First Owens Trip

[Scottiem1]

Hi all,

First post of FNN, seems to be a great forum. I moved out to LA from Australia in July last year. Had a few fishing trips in the city parks, but didn't catch anything. Found soaking powerbait in a concrete drain to be boring as anything and didn't offer the experience I was after. Knowing I'd go crazy without a decent trip out, wifey and I headed up to Mammoth for a few days.

Explored some parts of the river I'd found on Google Earth, only to find they were largely on private property. Ended up heading back into town for fuel and had a chat to the guys at the fly shop, who pointed me in right direction

Ended up with around a dozen rainbows to 14 inches, with most around 10. Couldn't believe the quality of the fishery, particularly the caddis hatch that lasted from mid-morning onwards! Wish I had the fly rod, but had to stick to the lures. Had a CRACKER rainbow leap and throw the hooks early on and found a small soft plastic fished on a jig spinner to be most effective Weed was frustrating, but well worth sticking out.

Can't wait to head back and explore the region further! Only took a few fish photos, as I wanted to release them as quick as I could.

Cheers,
Scottie

[TROUT MASTERS]

Nice looking fish,welcome!i fished the sierras for last 15 years and every time im up there dont feel like coming back to L.A.
its a gods contry

[StumpFisher]

Nice report thanks! Beautiful pic of the snowy sierras, just wish they were a little more snowy. What soft plastic were you using? Almost looks like a beetle spin rig.

Thanks

[retired96]

My dad taught me how to fly fish the Upper Owens in 1958 when I was 10 years old....Its my favorite place to fish and that's where I do 90 percent of my fishing...When my dad died in 1974 his wish was to have his ashes spread along the river in October as the sun sets over the mountain's, which I did...... My wishes are to have my ashes also spread along the Owens as the sun sets over the Sierra Nevadas.

[dhntr48]

Welcome to California . Nice pictures ,ever try drifting the Owens below bishop . That area was a favorite spot for me for many years

[hookdfisherman]

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No matter how much "stuff" goes on in FNN, when I see posts like this... thank you Scottiem1, thank you thank you! (So moving, for even the likes of me).




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[geedavell]

I guess YOU caught all the fish and didn't leave me any!
I just got back myself from Bishop.
I fished Pleasant Valley for 5 hours only to be skunked.
Even worse, I broke my $200 Elixir rod!
Luckily I took by motorcycle too.
I rode up to 8400' towards South lake. No snow, even at those elevations

[Scottiem1]

Thanks for the comments and welcomes all, Sierras sure are a special place and I'm already planning a trip to the Kernville area

Yep, SF that is what is called a Beetle Spin Rig here in the US, with a grub tailed plastic, known as a Wriggler back in Oz. I also caught a few on 40-50mm hardbodies.

[John Harper]

My dad taught me how to fly fish the Upper Owens in 1958 when I was 10 years old....Its my favorite place to fish and that's where I do 90 percent of my fishing...When my dad died in 1974 his wish was to have his ashes spread along the river in October as the sun sets over the mountain's, which I did...... My wishes are to have my ashes also spread along the Owens as the sun sets over the Sierra Nevadas.

Both my parents ashes were spread in the Upper O, actually Deadman Creek/Big Springs.

John

[brn2fis]

Hi all,

First post of FNN, seems to be a great forum. I moved out to LA from Australia in July last year. Had a few fishing trips in the city parks, but didn't catch anything. Found soaking powerbait in a concrete drain to be boring as anything and didn't offer the experience I was after. Knowing I'd go crazy without a decent trip out, wifey and I headed up to Mammoth for a few days.

Explored some parts of the river I'd found on Google Earth, only to find they were largely on private property. Ended up heading back into town for fuel and had a chat to the guys at the fly shop, who pointed me in right direction

Ended up with around a dozen rainbows to 14 inches, with most around 10. Couldn't believe the quality of the fishery, particularly the caddis hatch that lasted from mid-morning onwards! Wish I had the fly rod, but had to stick to the lures. Had a CRACKER rainbow leap and throw the hooks early on and found a small soft plastic fished on a jig spinner to be most effective Weed was frustrating, but well worth sticking out.

Can't wait to head back and explore the region further! Only took a few fish photos, as I wanted to release them as quick as I could.

Cheers,
Scottie

Welcome to Calif "long ways to go to catch trout" Scottie nice looking picture and glad you released. I go up that way every year for two months. Just love that area.