The Opener is Right Around the Corner....................

[Lunker1979]

Alright gentlemen, the opener is right around the corner and I'm starting to get prepared. We generally head up on Sunday and stay until Thursday. We usually stay at Silver Lake Resort or June Lake Campground. We fish the whole loop, Convict, and or course Crowley. I think this year we are going to try that Pleasant Valley Reservoir that everyone seems to be talking about. Does anyone else have any suggetions on some hot places that we may be missing?? We are looking for places to use spinning tackle.....we tried fly fishing one year and just never really got into it. Thanks for you insight........&#4 6;....... :banana:

[sweetfish]

Owens river, mammoth creek, Twin Lakes, San Jaoquin river, and hot creek. Good luck

[Troutman65]

8) getting closer every day now. I would sugest hitting up Irvine lake to get into shape and get the rust off before you go to the Sierras . Irvive lake has stocked Brown , Brook , and Steelhead trout as well as Rainbow trout.

Good luck fishing and see you on the water



Troutman65

[Joshua]

I wouldnt fish PVR for at least 2 weeks after the opener. PVR will get hammered by everyone that is heading up for the opener. There are literally 100 cars and the power plant and at least that at the Dam on the Friday before the opener.
I prefer to fish the creeks around Bishop for the Opener. Intake II produces some good fish, but Crowley seems to produce more bigger fish. Convict has a big crowd for the opener. Alot of the pressure will depend on the weather, if there is alot of snow, the creeks dont get planted and that puts more pressure on the lakes that are ice free.
I will be up there freezing my ***** off catching stockers

[aboos]

imo..if you want big fish that fight like big fish, stick with crowley, hands downs.

i also like to fish intake II when im in bishop..

george lake for the evening bite

[sweetfish]

I read another thread from a buddy of yours looking for some detailed info on the sierras.

Spinners: Panther Martins (black w/ gold blade, rainbow trout, brown trout)
Blue Fox Vibrax Spinners (Gold, Silver, Rainbow - all in size 0 or 1)
Mepps Spinners (rainbow trout size 0)

kastmasters (for twin lakes, virginia lakes and June lake loop) Gold or silver/blue - 1/4 oz

Rapalas (floating and countdown) Size 5 or 7 Silver/black back and rainbow trout (works everywhere - rivers and lakes)
Fishing in the river with these cast to other side and let it swim back across, then slow retrieve in. The same goes with fishing spinners in the river.

Berkley trout worms - split shot or on a clear bobber - drift with the current on the river

Salmon eggs works good also.

Hope this helps you out. This is what worked for me during the summer months. I think it will work in the winter months.

[retired/lasd]

This will be my 38th opener, every year since 1970. ( My 50th year fishing the Sierras). I always go up on Wed. prior to opening, get my favorite campsite in Rock Creek. I spend Wed and Thurs fishing the Owens River In Bishop. The day before the opener I go target shooting and pine cone collecting as I always spend the first 10 days of the season camping/fishing/shooting. I do all of my fishing on the Upper Owens as that is where I learned to flyfish 50 years ago.

If its like the last few years there were not the crowds as in other years. French Campground in Rock Creek last year had over 30 vacant sites on the Saturday night of the opener.

My goal this season is 90 days in the Sierras, last season was 74 days camping/fishing.

Retired and lovin it......

[LBanales]

retired/lasd,
When I grow up, I want to be just like you. This is my 14th straight opener... working and hating it! Last year I spent 10 days in the sierras. My goal is 21. Water levels will be interesting. Last years were rough. We'll see how the area around will handle (hopefully) normal water levels after the lack of last year.
I guess nobody has said "wrong place to post this" because evrybody is already getting pumped! :banana: Heading up Thursday morning, and hopefully never leaving! But probably will have to come back to reality Tuesday!
BGH . . . where you at??!!

[mammoth xfactor]

I usually fish Convict for the opener. Trolling from the kayak just off the ledges around the north shore. Then I anchor in the back side, north of the inlet just out of casting range from the shore anglers and get after it. If you see me on a mango colored X Factor give me a hollar. Being at the lower elevation Convict is always ice free by that time. Crowley's got the fish and the crowds to go with it. The lakes basin road is still covered with snow until May. When the lakes are starting to thaw (Twin, Mary, Mamie and George) and the road is covered, we pull our kayaks up there on our snowmobiles. There is NEVER anyone up there at that time and the fish go nuts when they see something new to eat. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

[sierraslam]

I love the fact its only February and everyone is already pumped for Opener! I'll be in Mammoth, and fishing Convict, Grant, Lundy and all the creeks. Let's geter done! Good fishin!