The secrets of the sierras - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

steveooo · 04-27-2009, 08:14 PM

Are my gift to you

I’m a little addicted to fishing. Freshwater, saltwater, anywhere there is water I will try to fish (swimming pools, bathtubs). Having a kayak has exponentially increased both my time on the water, as well as how many fish I catch.

Every year in the last weekend in April we plan a trip to go up for the Eastern Sierra Season Opener. Although this is typically the most crowded weekend, there is something special about being on the water at 5:30 am, throwing a lure at fish that haven’t seen a fishing line in several months.

We usually stay in the June Lake Loop. There are 4 lakes in the loop, with countless little streams that feed the lakes, that are packed with native fish. The June lake loop is only about half an hour away from Mammoth, and about Half an Hour to the back entrance to Yosemite. It is free to park and launch a kayak at most lakes in the Sierras, and many times, you will be the only one on the water.

It is about a six-hour drive from my house, but my favorite part of the trip is fishing my little secret “honey-holes” on the way up Hwy 395. It is not uncommon to catch 30-40 fish on the drive up.

It was a little slower this year, but we still caught our fair share of fish. Species # 1

We found some wind

I will never get tired of driving up to the base of these mountains

We go up with a few other couples. We rent a nice condo, right on June Lake. This is my favorite painting in the condo. Little bears getting freaky.

The first day we decided to fish June Lake. It was the maiden voyage of the new yak, and I couldn’t think of a better place to spend it.

Opening morning we caught our fair share of beautiful healthy rainbows, keeping only enough to make a nice dinner out of.

The weather is not for the faint of heart. It is about 20- 25 degrees outside. The eyes on your rod tips freeze as you reel in each cast. Every drop of water freezes pretty quickly. Hard to tell, but this is all frozen

I did a true through hull transducer on the new finder. I was very impressed. Every time I would see one of these

I would catch one of these

Later that day we decided to go for a drive up to Virginia Lakes to do some ice fishing

The hike in

Two more months and this will be a lake again

While fishing we watched two back-country skiers create a decent size avalanche. Pretty gnarly

I caught a nice brook trout through the ice. Species # 2

My wife is hardcore. 7 months pregnant, and hiking in to a frozen lake to ice-fish at 10,000 feet. She caught a few too. She’s pretty awesome.

Ice fishing is fun. The fish have been under ice for many months with little food. There have been times where we could not have a lure in the water for more than 10 seconds without being smashed by a trout

We went back to the loop, and I fished off the Kayak until dark, for only a few fish.
The beginning of a nice dinner

The next morning I fished silver lake. I was on the water at dark, and was rewarded with a nice cut-throat trout. Very pink meat, tastes like salmon. Species # 3

The fishing was very good for a little while, but it may have been that I had the entire lake to myself for almost an hour. I could do this all friggen day

Later that day we went up to Lee Vining to do some stream fishing. Any chance to catch more fish than my buddies, and rub it in is o.k. with me

Any hunters out there? Count the deer in this pic. These were does, but I have seen some very nice bucks up there.

On the drive home we stop at a few more secret spots. Very beautiful brown trout are thick in these streams that hardly get fished. Species # 4

Not easy to get to, but well worth it

I also found a snake in my best honey hole. I was so focused on moving him away from the only place I could cast from, that I almost stepped on another.

Overall, it was a very fun trip. I try to get up there a few times a year. The fishing can be phenomenal towards early fall. I will try to spearhead a camping trip for whoever is interested later this year. Here is one on my favorite pics from silver lake, not this trip, but later in the season when the colors turn. Such an awesome place.

Steve

Holy Mackerel · 04-27-2009, 08:17 PM

Awesome! I have always wanted to go there, this is good inspiration. Congrats on the lil one too!

Thanks for sharing,

chris

Siebler · 04-27-2009, 08:21 PM

I am 100% IN on the next one. Havn't been in a few years and have been talking about going a lot lately.

Thanks for the report

Dan · 04-27-2009, 08:27 PM

Steve, that was an epic report. Killer scenery.

Billy V · 04-27-2009, 08:30 PM

Very Awesome, I know those spots well.

Have you fish along the Carson River, or on Ebbetts Pass before ?
If not add them to the list.

yakrider · 04-27-2009, 08:55 PM

WOW...makes me wanna go right now!!!!
I have missed going up there the last coiuple of years...
unbelievably beautiful pics...

