Piru Creek Spring 2008 - Wild Trout and Low Flows at Frenchman's Flat

This might be my last Piru Creek update for a while.  The flows are way down, algae is covering the streambed like a shag carpet, and the fish are much tougher to find.

I'm not saying that I wont go to Frenchman's Flat this summer, but I wil probably break out the float tube and go after Bass more than anything else.

Piru Creek Spring 2008 - Wild Trout and Low Flows at Frenchman's Flat

This might be my last Piru Creek update for a while.  The flows are way down, algae is covering the streambed like a shag carpet, and the fish are much tougher to find.

I'm not saying that I wont go to Frenchman's Flat this summer, but I wil probably break out the float tube and go after Bass more than anything else.

Photos of Upper and Lower Owens River and the East Walker River

Ok, and one picture of Mono Lake...

Fishing Trip - Cachuma Lake

The first stop of our trip was Cachuma Lake.  It's my daughters' favorite place to camp and my wife and I decided to bring her for the first leg of our trip.  Even though I was skunked (after fishing for maybe an hour), I was glad we went.  Lake Cachuma is no longer "dirt camping".  It is plush and green there, and the lake is up about 8 feet.  Seriously.

East Walker River

I started fishing around 2pm on Tuesday and didn't stop until sunset. I threw nymphs of all shapes, colors and sizes – then I threw dries. Big Rainbows were sipping the surface all over the pool I was standing near. It was frustrating.

The next day, I got up and went to the local fly shop – Ken's Sporting Goods – and got some advice and supplies. Jim Reid is the local Walker River guru, and he was very forthcoming with the suggestions. The most useful of the advice (that I don't think he would mind me repeating) was to keep the nymphs small. Size 18 to 20... small. Also, he said they aren't leader shy, so I used 4X tippet, and it was a good thing. If you want more details, be sure to go by his shop in Bridgeport about 3 miles from the E. Walker River.

Photo Journal of Mojave, Lower Owens River and Upper Owens River

I imagine at some point I will add a narative to the photos, but it's 1:22pm and I am itching to fish the E. Walker River.

California Trip '08 

On Friday March 28th, my wife and I are renting an RV - packing up the dog - and setting off in search of spring hatches.  We are going to start with a side-trip to Lake Cachuma for some early Small Mouth action.  Then we are coming back home to do some stuff before leaving again Saturday night for Bishop.  I plan on fishing around Bishop before taking off towards Markleeville and the East Carson.  From there, it's the crown jewel of the trip; the Truckee.  If there is time, we might hit the Hat Creek on the way to the lower Sacramento.  If it turns out that time is running short, we will probably cut across to the 101 and hit some saltwater fishing.

These plans might change once I research the water flows and fishability.  My planning is primarily based on a book loaned to me by my boss - hi Brad - which was printed in 1998.  I'm not even sure these places still exist.

I will of course be posting updates as I move through these "Blue Ribbon" trout streams, so check back.

DFG Stocks Piru Creek at Frenchman Flats March 6th, 2008

So I am hanging out at Concrete Falls trying to land a couple of wild trout before heading to work when I hear from another fly fisher that the DFG is stocking the creek.  I remembered hearing that the DFG site named Piru Creek as a stock location for this week, but I really didn't expect to see them where I was: in the wild trout section.  I also expected to see the big green water tanker style truck, but instead there was the rig pictured below.  I also expected some fairly complex or even sort of slick method of introducing their stockers into the water.  That wasn't the case either.