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"It is good to have an end to journey toward, but it is the journey that
matters in the end." Ursula K. LeGuin
RambleZone
The quest is the goal
RambleZone
The quest is the goal
Fishing Journal
Fishing Journal
"It is good to have an end to journey toward, but it is the journey that
matters in the end." Ursula K. LeGuin
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Links
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Monday February 16, 2004
Steelhead season comming to a close in this area. A lot of rain this year along with a lot of water released from Coyote Dam kept the Russian River muddy most of the season.
I got in some winter rock climbing and Ice climbing in Utah these past few months, so fishing has been on the back burner. I should have some Spring trips and/or some backcountry outings to post in the next few months
Thursday November 27, 2003
Annual Thankgiving weekend Eagle Lake trip.
We took off from Frank's house in Redwood Valley, CA at 3:00 am for the 6 hour drive to Eagle Lake in the high desert area of Northeastern California. Joining us this year were frank's two sons, Ian and Geoff.
Without getting into a blow by blow account of the weekend, I can tell you this was the most productive trip, as far as fish totals, we have ever had. The weather was not quite as nice as we have had the last few years. It was overcast everyday and rained Friday and Saturday. Because of the overcast, the temperature rarely if at all, fell below 30 degrees. To some that might seem cold, but usually the temps that time of year in that area range from 5 to 30 degrees. Personally, I prefer it COLD, CLEAR and DRY. The rain, wind and overcast however didn't seem to hinder the willingness of the fish to throw themselfs on our flies. Matter of fact, the stormy conditions were probably the main reason the fishing was so great.
Last year we caught our first fish of the trip 3 minutes after we started trolling. This year, after no more than 10 seconds (yes, 10 seconds) we had the first fish on. Weird, really weird. All but one fish that was hooked deep in the gills, were released alive. Below is a general break down of the trip.
Campground: We camped at our usual spot, site # 48 at Mariner's Resort at the North end of the lake. We are always the only ones tent camping at this time of year, so we always have to campground to ourselves.
Technique: Trolling Eagle lake leech patterns in 8 to 20 feet of water.
Gear: Fly rods spooled with an assortment of medium to deep running fly lines and shooting tapers.
Flies: Assorted colors of flies I tie myself patterned after the Jay Fair trolling fly.
Area Fished: Sorry... you'll have to work this one out on your own, I did. (I know, I'm a jerk)
Fish Totals: Hooked - 69 Landed - 52 Missed hits - 3 2 1/2 days
Biggest Fish: Frank - 6 1/2 lbs. photo coming soon (I still owe Frank $5.00 for this one)
Fly Color Break down: Olive - 37 fish Hot One - 14 fish Black - 6 fish
Brown - 10 fish Cooling Lava (weird) - 2 fish
Rod Totals: Sam's - 36 fish Frank's - 33 fish. Uaually we have a little wager going on who will catch the most fish. This year however, Frank's boys were landing a lot of his fish (I fought most of mine because I'm selfish. Is it ok to be selfish if you admit it?) so we kept a record only so we would know who's outfits were working best for future reference. It seems they were
all working about the same, although one of Frank's outfits seemed to continually hook the bigger fish. Hmmmmm.
Daily Totals: Thursday 11/27 Hooked - 12 Landed - 8 (half day of fishing)
Friday 11/28 Hooked - 17 Landed - 12
Saturday 11/29 Hooked - 40 Landed - 32 (best day ever)
Sunday 11/30 Wet & Muddy - headed home
Note: Some people might believe catching and releasing this many fish is bad for the fishery because they think most of the released fish don't survive. I firmly disagree!!
We take great care to land and release these hearty fish with the least amount of trauma and injury. Although it is very possible a very small percent of the released fish don't survive, that percentage comes no where near the 16 DEAD fish we could have legally brought home.
Friday November 21, 2003
I drove up to Brice's sister-in-laws house in Eureka, CA from Cloverdale last night. I had been dealing with a cold the last few weeks and was a little concerned because I didn't feel well but couldn't wait to try to get into some Steelhead on the Salmon River.
Brice and I got up early this morning (4:00 am) for the 2 1/2 hour drive up to Somes Bar where the Salmon River joins the Klamath.
Our plan was to start fishing a few miles up the Salmon River road and work our way up to Brice's Grandmother's cabin on the North Fork of the Salmon. We would than spend the night and work our way back down Saturday.
Brice had called around and had reports that there were fish in the river, but when we got to the first hole we were surprised to find the water in the Salmon flowing very low. We fished our way up the river, but didn't touch a fish all morning. We had seen a few Steelhead roll and numberous old Salmon cruising the runs, but at 1:00 we decided we would waste our weekend trying to catch any decent fish on the Salmon. At this point my throat was so sore I could hardly talk, and we needed to come up with a new plan, so we headed back down to see if we could salvage the day with a few fish from the Klamath.
