Emigrant Wilderness - north of Yosemite

[bkobrin]

New to the board and to the sport. I'm going up to the Emigrant Wilderness (borders the north side of Yosemite) on three separate backpacking trips in the next 6 weeks. This will be my first time fly fishing up there and I could use some suggestions/help in my preparations. Does anyone know of a few flies that are "must have's"? Thanks.

[Pfloyyd]

Great fishing in that area for the not-so-faint-of-heart! While midges are the most common food source for trout at that elevation, I've always had excellent luck in Emigrant Meadow, Lower Emigrant, Emigrant, Snow, and Bigelow lakes with olive wooly bugger size 10/12 on clear intermediate line w/super slow retreive. PT's, hare's ear, elk hair caddis, etc. sizes 16-20 work fine in creeks in between lakes. Emigrant Lake can have fantastic fishing in the weeds at upper end.

We usually hike in from Leavitt Lake- crossing the Pacific Crest and then over 11,000 ft. Big Sam. The view from the top is spectacular. Matt Bloom's services out of Kennedy Meadows Pack Station can come in mighty handy for those who wish to bring along a few extra creature comforts (like a big gas stove, a few frozen steaks and an extra 12 pack or two).

Be prepared for all weather conditions; cold, sun, wind, etc., and one piece of advice (speaking from personal experience): DO NOT get caught up there without adequate supply of mosquito repellent!

Enjoy! The Emigrant is a special place.

[bkobrin]

You couldn't be more right. The Emigrant is a very special place. I've been backpacking in the southern half of the wilderness for about 10 years now. I went in with a new friend last year and he is an avid fly fisherman. He put a fly rod in my had for the first time last year and I was hooked. It's been a long winter/spring waiting for the snow to thaw enough to get in.

This weekend will be a short trip, just a few miles in down to the west fork of Cherry Creek. 3 weeks from now I'll go in to Hyatt lake for 5 days. We start both trips from the Bourland Meadows trailhead.

The southern half is even more rugged and secluded than the north, which is why I prefer it. And the scenery is nothing short of spectacular. Here's a few pics from one of my trips last year.

PS - I have often thought that a shotgun would be more appropriate than deet for the mosquitoes up there. They can ruin a trip if you're not prepared for them!

[Sin Coast]

Is that last pic of the campsite above Emigrant Meadows Lake? I have camped there before---moskeeters were so thick I would run back and forth from the camp to the lake when crossing the marchy area. Very good fishing though. Best bite I've ever experienced on a mosquito pattern on top! It was very cool. Also hiked into a few of the other lakes up that way. We started at Kennedy Meadows. I've also done the horse-packing thing outta Kennedy and it is really fun...and you get to bring an extra 12 pack, like someone else mentioned earlier.
I second the wollybugger suggestion too. Worked great in the stillwater, just slowly pulling it along the bank. I would like to do another horsepack trip up there and bring my floattube! How cool would that be?
Also had very good success fishing the creek that runs into Relief Res, I think its called Summit Creek.

PK

[bkobrin]

The last pic was taken on the west fork of Cherry Creek about 1.5 miles southwest of Hyatt Lake.

-ben