrees one night brrrrrrrrrr. __________________

10-13-2017, 12:41 PM	#11
alanw Made in U.S.A. Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Dana Point Posts: 1,625	Awesome place. Loved the camping trips with my kids when they were younger. Good memories for life. __________________ Hobie PA 14 ¸.·´¯`·.´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> Jackson Kraken ¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·.´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> Malibu X-Factor ¸.·´¯`·.´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> Malibu Stealth-12 ¸.·´¯`·.´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> Its not a spelling B its a fishing B ~yakjoe

10-12-2017, 10:46 PM	#2
Murray Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Vista Posts: 326	Memories dad. You are doing a great job. The boys will remember the times you spend with them. Awesome photos.

10-13-2017, 05:55 AM	#3
MrPukaShell Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Ventura COunty Posts: 521	Something the kids will never forget. Great job

10-13-2017, 06:55 AM	#4
battleborn Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 221	remember...wild trout don't live in ugly places. trout fishing will take you to some epic scenery. great memories for the kiddos! Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

10-13-2017, 07:37 AM	#6
Chuck D Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Bay Park Posts: 559	So cool Roby!$!$!

10-13-2017, 08:19 AM	#7
steveooo Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,921	Love everything about this trip. I'm sure as the kids get older these will be some of their best memories. I'm sneaking in a late late sierras trip 2nd week in nov. Thanks for wettin' the whistle!

10-13-2017, 09:43 AM	#10
WestFork Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Utah Posts: 46	It's hard to tell from the photo but appears to be a Golden Trout. It's a type of rainbow trout. Ichthyologists ague about how to classify it. It's still pretty! Gorgeous photo of the brookie, and it appears your priorities-taking the kids fishing and camping-are clearly in order, btw! :-)

10-13-2017, 01:11 PM	#12
StumpFisher Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Riverside Posts: 52	Great photos thanks for sharing. Hard to tell from the pic but that looks like a hybrid rainbow golden. Nice job!

10-13-2017, 01:08 PM	#14
FISH11 Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Pine Valley when not fishing La Jolla Posts: 2,643	Looks like that was an awesome trip. I'm sure you all will have great memories of that trip and will want to repeat it in the future. It sure looks like it got really cold especially because of the altitude. Beautiful pictures, thanks for sharing Roby. __________________ MARK ......... 2016 MALIBU X FACTOR, 2020 SOLO SKIFF (Fishing Kayak on Steroids )