A Few Thoughts On Yesterday's Post.

I have some thoughts on why I didn’t find any fish yesterday. Both places and the one I fished back on September 16^th have camping sites as opposed to campgrounds near them.

Over the years I’ve known and heard about many who’ve fished Silver Fork and taken the little 6, 7, 8 inch trout for a “trout dinner” while camping there. In fact, there were shoe prints all over the first place I fished and they weren’t mine. 

I would suspect that those mentioned above use every method they can to take these little fish not knowing what they are doing to the native trout population. I’m sure their justification is that they pay their $50+ for their license and are entitled to what fish they catch. That is a crying shame, but it is what it is. 

As for there not being any fish where I was, I’m sure that the above mentioned paragraphs explain why, but there are areas of the creek that I’m sure have fish and probably some quite large ones. The only problem is that you need to be prepared for a day hike down into a canyon that is probably 200 feet straight down, below the road, where none of those justified fishermen mentioned in paragraph 3 cannot or will not go. It’s also a place where we 68 year old Geezers fear to tread. 

I’ve had good days and bad days on Silver Fork. The DFW stocks the bridge at the 8 mile marker a few times a year, well maybe not next year, and I’ve taken limits of stockers on several occasions. In years past, it’s been like shooting fish in a barrel. Some of those fish must get away and hopefully they aren’t Triploid Trout. If you’re not familiar with Triploid Trout, they are bred to grow big.

There are two sides to the Triploid. First, they grow HUGE, they grow fast, and the meat is better than your normal stocker (Diploid Trout). The other side is they can’t reproduce, don’t mingle with native populations, and when those small natives are caught and put on the grill, that’s it. That fish is done reproducing.  

So, that’s my thoughts on the trip yesterday. One other note, Alan commented that “Rock hopping is not that bad”. Well, I’d like to extend an invitation to Alan that if he ever gets out to California, I’d be glad to take him “Rock hopping” California style.