Rock Creek Lake 9/6-9/9 - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Iceman · 09-11-2018, 09:51 AM

Fun, Summer is over camping, kayak fishing and hiking trip with my wife and daughter (before she goes back to WWU. RCL is walk ups only and figured after Labor Day mid week would be no problemo and was right, although pretty full up by the weekend. We got our pick of sites and ended up choosing site # 20.

The other option was 25 and 26 right above the creek, but 2 sites right on top of each other. Site 20 you need to carry stuff up as the wheel barrow they provide won't work well with the rock steps. We kept the kayaks down below and wheeled em to the water easily.

Best camp site I have had in regards to not being right on top of other campers.

We lucked out on perfect weather, winds never much more than 10 knots at any time. 70s and lots of sun and 40s at night with tons of stars.

Fishing was slow for everyone on the lake and other than a monster lost. Just dink rainbows. "do you want me to take your picture?" No I do not want a pic of me holding an 8 inch trout

We hiked into Little Lakes Valley, super crowded, parked in the 2nd over flow lot. Would love to go back pack in there next year for a couple days. We had overnight permits that did not get to use as we left a day late due to work.

We like to go somewhere different up there every Fall, so will be trying to figure where to go next September. This was a good option took $2 showers on Saturday after hiking at the RCL Resort and ate breakfast there on Sunday morning. Campground was well taken care of and one of the quietest I have been in.

Harry Hill · 09-11-2018, 07:20 PM

I haven't been to Rock Creek Lake in 40 years. It looks more primitive now than the last time I was there. All the camps were right up against the lake shore back then. I was there on a July 4th holiday and there was still ice around the lake. I used to hike up to the alpine lakes above the lake and fish for goldens. It's good to see the lake doing so good.

aftahour · 09-11-2018, 08:41 PM

wow looks greats. nice pics andy

radastaff · 09-11-2018, 08:48 PM

Fantastic pictures.
I think i camped there once,
hopefully i will again.

P

landwhale · 09-12-2018, 05:40 AM

Another Awesome Adventure Thanks for the report!!!!!

Saba Slayer · 09-12-2018, 07:05 AM

Love that little lake and the creek...thanks for the photos and report...

blitzburgh · 09-12-2018, 09:36 AM

Very cool

yakety-yak · 09-12-2018, 09:54 AM

Ahh, site of our infamous bear-between-you-and-the-minivan incident.

Iceman · 09-12-2018, 10:18 AM

Ha I have yet to encounter any bears in the lower 48. Only animals were coyotes and chipmunks. Did not even see any deer on this trip. We were hoping for the elusive Pica.

or the pine marten

Fish Taco · 09-12-2018, 01:53 PM

Thanks for sharing Andy... such a beautiful spot... I just love the Eastern Sierras... just don't get up there often enough!

steveooo · 09-12-2018, 05:55 PM

Looks like heaven!

I'll touch base with ya before my trip up in Oct. That i11s looks perfect for up there.

Harry Hill · 09-13-2018, 07:39 AM

Saw a wolverine above the lake way back in 1960, the only one I've ever seen in the wild.

fishing md · 09-13-2018, 10:22 AM

Great idea! Thanks for the report...

RK · 09-16-2018, 12:34 PM

Rad Andy!

Cronus · 09-17-2018, 08:02 AM

Love that lake, fell through the ice one year when ice fishing on a hot day. Didnt see my life flash before my eyes but I did see every movie scene where someone was under the ice flash in an instant, including the cliff hanger scene with Sly. All my movie knowledge kicked in and that was the knowledge I was going by to get myself out. Had to brake a trail all the way to shore, about 25 feet out. I knew from the movies that I only had a couple of minutes before my muscles would lock up. Very hard to swim back up to that little hole with boots and a jacket on. Very scary but I still go back. I have not ice fished it since but I will if I get the chance. Love fishing the creek as well.

tunaseeker · 09-18-2018, 11:16 AM

Can you drive to the camp ground or is it a hike?

