Pure Gold

[Fochetti]

So I have to say that our backpacking trip was quite a success. It was a lot of hiking and pretty tough but well worth the effort. Seven days and 70 miles later it was draining and rewarding to say the least.

On our way down we decided to hit Hot Creek. It was about 7am. We went to the interpretive site and there was a pretty good caddis hatch happening, however I could not get any fish to take. After many refusals and at least five fly changes, I did manage this nice rainbow.

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk230/foesweasel/DSCF3199.jpg

We decided to pack it up and get to the trailhead. Heading down 395 we look up and see our road. Thankfully it was paved, otherwise we were in for a Pike's Peak Challenge.

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The beginning of the hike up was pretty exciting and a little ways down Horseshoe Meadows we could not help ourselves. We got to some nice looking water spotted some Golden's and hooked into our first of many. What amazing gorgeous fish.

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk230/foesweasel/DSCF3210.jpg

We packed back up and headed up the summit. Three hours or so later with 50lb packs we made it up to 11,500 ft. It was almost dark so we stayed right on the summit that night.

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The next morning we made it down into Whitney Meadows. Tired from the hike up we stopped at the tail of the Meadow and set up camp. We fished Golden Trout Creek and caught many nice fish and needless to say the water was named properly.

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The next morning we packed up and headed down stream to our next camp, we did not make it a half a mile before stopping the fish were everywhere and calling our names. Caught a few more and headed out for The Volcano Meadow area.

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk230/foesweasel/DSCF3249.jpg

We got to our next location about two miles from Volcano Creek and decided to stop for the night. The next day we were headed out to...

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To go after some of those browns that are below the barrier. I had heard tales of some "big dog browns" lurking in here.

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk230/foesweasel/DSCF3278.jpg

Rigged up my 3 wt (the only rod I brought) with a streamer and second cast whack! I landed this guy and was pretty stoked at it's size after days of catching 4-9" fish.

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk230/foesweasel/DSCF3272.jpg

I let my buddy in there and moved down stream to play with some of the 12"ers. Caught a lot of these guys which were a blast.

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk230/foesweasel/DSCF3301.jpg

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk230/foesweasel/DSCF3299.jpg

I moved back up into to the g-spot, and after a couple more casts and even bigger WHACK! I hooked into a monster of a brown and had a heck of a fight on a 7'6" 3 wt. I manged to land this BEAST. I am guessing about five pounds?

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk230/foesweasel/DSCF3279.jpg

What a fish, I was glad we made the fifteen mile round trip trek over there. I was definitely satisfied with the outcome of it. We camped right there on the river, and the next morning headed back to our base camp near Volcano Meadow.

We got back to to the base camp beat and had another trek the next morning waiting for us. We were headed down to the Kern River near the Kern Ranger Station. It was a nine mile trek from where we were. We arrived down there late in the evening and fished a little. Caught a couple little guys and set up camp. The next morning got up and headed over to the water Guy Jeans filmed his video on. Really gorgeous place and water.

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk230/foesweasel/DSCF3355.jpg

I rigged up and hooked a monster that snapped me off. A little bummed went back to my rock and ran into a five foot Rattler. Not very stoked about that but the allure of a nice Kern River Rainbow made me quickly forget al about him. We caught many nice fish nothing too big, the largest being a healthy 16" fish.

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk230/foesweasel/DSCF3347.jpg

Ended the fishing day with this one that will go onto my heritage list. What a beauty of a rainbow.

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk230/foesweasel/DSCF3353.jpg

And to top it off he took a big old hopper pattern, I was definitely satisfied again with another trek.

Not to overly excited about the trip out we finally started our ascent out of the Kern from 6,000 ft back up to 8,500 ft and nine grueling miles. On our way out we made a detour of sorts over to Volcano creek to hopefully get another heritage trout. We arrived at another amazing meadow. And I caught my heritage Golden.

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk230/foesweasel/DSCF3359.jpg

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We made it to all of the spots we wanted to and caught as many fish as we could have ever dreamed of. The trip was a definite success and I will be back in there soon. It is an amazing place with awe inspiring views and fish.

It was grueling and we could have used some extra time to space out our treks. When I do it again there will be more time spent on the Kern, until then I will cherish the memories.

We weren't quite done yet however, after a night in the hotel to wash off the caked on dirt and sleep in a bed, we stopped at Hot creek.

I managed to lose four nice fish in the weeds, but landed this pretty brown.

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk230/foesweasel/DSCF3406.jpg

What a trip; two heritage, trout a monster brown on a 3wt, and the pictures to remember it forever. I couldn't have asked for a better outcome.

I also want to thank everyone who gave me information on this area, I used it all. If anyone want to take some of that information off my hands let me know I am happy to share.

Thanks for the fish.

[A Matthews]

Awesome pictures. Beautiful fish. Nice work!

[Hairstacker]

Wow, what an awesome trip and report. Fantastic pictures and absolutely gorgeous fish, good for you guys!! :thumbsup::thumbsup:

[Ed Wahl]

Excellent pics and report!

Just what I like to see first thing in the morning before going to work.

Thanks.

Ed

[SHigSpeed]

Sweet! Hope to hit that area this year as well to close out my CHT. Thanks for the inspiration!

_SHig

[nightgoat]

Excellent, excellent report!

Thanks for posting.

[Scott V]

Good going John, looks like you had a grand time. Maybe I will make that trip next year, it is definetly on my to do list.

[Troutstalker55B]

Very cool report! Makes me want to get back down there. I bet you had yours hands full with those brown trout!

JB

[Fochetti]

Thanks guys,

Like I said before anyone who is going to or wants to make the trip down there I have a lot of info that I am willing to share. I have no problem telling people exact spots, cause if you are willing to make the trek into them you are dedicated enough for me.

And yes I had my hands full with the second brown, it was an epic catch to say the least.

John

[Bob Laskodi]

Golden's got to be the most beautiful fish in the world! Thanks for sharing!

[jbird]

The report of 2009 right there! I felt like I was flipping thru a flyfishing mag. Very cool

[EricO]

Clap, clap, clap. Best report I have read this year by far! And some brute
fish. Hot dawwwwwwg!!!

On the "to do" list it goes.

Thanks for sharing.

Eric

[Fochetti]

EO and Jbird,

Wow, thanks for the nice words I really appreciate them, I just wanted to share some of that amazingly gorgeous place with everyone on here.

If anyone has a chance to get sown there and see the GTW definitely do it. We only saw a few other people and they were near the trailheads. It is like having a whole river, stream, or wilderness to yourself, it was truely amazing.

Thanks again...

[EricO]

John,

I know you said you hiked 70 miles. I don't think my feet (I am notorious
for blisters no matter what boots/socks) could take that much mileage.
That's the one thing that concerns me.

I imagine you can cut quite a bit of mileage off if needed?

Shocking the size of those browns and rainbows at that elevation!!
Criminy!

Eric

[Jeff C.]

Hey EDawg!

So were are you and Fisher going this weekend now that you are "single" for a month?

Jeff

[DaveB]

Fochetti- awesome report. Brings back memories for sure. Were volcano falls flowing big on the way down to the Kern? A five foot rattler! Yikes. Amazing they are down there that high up...

I just got back from a trip to Colorado, check out the Greenbacks: http://dragfree.blogspot.com/2009/07/greenbacks-and-mountain-tops.html

Best,

Dave

[Notch]

Great report!

You must have hit Templeton before DFG goes in and e fishes those big browns out of there. Pretty cool to see such big fish at that altitude. Nice Kern bow's also..