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View Full Version : Quick SoCal Gold Rush 5-26/27-09



tacklejunkie
05-27-2009, 07:29 PM
First off, gotta thank Annex138, his dad Oldfishingfool and mth1997 for the info on this amazing little slice of heaven in socal. I went looking for this spot before but failed miserably. A few trips later I realized I was on the wrong side of the mountains, but still would have never probably found it without the info I received. Thanks a bunch guys, I owe you all one yet again.

So plan was to head up this weekend but I ended up with a free truck for a few days, early. Took off Tuesday happy with my head start and probably less people and traffic all together missing the weekend. Loaded up the junk and headed for the hills. It was to be my 27th in a few days and I could use a little timely break from the hectic populous.

When I got to the spot, I was surprised by many things.
One of the more notable things was that 50 little spiders were running out from under my feet with each step! Way creepy. lol. So back to the truck I went and suited up. Waders have so many benefits, and spider protection is one of them! :LOL:

Thought about my arsenal and looked around the waters for bugs. Not much was happening yet since it was about mid day. Little bit of wind and rainy clouds scattering showers on me throughout the day as I fished. Perfect weather for me.. I dig the rain creekin' thing.

Pulld out a baggie of flies generously donated to me by City Dad and began to ponder which fly I would use first. The baggie of flies reminded me of a bag of.. (insert your poison here) as if I were ready to smoke one up. Oh the anticipation of things to come.
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff280/tacklejunkie/Birthday%20Goldens%205-26-09/BirthdayGoldens5-26-09054.jpg

As anxious as I was to use CD's flies, first go HAD to be with my own tie.
I missed all the hits from goldens I got last trip up to the hills so this was to be my first golden, if I could get one. I elected to use my 3wt rod and a fly tied by me to sweeten the catch. This first fish of the day was my first golden, and I caught him on a 3wt fly rod with my own stimulator fly! I was stoked, this had already made the trip for me. That fly really does work anywhere. Lake or stream!
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff280/tacklejunkie/Birthday%20Goldens%205-26-09/BirthdayGoldens5-26-09022.jpg

Now that I had accomplished my goal of the trip, it was time to set in and get to work. I tied on this fly from CD thinking it matched the color of the local mosquitos, but no luck on this fly!
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff280/tacklejunkie/Birthday%20Goldens%205-26-09/BirthdayGoldens5-26-09027.jpg

Next I swapped out to a darker and smaller version of this fly that CD sent along. If they wouldn't take lighter colors, maybe they'd take darker. Sure enough, this fly was the ticket.
The next fish that hit, was fairly large and hit it with brute force, flying all the way out of the water! In my excitement, I sent the hook rather hard and removed the upper lip of the poor little creature! This brang a new meaning of "rippin' lips" to me, quite literally. I watched this fish eat several bugs right on the surface that looked just like my fly. He hit it a few times and I kept missing until finally..
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff280/tacklejunkie/Birthday%20Goldens%205-26-09/BirthdayGoldens5-26-09030.jpg

CD's fly started working pretty good as the day grew on.
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff280/tacklejunkie/Birthday%20Goldens%205-26-09/BirthdayGoldens5-26-09031.jpg
Same fishy I think.
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff280/tacklejunkie/Birthday%20Goldens%205-26-09/BirthdayGoldens5-26-09032.jpg

Then I got smacked by a pretty feisty lil guy. I was amazed at how hard these little guys fought. Had to keep "turning" them away from cover too! Exciting!
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff280/tacklejunkie/Birthday%20Goldens%205-26-09/BirthdayGoldens5-26-09033.jpg

Sweet colors on these things. Here's a water shot
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff280/tacklejunkie/Birthday%20Goldens%205-26-09/BirthdayGoldens5-26-09036.jpg

Here was my largest of the day. A brute 9"er! Really good fight for such a small fish! You can see his "muscle" all up front! Really cool.
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff280/tacklejunkie/Birthday%20Goldens%205-26-09/BirthdayGoldens5-26-09039.jpg

Same fish
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff280/tacklejunkie/Birthday%20Goldens%205-26-09/BirthdayGoldens5-26-09041.jpg

Same fish
"I'm stuck on CD's Ritzy Bigfoot Fishin' Flies!"
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff280/tacklejunkie/Birthday%20Goldens%205-26-09/BirthdayGoldens5-26-09042.jpg

That was pretty much it for that day. Not bad considering it was the same day I drove up! Decided to head to camp for the night. No calling the GF.. no service!
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff280/tacklejunkie/Birthday%20Goldens%205-26-09/BirthdayGoldens5-26-09074.jpg

Since I let all my fish go, Dinner came in the form of cup-o-noodle cooked fresh off the TJ can stove. You can't see it but the flame is on and boiling the water. Yes, I made this denatured burning contraption from pepsi cans.
Look up ultralight backpacking can stove on google to do it for yourself. Supposedly there is a science to it.
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff280/tacklejunkie/Birthday%20Goldens%205-26-09/BirthdayGoldens5-26-09063.jpg

Almost there.. (finally!)
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff280/tacklejunkie/Birthday%20Goldens%205-26-09/BirthdayGoldens5-26-09064.jpg

Ah! Hot Ramen! :Surprised:
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff280/tacklejunkie/Birthday%20Goldens%205-26-09/BirthdayGoldens5-26-09066.jpg

Got some excersize before bead gathering firewood and had me a little solo powow near the campfire under the stars.
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff280/tacklejunkie/Birthday%20Goldens%205-26-09/BirthdayGoldens5-26-09075.jpg

