Just got home from an overnight trip from the Sierras and then the GF went out of town for a week. Had a whole week to myself so figured I might as well just go back out fishing and get some exercise!

Received a PM from Skyler looking for any info on some areas to fish in the Sierras as it would seem he was looking for an escape from town himself. We've had a somewhat rocky friendship in the past and I figured this would be a good way to set our differences aside and cooperatively get on some fish, so I offered to split gas and camp fees up there with him if he had a vehicle to spare.

Next thing you know, we're on our way to the Sierras. Funny how things work out like that huh? You never know what life will throw at you. It's best to keep an open mind and work with it. I've never been one to hold a grudge for too long anyways. Everybody has their differences and we aren't going to get anywhere if we don't try to work around them. That would be my lesson of the trip.

So you put two crazy fishing fools together on a mission and crazy things are bound to happen. I realize a Sierra Slam includes cutthroats. A while back while Skyler and I fished Silverwood, we came up with the coin "Grand Slam" for a four species trip. (cats, striper, bass and trout!) We set out on a mission to catch a grand slam of Sierra trout by our book. Four species was good enough for us. If we could pull it off...

We headed up the 395 with a late start of about 1pm from the IE.

Once into the high desert, the high winds had me worried.
There was literally a dust devil tornado behind this high wind sign that I managed to capture while doing 65mph! Freak accident picture! If you look close the tornado is kinda behind the sign kicking up dirt.


Next thing you know, it's pooring rain a few more miles down the road..


I always get a kick out of pondering how violent it was in the peaceful area in the past. The old volcanos and lava flows are cool.


While the rain cleared up I continued with the high speed volcanic photography


When we finally arrived in bishop...
We stopped off at Kmart and got gas etc etc. Normal "stuff we forgot" type of deal. Then headed up to the O-camp for some first night spin fishing. We got there about 5:30-6pm, a bit late from our late start. There was a bit of traffic just outside town on the 395 for repaving. I popped my tent up at camp and grabbed a spinning rod and a Panther Martin Holographic shad spinner. Skyler popped his tent and did the same.

I took a few casts at one of my favorite little holes but nada. The water was lower now than last two trips and fishies had moved a few feet. Skyler walked over and tossed his PM in the water. I swear, not two seconds later, he had a nice fat brown on the line. Look at the little toad belly on this thing!


After a quick pic and release of Skyler's fish, I bounced one spot and my line went bendo..
Seemed like most of these guys had been caught before, they were all pretty rashed up.




Skyler with another one while my shutter lens hangs up from the dirt.
technical difficulties..


Then we headed up to the famed PVR.


I didn't yet have the magic bait (shown later) so I didn't catch any fish out of the res. I still can't figure the fish in there out yet. For once, Skyler was unable to either.


We went back to our roots, the moving water. Over to the back side of the dam. I decided to try the dang Thomas Bouyant spoon I have always been dreading. I never hook up with the fish on those things. I tied on the large rainbow trout colored spoon and tossed it at the outlet. First cast and I'm bendo on a fat brownie, but it jumps like a bass and shakes the hook cause I was pulling too hard. I guess those Tommy B's really do work if you stick with it but still never have quite liked fishing spoons.

Next up Skyler tossed out the PM again and went major bendo on the biggest rainbow of the trip. He got to fight it through the current as well and it was just in time for dinner. We fished a total of two or three hours from arrival before dark and we already had two of the four species we needed for the trip! This was to indeed be an epic fishing trip to remember.


We saw this cool/steep/dangerous stairway on the way back to camp.


When we got back to camp, I was not done fishing just yet.
I have always heard browns fish good at night. It was finally time to prove it since my tent was pretty much on the water. I walked over to one of the little cubby holes I like in the creek and went bendo on the third cast with a good sice brown. It was pitch black so I couldn't see and he got a bit dirty, but released quickly and OK.






Here were some little baby brown trout we found in the O. They were cool, all phototropic light seeking and eating the bugs right under our flashlight.
Can you see 'em?


this should help


Next morning I woke up and casted to the same exact spot as when I went to bed and produced another fish immediately.


Nice colors


Flows low still


Then we headed in to town for one more trip of supplies of things we forgot. After the supply run, we hit a corner of bishop creek I found one day while waiting for Matt D to show up in bishop. Flows were higher here and no visibility. We got a tip from some guy at PVR and brough the secret bait this time. Pink Rubber Power eggs! It was WFO on stockers and I think Skyler caught a brown or two here as well. We slayed for an hour or two.
I c&R'd 5 bows right here on the spot.














Fish ladders are cool!


It was starting to heat up in Bishop.
We decided to head to elevation for a third species and to cool off some.


Once we got up the hill we found a good camp spot. Then headed further up the hill to catch some fish! The first fishy looking stop was "iris"


Skyler bagged two fish at iris while I was goofing around in the bushes finding hidden bridges and fishing unfishable parts of the creek. I think he'll add those pics later I'm sure.


Next stop was "the flats"


The water at the trailhead was flowing higher than in fall when I last saw it. The fish were still there at the trailhead but hunkered down and hard to get them biting. We decided to hike in some and look for more willing fish in more willing situations.




After about 3 miles we made it to the spot I last found some brookies.
They had already moved, but I was determined to get my first brookie and species #3 of the slam on my fly rod! We worked around a lake with many inlet waters. The largest inlet had a few boilers. I walked over and casted out my stimulator fly. After a few misses I had one on! My first brookie, on the fly no less. Absolutely beautiful!