Farm Fest '08! 9 days in the Sierras; 6 in the backcountry

[mth1997]

First off, I gotta warn you, this is a long report. And... this was supposed to be a 12 day, 9 days in the backcountry trip, but unforeseen circumstances changed my itinerary.

Waters fished: Green Creek, Green Lake, East Lake, Gilman Creek (or maybe a fork of Green Creek), East Walker River, East Carson River (NV), Spooner Lake (NV), Little Truckee River, Truckeee River, Hot Creek, Rock Creek, Long Lake, and Lower Owens River. 9 days in the Sierras, 6 in the backcountry.

What a trip. I planned early this year for a backpacking and fishing trip into a few backcountry areas of the Sierra's. I planned on being alone, as no one I know wants much to do with these trips, and I was not let down. Tacklejunkie couldn't make it and another friend I have bailed out last minute, so up I went.

The first leg of the trip was a 3 night, 4 day backpack trip into the Hoover Wilderness out of Green Creek. The campground was VERY popular with campers, hikers, backpackers, fisherfolk, off-roaders, and other tourists. I was the last to get a campsite for one night before heading up the trail and was told I was lucky to get it. One fisherman I met said the place was pretty dead and that it was having an off year, not so many people! I knew I was going into a fairly popluar area, but I had no idea it was so heavily used.
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm216/mhaselwander/Sierrastrip006.jpg

An 8.5 mile dirt road just south of Bridgeport took me to the Green Creek campground. I must say something about the camphost there. THEY ROCK! The camphost lady was the nicest I've ever met. She even hooked me up with bug spray cuz what I had crapped out and broke. She wouldn't accept any $$ for it, so I left a little extra in my payment to the campground. I hope she took the drift.

I got right to it, throwing a yellow caddis fly. Got me my first brookie in under 5 minutes! Just a little fella, but I'll take it. A little 'bow came out of the same pool.
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm216/mhaselwander/Sierrastrip004.jpg

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm216/mhaselwander/Sierrastrip007.jpg

Unfortunately, since the destruction of the Mt. Witney hatchery, Green Creek is not currently being stocked, according to folks I spoke with there. I managed a stocker nonetheless. He looks beat up cuz he would himself around a submerged branch and wrecked himself pretty good. I let 'em all back, I brought plenty of food. And the fishing pressure is so hard up there that the messed up guy will prolly get caught soon anyway. Farmed at least 10 fish that day.
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm216/mhaselwander/Sierrastrip009.jpg

Next morning bright and early (for me), I went up the trail into the Hoover Wilderness.
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm216/mhaselwander/Sierrastrip020.jpg

At Green Lake, 2.3 miles and about 1,000 feet later, I set up base camp and got back to it again. Hit the outlet (Green Creek again) for a bunch of little brookies. Saw a pool of little garter snakes like the ones Bear Grilles grubbed in his show.
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm216/mhaselwander/Sierrastrip024.jpg

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm216/mhaselwander/Sierrastrip028.jpg

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http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm216/mhaselwander/Sierrastrip038.jpg

Grreen Lake was tough fishing. I didn't catch a single fish there. Lots of fishing pressure at Green Lake, as it is the first lake and final destination for many who go there.

The scenery is incredible up there.
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm216/mhaselwander/Sierrastrip041.jpg

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm216/mhaselwander/Sierrastrip043.jpg

Next day I went up the trail, a few miles and 500 or so more feet in elavation, to a series of lakes. East Lake, Nutter Lake, and Gilman Lake. I hit East Lake for a bunch of farmed fished and missed hits. The trouts were rising like no tomorrow and I couldn't catch one to save myself. I threw the yellow caddis size 14, parachute adams in different sizes, a bead head nymph dropped from some kind of terrestrial I found up on the Upper Kern, all got hit on, none taken (or else I missed the hookset). It was terrible. I left, frustrated.
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm216/mhaselwander/Sierrastrip049.jpg

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm216/mhaselwander/Sierrastrip053.jpg