LocoKayako · 04-27-2009, 08:56 PM

Uhhh...WOW
Awesome trip and thanks for sharing.

newguy01 · 04-27-2009, 09:03 PM

that is awesome place post the date when your planing the trip i might be able to go if i am back from deployment

dennis

LunaTuna · 04-27-2009, 09:49 PM

Awesome report, thanks for sharing. Ill be heading up there may 6-11. Hope my catch is good as yours. Be staying in mammoth but fishing both mammoth and june loop lakes on the yak.

Tman · 04-27-2009, 10:04 PM

Great post and phenomenal pics...

Never too thrilled on lake fishing, but a trip like that could change my perspective. Thanks for the post.

teto116 · 04-28-2009, 04:25 AM

WOW!! real nice...

Anthony179 · 04-28-2009, 07:00 AM

That was a nice looking snake. I have a Glossy snake and it look just like the one you found. It's about 3 feet long. All winter long they stay under ground and come in spring time. Not aggresive but if hungry they will bite.
Nice pics.

Grego · 04-28-2009, 02:02 PM

Sweeeet....I missed my yearly trip last year, I paddled convict lake and crowley (before inspections). Brownies are my fav to catch, of trout!! but I like that cut throat! never got one of those yet

Zed · 04-29-2009, 10:58 AM

Hard core!
Your wife, I mean.

Thanks for the report. We talked about you on Sunday. Freezin ballz was mentioned.

steveooo · 04-29-2009, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zed

We talked about you on Sunday. Freezin ballz was mentioned.

I'm touched. Figuratively, not literally. I thought I heard my ears ringing on Sunday, now it is sweet relief to know that you were talking bout my testes. Bring on Catapalooza!!!

asystole · 04-29-2009, 06:27 PM

Great report. Having grown up doing a lot of fishing in the Sierra's I can't wait to get back up there this year and show my children, who have now caught the fishing bug, what a magical place it is.

04-27-2009, 08:14 PM	#1
steveooo Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,921	The secrets of the sierras Are my gift to you I’m a little addicted to fishing. Freshwater, saltwater, anywhere there is water I will try to fish (swimming pools, bathtubs). Having a kayak has exponentially increased both my time on the water, as well as how many fish I catch. Every year in the last weekend in April we plan a trip to go up for the Eastern Sierra Season Opener. Although this is typically the most crowded weekend, there is something special about being on the water at 5:30 am, throwing a lure at fish that haven’t seen a fishing line in several months. We usually stay in the June Lake Loop. There are 4 lakes in the loop, with countless little streams that feed the lakes, that are packed with native fish. The June lake loop is only about half an hour away from Mammoth, and about Half an Hour to the back entrance to Yosemite. It is free to park and launch a kayak at most lakes in the Sierras, and many times, you will be the only one on the water. It is about a six-hour drive from my house, but my favorite part of the trip is fishing my little secret “honey-holes” on the way up Hwy 395. It is not uncommon to catch 30-40 fish on the drive up. It was a little slower this year, but we still caught our fair share of fish. Species # 1 We found some wind I will never get tired of driving up to the base of these mountains We go up with a few other couples. We rent a nice condo, right on June Lake. This is my favorite painting in the condo. Little bears getting freaky. The first day we decided to fish June Lake. It was the maiden voyage of the new yak, and I couldn’t think of a better place to spend it. Opening morning we caught our fair share of beautiful healthy rainbows, keeping only enough to make a nice dinner out of. The weather is not for the faint of heart. It is about 20- 25 degrees outside. The eyes on your rod tips freeze as you reel in each cast. Every drop of water freezes pretty quickly. Hard to tell, but this is all frozen I did a true through hull transducer on the new finder. I was very impressed. Every time I would see one of these I would catch one of these Later that day we decided to go for a drive up to Virginia Lakes to do some ice fishing The hike in Two more months and this will be a lake again While fishing we watched two back-country skiers create a decent size avalanche. Pretty gnarly I caught a nice brook trout through the ice. Species # 2 My wife is hardcore. 7 months pregnant, and hiking in to a frozen lake to ice-fish at 10,000 feet. She caught a few too. She’s pretty awesome. Ice fishing is fun. The fish have been under ice for many months with little food. There have been times where we could not have a lure in the water for more than 10 seconds without being smashed by a trout We went back to the loop, and I fished off the Kayak until dark, for only a few fish. The beginning of a nice dinner The next morning I fished silver lake. I was on the water at dark, and was rewarded with a nice cut-throat trout. Very pink meat, tastes like salmon. Species # 3 The fishing was very good for a little while, but it may have been that I had the entire lake to myself for almost an hour. I could do this all friggen day Later that day we went up to Lee Vining to do some stream fishing. Any chance to catch more fish than my buddies, and rub it in is o.k. with me Any hunters out there? Count the deer in this pic. These were does, but I have seen some very nice bucks up there. On the drive home we stop at a few more secret spots. Very beautiful brown trout are thick in these streams that hardly get fished. Species # 4 Not easy to get to, but well worth it I also found a snake in my best honey hole. I was so focused on moving him away from the only place I could cast from, that I almost stepped on another. Overall, it was a very fun trip. I try to get up there a few times a year. The fishing can be phenomenal towards early fall. I will try to spearhead a camping trip for whoever is interested later this year. Here is one on my favorite pics from silver lake, not this trip, but later in the season when the colors turn. Such an awesome place. Steve Last edited by steveooo; 04-27-2009 at 08:25 PM.

