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View Full Version : Treasure Lakes out of Bishop Creek 9-17-07 w/pics



Sierra_Smitty
09-20-2007, 12:22 PM
Now that fall is here I’m actually getting at least 1 day off a week, sometimes 2, so it’s my turn to get some fishing and hiking in. My brother Lane and myself had the same days off so I talked him into making a hike with me up to the Treasure Lakes up above South Lake in the Bishop Creek Drainage. The bottom Treasure Lakes hold Golden-Rainbow hybrids and although I’ve caught them out of the outlet stream before, and one hybrid at the mouth of the Treasure Inlet at South Lake, I had yet to actually make it to the Treasures themselves.

The hike wasn’t too bad but was a bit more intense than most of the lakes I hiked to back in 2005. The scenery is fantastic the whole way, gorgeous hike, and seems to keep you mind off of the fact that you’re hiking above 10K feet. The weather and the fishing were both phenomenal. Most of the fish were on the smaller side and measured in the 6-9” range. Some of the fish had more of the characteristic Golden coloration than others and a few looked to be almost fully Golden. We spotted several fish in the 11” range but they were outnumbered by the smaller models. We tossed spinners, jigs, trout worms, a few spoons and the fly/bubble combo. We caught fish on jigs and trout worms but by far the best bite was on the fly/bubble right after the sunlight left the surface of the lake in the evening. We used size 18 mosquito and adams patterns. We fished both of the lower lakes, the larger of which had the larger fish, that we spotted at least.

Here are a few pics I took while up there….these lakes would be a nice place to spend a weekend backpacking for sure.

South Lake on the way to our shortcut to the Treasures
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o181/sierrasmitty/fallcolorssouthlake9-16-07.jpg

Treasure Lakes outlet
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o181/sierrasmitty/treasurelakesoutletstream9-16-07.jpg

Treasure Lake #1 when you first get there
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o181/sierrasmitty/treasurelake19-16-07.jpg

Another view of Treasure Lake #1
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o181/sierrasmitty/treasurelake2ndview9-16-07.jpg

Golden Rainbow Hybrid
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o181/sierrasmitty/treasurehybrid9-17-07.jpg

And another….
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o181/sierrasmitty/treasurelakeshybrid29-17-07.jpg

View to the east from Treasure #1
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o181/sierrasmitty/viewtoeast9-17-07.jpg


Peace,
Smitty

one_leg
09-20-2007, 12:28 PM
Smitty, thanks for the report and pics.

The Aspens are looking real pretty right now.

One_Leg

Carrie
09-20-2007, 03:22 PM
That is new to me. Golden-rainbow hybrids? And they look pretty too. :D Didn't know there was more behind South Lake but there are always new places to explore up here. Pretty pics and interesting report!

troutdog
09-20-2007, 03:22 PM
Nice pics and report...people who say California does not have a Fall season have never been to the Sierras in Sept/Oct. I hope you enjoy your days off and catch a fatty, thanks for sharing the information.


TD

Wingnut
09-20-2007, 04:01 PM
Those pics looks like they belong on a post card, beautiful! Thanks for sharing.

Troutman65
09-20-2007, 04:04 PM
Very interesting indeed. Those are some native ( wild ) trout for sure.

Thanks for the nice report & photos .


Troutman65

Fisher-of-Men
09-20-2007, 04:08 PM
That is just the spot I wanted to see Smitty! Thanks for sharing that with us. I was just up in that area over the Labor Day weekend with my kids, http://fishingnetwork.net/forum1/viewtopic.php?t=7626. We have a couple of spots we need to see before we move down the Sierras to a new base camp location. The Treasure Lakes is one of the next places I wanted to take the Crumb-Catchers. :lol: They have yet to catch any Goldens; and the last time I caught Goldens, I must have been 14 yrs. old. The other spot would be a hike out of North Lake; up the Piute Trail. There are also Goldens up there. I think I will make that one a 3 day Mini Backpack hike. It's about 6 miles before you really get into the trout wilderness. Too much for a day hike. We just completed a 9 miler round trip, and that is about our limit right now in one day. But for now, the Treasure Lakes is 1st on our "To-Do-List"!

Thanks for the previews!


Fisher-of-Men

Granny Fish
09-20-2007, 06:04 PM
Nice report with pictures. Nothing beats backcountry fishing.

kewlwhip
09-20-2007, 07:27 PM
wow, what a view...thanks!

Rawkon
09-24-2007, 12:02 AM
looks alot like upper laurel lakes. I was up there snagging goldens with the wife and a couple friends a couple months ago.

beautiful area. (yes we used flys and barbless everything) no bait allowed and released everything. have you ever fished there????
freinds bio diesel scout
http://offroadworld.tenmagazines.com/gallery/Rawkon/154043.jpg

my jeep
http://offroadworld.tenmagazines.com/gallery/Rawkon/154046.jpg
http://offroadworld.tenmagazines.com/gallery/Rawkon/154041.jpg

we forgot our air pump for the wife and I's tube so yea needless to say it took a loooooong time at that elevation to blow them up by mouth hahaha. but it was worth it.

I love the sierras, cant wait to go back and wheel/fish

duffman
09-24-2007, 12:44 PM
wow!

i wanna go there..thanks for the report.

on a side note, i dont see any golden in the fish pictured. they look like pretty native rainbows.

Greg Madrigal
09-24-2007, 08:18 PM
Hey Smitty! Nice to see u back doing what we all know u luv 2 do!
those were some beautiful shots of the lakes! thanks 4 hauling the cam for us Southerners to share in the beauty! :lol:

take care up there,

GM

Joshua
09-25-2007, 07:30 PM
I made the trip up to Treasure Lake over Memorial day (per your suggestion) There was alot of snow and we lost the trail a couple times. Just keep climbing up hill. It is a real hike. Very nice up there. Glad you got out for the "me" time.

ryanerb
09-25-2007, 09:45 PM
looks alot like upper laurel lakes. I was up there snagging goldens with the wife and a couple friends a couple months ago.

beautiful area. (yes we used flys and barbless everything) no bait allowed and released everything. have you ever fished there????
freinds bio diesel scout

we forgot our air pump for the wife and I's tube so yea needless to say it took a loooooong time at that elevation to blow them up by mouth hahaha. but it was worth it.

I love the sierras, cant wait to go back and wheel/fish

how many goldens did you guys catch? what size? i've tried a few times up there, but never any luck. maybe its my bad fishing skills AGAIN! geez.