Fly Guy Dave
07-17-2011, 03:28 PM
Just got back from a few days on the East Slope, checking conditions and catching a few trout along the way...which was really the whole reason for going there, anyhow!
First stop, a nameless special stream that requires an hour and a half (minimum) hike to get to. This is what's left of the snow just past the trailhead, which is at 8,200 feet.
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa104/dderuysscher/SnowyJuly.jpg
Here's the stream, which was high and PAINFULLY cold, which I found out, having to wade through it barefoot.
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa104/dderuysscher/Stream.jpg
I caught a few rainbows in the slack water, but often I had to hike a bit to FIND any slack water. It fished OK, but since the water was so high and still so cold, I think it still has a few weeks until it reaches it's typical potential.
Here is a "landmark" rock along the stream that I always think looks like a totem pole.
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa104/dderuysscher/Totem.jpg
The next day I fished this lake pictured, at 9,200 feet, which at one time supposedly had arctic grayling in it. Long story short, I got blanked, but I did see a few fishing rising every now and then and one of them (I SWEAR) looked like a grayling. Did DFG stock them in there again, anyone know?
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa104/dderuysscher/HighLake.jpg
I went and fished another fine lake, located in my favorite county (Alpine) and caught plenty of planted rainbows with damsel nymphs. They just HAMMERED this epoxy pattern I had, and it still held up, even after ten or so fish, with very little damage. Impressive! I saw this guy (blurry, I know) catch a couple as well, but no flies, just claws, and he caught but didn't release.
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa104/dderuysscher/Baldie.jpg
This was as close as I could get. I also saw a mama black bear and her tiny cub just outside of Markleeville, but they took off into the woods before I could get my camera out.
Still monitoring the reports from Montana and Idaho and as soon as conditions are better, I'm GONE. I'll post a report once I get back, once I GO...but the waiting is killing me!
Cheers!
--Fly Guy Dave
First stop, a nameless special stream that requires an hour and a half (minimum) hike to get to. This is what's left of the snow just past the trailhead, which is at 8,200 feet.
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa104/dderuysscher/SnowyJuly.jpg
Here's the stream, which was high and PAINFULLY cold, which I found out, having to wade through it barefoot.
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa104/dderuysscher/Stream.jpg
I caught a few rainbows in the slack water, but often I had to hike a bit to FIND any slack water. It fished OK, but since the water was so high and still so cold, I think it still has a few weeks until it reaches it's typical potential.
Here is a "landmark" rock along the stream that I always think looks like a totem pole.
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa104/dderuysscher/Totem.jpg
The next day I fished this lake pictured, at 9,200 feet, which at one time supposedly had arctic grayling in it. Long story short, I got blanked, but I did see a few fishing rising every now and then and one of them (I SWEAR) looked like a grayling. Did DFG stock them in there again, anyone know?
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa104/dderuysscher/HighLake.jpg
I went and fished another fine lake, located in my favorite county (Alpine) and caught plenty of planted rainbows with damsel nymphs. They just HAMMERED this epoxy pattern I had, and it still held up, even after ten or so fish, with very little damage. Impressive! I saw this guy (blurry, I know) catch a couple as well, but no flies, just claws, and he caught but didn't release.
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa104/dderuysscher/Baldie.jpg
This was as close as I could get. I also saw a mama black bear and her tiny cub just outside of Markleeville, but they took off into the woods before I could get my camera out.
Still monitoring the reports from Montana and Idaho and as soon as conditions are better, I'm GONE. I'll post a report once I get back, once I GO...but the waiting is killing me!
Cheers!
--Fly Guy Dave