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.