Wednesday, June 30, 2010
The Trout Recipe
So, I asked my wife about the recipe. The one targeted was in a grilling book she had just gotten and looked really good. Of course, all those recipes look good in the book. I looked it over and asked "Did you use this recipe?" Now, I've been married to this woman for 13 years (next month) and I should know better. "Of course not" was the reply. "What did you use", I asked. The answer was the usual recipe for her. A little of this, a little of that, some Shilling Onion & Garlic powder, some Dill, some Garlic Salt, couple of other things. Could she reproduce it, not a chance. It's just the way she cooks and I can tell you, by the spare tire around my waist, that she cooks really well. See, she used to own a catering company and also does really well on categories relating to food, on Jeopardy.
So, I'm sorry I can't pass along a good recipe for Cutthroat Trout unless you want me to get you the one from the book, but then there are a zillion book recipes out there and probably a zillion not in books. All I can tell you, is that the fish were great.
Till the next time.
Mark (Shoreman)
Monday, June 28, 2010
East and West Forks of the Carson River
From the last post, thanks you guys for noticing it rained the whole time I was up at Bear.
One other thing I wanted to mention, first, is that I have one follower (he doesn't show up on my followers), and I'm honored to have him follow my blog. His name is Glenn, and Glenn just retired. Glenn was the Sheriff of Alameda County in the Bay area, and served the community for 29 years. Congratulations on your retirement and I hope you have as much fun as we, the blog community, does.
On the way by Red Lake, I stopped because my wife has a new recipe for trout that she wants to try. You know the story, "don't bring home any Browns or Rainbows", so I thought I'd wet a line and see if I could pocket a couple of Brookies on the way by. I got there at 0830 and put out the worm under a bobber like Bear River. Didn't work, all I got was a couple of, some type of bottom feeding sucker fish. Not carp, looked more like a perch with a vacumn nose. Around 1030 I got the first hit on Rainbow Power Bait (Both are Cutthroats and the big one is 15" on the tape) and the second one (11") right behind it. I caught a 3rd one the same size as the 11", but put him back. I only needed the two for dinner. From then on, nothing until I left at Noon.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Comment Moderation
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Tuesday & Today
Here is what the creek looked like
Today was Father's Day with my Son and Grandson. They took me out to breakfast and then we went to the American River to try for some shad. My Son has not fished shad before, so this was a new experience for him. Because of breakfast (couldn't pass that up) we got to the river at 10:00. I rigged both their poles with the little pink jig we use and we walked down to the water. Charles (Grandson) lost interest pretty quickly, but Ken (Son) kept casting. I hooked one and handed the pole to Charles. He got it in and I took the picture below.
Then I caught one, and then Ken caught one. A little later I hooked a second one for Charles which he fought to shore and then the bite stopped. Nobody went home skunked. As we were leaving, Ken said that he would be over here again, during his lunch time, since his office is just around the corner from where we were. So, the introduction to shad fishing was successful for my son and grandson. A good Father's Day outing.
Till next time.
Mark (Shoreman)
Sunday, June 20, 2010
The Last Two Days of Vacation
Thursday morning I got up at the crack of dawn (0500) and drove back to the Owens River where I fished Wednesday afternoon. At 0520 I was rigged up and on my way across the cow poop to the river. Now, I remember the guy from the shop in Bridgeport saying streamers work good in the morning on the Walker, so I rigged up a #8 black Wooly Bugger to start the day. Two good hits later and I'm minus one black Wooly Bugger. Bad knot I think. Not sure. One more Bugger and one more good hit and that was it. The sun was up and hitting the river.
Changed to a Prince Nymph with a Copper John dropper and spent the next half hour or so untangling the mess. Went to just the Copper John (copper color) and the thingamabobber and worked the slow water over a half mile area I fished the previous night. Didn't get much action (didn't have any more of the "hot" nymphs because the shop was closed) and worked my way back toward the truck. Came across a little hole under a tree that I missed on the way by and dropped the Copper John in. Wasn't 30 seconds and "fish on". The nice little 9" Brookie in the picture below.