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http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm216/mhaselwander/Sierrastrip061.jpg

But redemption was around the corner...I caught this nice brook trout of the outlet stream from Gilman Lake. I call it Gilman Creek, but it is likely a fork of Green Creek.
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm216/mhaselwander/Sierrastrip063.jpg

Back to East Lake and the Olive wooly bugger. Got 'em right away. A nice 15 inch 'bow, my first lake trout on the fly and PB fly fish! Got his twin brother on the next cast, but he didn't want me to take his picture so he jumped back into the drink.
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm216/mhaselwander/Sierrastrip068.jpg


Then on to the nice brookie. Hookjaw and everything. Great catch. All these fish fought like crazy, and the 'bows were all acrobats, jumping like 5 times, one right after another.
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm216/mhaselwander/Sierrastrip069.jpg

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm216/mhaselwander/Sierrastrip070.jpg

Another nice 'bow.
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm216/mhaselwander/Sierrastrip071.jpg

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm216/mhaselwander/Sierrastrip073.jpg

Here's a view back down the Green Creek drainage.
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm216/mhaselwander/Sierrastrip076.jpg

After 4 days up there, I hiked out and headed on to Carson City to visit my dad and grandpa. Great seeing them. Of course, since the East Carson runs through their city, I was obligated to fish it, dirty as it is (and it is dirty as sin). After getting my temp. fishing permit, I caught tons of these little bass on the fly. Are they baby LMB or SMB? I can't tell as I am no bass expert. None bigger than 7 inches though.
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm216/mhaselwander/Sierrastrip091.jpg

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm216/mhaselwander/Sierrastrip094.jpg

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm216/mhaselwander/Sierrastrip095.jpg

Also, tons of green sunfish. ID anyone?

On the way, I hit the East Walker and she hated me. I left as frustrated as I have ever been from that river. No catch, few rises, nothing on any kind of nymph, streamer, or dry. Windy and hot as hell.

One day we went up the hill to Spooner Lake. I got a stocker in the first 5 minutes on the olive wooly and a few little green fish, I have no idea what kind they were. No pics cuz I left the camera on shore (I waded out into the water). Then on to Carson for more of the same. My first 4 species day! Stocker 'bow, a no ID fish, a little bass, and a lttle sunfish. Nothing spectacular, but a first for me.

I also went up to Truckee and fished it and the Little Truckee. Lots of rises, but they didn't want what I threw at 'em. I ran into a buddy from childhood who lives there now (bastard) and he took me to his spot. Great looking water, but not our day. Thanks anyway Matt. Good to see you again brutha.

Here's where my trip gets screwed. I planned to hit a brood stock lake that NV DFG opened up to fishing for 2 1/2 months each year just back in 2007. The smoke from the Yosemite fire made the Tahoe area very unhealthy to hike in. I had a 5 mile hike just to get to the lake, and in that smoke it didn't look like it was gonna happen. Not only that, but somebody was attacked by a bear just a mile or two north of where I planned to camp, and at that point the bear had not been found. The place was closed until a day after I planned to head out. The cards were stacked against me. But I had a plan B.

Plan B was to hit the Little Lakes Valley. This hike has been on my list for years, and a recent FNN'er report from the area convinced me that this was a good alternative. I figured I'd stay at the trail camp at the trailhead, then head up for 2 or 3 nights, hitting all the water I could. I met some really cool trail workers and chilled with them. They were awesome and gave me a great impression of the forestry service, awesome folks. Thanks y'all for the hospitality and companionship!