Iceman · 09-18-2018, 11:26 AM

rock creek lake you drive in. This video shows the road in

09-11-2018, 09:51 AM	#1
Iceman Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: 1-2 miles off the point Posts: 6,948	Rock Creek Lake 9/6-9/9 Fun, Summer is over camping, kayak fishing and hiking trip with my wife and daughter (before she goes back to WWU. RCL is walk ups only and figured after Labor Day mid week would be no problemo and was right, although pretty full up by the weekend. We got our pick of sites and ended up choosing site # 20. The other option was 25 and 26 right above the creek, but 2 sites right on top of each other. Site 20 you need to carry stuff up as the wheel barrow they provide won't work well with the rock steps. We kept the kayaks down below and wheeled em to the water easily. Best camp site I have had in regards to not being right on top of other campers. We lucked out on perfect weather, winds never much more than 10 knots at any time. 70s and lots of sun and 40s at night with tons of stars. Fishing was slow for everyone on the lake and other than a monster lost. Just dink rainbows. "do you want me to take your picture?" No I do not want a pic of me holding an 8 inch trout We hiked into Little Lakes Valley, super crowded, parked in the 2nd over flow lot. Would love to go back pack in there next year for a couple days. We had overnight permits that did not get to use as we left a day late due to work. We like to go somewhere different up there every Fall, so will be trying to figure where to go next September. This was a good option took $2 showers on Saturday after hiking at the RCL Resort and ate breakfast there on Sunday morning. Campground was well taken care of and one of the quietest I have been in. __________________

09-11-2018, 07:20 PM	#2
Harry Hill Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Yucaipa, CA Posts: 1,136	I haven't been to Rock Creek Lake in 40 years. It looks more primitive now than the last time I was there. All the camps were right up against the lake shore back then. I was there on a July 4th holiday and there was still ice around the lake. I used to hike up to the alpine lakes above the lake and fish for goldens. It's good to see the lake doing so good. __________________ you can't eat it if you release it

09-12-2018, 05:40 AM	#5
landwhale Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Seal Beach Posts: 506	Another Awesome Adventure Thanks for the report!!!!! __________________

09-12-2018, 07:05 AM	#6
Saba Slayer Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Palos Verdes Posts: 1,857	rock creek Love that little lake and the creek...thanks for the photos and report... __________________ Jim / Saba Slayer

09-12-2018, 09:36 AM	#7
blitzburgh Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Menifee Posts: 2,509	Very cool __________________ ”The beauty of the Second Amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it.” ~Thomas Jefferson.........maybe

09-11-2018, 08:41 PM	#3
aftahour Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: torrance Posts: 155	wow looks greats. nice pics andy

09-11-2018, 08:48 PM	#4
radastaff Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 314	Fantastic pictures. I think i camped there once, hopefully i will again. P

09-12-2018, 09:54 AM	#8
yakety-yak D-T-B Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: SoCal/SoCo (OC) Posts: 62	Ahh, site of our infamous bear-between-you-and-the-minivan incident.

09-12-2018, 10:18 AM	#9
Iceman Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: 1-2 miles off the point Posts: 6,948	Ha I have yet to encounter any bears in the lower 48. Only animals were coyotes and chipmunks. Did not even see any deer on this trip. We were hoping for the elusive Pica. or the pine marten __________________

09-12-2018, 01:53 PM	#10
Fish Taco Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Bozeman, Montana Posts: 164	Thanks for sharing Andy... such a beautiful spot... I just love the Eastern Sierras... just don't get up there often enough! __________________ - Ken Redondo Beach, CA 2011 Malibu Stealth 14

09-12-2018, 05:55 PM	#11
steveooo Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,921	Looks like heaven! I'll touch base with ya before my trip up in Oct. That i11s looks perfect for up there.

09-13-2018, 07:39 AM	#12
Harry Hill Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Yucaipa, CA Posts: 1,136	Saw a wolverine above the lake way back in 1960, the only one I've ever seen in the wild. __________________ you can't eat it if you release it

09-13-2018, 10:22 AM	#13
fishing md Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: redlands Posts: 237	Great idea! Thanks for the report... __________________ ---

09-16-2018, 12:34 PM	#14
RK Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 736	Rad Andy!

09-17-2018, 08:02 AM	#15
Cronus Cheat to win Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Simi Valley Posts: 93	Love that lake, fell through the ice one year when ice fishing on a hot day. Didnt see my life flash before my eyes but I did see every movie scene where someone was under the ice flash in an instant, including the cliff hanger scene with Sly. All my movie knowledge kicked in and that was the knowledge I was going by to get myself out. Had to brake a trail all the way to shore, about 25 feet out. I knew from the movies that I only had a couple of minutes before my muscles would lock up. Very hard to swim back up to that little hole with boots and a jacket on. Very scary but I still go back. I have not ice fished it since but I will if I get the chance. Love fishing the creek as well.

09-18-2018, 11:16 AM	#16
tunaseeker TB Metal Art Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: San Diego Posts: 653	Can you drive to the camp ground or is it a hike?

09-18-2018, 11:26 AM	#17
Iceman Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: 1-2 miles off the point Posts: 6,948	rock creek lake you drive in. This video shows the road in __________________