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.

For the Love of Bass Part 1

For years I have been trying to get myself a river resident smallmouth bass.  Trout fishing has always taken priority when passing through this part of the county.  Flow rates were always good in the head waters I was aiming to fish, however the smallmouth water was typically blown out during high water years.  This year has been exceptionally dry and trout water critically low.  The smallies were now accessible and the trout distraction absent.

We left to the river under the cover of night.  It was going to be a hot day.  The canyon would be hovering around 100 degrees F.  Our intention was to hit the trail before sunrise, find our small mouth and get the hell out.  Like usual, our plans dissolved.

After a gut busting breakfast in town, we made the drive up the winding road to the river.  The sun was already breaking over the canyon ridge and the mercury was rising.  I rigged a 4wt for stripping small streamers and 6wt for banging the banks with poppers.  We geared up and headed up a narrow deer trail that ascended up and over a steep escarpment.  The descent looked gnarly and I questioned how we were to climb our way out.

 Once we scrambled our way down to the water, figuring how to get out had already become a forgotten after thought.  I made a cast across a current and let it swing through the back eddy.  I held it for a moment and began stripping upstream suddenly getting vicious grabs.  The takes were rapid and strong, for a moment I had a powerful smallmouth bend my 4wt deep into the blank.  As usual, I lost another heart breaker.  What a trend for this year.

Further upstream, we found some pocket water with short rapids.  It didn't take long to get a smallmouth to stick.  A cookie cutter 8 incher, but it was the species I was looking for.

We made our way upstream and I switched out my 4wt for my 6wt.  I tied on a crayfish pattern and dead drifted the tail outs, hoping to stick a pike minnow.  Another species that I have had missed opportunities catching. I missed a grab from my dead drifted crayfish as I foolishly lifted my rod before a proper downstream presentation.  It was getting stiffling and my brain was turning into mashed potatoes.  We foolishly pushed forward upriver only to waste hours of precious travel time back home.
In just 8 hours we were to gear up for another 300 miles southbound for some epic largemouth bass fishing.  Two days of straight driving and fishing, who needs sleep when your driven by addiction.  Die by the fly.

Mercury Rising

Fishing large mouth bass by morning, dry fly fishing for wild trout by evening, running down lost fishing buddies by midnight.  It was a long day... however I still woke up by 5:30am for the morning hatch.


The plan was to backpack a short ways into the wild trout section of the Kern River.  Tuck and Joseph were to meet us on the river sometime in the evening.  Erika had some red and white lacey string to mark our campsite.  I told Tuck to stop when he finds lingerie string hanging from one of the trees.  By midnight, beams of light and muffled chatter rattled Erika awake.  A shoulder shove later, I was awake and disoriented.  We figured it was the guys and I scrabbled up the trail and began  running.  Nearly forty five minutes later our fishing party is finally united.  A few Sierra Nevada's and a few hours later our fishing adventure begins.


The first evening prior to meeting with Tuck and Joseph had phenomenal dry fly fishing.  I only fished about one hour that evening.  Between 7pm-8pm one of the largest Caddis hatches I have ever witnessed unfolded in front of me.  Countless trout were rising, tail whipping, jumping in a feeding frenzy.  My hands trembled as I couldn't seem to tie my knots fast enough.  A tan size 16 deer hair caddis tied on a TMC 2312 did the trick. 

With the epic hatch I had experienced the prior evening, I was expecting  legendary dry fly fishing all day.  By mid morning, yellow sallies, golden stone flies, caddis, sulphur duns were all buzzing around.  Yet.. not a single rise.  The air temp was already pushing into the high 80's.  By noon the temperature must have already hit 100 degrees F.  But lots of bugs.

Golden Stonefly

Yellow Sally

PMD

I abandoned the dry fly and setup a two nymph rig.  Large stonefly as the point fly with a yellow sally nymph as the trailing fly.  I gave Erika a primo piece of water and instantly we were rewarded with rapid fire takes.

Talon Scars

By 3pm the fishing died.  It was hot and we were tired.  We hiked a few miles back to camp and met up with Tuck and Joseph.  We all snoozed for a few hours to rest before the evening hatch.  I headed downriver with Erika while the guys went upriver.  The hatch wasn't as impressive as the night before, however we both got more than we could count.  I was most successful on a size 16 x-caddis.