By then it was getting near 0900 and we had a long drive to our next destination, Kernville. I was hoping to fish the Kern River while I was in Kernville, but the focus was more nostalgia than anything else.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Second Post Today - Vacation Wednesday
Wednesday morning we left Lee Vining and traveled south to Bishop. We went on the June Lake loop that has several lakes including Grant, Gull, June, and Silver Lakes. I had been this way back in the 70's and wanted to fish Gull Lake. What a change 40 years makes. The place I fished previously was so different, I missed it on the first drive by. Back then, it was road, parking lot, lake. Now it's park, tall trees, condo's, motels, and you can't even see the lake from the road. Instead of fighting all that, I by passed it for another place.
The next stop was Convict Lake. Wind speed: pushing 30 mph. Nice lake but for the wind.
Had one of those light bulbs go off in my head. Drive up to the front of the lake and get behind the hill. Should be calmer, right? Not so, AND, just as we got there, so did the DFG stocking truck and about 10,000 people. They were on him like wolves on a dead deer. I wanted nothing to do with that riot.
On down the road we went and stopped at the Sierra Trout Magnet Fly Shop on the north end of Bishop. Chatted with the guys in the shop, picked up 4 nymphs (made in China and really small. Chinese must have little fingers. Size 16, I think) that are supposed to be really hot on the Owens River along with Thingamabobbers (forgot my indicators) and directions to the "hot spot". The spot (another one of those Scenic Wild Trout Rivers) was located downstream from Pleasant Valley Dam. Had I not had specific instructions from the fly shop, I would never have found the place. The land around the river is flat, scrub brush, and fenced to keep cattle in, which means lots, and I mean LOTS of cow poop.
Found a turnout to park, rigged up and walked to the river. Now you have to keep in mind, I've never really nymphed before, so this was a new experience for me. I put on one of these "hot" little nymphs (made in China), I have no idea what it was called, but I bought 4 just to have enough and a thingamabobber above the surgeon knot with a 6x tippet and into the water it went. "Fish the slow water" was what I was told, so fish the slow water I did. On the 4th cast, or so, I hooked the fish below.
Ha, belly picture.
Didn't realize until later that all I got was his belly. You'll have to take my word for it. It was a Brown, about 9 inches. Fished for another couple of hours and managed to lose all four of the nymphs to bushes, snags, or whatever. Called it a day. Thursday Morning I'll be back for another try.
Till Thursday's post.
Mark (Shoreman)
I'm Baaaaaack
First thing I'd like to do is answer Clif's question about the cards for my blog. I decided, way back when I started this thing, that the best way to let people I meet know about the blog would be to have some type of note, card, or something to let them know where to find me. What I ended up with was Avery Business Card stock with Northern California Trout on the top, the URL in the middle, and my name on the bottom. That way I can carry (in my tackle box, truck, vest, etc) a small hand full and when I run into somebody fishing, I can say "Here, stop by my blog and check it out. Might be some help for you to catch more fish". So thats the story on the cards.
Monday afternoon was the East Fork of the Walker River where it runs out of Bridgeport Dam. Here are the pictures of up and down stream from where we where. you can see it's kind of shallow like I mentioned in the Tuesday post.
Wednesday morning we left for Bodie State Historical Park. Did I mention it's a ghost town? Here is the official landmark sign and a panorama of part of the town. I took 59 shots of the town and didn't want to download all of them. I'll stick in a few on the next bunch of posts.
Below is the reason you don't Take anything from Bodie.
The next five pictures are from Lundy Lake mentioned in the Vacation Tuesday post. Left, across, and right from where I was fishing.
