There's gold in those hills!

[JIMMY JAM]

The call went out in 1848..."Head West young man, there's gold in those hills!"
Well last week my son Nick and I headed North in search of a different kind of gold if you know what I mean. Spent the 7th thru the 12th exploring the great Sierras. Although we didn't catch anything of size, we did catch some beautiful fish. Brookies, wild Rainbows and Golden trout. The weather was quite warm as they were having record temps up there. We camped at Hartley Springs, just north of Mammoth. As other posts have mentioned the bugs are thick this year. Just the flies alone in our campground were a nuisance. In the backcountry the skeeters were unreal. Even though we would hose each other down with deet they found ways... one bit me right thru the shoulder of my t-shirt. Still wouldn't trade that week for anything. By thursday we started seeing smoke from the fires up in No Cal. The air quality by friday was like a smoggy day in LA.


Stopping for a few casts on the way to the Treasure Lakes
http://i36.tinypic.com/9u26om.jpg

Above the Gem Lakes - elevation 11,000+
http://i34.tinypic.com/fyo13s.jpg

http://i36.tinypic.com/19xrq1.jpg

Treasure Lakes
http://i34.tinypic.com/14b14k3.jpg

Some of the "Gold"...

http://i36.tinypic.com/2ik62w4.jpg

http://i33.tinypic.com/2mi1b1y.jpg

http://i35.tinypic.com/4ugimd.jpg

The descent from Treasure Lakes

http://i34.tinypic.com/4re0hy.jpg

http://i35.tinypic.com/rkso0j.jpg

On the trail to Crystal Lake

http://i38.tinypic.com/2niuydh.jpg

http://i35.tinypic.com/v8hdhd.jpg

http://i34.tinypic.com/vmrnm8.jpg

http://i35.tinypic.com/sg3ja8.jpg

Lake George wait, how did this get in here?

http://i37.tinypic.com/13ye0p0.jpg

South Lake

http://i36.tinypic.com/2ywu9tl.jpg

Bishop Creek

http://i36.tinypic.com/2cwsl02.jpg

Bald Eagle - June Lake
We first saw him flying over the lake...AWESOME!

http://i35.tinypic.com/9apfnr.jpg

Spent the last day rock hopping at Alabama Hills and then hit up the Owens River for a little warm water fishing. It was 100+ degrees in the valley.

http://i34.tinypic.com/2mwfjoy.jpg

http://i38.tinypic.com/1zv34g6.jpg

http://i37.tinypic.com/w1qji9.jpg

One last pic... gassing up in Mammoth

http://i38.tinypic.com/2mrvdd4.jpg

[Skaguy04]

Goldens look so amazing!
That is on my list of "have to catch before I die"

[chris]

awesome pics the prices in bishop are great! not

[City Dad]

Really nice pictures! Can't wait 'till my kids are old enough to do that!

Where'd you get the 'gill?

[Roostertail]

Looks and sounds like a trip for the memory books. Great pictures and story.

[tacklejunkie]

What did I tell ya! I said last month on my sierra trip that gas was going for $5 a gallon. I was right! I have to use that 91octane in my vehicle too :Neutral:

Dude, anyways, those are some really great pictures and some awesome fish.
Is that one fish a Cutthroat?

[sansou]

Beautiful pics & fish!

[johnsfishing]

nice post! Looks like a great trip, those are very cool looking trout :cool:

johnsfishing

[Crawler]

NICE! :cool:

There might be another commando style trip to that area with the "gold" in my near future. :Envious:

[steve092]

Awesome report!

Those Goldens are some pretty cool fish.

[jeff4321]

you should of stopped at Parchers!

[HBJapo]

Beautiful photos and some real nice fish. That one dressed in white is a real keeper.

Japo :Envious:

[fishrbouy]

great report and pictures...... those goldens are almost as pretty as that strange fish you saw up in Mammoth!!

[JIMMY JAM]

What did I tell ya! I said last month on my sierra trip that gas was going for $5 a gallon. I was right! I have to use that 91octane in my vehicle too :Neutral:

Dude, anyways, those are some really great pictures and some awesome fish.
Is that one fish a Cutthroat?

I can't imagine what gas is going for in Bridgeport... they're usually the highest on 395.
I believe the fish in question is actually a wild rainbow from Crystal Lake. There aren't any Cutthroats in Crystal. The pic didn't quite capture all of the color. Here's a better pic of another one outta there.
http://i33.tinypic.com/25als8w.jpg

[JIMMY JAM]

you should of stopped at Parchers!

I should have. It would have been nice to pop in and say hi to the guys there. My son wouldn't have understood though.... he'd be like "c'mon Dad". I will say this though, If anybody is planning a trip in the South Lake area, Parchers would be a great destination. They have really made that place look quite nice.

[tacklejunkie]

Thanks for the reply. Neat lookin' 'bows none the less. Forgive me, I'm used to our little funny colored local streamies :) The few count large spots on those beauties threw me off.

[cheeseguy]

Nice post...thanks for the pics!!

[diamondbear]

WOW ,What a bad *** report guys . I know the feeling of adventure when I look at your pics . IVE BEEN THERE and I so miss the high back country // db

[usmcfisherman]

wow havent seen a golden in a while.

[troutdog]

Awesome post! Catching beautiful fish in such incredible surroundings, priceless. Thanks for sharing your trip with us.


TD

[Hog Caller]

Excellent report guys. That is some of the most beautiful country on the planet.
The fish there match the countryside....BEAUTIFUL!

H/C

[chivo]

Those are the best looking pictures i've probably ever seen. keep em commin'