We were entertained by hundreds of swirling caddis surrounding a Black Diamond Apollo light,  as the center piece of our night.

Time to get Stoned

Pteronarcys californica aka Salmonfly

Lately I've been getting trout to grab big stonefly nymph patterns.  It is a nice change of pace compared to size 18-24 bwo and midge patterns from the early season.  Hopefully I get a chance to fish the salmonfly hatch if time and river flows cooperate. 

Here is some interesting underwater footage.

Big Game Hunting

Caught on size 8 Salmonfly Nymph

With three consecutive break-offs on one particular run, I decided to return with more firepower.  Armed with a 6wt and 8lb Seaguar fluorocarbon I was able to pry one of these southern Sierran brutes out of their deep rocky abyss. We had lost several hard fighting fish in this run due to white water rapids and sharp rocky ledges.  The 6x tippet and 5wt rods wasn't cutting it.  Speculation of monster Pike Minnow dwelling in the depths had our imaginations on edge.  While Wyoming and Montana folk may consider these fish average at best, it is trophy worthy by southern California standards. 

It even had a fly snagged on it's tail fin.. Someone must have been desperate to use a barbed BH san juan!

Back for Seconds

I was hungry for a second serving on the Upper Kern River since the previous week's catch left me craving for more.  This time I headed up to Kernville with Charles and his buddy Ed.  We learned where the trout were holding from the previous week and focused on the same habitat and tactics.  Baetis nymphs in size 18 was still my key producer while stonefly nymphs size 10-12 were working as well.  There was only a short window when the trout were rising for BWO emergers and duns.  I managed a solid 14" rainbow on a size 18 parachute bwo on my Sage 3wt while the majority were caught on nymphs on my 5wt.

A handful of healthy and wild KRR were caught and released, and I even had a double on at one point.  Unfortunately my 6x tippet hold up to the challenge!

Caught on size 18 "buggy one" copper john

Caught on size 18 parachute bwo

Charles and Ed

Searching for Hog Johnson Day 2

The morning was cold and frosty.  My wet socks from the day before had frozen to a ball of ice.  I was in no rush to get out on the water, and I stayed behind to have breakfast with Erika.  Meanwhile, the rest of the gang scouted upriver in search for Hog Johnson.

By 10am, Erika and I headed upriver to regroup with the guys.  Tuck decided to drive upriver hoping to find some deep runs.  The road became icy as we gained some elevation and air temperature was significantly colder.  The water depth looked more shallow the further we went upriver.  All the pocket water we fished downriver was fishing slow.  Our options were limited and we had no choice but to return to our sweet spot from the day before.

Tuck made some adjustments to his rig.  He tied extra tippet and a third fly to fish deeper in the water column.  I was graciously given the head of the run and within a few drifts I connected with a solid rainbow.  It wasn't the hog that broke my line the day before, however it was full finned and full of fight.  Joseph took the run and also connected with a solid rainbow out of the same hole.  Unbelievable.  Tuck finally rigged up and drifted his nymphs through the head of the run.  After a few casts Tuck connects with another solid rainbow.  Simply unbelievable.

Joseph

Tuck

  Unfortunately the run went cold when Charles came up on it.  We all spread out and I took Erika upriver to help her catch a fish.  The pocket water looked promising and eventually Erika connected with a juvenile KRR that fought much harder than it's size. 

Small, wild and beautiful

The sun was beginning to set and dark shadows began to cover our honey hole like a blanket.  The day before proved that the nymphing was at it's finest just as the shade covered the run.  Erika had the run to herself as I sat back and hoped to watch her connect with one of the beasts below.  After a few drifts her indicator stops and I tell her to set the hook. The rod bends down and begins a violent dance.  It isn't long before Hog breaks her off and sinks back down into it's dark chasm from where it came.  It's lips decorated with enough flies to fill a fly box.

Charles comes back for a re-match to redeem himself.  After several drifts and misses, he turns his back to reposition.  Unknowingly, he gets a take while his back is turned and plays it off cool like he's taking the fish to school.   Erika gave one last effort with Charles' T&T Helix 5wt.  Remarkably she connected several more times yet was unable to land a bruiser. 

A fine catch by Charles with his back turned method.

