Late Fall Trout Creek Exploration

Despite my familiarity with many local Southern California streams, there are countless others that I have not yet explored in detail, or even ventured to yet. Of these, I was able to fish two (loosely using the term fishing, as you'll see) just a few days ago. 

Gotta love that cold late fall sun

These particular creeks are absolutely raging in the spring during snow runoff. Both, reportedly, have a variety of trout; and I've caught trout in the lower reaches of one. Thus, I headed out with eager expectations.

Supposed to be a creek here

However, upon arrival, it was clear that fishing wasn't going to be the major player in this trip. Both creeks were dismally low, with barely a trickle of water running in the first one. Both were nearly completely covered in fall leaves, choking pools and riffles alike. In the first creek, I spotted perhaps 1-2 pools at best that might hold fish, and the largest one didn't yield a single strike.

Really a fantastic little canyon

Water?

The second creek definitely had larger pools, including a beautiful 3ft deep one with excellent cover. However, it too was barely running, and previously innudated rapids were high and dry. Made several casts with a dry fly / dropper rig, but also failed to hook anything save a couple of leaves. I spent another few minutes scanning the pool from above - also appeared lifeless.

This area had 4ft of water last time...

Southern California trout fishing, at least for wild trout, is full of highs and lows - this was a low as far as fishing is concerned, but still a successful trip in getting outside, getting a workout while bumbling around massive boulders and steep drops, and also checking off another couple of spot on my mental trout fishing list. This is par for the course while fishing in local SoCal mountains - lots of planning, "blue lining" on maps, scouting out old reports, and then finally making the trip - boom or bust!

More water, just not enough

The best part? I was outside, in beautiful, crisp, clear fall weather, high in the mountains, away from traffic and crowds. I'll take that anyday!

Downstream (Somewhere outside of Los Angeles)

What is just around the bend? What is located just downstream (or upstream)? What secret does the next pool of crystal-clear water hold? These questions push me forward on countless trout fishing expeditions, often in the local mountain ranges, the "Saints" (San Gabriels, San Bernardinos, San Jacinto).

Earlier this year I took the plunge (literally) downstream, going further along a popular creek than I had ever ventured before. It required getting wet and scrambling along some narrow ledges for a ways, but I made it safely. Even managed to avoid the abundant poison oak along the "trail."A pair of cheap gardening gloves + frequent applications of TechNu lotion seemed to do the trick (seriously, check the TechNu lotion out, it's saved me many times)

This particular stretch of creek had two fascinating sections - a lush, forested portion with many nice pools, some teeming with trout; and a second, narrow slot canyon, exposed to the intense summer sun. The scenery was arguably amazing in both, but the slot canyon really caught me by surprise. Most SoCal creeks doesn't have this kind of topography and I hadn't seen any pictures of this part before. Google Maps sleuthing hadn't gotten me prepared for it either. Take a look:

Fishing was difficult, to say the least. I'm still getting used to trying fly-fishing only on certain trout trips, and I had more than my fair share of snags, lost flys, and tangles throughout the day. However, the scenery more than made up for it, as well as the thrill of discovery. I came across many pools with rainbows swimming idylilly around, easily spooked, but still willing to hit a dry fly. I even managed to land one, and snap off a monster of a fish in sheltered pool underneath thick cover. 

I'll definitely be back for more!

Photos taken with the Zerotech RollCap Camera. You can see video footage from the trip, and other trips, on my review of the RollCap camera here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HiMdKGaCaw