Hot Creek on the way. Windy as hell, I left P'O, with only 1 farmed fish.
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm216/mhaselwander/Sierrastrip096.jpg

Next day I headed up and set up camp at Long Lake, a few miles and an easy hike in. The forestry workers warned me that the trail was heavily used, and although I knew that well before I ever got there, I had no idea how popular it was. Literally a hundred people hiking the same trail to the same destinations throughout the day. The lakes were tough fishing to boot, a bit of pressure, not too bad though. Lots of followers on the olive wooly at Long Lake. I farmed 2, one right after the other, on the caddis. Farm day again!
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm216/mhaselwander/Sierrastrip098.jpg

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm216/mhaselwander/Sierrastrip104.jpg

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http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm216/mhaselwander/Sierrastrip111.jpg

I managed this one on the adams size 16 at the inlet. Lots of fish, but apparently pretty smart fish.
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm216/mhaselwander/Sierrastrip117.jpg

Walked around a side of the hill I was camped on and saw this buck carcass, picked clean.
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm216/mhaselwander/Sierrastrip114.jpg

Then saw this. Somebody took a leg of the dead buck and neatly placed it on a trail sign. Morbid humor I guess, but I get it.
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm216/mhaselwander/Sierrastrip116.jpg

The crowds, the poor fishing, the dead stinkin *** rotting carcass not 50 feet from my camp, and the potentially dangerous scramble up a tallis slope (by myself) to get to the only lakes I really wanted to fish anyway all convinced me to wrap up the trip and head home early. And I was homesick and missed my wife. More than enough reason to hit the road.

But I still had some fishing left in me. I was after that big fish the entire trip, and although the East Lake fish were healthy, I wanted more. I hit the lower Owens below PVR on the way down. So many rises I thought I was in heaven, fish on for sure. But again, that damn farm animal that followed me the entire trip showed its ugly head. I farmed two right away on the same caddis that worked the rest of the trip. Threw the wooly, stimulator, and parachutes for missed hits and nada. I left defeated.

The tone for the second half of the trip was disappointing. I will be back for that brood stock lake by the end of the season, I am sure. My buddy from Truckee seems down for the backpack trip, so perhaps I will have the rest of this report later. Thanks for reading.

[Sparky70]

Nice report and wonderful pictures, glad U had a nice time up there.

[BIGRED KILLA]

Thanks for the great pics and report nice trouts you got up there looks like you had a blast.









Bigred

[Fisherman57]

What a great report and a truly spectacular set of photos!
Thanks for sharing!



57

[cjschock]

beautiful pics must have been fun. Love the carcass

[bsp]

Congratulations on the great variety of fish!
Those bass are smallmouth.

[mth1997]

Thanks 57! I have greatly enjoyed this site. I'm glad to contribute.

Thanks bsp, for the ID. My first thought was that they were SMB. My dad said "What IS that?" My response was "I'll be damned if it ain't a little small mouth bass." We expected trout. The water was a little warm for them though.

[hughpam]

Great post. Lots of great memories from that area!

[Badfish2]

So did you catch any big fish? Good report..thanks for the pictures.

[tacklejunkie]

Nice going dude. Wish I could have made it. We might get up there next month if I'm lucky. Some beautiful pics and sweet fish!

[mth1997]

So did you catch any big fish? Good report..thanks for the pictures.

The biggest fish I caught were the 15 inch bows and the bigger hookjaw brookie out of the lake. The biggest stream trout I got was the 8 inch brookie pictured just before those bows.

[Crawler]

Awsome report man. :Cool:

[JIMMY JAM]

Anytime spent up there and away from work is great. The smoke interfered with our trip this year also but once again, sure beats the hell out of the ole rat race. Thanks for sharing all of the pics.

[one_leg]

Nice job on the report.

Great looking pics too!!!

O_L

[seahonk]

Great pics & report :Thumbs Up:

[fatherof5]

Thanks for the post. Great fotos, and some beautiful fish. I know its hard not to feel defeated, but you went through some great country that most people only dream about getting to.

[Trout-Slayer77]

wow !! awesome report...those are some of the best pics ive seen in the sierras. Loved the pics of east lake, i have to make it there at some point. good looking hook jaw brook too. thanks for the great read !!

[Roostertail]

Thanks for sharing your trip. You are an adventurous soul and I enjoy your reports. That hookjaw brookie is nice.

[Badfish2]

Just out of curiousity , why do you call the report "Farm fest?"