We all had dinner at the Pizza Barn in Kernville and recapped our weekend telling our own versions of how the big one got away.  It's always fun and amusing to be in good company, and the anticipation of our next trip just can't come fast enough.

Kern River - Wild Trout Section

A toothy hump backed KRR. 

It's been hardly a month since I last posted a fishing report, yet it feels like years have already passed.  The summer heat has been brutal and has forced me to finally stay put and tie flies.  With my upcoming trip to eastern Oregon just around the corner, my itch to cast a fly to wild fish has become increasingly unbearable.  With my west slope sierra Nevada fly box complete and my steelhead fly box nearly full, I was ready to return to the water. 

This time, I returned to the Kern River's wild trout section with Tuck and Joseph.  The day time temps were still in the low 90's however night time temps dropped drastically into the mid to high 30's.  The river was slightly off color (green), which may have benefited our cause.  We backpacked into the wilderness mid-day and arrived on the water just as the temps were beginning to drop. 

We quickly setup camp, hung our hammocks, pounded a few cold ones and hit the water.  My first run produced a quality KRR as shown above; Tuck helped land this fish for me since I may have died otherwise.  I fished a hoppicator with two nymphs the entire afternoon.  The first rainbow took a size 18 Flashback PT.  The first dropper was a size 12 yellow BH SH Kern Emerger.  Both flies produced many fish to the net, even the hoppicator was hit several times by some large trout.  My eagerness to set the hook on the hoppicator is still problematic... Joseph on the other hand successfully had a 15incher bang the hoppicator in the middle of a fast run.  Fishing was phenomenal for everyone.  I even got my first ever double on two nymphs at one time.  I will let the photos tell the rest of the story.  Tomorrow I leave for Oregon!

Rigging and... unwinding.

Tuck and I lost two LARGE trout in this run!

Joseph's first KRR.

Awesome pocket water. 

My first time sleeping in a hammock.  I kept waking up with my legs hanging out the end.

Tuck and Joseph on at the same time.

The next morning I decided to sling a single dry fly.  This is one of many caught on a yellow sally.

Tuck fighting a big one. 

We stopped at Mcnally's for cheeseburgers and shakes on our drive out.  While driving downstream along the roadside section, we just couldn't help but stop to put in a few last casts... Fishing was terrible, Nevertheless still fuel for the addiction. 

Season of the Hopper

Our first glimpse of the north fork of the Kern river.

I've been studying maps of this wilderness area for well over a year now.  Since it has been nearly a year since I have completed the heritage trout challenge, I was now in search of some truly mighty Kern river rainbows.  Most of the heritage trout that I caught were rather small, with the exception of a Kern river rainbow in the 16" class caught further down the watershed.  It was now time to return for some big fish during the season of the hopper.

As we descended down the steep canyon side of the Kern plateau, the clicking of hopper wings nearly followed us to the waters edge.  Hopper's in size 10-14 were abundant and colors ranged from yellow-orange.  The air was dry and warm and the distinct smell of pine forest welcomed Erika and I to the river.

The first area I stopped to fish.  We setup base camp on the right side of the bank.

We arrived riverside about 10:30am.  It was already getting hot and there was no obvious hatch to match.  Hopper's were everywhere so I started with a size 12 rubber leg stimulator that I tied to match a golden stone or hopper.  I started with no dropper, just a single dry fly. I connected after just a few casts along the edge of the seam.  It was a strong trout in the 14" range that gave several hard runs, while fighting the fish on the reel it leaped out of the water and came undone.  This was a re-occurring theme while fighting these trout.  I had two more takes in this run and failed to connect.  My senses were becoming dull from the heat wave and dehydration.  Erika and I forded the river to setup camp so we could relieve ourselves from our backpacking gear.  I setup the tent and made myself at home.  We had some light snacks and re-hydrated before we trekked upstream with lighter gear.

There was already some stone seats and a fire ring established at our site.

