Last Eastern Sierra report of the Summer - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Saba Slayer · 09-24-2018, 08:44 PM

Headed north on 395 with the famous Alabama Hills and the Eastern Sierras outside Lone Pine...

Momma and her new one were the welcoming party as I drove into the Silver Lake campsite...

I only had a reserved campsite for the first night and I was hoping to get lucky and find a walk-up site for the rest of my trip...
As I drove in, the campground host, Solice was out doing her rounds in her golf cart and she said I had my choice of 17 and 19 for the next 14 days if I liked....I took number 19 till Monday....and gave her a big slab of Yellowtail and some smoked Barracuda as a thank you...!

It can be a pretty windy and exposed site but it's right across from the lake and it's so easy to just leave the PA there and lock it up at night on the shore.
For a short solo trip... #19 did just fine.

The Fishing was OK on the first evening after I set up camp.

I gave the fish the option of jumping in the boat or being hooked...
This guy took the first option...

The kayak and seat were covered in frost the first few mornings...and the bite was off in the mornings...it seemed to pick up when the wind came up then really turned on after the sun went behind the hill.

The end of the lake near Reverse Creek seemed to have the most biting fish for this trip...
The Damn Full Moon didn't help as usual...

The cold weather did it's job on the Aspen trees and they've started to change color...What a beautiful site with those yellows and oranges and all that color...

With all that cold weather the fire pit was a warm place to be each night after dinner...

The Crawdads were plentiful and big as usual...since this was a solo trip I shared the mini boil with my neighbors on both sides of my campsite...they were blown away by the quality and size of these big Crayfish...didn't even know they were in the lake.
I only set 5 traps and I still brought about 75 Crawdads home...

I didn't dare get too close to this hive for a photo...

The fishing really turned on the last day and I finally caught a nicer sized Rainbow.

It was about 3-1/2 pounds on the SLR scale.

Sadly headed home...I'll be back for at least a couple of trips to Silver Lake next Summer...

Amish Ed · 09-24-2018, 08:54 PM

Beautiful! I love the Sierras and it's great to see a report from there. Glad you had a good trip.

landwhale · 09-25-2018, 06:11 AM

SIerras in the fall my favorite time of year up there looks like a great trip Jim thanks for the report!!!

Hunters Pa · 09-25-2018, 07:23 AM

Dang, you set up quite a campsite for a solo trip. I'm going to have to tag along one of these trips. Shoulda hit you up for some dads for my pond

Great report as always.

Saba Slayer · 09-25-2018, 07:36 AM

Hey Shawn...I still have a cooler full of live Crawdads...call me...

SDROB · 09-25-2018, 09:16 AM

Looks like a vacation I need

Im gonna make it up there one of these days. Looks epic.

2-Stix · 09-25-2018, 06:01 PM

The first image is of Lone Pine Peak.
Class 5 ridge route.

Markn · 09-25-2018, 07:04 PM

We are heading up to Silver Lake for 2 days and then down to Convict lake for a couple of days. Really looking forward to the trip. It will be the first trip up there that I will have a kayak to fish from. The long johns will be put to good use I am sure. Thanks for the inspirational pictures!

ProfessorLongArms · 09-25-2018, 07:22 PM

Had a perfect first trip.
It’s surprisingly busy up here for post Labor Day.

I also advise rigging rope/floats to your traps *before* going out on the water, or at least before adding weights. Ended up sacrificing one to the gods

NICKWORN · 09-25-2018, 08:35 PM

That’s camp spot looks familiar if it was Gull, was the first spot as you turn n make a right? Last camp entrance on the way to Silver?

Saba Slayer · 09-26-2018, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NICKWORN

That’s camp spot looks familiar if it was Gull, was the first spot as you turn n make a right? Last camp entrance on the way to Silver?

NOPE...!

GTboosted · 09-26-2018, 11:59 AM

Jim, saw you as you were heading out. I was making breakfast with my sister. Knew you were there when I saw your picture at the counter of SLR. Then I saw your badass trailer rolling thru.

ProfessorLongArms I was at the shore drinking a beer when you caught that one right in front of us on Monday. I said nice fish, too bad I didn't know you were a forum member otherwise I would have introduce myself. Fishing was slow but it was a PERFECT day for fishing.

tunaseeker · 09-26-2018, 01:39 PM

Nice report and great fish! As always Jim!!

steveooo · 09-26-2018, 04:53 PM

Will be in the loop all next week. This report was perfect, just enough to make it hard to concentrate on work this week

Fall in the Sierras? Gimme some more!

ProfessorLongArms · 09-28-2018, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTboosted

Jim, saw you as you were heading out. I was making breakfast with my sister. Knew you were there when I saw your picture at the counter of SLR. Then I saw your badass trailer rolling thru.

ProfessorLongArms I was at the shore drinking a beer when you caught that one right in front of us on Monday. I said nice fish, too bad I didn't know you were a forum member otherwise I would have introduce myself. Fishing was slow but it was a PERFECT day for fishing.