[sansou]

Great report!

You take some really nice pics....of course, I realize it helps too when the scenery is simply spectactular....but nevertheless, nice framing of the pics IMO.

[mth1997]

Just out of curiousity , why do you call the report "Farm fest?"

Cuz most of the days I farmed (lost) WAY more fish than I caught. I hooked up with a bunch of fish that came unbuttoned, especially on my last day, both at the Owens and the Little Lakes Valley. Farmed the only bite at Hot Creek, 2 in a row at Long Lake, 2 in a row at Owens, at least 10 my first day. It truly was Farm Fest.

Thanks y'all for the encouraging words. It was a great time, I'm glad to share it with FNN.

[chris]

awesome report, great read and pics too.

[Badfish2]

Cuz most of the days I farmed (lost) WAY more fish than I caught. I hooked up with a bunch of fish that came unbuttoned, especially on my last day, both at the Owens and the Little Lakes Valley. Farmed the only bite at Hot Creek, 2 in a row at Long Lake, 2 in a row at Owens, at least 10 my first day. It truly was Farm Fest.

Thanks y'all for the encouraging words. It was a great time, I'm glad to share it with FNN.

awe, i see.. thanks for the clarification. You rock

[diamondbear]

great report and what a adventure , beautiful country .

[billy b]

I'm with "fatherof" ... thanks for taking me on a sweet journey to some places I will never get to in this life.

[chivo]

Just drove from reno back to OC on the 395. Those are some really nice pics. Keep em commin

[steve092]

:Applause: Great post!


Nice fish!

[SoCalGuy7]

That's hardcore packing in bear country by yourself....Awesome report and pics those fish have some incredible colors.

SCG7

[mth1997]

That's hardcore packing in bear country by yourself....Awesome report and pics those fish have some incredible colors.

SCG7

Most people I know say the same thing, but its really not that burly. Bear attacks are rare and there are some basic things we all can do to prevent unwanted interaction: keep a clean camp, NEVER BRING FOOD INTO YOUR TENT, bring a bear proof canister for food, pack away any scented items, such as bug spray and sun block. Also, make noise as you hike, I bang my walking stick on rocks as I pass em.

Thats not to say I wasn't concerned in my preparation for this trip. But I made all the necessary prevention measures and had bear spray. Also, if anyone is interested in a trip like this for the first time, read up and know your bear facts. It sounds cliche, but knowledge is the best defense. A pistol is pretty good backup though!

I was more concerned with mtn lions, even though those attacks are extremely rare (only 16 mtn lion attacks in recorded CA history). You don't hear or see them coming. But the abundance of deer tracks everywhere I went convinced me that the lions are eating well and wouldn't bother me.

To tell you the truth, I am more worried when I go alone into the upper Kern. I've backpacked that alone twice and each time the potential for mtn lion encounter is high on my mind. There was a lion attack on a woman just a few years back, and although I do not fit the profile for an attack like that, the fact that it occured is alarming.

Rattlesnakes are the only real danger though. Bear and mtn lion attacks are so rare, you're more likely to die in a car accident on the way to your trip than by one of those animals. But rattlers are no joke. I am worried about being 5 miles from the trailhead and getting bit.

[troutdog]

Awesome report and pics, that bear attack would have made me doing plan B without hesitation for sure! I admire the fact you did that trip solo, totally understand feeling homesick and wanting to see your wife regardless if I was fishing some of Cali's prettiest spots. Thanks for sharing the experience and I'll look forward to your next adventure!


TD

[supasportkid]

great report, and beautiful pics!! that reminds me of the hike starting at Virginia lake. good job

[TOXIC OPIE]

Nice job, great pictures, heading up that way the last week of August cant wait

[FishnSierra]

i hiked in to fish little lakes valley up to long lake, boy for my first time hike in that far and high in elevation it was well worth it.

[ikeman]

Nice pics! Gotta be great out there by yourself for a few. Sounds like you covered a lot of ground and fished some pristine waters.