 We headed upstream about a 1/4 mile and found some nice pocket water, I missed at least a half dozen rises in this stretch, connected and lost a few, and landed one.  It seemed that these fish were escape artists.  Erika still seemed to be struggling to connect with a trout, I told her to head upstream from me and fish a section just below a riffle.  Almost immediately she connected although it came undone as it leaped.  I cast my fly in a deep section behind the riffle and I had a explosive take and miss from a large trout.  What the hell, I'll give it another shot.  Again, the rise was aggressive and the fish was on.  The trout pulled my line hard and I was on the reel in no time.  I let the trout run upstream and suddenly the line flung back at me.  Inspecting the line, I noticed it broke off at least a few feet above the knot.  The line must have caught the edge of a rock and severed.  I tied a surgeons knot and re-rigged with the same Stimulator pattern and a size 14 Guides Choice Hares ear dropper.

First trout to find it's way to the net. 

I should have tied more of these.  Barbs were crushed before fishing.

Guide's choice hares ear was the most productive nymph. 

The dry dropper combo was red hot.  I had three trout take back to back in the same run, yet they all came undone during their notorious three foot leap.  It seemed the King's river trout were all diggers, while these upper Kern river trout are jumpers and tail walkers.  Erika and I were both getting tired and we took a break in the river and swam in one of the slow moving pools.  It restored our spirits and re-charged our sore backs and legs.  I re-rigged my line with a giant hoppicator  with two split shot and two nymph's.  As Tuck would say it, "It's time to get weird".  The size 8 hoppicator looked pretty ridiculous with its neon green afro and I thought for sure the trout would just laugh at it.  I dropped a size 18 flashback PT about 8' from the hopper and a size 10 twenty incher about 18" below.  Even with all the foam and antron yarn, the hoppicator was drowning under the weight from all the tungsten. 

I tied the hoppicator with a big wad of antron yarn.  It could have used more to support heavy nymphs.

This run looked at least 6' deep along the wall.

  The first drift down the run, I noticed some enormous trout inspect the nymphs and watched them follow downstream.  I waited for the nymph's to swing and lift, the anticipation of the trout to take fueled me with adrenaline.  Finally as the nymph's lifted to the surface, the trout made the take and we were on for merely a moment.  The trout flashed it's side and disappeared.   I moved upstream a few feet and made another cast. This time, a head the size of my fist emerged and hit my hoppicator. I ripped the hopper out of its mouth and lost yet another big KRR.  Working the run a bit upstream, I landed a few average rainbows on a size 12 golden stone nymph (twenty incher was changed out due to it's heaviness with my rig).  The sun was setting and we were out of steam and returned to camp.

Sun setting on the Kern.  I wanted to return to camp and fish a mouse pattern.

I didn't rest long with the sound of rising trout in the backround. 

We setup camp for dinner and it wasn't long until I got distracted with the sound of rising trout.  I tied on a size 18 PMD emerger and hit the water.  It was going to take 12 min for the pasta to boil after all...  After just a few casts I was on with a trout and again, it escaped.  Worked a section further up and connected with another large fish, and this time it stayed on.  It gave me some hard runs put me on my reel.  Since I left my net at camp, my photo came out blurred due to the low light and squirmy trout.  

16incher getting away.  This is about what my vision looked like from hard fishing and lack of sleep.

Erika found a scorpion while I was in fish mode.

I tied a size 6 hemorrhoidal mouse that I wanted to fish in the early evening, however I fell into deep food coma once I  scarfed down two servings of creamy chicken pasta.  We crawled into the tent and I was out of commission until the morning light.

I crawled out from where I crawled in.  Among the best night of sleep ever.

Fire and morning coffee.  It was surprisingly chilly outside.

We woke up and drank some coffee and ate some oatmeal.  Packed our gear and headed downstream to fish a few hours before leaving.

People come all the way out here to use powerbait?? This section is fly and lure only.

An interesting geothermal area.

A pale morning dun says goodbye to Erika as we leave this beautiful river.

Really cool volcanic post-pile geology is evident throughout the canyon.

Vibrant lichens are growing on the volcanic rocks.

Goodbye Kern canyon.  360 view from trail.

I was craving a bbq tri-tip sandwich big time.  We drove by the sierra smoker on the way up and it as been on my mind ever since.  It made my mouth water as I was pushing myself out of the canyon.  On the way back we even passed up McNalley's burgers which was a big mistake... Upon arrival to the sierra smoker bbq shack, the worker informed me they were all out of bbq! Utter dissapointment! we settled on mexican food at El Jacalito... It did not fit the craving to say the least, just an upset stomach and bad gas which will probably last for days.