04-27-2009, 08:21 PM	#3
Siebler Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Richland Oregon Posts: 1,547	I am 100% IN on the next one. Havn't been in a few years and have been talking about going a lot lately. Thanks for the report __________________ CJ Siebler

04-27-2009, 08:56 PM	#7
LocoKayako Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 91	Uhhh...WOW Awesome trip and thanks for sharing. __________________

04-27-2009, 09:03 PM	#8
newguy01 Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: S.D. Posts: 133	sierras that is awesome place post the date when your planing the trip i might be able to go if i am back from deployment dennis

04-27-2009, 10:04 PM	#10
Tman BRTF...bought & paid... Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,247	Great post and phenomenal pics... Never too thrilled on lake fishing, but a trip like that could change my perspective. Thanks for the post. __________________ Adios Tman Gaffer for Clay the Fishcatcher

04-27-2009, 08:17 PM	#2
Holy Mackerel Señor member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,627	Awesome! I have always wanted to go there, this is good inspiration. Congrats on the lil one too! Thanks for sharing, chris

04-27-2009, 08:27 PM	#4
Dan Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,053	Steve, that was an epic report. Killer scenery.

04-27-2009, 08:30 PM	#5
Billy V Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bay Ho Posts: 1,382	Very Awesome, I know those spots well. Have you fish along the Carson River, or on Ebbetts Pass before ? If not add them to the list.

04-27-2009, 08:55 PM	#6
yakrider Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 611	WOW...makes me wanna go right now!!!! I have missed going up there the last coiuple of years... unbelievably beautiful pics...

04-27-2009, 09:49 PM	#9
LunaTuna Is HOOKED!!! Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Corona, CA Posts: 5	Awesome report, thanks for sharing. Ill be heading up there may 6-11. Hope my catch is good as yours. Be staying in mammoth but fishing both mammoth and june loop lakes on the yak.

04-28-2009, 04:25 AM	#11
teto116 Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: compton hills Posts: 38	WOW!! real nice...

04-28-2009, 07:00 AM	#12
Anthony179 A.T. Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Ontario, CA Posts: 146	That was a nice looking snake. I have a Glossy snake and it look just like the one you found. It's about 3 feet long. All winter long they stay under ground and come in spring time. Not aggresive but if hungry they will bite. Nice pics.

04-28-2009, 02:02 PM	#13
Grego Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 445	Sweeeet....I missed my yearly trip last year, I paddled convict lake and crowley (before inspections). Brownies are my fav to catch, of trout!! but I like that cut throat! never got one of those yet

04-29-2009, 10:58 AM	#14
Zed BANNED Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: W of 5 Posts: 1,265	Hard core! Your wife, I mean. Thanks for the report. We talked about you on Sunday. Freezin ballz was mentioned. __________________ Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day. Give a fish a man and he'll eat for a week.

04-29-2009, 06:27 PM	#16
asystole Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Carlsbad, CA Posts: 48	Great report. Having grown up doing a lot of fishing in the Sierra's I can't wait to get back up there this year and show my children, who have now caught the fishing bug, what a magical place it is.