West Fork of the Carson River

This is the creek/river (I list it that way because it's called a river, but this time of year it's not much more than a creek) that they usually dump the trout under the bridge at the 88/89 intersection then everybody in the "secret circle" descends in mass and fishes it to extinction.

My plan for today (and you know Shoreman always has a plan or three) was to fish this creek/river elsewhere. The question was where to start. I picked the creek along the road in Hope Valley because I would come to it first. How's that for ease of decision? Keep in mind that this creek/river runs for miles and miles. A LOT of miles.

After a swing by Cooks Station for coffee and drop off some books (you know which one), I headed up Highway 88 past Bear River, Silver Lake, Caples Lake, and Red Lake taking the turnoff to Hope Valley. It was only a couple of miles until I hit the creek.  

This was the first place I fished. Note the HUGE boulders (I know they look small, but some of them were the size of a Volkswagon) I had to navigate just to get to the water.

West Fork at Hope Valley

A couple of casts and "fish on". This a Lahontan Cutthroat Trout (futurely referred to as LCT).

Lahontan Cutthroat Trout

This one came on the green (reasonable facsimile) stimulator.

Another pool

Another Cutt, same fly.

Note the color on the bottom of the gills

After a good Cardio hike, 4 Cutts brought to hand, and 400 mosquito's murdered, I moved to another part of the creek. I had forgotten just how many mosquito's there are in that part of the valley.  

Upstream from the 88/89 bridge

I walked a half mile of this part of the creek and had a few drive bys, but no hookups. I tried to interest one in a pool that was a good 16", but it wasn't having anything to do with what I offered.

Then off to another section of the creek. This one downstream a couple of miles from the 88/89 bridge in country more like the first stop. Here again, there was a bridge to fish buy, but there was an Asian Lady fishing, who had caught one, so I went upstream a ways so as not to interfere with her fishing. I worked my way down to a  nice pool and missed a nice hit by one a good 14 inches long. I moved to another hole, but didn't find anything.

Walking back to the truck I noticed that she was leaving so I worked my way down to the creek so I could fish under the bridge and then downstream. I got several hits in and around the bridge, but missed them all. Then I started downstream. Saw these flowers and snapped a shot.  

Yellow Something

Somewhere along that hike I landed one more Cutt for a total of five today. All small, the biggest maybe 9 inches, but fun on Tenkara. OK, I waited until the end to say it.

Stopped by Red Lake on the way home (I couldn't help myself), but it was the same old, same old so I kept going.

I think that's it for today. Don't know what's next, but I'll let you know.

Mark