First one on the left and the big one on the right.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Vacation Tuesday
After we left Bodie, drove to a little town called Lee Vining. Right on the edge of Yosemite National Park. Got our motel and wandered over to the local sports shop to find out where to fish. Lee Vining sits on the edge of Mono Lake. A lake reduced in size by the water being diverted to Los Angeles starting in 1941. The size of the lake has been reduced by 1/2 and the salinity has doubled. The change in the ecosystem of the lake caused calcium-carbonate spires and knobs to form and are now called Tufa Towers. I have pictures and more later.
Back to the sports shop. Mono Lake was obviously out, so the next option would be stream or lake. Guy sent me to a lake called Lundy Lake. Seven miles back and five miles up the canyon. Beautiful high mountain lake. Crystal clear water, surrounded by snow covered mountains, and fairly easy access. He said, fish with salmon eggs. I picked up a jar at the store (got to pay for info, you know) and drove over to the lake. On the way to the lake, I noticed a small stream running along side the road. More about that later. Got to the lake, set up where he said (left of the boat docks) and put out one rod with salmon eggs on a slip sinker rig. Yeh, the other one went out with Rainbow Power Bait. Who am I to listen to the locals that are supposed to know everything. You guys know me better than that.
The rig with the salmon eggs produced one nice fat 12", and I might add, beautifully colored Rainbow. Pictures of the fish in the water to follow. I released him for another day. But the Power Bait, the first one I caught was in the area of one to one and a half pounds and again, beautifully colored. I gave that one to some young ladies fishing next to me that had a few on a stringer and were taking them back home. The third one was smaller, about 11", so I released him for another day (pictures to follow). It was warm, but windy on the lake, so I called it after about 45 minutes. Gave the girls some info on the fluorocarbon leader, couple of cards for my blog and rolled down the road. By this time is was 1600 and the sun was dipping behind the mountains. Sun dips fast when the mountain is 8000 or 9000 ft.
But on the way back, I HAD to stop at that stream since I wouldn't be by here again. Rigged up my fly rod with floating line, a small red bait hook, and a pink Power Egg. I drifted a small area at a day use site and I think I had one hit right by a bunch of bushes hanging over the water. Tried a couple of smaller areas, but didn't see anything. Hard to get to the creek after that. Too many bushes on the side, no access.
Well, that's day 2. Today we're off to Bishop and planning to stop on the June Lake Loop and see what I can turn up there.
Till I can get back online.
Mark (Shoreman)
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Finally an Internet Connection
Day 2 of the vacation and we finally got an Internet connection. Yesterday (Monday) we pulled out of the house at 1000, got over the hill, and stopped at Wolf Creek Restaurant in Markleeville for lunch. A place I would recommend to anyone passing through Markleeville. On the way over, passed the West Fork of the Carson River. Running high, but not flood stage by any means. A lot of people fishing at the handicapped parking area.
Passed the East Fork of the Carson on the way over Monitor Pass to Highway 395. It was running high also, but not flood stage either. Down Highway 395 past the West Fork of the Walker River. This river was at, what I'd call flood stage. No fishing here. Then on to Bridgeport and checked into the motel. The motel was on the side of a small creek about the color of rootbeer. I checked in with the local sporting goods shop and the guy there said that the creek "might" have small trout in it, but he wasn't sure. He sent me to Bridgeport Reservoir if I wanted lake fishing or the East Fork of the Walker River for fly fishing.
The East Fork of the Walker River is a dedicated Wild Fishery so artificial lure and barbless was in order. Before I left the sport shop, I asked the guy what was catching fish on the East Fork and he said Caddis was best during the day and streamers just after sunrise.
Got to the river and wadered up, rigged up my rod with floating line, and the wife and I walked to the river. I surprised when I got there that the river was only about 20 feet across and probably 2 feet deep at the deepest part. Good tailwater with a lot of fish (Rainbows & Browns) per mile. I don't have a figure, but will research when I get back.
