June Bugs... - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Saba Slayer · 06-12-2015, 10:23 AM

The F&G Commission had a meeting on the 10th in Mammoth Lakes and discussed the new proposed lobster regulations...so...I thought I'd combine a little business and pleasure with a trip to the beautiful Eastern Sierras, the June Lake Loop was my destination.
Time for a road trip with the Pro Angler...headed up highway 14 out of Mojave.

The only bummer about having the PA on a trailer is the 55mph speedlimit...the bonus is all the extra stuff I can just throw in the trailer.
We sure are lucky to live here in the USA....!

The campsites at Gull were all taken by the time I arrived so I found a campsite at Silver Lake under the view of Carson Peak.

The wind was howling that first evening so fishing was out of the question...so on to plan B...start drinking and hang out with a couple of old local friends!

The DFG meeting went well and I was out of there by noon.
This is Gull lake at sunset...I set a few Crawdad traps and trolled up a few Trout...

Nothing big on the Trout but cooked wrapped in some Meadow Farms double smoked bacon and stuffed with some vegies...WOW!

Thursday morning's sunrise was spectacular...

The clouds and rain stayed away long enough for me to pick up the Crayfish traps and troll the edge of the lake a couple of times...what a beautiful morning.
As usual the bugs were crawling and were all over the bait (chicken and cat food cans). The traps soaked overnight and were full the next morning.

There were some big ones in the traps and they tried to takeover the Hobie...I had to fight em off they were so big...!!!

I brought the catch home and we're having a big "boil" tonight. Cajun spices, corn, cellery, potatoes, artichoke, and some smoked Louisiana hot links.
YUM...I can't wait.

Driving back down Hwy 395 towards Bishop, as you come down Sherwin Summit is this view of Long Valley...the magnitude of the valley and the majesty of the Mountains beyond always blows my mind and I feel so small and just an insignificant speck on this big planet...

Mahigeer · 06-12-2015, 10:33 AM

Thanks for sharing such a wonderful trip.

Trout fishing and freshwater bugs. Wow.

Hashem

Zed · 06-12-2015, 10:40 AM

395 down Sherwin. 14 isnt for a few hrs.

Great report. First eastern sierra crawdad report Ive ever seen. Enjoy the boil!

AirborneYak · 06-12-2015, 10:48 AM

That's an awesome trip! I want to do that soon.

Fishin Phil · 06-12-2015, 11:09 AM

Thank you for sharing.

Hunters Pa · 06-12-2015, 11:19 AM

Way to tack on some fun while up there looking out for our best interests. LOVE Gull lake.

blitzburgh · 06-12-2015, 11:32 AM

That's awesome Jim!

mclanea · 06-12-2015, 12:06 PM

Can't wait to head up there next month. Family is camping in Yosemite for a week then moving to Mammoth for the second week. I can't swing taking my kayak, but definitely sneaking my fly rod into the van.

DanaPT · 06-12-2015, 12:22 PM

Those things look great. thanks for sharing and representing!

dmrides · 06-12-2015, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saba Slayer

Driving back down Hwy 395 towards Bishop, as you come down Sherwin Summit is this view of Long Valley...the magnitude of the valley and the majesty of the Mountains beyond always blows my mind and I feel so small and just an insignificant speck on this big planet...

I have a love hate relationship with this view of Mt. Tom. I love it for the same reasons you discussed. I hate it because it means I am leaving the Sierras and headed home.

Looks like you had an awesome trip! And thanks for your tireless efforts for the hoop netters.

chxh8me · 06-12-2015, 02:23 PM

Nice job on the crayfish. Not something I eat often, but coming from such clean water I'd love to give it a try some day.

Saba Slayer · 06-12-2015, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chxh8me

Nice job on the crayfish. Not something I eat often, but coming from such clean water I'd love to give it a try some day.

These mountain bugs are some of the cleanest and best tasting Crayfish I've ever eaten!

hiramehunter · 06-12-2015, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saba Slayer

These mountain bugs are some of the cleanest and best tasting Crayfish I've ever eaten!

Do you purge them before cooking? Just curious if/how you get them ready for the boiler????

Saba Slayer · 06-12-2015, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hiramehunter

Do you purge them before cooking? Just curious if/how you get them ready for the boiler????

No need to purge these clean mountain bugs...They are not mud bugs...!

