Lone Pine Creek - Mar. 18/19 - Warm up for April Opener

[patusc55]

Took my 2 yr old son (3 in April) on his first overnight camping/fishing trip to Lone Pine Creek. Also a good opportunity to test the new Shimano 1000 reel and Kencor rod.

Pulled up to the Lone Pine Sand Trap at 7:00 pm. Threw the trusty red & gold Thomas Buoyant and had a trout on the second cast. Hauled in 3 in 15 min. and had the place to ourselves.

Next morning, had the place to ourselves again at sunrise but the highlight was my son catching his first unassisted trout. Not bad for a two year-old! (Daddy did do the casting and netted the fish for him.) He enjoyed telling me "That one was a fighter." Went home with a second day limit.

TB's were the dominant lure though other people showed up later and were nailing 'em with PB of course.

Pics coming once I figure it out.

[mth1997]

Am I missing something? Doesn't the season start the last Saturday in April? Lone Pine Creek has no special regs. so it falls under the general Sierra District regs, which again, starts at the end of April, right?

[netdawg]

From PVR south, the Owens is open year round. You can't fish the canals or the other streams in the area (some are open all year but check the regs for that part.

[billy b]

Never been there. Why do you call it the sand trap?

[nellkev]

mth1997,
Ouch, they should let the two year old slide on this one but Dad you screwed up. Hope it was at least C&R but doesn't sound like it. ["Went home with a second day limit."] I do recall hearing that DFG had opened up fishing in streams south of Independence to year round but I think you are right because I couldn't find it in the 2010 regulations. The stocking report shows planting in Lone Pine creek the week of 3/14/2010 and several other streams in the area the following week. Do you think that is just stocking up for the opener? Inquiring minds now want to know.

[nellkev]

billy b,
If you go there you will know how it got its name.

[Bassnman Mike]

Streams SOUTH of Independance creek and on the WEST SIDE ONLY of 395, which includes Lone Pine and Cottonwood creeks as well as a couple others open early.

http://www.lonepinechamber.org/recreation/fishing.html

[patusc55]

West of 395 and South of/including Independence Creek opens for the Southern Sierra Early Opener on the 1st Saturday in March. That's why Lone Pine had a fishing derby there on that day.

They are called sand traps because its where the creek flows into the LA Aqueduct so a pond is created to keep sand "trapped" from entering the aqueduct.

[patusc55]

Its on page 43 of the regulations, under Inyo County in the special regulation areas. No, I did not C & R the DFG stockers but rest assured the ones I got will be eaten.

[chas83]

Shhhh. The more people that know how to read the regulations book correctly the better. It's nice and quiet during the early opener.:LOL::Twisted:

[patusc55]

Shhhh. The more people that know how to read the regulations book correctly the better. It's nice and quiet during the early opener.:LOL::Twisted:

My bad chas...good point....yes everyone, there is no fishing anywhere in the Eastern Sierra until the last Saturday in April: wink wink.

[mth1997]

Nah, my bad, I missed it. I'm a dumba$S and read that and thought of the wrong west (east). Sorry man.

[patusc55]

Nah, my bad, I missed it. I'm a dumba$S and read that and thought of the wrong west (east). Sorry man.

Not a problem. I was thinking I missed something though. No sweat on the whole east-west thing!

[BishopTrouter]

The Lone Pine Sand Trap can really be a nice place to drop a line... really good for beginners !

Thanks for the report.

[gvlflyguy]

Been to the sand trap many times - glad to hear you were able to do so well!

[verbalhologram]

sounds like a blast, I haven't fished the sand trap in years, loved that spot

[jimmyinsocal]

You know patusc55, I'm no poacher or anything but it looks like I need to keep an eye on where you fish all the time now.

[patusc55]

You know patusc55, I'm no poacher or anything but it looks like I need to keep an eye on where you fish all the time now.

I think I should do likewise!