Solitude......

[Ed Wahl]

When you gotta have it you gotta have it.

I got some yesterday. Along with some Cutts.

I intended to hike in to my favorite Brookie creek, but as often happens I got side tracked. I remembered this little Cutthroat lake I'd fished years ago and decided to stop and have a look at it.
I ended up crisscrossing that mountain for an hour and a half looking for that lake. After I decided I wasn't going to find it and started heading up to my next lake I stumbled right onto it.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/Lundborgs%20Fall/MeadowandGranitelakes006.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/Lundborgs%20Fall/MeadowandGranitelakes008.jpg

Being a bit hot and thirsty I decided to take a break then rig up. But when I looked at the lake it was a flyfisherman's dream come true. Trout rising everywhere. There's a shallow flat almost all the way around the lake extends out from 6 to maybe 30 feet. Trout were everywhere, in the middle, on the flats, and right up against the grassy bank.

Obviously the break idea went out the window.

I rigged up a floating line and an adult Damsel pattern. Creeped over to the water and spotted a cutt cruising and rising.
You gotta love Cutts, they're sometimes like cartoon characters. As soon as my fly hit the water the Cutt went to warp speed right up at it.
Then it totally missed the fly. It's momentum carried it about a foot out of the water doing cartwheels. I almost fell down from laughing so hard.
The next few fish ignored my damsel so I switched to an adult mayfly pattern of the size I saw on the water. That did the trick.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/Lundborgs%20Fall/MeadowandGranitelakes009.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/Lundborgs%20Fall/MeadowandGranitelakes011.jpg

I caught several more on dries before they stopped looking up. They were still cruising around and eating but wouldn't come up to the top.
I switched over to a bead head swimming pheasant tail and they just got stupid all over it. It was still sight fishing, I'd see one coming and drop it ahead of him then slowly hand twist it in a bit. I could watch it all happen, the trout speeds up, the mouth opens,closes, the fish turns and it's on.
I caught several by letting the fly sit on the bottom directly underneath the log I was standing on. When a fish came by I'd slowly lift up. Worked every time.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/Lundborgs%20Fall/MeadowandGranitelakes014.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/Lundborgs%20Fall/MeadowandGranitelakes015.jpg

The bite finally shut off around mid afternoon, so I got my break in and humped my way up the next lake on my agenda.

There's still a bit of the white stuff at 8000ft.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/Lundborgs%20Fall/MeadowandGranitelakes018.jpg

This lake is rumored to hold big Cutts.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/Lundborgs%20Fall/MeadowandGranitelakes019.jpg

The rumor is true but I couldn't catch any. I saw one scoot across the shallows that went 18 to 20 inches. It's a larger and deeper lake than the other one. Maybe have to bring in the toon and a fast sinking line.
The afternoon wind was picking up so I decided that was enough and started down the trail, (this lake has one).

I parked close to a small creek and when I approached the creek I saw feeding trout. Since my rod was still strung I dropped my nymph upstream of the first fish I saw. It chased it downstream and hammered it hard.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/edfish333/Lundborgs%20Fall/MeadowandGranitelakes020.jpg

A pretty little Brookie.

I figured that that was as good an ending to my day as I could ask for and went ahead and broke down my rod.

While I do enjoy fishing with friends sometimes I need a good dose of solitude and luckily the Sierra's are made to order for that.

One great day.

Ed

[jburge]

Wow, Ed that's some super fine water, some spectacular scenery, and gorgeous fish. Thanks for sharing!

John

[Scott V]

I totally agree wit hou Ed, fishing with friends is nice, but there are times you just need to get out alone and be one with the fish. I'll let you know about the last lake, I think I am headed there this weekend with the tube.

[DFrink]

Looks like someone had a pretty awesome day of fishing. Funny, since I started fly fishing (and none of my old fishing buddies show any interest) I almost always fish alone and I have really come to enjoy being out there without anyone else around.

[michaeln]

Truly enjoyed reading your story Ed, even though I don't know where those places are and even if I did, I am not in good enough shape to hike to them. But going there with you via this article was great, thanks!

[wjorg]

Nice post and nice photos. Makes me remember when I fished like that more often. Thanks for the inspiration Ed. Glad you had a fun and rewarding time!

[BillB]

Beautiful! You guys are blessed to live so close to such wonderful places.