Happened to have an Elk Hair Caddis in my dry fly box, so I crimped the hook and tossed it out. The first thing I noticed, or didn't notice was the fly. With the water being so shallow (middle if the river was mid-calf), there was a lot of white water on the surface and completely obliterated the fly. You just couldn't see it. I switched to a Marabou Streamer in black. While I was tying it on, I had another one of those idiot fishermen walk right through where I was fishing, right in the middle of the stream. You know how I feel about them. Fished about a half mile of the river with the black one, a burgandy one, olive one, and finally put on a black nosed dace, just to try. Nothing turned up anything. Fish 1, Shoreman 0.
That wrapped up day one. I have some pictures and will post them when I get home. Can't download them to the laptop. I'll put out day 2 the next time I can get a connection.
The fishing got better today. Till next time.
Mark (Shoreman)
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Off for Vacation
ALTHOUGH, I bounced over to the DFG stocking site and next week in District 6 (Inyo & Mono Counties) the plan is to stock 41 creeks and lakes. I think I can take advantage of several of those locations.
I'm taking the laptop and am not sure if I'll be able to post during the week, but if I can, I will. If not, as soon as I get back I'll start updating.
I'll also try to keep up with what everyone else is doing.
Till next time.
Mark (Shoreman or Vacationman as the case might be)
Thursday, June 10, 2010
What a Difference 4 Days Make
Red Lake was open and I've been chomping at the bit to get up there and try out some flies. Grabbed my rod and fly bag and was out the door at 0630. Stopped at Cooks Station for coffee and was at Red Lake at 0730. My usual fishing spot was open and the out look was good. I picked today instead of tomorrow because it's supposed to be really windy tomorrow.
I guess someone forgot to tell the weather guessers that the wind was supposed to be tomorrow not today. Off the snow on Carson Pass (8000 ft elevation), down across the lake and right in your face at, and this is only a guess, 20 to 25 mph. The only good thing is that it came in waves and if you've ever fish a lake when it was windy like this, you know you can see the gust coming.
So I rigged up my fly rod with the intermediate sinking line and waited for a lull. During those lulls, I put out (about 20 casts each) a Bumble Bee Bugger, Marabou Streamer in both burgandy/black and red/yellow, and a yellow cone head rubber leggs thing (kind of looks like a Wooly bugger) I got at the fly shop. Nothing. Again, I think the water is too cold. I've been using a stripping finger cover and it damn near froze on my finger.
During this time, I had my small spinning rod out with the usual slip sinker rig and Rainbow Power Bait. I caught something, but I have no idea what it was. I got it out of the water and held it up by the hook, but before I could get a good look at it, it flipped off the hook and back into the water. It was about 8" long and looked like a sardine. Thin and skinny.
After an hour and a half of this cold wind in my face, I'm talking hoodie, and gloves, I packed up and went back to Caples Lake. Found the same spot I fished on Sunday (the other side was still a foot or more snow) and put out 2 lines of Power Bait. I managed one small Rainbow and that was it for a good hour of fishing time.
Packed up and on the way back, stopped at Bear River Reservoir. Since I was there the last time on Memorial Day, the lake has risen at least 20 feet and is at capacity. Fishing off the dam itself, using my fly rod, I put out a Sprinkle Me Baby and an Olive Wooly Bugger, but nothing here either. The only fish I saw was caught by floating a night crawler under a bobber, was a pretty good sized one, about 12 or 13 inches.
Nothing to show for a bunch of wet flies, now drying on my desktop. Guess I'll just have to wait for it to get warmer. It was somewhere in the neighborhood of the low 50's up there.
Till next time.
Mark (Shoreman)
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
American River and Shad 2010 Part 4
A New Milestone
A lot of you stop by and see what I have to say and many of you leave comments. I appreciate ALL of you taking time out of your day to do this. It means a lot. I've made a lot of new friends in the last year and a half and I just wanted to say THANK YOU to all of you.
I'm looking forward to the future posts where, if I can achieve it, helping someone, anyone catch more fish. That's what this blog was designed for and that's the way it will stay.
I started this post at 6:22am this morning, put it on hold and ran down to Sacramento to dip my rod in the American for Shad. It's now 1:45pm and I'm going to do another post on that trip.