I agree!! I meant to stop and chat longer, but wanted to get that fish cleaned before dark

I had a feeling you might be a forum member... Yellow PA, right? I was also envying your trailer!

I just got around to going through my SLR photos. Got one decent pic of the lake at dawn.

https://flic.kr/p/2bw91wc

FISH11 · 09-28-2018, 12:54 PM

Great picture, I love those early morning mirror image pictures when silver Lake has no ripples. Took a bunch a couple years ago and are some of my favorite pictures in the sierras.

GTboosted · 09-29-2018, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProfessorLongArms

I agree!! I meant to stop and chat longer, but wanted to get that fish cleaned before dark

I had a feeling you might be a forum member... Yellow PA, right? I was also envying your trailer!

I just got around to going through my SLR photos. Got one decent pic of the lake at dawn.

https://flic.kr/p/2bw91wc

Really nice picture!

The trailer I made it to pull with my Civic. I now have a Wrangler also and would have built something like Jim if I had the horsepower back then lol oh well, at least I can still use it on the civic for when I want to get good gas mileage.

Here is a shot. I already had unloaded stuff from it but it allowed me to bring extra gear that wouldnt fit in the civic. Ez up canopy, cots with mattresses, folding chairs, etc...

TCS · 10-04-2018, 01:08 PM

Its been fun reading these reports, and I think I'll head up solo next week for a couple of days. For those that were there recently, I'd appreciate a few tips as I'm a total novice on the freshwater thing. I have been to Silver Lake once before and that's where I'll go next week. A buddy of mine says Crowley is really good now, so might stop there as well.

Here's what I have tackle-wise so far.
Two spinning outfits with six pound mono and a little spool of six pound flouro.
One package of 1/32 red hookup baits
One small rapala CD5 countdown
One 3/8 ounce silver castmaster
One bottle of Gulp garlic crawlers

I'm planning on trolling around in the Revo and maybe casting around some at the ends of the lake. If any of you could give me some specific feedback on where/how to fish up there, which tackle/techniques to use, that would be very much appreciated. What am I missing?

I'm not sure I'll try the crayfish thing this time around.

Thanks in advance, Tom

Markn · 10-04-2018, 08:38 PM

We hit Silver Lake this weekend. Wind was howling. Really made life miserable. A few 10" on kastmaster spoons (silver). We went down to Convict Lake for 3 days. Fished mornings and evenings. Sleep in. The bite happened when sun went down on CD7 Rapalas and orange/chartreuse mepps spinners. Bring a head lamp as the bite seemed to go well after dark and those little treble hooks are dangerous in the dark.

Mark

09-24-2018, 08:54 PM	#2
Amish Ed Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Grants Pass, OR Posts: 1,906	Beautiful! I love the Sierras and it's great to see a report from there. Glad you had a good trip. __________________ Amish Ed You can't catch it again if it's dead!

09-25-2018, 06:11 AM	#3
landwhale Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Seal Beach Posts: 506	SIerras in the fall my favorite time of year up there looks like a great trip Jim thanks for the report!!! __________________

09-25-2018, 07:36 AM	#5
Saba Slayer Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Palos Verdes Posts: 1,857	Dads... Hey Shawn...I still have a cooler full of live Crawdads...call me... __________________ Jim / Saba Slayer

09-25-2018, 09:16 AM	#6
SDROB Malibu Stealth 12 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Hollywood, San Diego, Gonzaga Bay Posts: 512	Looks like a vacation I need Im gonna make it up there one of these days. Looks epic. __________________ She will keep you warm in the winter and give you shade in the summer (Rossman) I'm telling ya, you have to keep these suckers on a game clip until just before you drop them in the frying pan.(Rossman)

09-25-2018, 07:22 PM	#9
ProfessorLongArms Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 401	Looks like we just missed you! Had a perfect first trip. It’s surprisingly busy up here for post Labor Day. I also advise rigging rope/floats to your traps before going out on the water, or at least before adding weights. Ended up sacrificing one to the gods Attached Images

