Fly Guy Dave
08-09-2013, 08:35 AM
Typically in August the water temps on many trout streams rise up to levels that are unhealthy for our aquatic friends, especially in low water years like the one we have now, but I’ve found ways to get in some trout fishing and not make the fish pay the ultimate price. One word: Elevation.
The first stream I hit is a well-known east slope river that sits at around 6,000 feet, but when I arrived, it was rather off-color and the temps were around 70 at or near the surface. So I grabbed a book and did some reading, took a nap and waited until later that evening, after 7:30, actually until the temps had sunk to 66-67. I caught a few, but nothing too memorable, and I didn’t want to keep the fish out of the water long enough to take any pictures, so you’ll have to use your imagination.
The next day I drove to a stream that sits at about 8,400 feet and took a temp: 54. Nice! This is a pretty mountain creek that doesn’t see a lot of angling pressure.
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa104/dderuysscher/Creek_zps05b91e82.jpg (http://s203.photobucket.com/user/dderuysscher/media/Creek_zps05b91e82.jpg.html)
The stream does contain a solid and healthy population of genetically pure Lahontan Cutts, though. However, to catch any I had to be REALLY stealthy and make long lasts with my three weight. Fly? It didn’t matter, really, an EH caddis worked just fine. The reward? This is a typical fish:
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa104/dderuysscher/Lahontan_zps0c0bacb6.jpg (http://s203.photobucket.com/user/dderuysscher/media/Lahontan_zps0c0bacb6.jpg.html)
Semper Fidelis!
The next day I drove to a nearby lake, that sits at around 9,500 feet and enjoyed an interesting conversation with a through hiker on the PCT with the trail name of “Easy Strider” but later I endured a redneck hatch of gun shooting, beer swilling yahoos on the other side of the lake. Not exactly a desired wilderness experience, but even those chuckleheads couldn’t take away from this sunset:
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa104/dderuysscher/Sunset_zpsba171ac9.jpg (http://s203.photobucket.com/user/dderuysscher/media/Sunset_zpsba171ac9.jpg.html)
The next day I hiked into some nearby lakes and caught a bunch golden trout. As the day wore on, I thought that they’d go deep as the sun warmed up the water, but the midges kept hatching, the fish kept rising, and I kept fishing. The fact that the lake was almost at 10,000 feet kept the water cool (60) and the fish happy…well…maybe they weren’t happy being caught, but I was having a blast!
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa104/dderuysscher/Goldie1_zps7477dfa4.jpg (http://s203.photobucket.com/user/dderuysscher/media/Goldie1_zps7477dfa4.jpg.html)
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa104/dderuysscher/Goldie2_zpsf050f32e.jpg (http://s203.photobucket.com/user/dderuysscher/media/Goldie2_zpsf050f32e.jpg.html)
Some cool alpenglow early in the morning on the day I left.
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa104/dderuysscher/AlpenGlow_zps7b1d84d6.jpg (http://s203.photobucket.com/user/dderuysscher/media/AlpenGlow_zps7b1d84d6.jpg.html)
Good fishing, cool temps and a nice way to conclude my summer and prepare for some fall angling.
Enjoy!
--F.G. Dave
The first stream I hit is a well-known east slope river that sits at around 6,000 feet, but when I arrived, it was rather off-color and the temps were around 70 at or near the surface. So I grabbed a book and did some reading, took a nap and waited until later that evening, after 7:30, actually until the temps had sunk to 66-67. I caught a few, but nothing too memorable, and I didn’t want to keep the fish out of the water long enough to take any pictures, so you’ll have to use your imagination.
The next day I drove to a stream that sits at about 8,400 feet and took a temp: 54. Nice! This is a pretty mountain creek that doesn’t see a lot of angling pressure.
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa104/dderuysscher/Creek_zps05b91e82.jpg (http://s203.photobucket.com/user/dderuysscher/media/Creek_zps05b91e82.jpg.html)
The stream does contain a solid and healthy population of genetically pure Lahontan Cutts, though. However, to catch any I had to be REALLY stealthy and make long lasts with my three weight. Fly? It didn’t matter, really, an EH caddis worked just fine. The reward? This is a typical fish:
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa104/dderuysscher/Lahontan_zps0c0bacb6.jpg (http://s203.photobucket.com/user/dderuysscher/media/Lahontan_zps0c0bacb6.jpg.html)
Semper Fidelis!
The next day I drove to a nearby lake, that sits at around 9,500 feet and enjoyed an interesting conversation with a through hiker on the PCT with the trail name of “Easy Strider” but later I endured a redneck hatch of gun shooting, beer swilling yahoos on the other side of the lake. Not exactly a desired wilderness experience, but even those chuckleheads couldn’t take away from this sunset:
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa104/dderuysscher/Sunset_zpsba171ac9.jpg (http://s203.photobucket.com/user/dderuysscher/media/Sunset_zpsba171ac9.jpg.html)
The next day I hiked into some nearby lakes and caught a bunch golden trout. As the day wore on, I thought that they’d go deep as the sun warmed up the water, but the midges kept hatching, the fish kept rising, and I kept fishing. The fact that the lake was almost at 10,000 feet kept the water cool (60) and the fish happy…well…maybe they weren’t happy being caught, but I was having a blast!
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa104/dderuysscher/Goldie1_zps7477dfa4.jpg (http://s203.photobucket.com/user/dderuysscher/media/Goldie1_zps7477dfa4.jpg.html)
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa104/dderuysscher/Goldie2_zpsf050f32e.jpg (http://s203.photobucket.com/user/dderuysscher/media/Goldie2_zpsf050f32e.jpg.html)
Some cool alpenglow early in the morning on the day I left.
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa104/dderuysscher/AlpenGlow_zps7b1d84d6.jpg (http://s203.photobucket.com/user/dderuysscher/media/AlpenGlow_zps7b1d84d6.jpg.html)
Good fishing, cool temps and a nice way to conclude my summer and prepare for some fall angling.
Enjoy!
--F.G. Dave