Thanks again to each and every one of the 60 followers.
Mark (Shoreman)
Monday, June 7, 2010
A Visit By The B-52 Moth
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Aaaaah Ice Out, Sort Of
Silver Lake is opening up nicely, but still ice on the lake. I bypassed Caples in the hopes that Red Lake would be open. I got as far as Carson summit and the only open water on Red Lake was about the size of a fifty cent piece. It was probably a bit larger when you got to the lake, but that's what it looked like from the 8000 ft pass. Besides, it was on the wrong side of the lake. You'd have to 4x4 it through snow drifts just to get to that side.
Turned around and went back to Caples Lake. As you can see from the pictures below, it's opening rapidly.
The open area is about 30 feet from the shore. Then ice and snow on the other side. That's the side I'd rather fish, but beggers can't be choosy. Wormed my way down the boulders to a spot where I could stand, sit, and put my tackle box. With the ice still on the water, I didn't think flies would be the way to go, so I put out two rods with Rainbow Power Bait.
The first fish was a 9" Rainbow. No picture, everybody knows what a Rainbow looks like. Second fish was the Brown in the picture below. About 13" and lip hooked. Released both the Rainbow and this Brown, plus the next Rainbow which was about 13" too.
All 7 of the fish I caught today (I brought 4 home) , were holdovers since there hasn't been any stocking here yet. Five Rainbows and two Browns. The problem I had using two poles, was that the fish were not biting very hard. My guess was the water was too cold for any aggression. The line would straighten and if you weren't holding the rod, FISH GONE. Of course, the line that straightened was always the one I was not holding.
I did see a couple of surface hits on what ever was floating by, so I went up and got my fly rod with the sinking line and tried a couple of flies. Tried Mickey Finn, Black Marabou Leech, and a Black Wooly Bugger. Thought something bigger would interest them, but no cigar. Just too cold.
Exciting, but I still would have rather fished Red Lake. Soon, very soon.
That's about it for now. Heading down to Sacramento to hit the American for Shad early next week. Have to wait a little until the toasting I got today turns from bright red to brown. Want to get one on my fly rod while they are running hot and heavy.
Till the next adventure.
Mark (Shoreman)
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
American River and Shad
I rolled out of the house at 0730 when the wife left for work and got to the river just before 0900. Ran into a couple of guys in the parking lot (Bob & Ed, Bob is one of this blogs followers known as Tulefrog) and chatted for a while, got wadered up and was on the river at 0900. The usual spots were taken so I moved upstream a bit and started casting my shad flies (I picked up at Kiene's fly shop) on my fly rod with the intermediate sinking line. Didn't get any interest, but as I reflect on the day, I think I just forgot how to fish for shad. The other thing about swinging a fly rod on the river is that there is a bunch of bushes all over. You do a lot of roll casting. Next time down, I'll have a better idea of what I'm doing.
So back to my spinning rod with 4# line and the little pink grub on a pink jig head I used last year. Picture below.
Twenty, thirty casts where I was and nothing, so I walked back to where Bob & Ed were fishing. Sounded like they were catching a few, so I'd thought watch and take notes. Turns out, in chatting with them again, they know Rich and Mark (everybody knows Rich and Mark) and Mark taught them how to fish for shad. Small world, huh. Well, they invited me to slide in beside them and the catching started.
Between about 10:00 and 11:30 I caught 3, Bob caught 3, and Ed caught 3. The guys had to leave at 11:30 for a previous appointment, so I took the opportunity to run to Der Weinie Dog for a couple of chili-cheese dogs and a soda.
Got back at Noon and went back to the usual spot and started fishing again. landed one and then Rich and Mark showed up. We chatted for a while and then I hooked another (this makes 5). This time Mark had his handy dandy Rapala Digital Scale, I left mine in the truck. Another dummy move because I left my camera in the truck too. Sometimes I am a real bonehead. Anyway the last one I caught look something like the picture below, except bigger.