09-24-2018, 08:44 PM	#1
Saba Slayer Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Palos Verdes Posts: 1,857	Last Eastern Sierra report of the Summer Headed north on 395 with the famous Alabama Hills and the Eastern Sierras outside Lone Pine... Momma and her new one were the welcoming party as I drove into the Silver Lake campsite... I only had a reserved campsite for the first night and I was hoping to get lucky and find a walk-up site for the rest of my trip... As I drove in, the campground host, Solice was out doing her rounds in her golf cart and she said I had my choice of 17 and 19 for the next 14 days if I liked....I took number 19 till Monday....and gave her a big slab of Yellowtail and some smoked Barracuda as a thank you...! It can be a pretty windy and exposed site but it's right across from the lake and it's so easy to just leave the PA there and lock it up at night on the shore. For a short solo trip... #19 did just fine. The Fishing was OK on the first evening after I set up camp. I gave the fish the option of jumping in the boat or being hooked... This guy took the first option... The kayak and seat were covered in frost the first few mornings...and the bite was off in the mornings...it seemed to pick up when the wind came up then really turned on after the sun went behind the hill. The end of the lake near Reverse Creek seemed to have the most biting fish for this trip... The Damn Full Moon didn't help as usual... The cold weather did it's job on the Aspen trees and they've started to change color...What a beautiful site with those yellows and oranges and all that color... With all that cold weather the fire pit was a warm place to be each night after dinner... The Crawdads were plentiful and big as usual...since this was a solo trip I shared the mini boil with my neighbors on both sides of my campsite...they were blown away by the quality and size of these big Crayfish...didn't even know they were in the lake. I only set 5 traps and I still brought about 75 Crawdads home... I didn't dare get too close to this hive for a photo... The fishing really turned on the last day and I finally caught a nicer sized Rainbow. It was about 3-1/2 pounds on the SLR scale. Sadly headed home...I'll be back for at least a couple of trips to Silver Lake next Summer... __________________ Jim / Saba Slayer Last edited by Saba Slayer; 09-24-2018 at 08:58 PM.

09-25-2018, 07:23 AM	#4
Hunters Pa Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Fullerton Posts: 1,360	Dang, you set up quite a campsite for a solo trip. I'm going to have to tag along one of these trips. Shoulda hit you up for some dads for my pond Great report as always.

09-25-2018, 06:01 PM	#7
2-Stix Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Ventura, CA Posts: 376	The first image is of Lone Pine Peak. Class 5 ridge route.

09-25-2018, 07:04 PM	#8
Markn Junior Join Date: Apr 2018 Posts: 21	We are heading up to Silver Lake for 2 days and then down to Convict lake for a couple of days. Really looking forward to the trip. It will be the first trip up there that I will have a kayak to fish from. The long johns will be put to good use I am sure. Thanks for the inspirational pictures!

09-25-2018, 08:35 PM	#10
NICKWORN Senior Member Join Date: May 2016 Location: SANTUCKET Posts: 629	Gull Lake? That’s camp spot looks familiar if it was Gull, was the first spot as you turn n make a right? Last camp entrance on the way to Silver?

09-26-2018, 11:59 AM	#12
GTboosted Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Lake Balboa, The Valley Posts: 425	BWE MEETUP? Jim, saw you as you were heading out. I was making breakfast with my sister. Knew you were there when I saw your picture at the counter of SLR. Then I saw your badass trailer rolling thru. ProfessorLongArms I was at the shore drinking a beer when you caught that one right in front of us on Monday. I said nice fish, too bad I didn't know you were a forum member otherwise I would have introduce myself. Fishing was slow but it was a PERFECT day for fishing. __________________ -Beto Last edited by GTboosted; 09-26-2018 at 12:13 PM.

09-26-2018, 01:39 PM	#13
tunaseeker TB Metal Art Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: San Diego Posts: 653	Nice report and great fish! As always Jim!!

09-26-2018, 04:53 PM	#14
steveooo Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,921	Will be in the loop all next week. This report was perfect, just enough to make it hard to concentrate on work this week Fall in the Sierras? Gimme some more!

09-28-2018, 12:54 PM	#16
FISH11 Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Pine Valley when not fishing La Jolla Posts: 2,643	Great picture, I love those early morning mirror image pictures when silver Lake has no ripples. Took a bunch a couple years ago and are some of my favorite pictures in the sierras. __________________ MARK ......... 2016 MALIBU X FACTOR, 2020 SOLO SKIFF (Fishing Kayak on Steroids )

10-04-2018, 01:08 PM	#18
TCS Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 478	a few tips? Its been fun reading these reports, and I think I'll head up solo next week for a couple of days. For those that were there recently, I'd appreciate a few tips as I'm a total novice on the freshwater thing. I have been to Silver Lake once before and that's where I'll go next week. A buddy of mine says Crowley is really good now, so might stop there as well. Here's what I have tackle-wise so far. Two spinning outfits with six pound mono and a little spool of six pound flouro. One package of 1/32 red hookup baits One small rapala CD5 countdown One 3/8 ounce silver castmaster One bottle of Gulp garlic crawlers I'm planning on trolling around in the Revo and maybe casting around some at the ends of the lake. If any of you could give me some specific feedback on where/how to fish up there, which tackle/techniques to use, that would be very much appreciated. What am I missing? I'm not sure I'll try the crayfish thing this time around. Thanks in advance, Tom

10-04-2018, 08:38 PM	#19
Markn Junior Join Date: Apr 2018 Posts: 21	We hit Silver Lake this weekend. Wind was howling. Really made life miserable. A few 10" on kastmaster spoons (silver). We went down to Convict Lake for 3 days. Fished mornings and evenings. Sleep in. The bite happened when sun went down on CD7 Rapalas and orange/chartreuse mepps spinners. Bring a head lamp as the bite seemed to go well after dark and those little treble hooks are dangerous in the dark. Mark