Dinner was delicious tonight. Cooked about 75 of the bad boys...Boiled some water and added cajun spices, some garlic and onion and bay leaves and a couple of Artichokes. Once the Artichokes were almost done I added some celery, potatoes, Louisiana hot links, corn, and mushrooms...brought it back up to boil again and let it cook for a few minutes then added the Crawdads and waited for them to turn red and float to the top...mixed up some coleslaw and opened up an ice cold beer...WOW...Was That Delicious ! ! !
Now I've gotta get back up to the mountains again..........

Ramos23 · 06-13-2015, 02:38 PM

Great pictures!

alanhighhand · 06-13-2015, 08:09 PM

Good report thanks for sharing.

06-12-2015, 10:23 AM	#1
Saba Slayer Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Palos Verdes Posts: 1,857	June Bugs... The F&G Commission had a meeting on the 10th in Mammoth Lakes and discussed the new proposed lobster regulations...so...I thought I'd combine a little business and pleasure with a trip to the beautiful Eastern Sierras, the June Lake Loop was my destination. Time for a road trip with the Pro Angler...headed up highway 14 out of Mojave. The only bummer about having the PA on a trailer is the 55mph speedlimit...the bonus is all the extra stuff I can just throw in the trailer. We sure are lucky to live here in the USA....! The campsites at Gull were all taken by the time I arrived so I found a campsite at Silver Lake under the view of Carson Peak. The wind was howling that first evening so fishing was out of the question...so on to plan B...start drinking and hang out with a couple of old local friends! The DFG meeting went well and I was out of there by noon. This is Gull lake at sunset...I set a few Crawdad traps and trolled up a few Trout... Nothing big on the Trout but cooked wrapped in some Meadow Farms double smoked bacon and stuffed with some vegies...WOW! Thursday morning's sunrise was spectacular... The clouds and rain stayed away long enough for me to pick up the Crayfish traps and troll the edge of the lake a couple of times...what a beautiful morning. As usual the bugs were crawling and were all over the bait (chicken and cat food cans). The traps soaked overnight and were full the next morning. There were some big ones in the traps and they tried to takeover the Hobie...I had to fight em off they were so big...!!! I brought the catch home and we're having a big "boil" tonight. Cajun spices, corn, cellery, potatoes, artichoke, and some smoked Louisiana hot links. YUM...I can't wait. Driving back down Hwy 395 towards Bishop, as you come down Sherwin Summit is this view of Long Valley...the magnitude of the valley and the majesty of the Mountains beyond always blows my mind and I feel so small and just an insignificant speck on this big planet... __________________ Jim / Saba Slayer Last edited by Saba Slayer; 06-12-2015 at 10:56 AM. Reason: Zed

06-12-2015, 10:40 AM	#3
Zed BANNED Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: W of 5 Posts: 1,265	395 down Sherwin. 14 isnt for a few hrs. Great report. First eastern sierra crawdad report Ive ever seen. Enjoy the boil! __________________ Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day. Give a fish a man and he'll eat for a week.

06-12-2015, 11:09 AM	#5
Fishin Phil Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 288	Thank you for sharing. __________________ God, Family, Your Health, You're Fishing.

06-12-2015, 11:32 AM	#7
blitzburgh Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Menifee Posts: 2,509	That's awesome Jim! __________________ ”The beauty of the Second Amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it.” ~Thomas Jefferson.........maybe

06-12-2015, 10:33 AM	#2
Mahigeer Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,897	Thanks for sharing such a wonderful trip. Trout fishing and freshwater bugs. Wow. Hashem

06-12-2015, 10:48 AM	#4
AirborneYak Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Long Beach Posts: 366	That's an awesome trip! I want to do that soon.

06-12-2015, 11:19 AM	#6
Hunters Pa Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Fullerton Posts: 1,360	Way to tack on some fun while up there looking out for our best interests. LOVE Gull lake.

06-12-2015, 12:06 PM	#8
mclanea Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Rolando Posts: 85	Can't wait to head up there next month. Family is camping in Yosemite for a week then moving to Mammoth for the second week. I can't swing taking my kayak, but definitely sneaking my fly rod into the van.

06-12-2015, 12:22 PM	#9
DanaPT Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: South OC Posts: 1,606	Those things look great. thanks for sharing and representing!

06-12-2015, 02:23 PM	#11
chxh8me Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Thousand Oaks Posts: 182	Nice job on the crayfish. Not something I eat often, but coming from such clean water I'd love to give it a try some day.

06-13-2015, 02:38 PM	#15
Ramos23 Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 78	Great pictures!

06-13-2015, 08:09 PM	#16
alanhighhand Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 100	Good report thanks for sharing.