I had fished a run on the Klamath a few years back called Green Riffle and had done pretty well. It was just up the highway from Somes Bar, so we decided to start fishing the Klamath there and see what happens. Brice headed up stream a ways and I jumped in right at the head of the run, and hooked up a nice "half pounder" on the third cast. I kept working down the run, and at some point Brice came back down and started fishing below me. We both worked our way to the tail of the run where I hooked and released a nice 4 or 5 lb. hen, which along with the half pounder, salvaged the day, for me anyway. It was starting to get dark and we still had a couple of hours drive back to Eureka, so we headed out , planning to come back and fish the Klamath the rest of the weekend.
On the way back I decided I had better call it a weekend. At this point I could only mumble gravely one word sentences and could barely swallow my throat was hurting so bad. I was afraid I might pass this cold, or worse, on to Brice's childen or in-laws, so I dropped Brice off, packed up my gear and headed home.
I learned long ago that every trip isn't going to turn out as planned. This was one of them. No big deal, clean up, pack up and start planning for the next one. A few pictures coming soon.
Saturday November 16, 2003
Fishing at Lake Sonoma today. I was on the water early and headed straight to the campground coves expecting to find fish in the same area as last weekend. I made a few passes through the coves and then back up to the Boneyard, but didn't touch a fish other then one Bass (ugh!). As I was trolling back down to the coves I noticed surface activity directly across the lake from Broken Bridge Campground.
Needless to say, I headed straight there and hooked right up. Nothing fast and furious like last weekend, but I ended up with three trout. No big ones this trip (all in the 16 inch range) so I didn't bother with any pictures. I think all the fish today were caught on a black leech pattern with an ActionDisc trolled deep (20 ft.) with a 850 grain shooting taper. I did not check the surface temperature. All fish released alive.
Steve P. told me Terry caught a 6lb. trout near the entrance to Yorty Creek trolling a flatfish. I should check out other places on the lake instead of always fishing the same area. It's tough though when the old haunts ALWAYS produce fish.
Heading up to the Salmon River next Thrusday night with Brice A. for Salmon and Steelhead.
Sunday November 9, 2003
Slug-fest at Lake Sonoma today, and I won!
Sam: 10
Trout: 1
Hooked 11 and landed 10, all in the 16 - 21 inch range. I started fishing about 6:30am and by 8:00am had hooked 7 and landed 6. The wind than picked up and things slowed down, but I still kept hooking the occasional fish. At about 11:00am I was trolling in and hooked the biggest fish of the day. I didn't weight it or measure it, but it was probably 21 or 22 inches in length. All the fish landed today were released alive. Here's the "secret" fly I was trolling. Here are trip pictures.
Saturday November 8, 2003
Fished again today at Lake Sonoma with Lauren and Wyatt. Rained most of the morning and windy. Surface water temp. was 64 degrees. Spent most of the morning fishing between the campgrounds up from the dam. We landed two Trout, one was about 2lbs. Also caught one Black Bass in the 5lb. range. All were released alive. Because it was raining so hard, I left the digital camera at home and brought a point and shoot 35mm, so no outing pictures until later. Pictures same as above.
Sunday November 2, 2003
Back out at Lake Sonoma today looking for the landlocked Steelhead. The surface temp. was 65 degrees, so it is still a little warm. I saw a small amount of surface feeding action North of the Boneyard in the campground coves, but only hooked up a couple Bass. Another boat that was trolling in that area finally anchored and fished live minnows under a bobber. Still nothing. We got our first rain here this evening and the daily temperature continues to drop so Sonoma should turn soon. I need to tie up more Sonoma Ghosts and Franks Specials so I will be ready when it does happen. Boring pictures from today.
This Page Last Updated 2/16/2004
Frank B. with a 6 lb. Eagle Lake Trout (Released Alive)
Upcoming Trips
November 8 - 9: Lake Sonoma trout
November 15 -16: Lake Sonoma trout
November 21- 23: Salmon River steelhead
November 27- 30: Eagle Lake
December 6 - 7: Salmon River steelhead
December 13-14: North Coast steelhead General
December 26-28: Climb or Cut Bait?????
Eagle Lake / Troxil Point at sunset
Big fish are fun, but sometimes small fish with light gear is the goal. This was a Blue Gill/Crappie outing with Wyatt at Yorty Ckeek. Photo by Wyatt.
Sam with steelhead @ the Green Riffle on the Klamath River, CA