Next morning I had to have one more little taste of that Gold Rush action before my rush was over and it was time to head back home. The first attempt I was using my 5' 3wt rod. The second attempt I brough my 8.5ft 5wt rod so I could get some distance on these fish. Finally a nice open spot to really use a 8-9' rod! I managed two more, payed my respects to the area and packed it up. Here's one of them..
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff280/tacklejunkie/Birthday%20Goldens%205-26-09/BirthdayGoldens5-26-09102.jpg

And here's the other with CD's flies again.
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff280/tacklejunkie/Birthday%20Goldens%205-26-09/BirthdayGoldens5-26-09105.jpg

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff280/tacklejunkie/Birthday%20Goldens%205-26-09/BirthdayGoldens5-26-09106.jpg

"I'll get you rnext time City Dad!, Next Time!"
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff280/tacklejunkie/Birthday%20Goldens%205-26-09/BirthdayGoldens5-26-09107.jpg

That was about it before I got exhausted running on fumes from a cup-o-noodle the night prior and low on gas funds. I was planning to extend the trip a bit but I forgot a few items at home and I was pretty beat already. I haven't been out fishing much and that was a lot of exercise for me all at once being out of shape.

I tried a couple of other creeks/rivers in the area in between all the goldens. I missed one fish at another area on a panther martin sinner with my spinning outfit near camp just before dark. Some of the other fishily named creeks I tried had no fish in them for me at the time either. I think it may have been a little early in the day or something. No worries! Had a good time regardless and caught my first goldens, on the fly even! That's been riding on my back since last summer at altitude :LOL:

Thanks for reading guys, and thanks again for the spot info Matt and Mike!
We all gotta head up soon and chase some trout tails! The season is just getting started! This was a good opener and a good birthday present relaxer for me. Time to start getting back into shape.

Thanks to everyone who helped make this lil trip possible.
All fish C&R'd! (Accept for homeboy's lip!) :Shocked:
-TJ

soulsurfer
05-27-2009, 07:36 PM
that was pure bliss, thanks for sharing your story TJ.

rusty6
05-27-2009, 07:48 PM
that's in socal!!! no way, good job on the goldens!

socalrippin
05-27-2009, 07:59 PM
wtg tj!!! looks like you had a blast! excellent report by the way, i almost felt like i was there. i love your homemade stove that things the shiz. im jealous me and matt gotta get back out there with you soon for sure.

looks like a bag of some beautiful herb. or fly's...

City Dad
05-27-2009, 08:05 PM
beautiful pics, man. nice, nice colors. bigfoot country for sure!

thanks for superb product evaluation.

Wingnut
05-27-2009, 08:22 PM
Awesome Casey... that is a slice of Heaven! :Big Grin:

old pudd fisher
05-27-2009, 08:27 PM
Pure excellence it was just awesome to read and the pictures so good, thanks.

AnglerBob
05-27-2009, 09:30 PM
What a great trip! Those look like purebred Goldens too, they are really beautiful.

nismotech91
05-27-2009, 09:43 PM
Sweeeet!!!!

The Angler
05-27-2009, 10:12 PM
Sweet report man.

I need to learn to fly fish A.S.A.P.!!!!:Cool:

Troutman65
05-27-2009, 10:16 PM
Nice going on the Golden Trout TJ. Great report & pics.:Envious::Cool:

Seng90806
05-27-2009, 11:11 PM
great going out there...those trouts are so beautiful

LunkerLover
05-27-2009, 11:17 PM
Dude - that report was freakin AMAZING. Your little solo camping trip is kind of what I imagine heaven being like ... GREAT job man ... way to go on those goldens ... no wonder they're our state fresh fish :LOL:

matt duarte
05-27-2009, 11:27 PM
nice dude! wish i could of made this trip! good to see that that lil stove is still kickin! good job on the goldies dude! lets fish!

Santa Fe Eric
05-28-2009, 12:05 AM
Beautiful bedtime story!
Only it turned into a nightmare when all you had to eat was a cup o noodles. I think I would have eaten a Carp before I went to bed with only Cup o Nodles :Razz:

annex138
05-28-2009, 10:30 AM
Nice going dude. I love them goldens. I might be making another trip up there one of these up coming weekends. Did some local fishing with mike and my dad on Monday. I'll try to get the pics uploaded and I'll send them to you in a message.

Trout-Slayer77
05-28-2009, 11:22 AM
sweet goldens TJ, way to go out there !! awesome colors on those guys, thanks for the pics & report

tacklejunkie
05-28-2009, 11:50 AM
Thanks guys. All I did was cast the rod and take the pictures. :Wink:
Was a fun little mission though for sure. I did something to my right leg while I was up there and it's all sore now. Hard to walk! :LOL:


Nice going dude. I love them goldens. I might be making another trip up there one of these up coming weekends. Did some local fishing with mike and my dad on Monday. I'll try to get the pics uploaded and I'll send them to you in a message.

I got some more shots I will get organized and send you guys later as well.
Thanks again dude. I heard you guys did pretty good memorial day! I want to try the lake in that area next time and see if anything big is lurking. That one trip Mike and I saw dudes hauling bags of what looked to be fairly good sized wilds out of there :Confused:

fisherman9
05-28-2009, 12:49 PM
Amazing report. Makes me wanna learn to fly fish.

steve092
05-28-2009, 03:24 PM
Congrats on your Goldens TJ!

I recently caught my first brown at SAR, and the Goldens are the next trout species on my "To Catch" list.

DccFISHerMan
05-28-2009, 03:44 PM
Beautiful colors bro!!! nice going

boxl0bster
05-28-2009, 09:38 PM
damn casey those are some awesome looking trout!!! good job out there :Cool:

Skyler
05-29-2009, 08:01 AM
:thumbs up: Very nice, Casey. Keep it up.