Its been awhile

One of my favorite trout fisheries of the western Sierra gave me a sweet memory of the fine specimen brown trout that inhabit the waters.  It has been awhile since I have caught and landed such a beautiful trout in this size range on the west slope.  The fishery may take some time to heal due to a lightening induced inferno earlier this summer.  If anything, the forest will benefit from the blaze since western bark beetles have devastated the pine population along the river banks and canyon slopes.

Enjoy things while they last.

Thunderstorms, Camp Fires and Dry Flies

Cold clear water was once again called me back.  With the mercury rising in the canyons, I decided to let the truck do the work to get me into the high country.  The weather was seemingly perfect and the feisty little golden trout and brown trout were plentiful.  Both species attacked dry flies with reckless, violent grabs.  Just enough to put the bend in the 4wt.

As with most of my trips, something has to give. Thunder begins to clap as I admire a palm sized golden trout shimmering in my hand like gold flecks.  The clouds grew thick, it was time to retreat.  I setup my rainfly back at camp and peacefully snoozed to the sound of rain drops which hit the rain fly with steady drum-like beats.

Hours pass, and I wake up to a landscape out of the pacific northwest.  Mist, raindrops dripping off leaf tips and cold fresh air.  Erika and I layer up and head upriver.  We planned on taking a few brown trout for dinner, and it didn't take long to fill the creel.  The native golden trout were all released and hopefully survive through our drought.    All in all, the river was flowing better than anticipated and sight casting to rising trout in gin clear water was soul restoring.  Until next time.

Fried brown trout

Raptor scar? 

Cold beer in hand

Oenothera xylocarpa

Bake-oven Dune and Monache Mountain 

Cattle and a low flowing south Fork of the Kern

Sawtooth Peak in Chimney Peak Wilderness

Scodie Mtns and Walker's Pass in Background.  

The Return

Been away from the river and the fly gear has been packed away since winter.  Life has been busy and time to tie flies, explore new trout water, drink a cold beer in front of a camp fire seemed to be a distant memory.  Its about time I make a change.  Pulled out the old maps and studied the blue lines, checked flow charts and one call to my fishing buddy was all that was needed.  Time to throw some tight loops and dry flies.

Lots O' little KRR 

Getting Bigger

Oh Yeah

Some siesta time mid day

Some ankle busting rattler infested terrain

Big bug river.  Yellow Sallies on the emergence was the happening.

                           

                               Surprisingly good mountain house flavor.  Will buy again.

                           

                             Penstemon heterophyllus

Mimulus sp.

Fire scorched Arctostaphylos sp.

Basalt columns on the canyon rim.