Quick report from a lengthy, enjoyable trip to a local wild trout stream in the San Gabriel Mountains / Los Angeles National Forest. 2 fish, 4+ hours of slow fishing, but darn beautiful surroundings and my first fish on this particular creek. Water absolutely cranking through this tiny watershed. Just needs more life!
I'm back! Changing responsibilities have altered my fishing adventures but I'm still out on the water.
Went back to a favorite local wild trout stream in the local San Gabriels. Fly fishing and conventional fishing for a few hours after a rugged hike.
As I have explored the world of fly fishing, I am also getting to re-learn an old hobby - entomology. Identifying insects that serve as valuable forage for local wild trout is part of the fun.
These small beetles were plentiful along the stream. Feeling smart, I tied on a similar pattern as the "dry" on a "dry/dropper" rig, only to see the fast-moving stream whip it as an unfishable pace. Oh well, it was a good thought.
Managed to land this beautiful wild rainbow trout:
Also encountered this large rattlesnake along the streambed. Grateful that I had snake gaiters on, but it was too close for comfort!
California's received much-needed rain. Now the fishing cycle should start again.
Had a hankering to get in another local trout fishing trip in the Los Angeles mountains before summer rolled in. Went out with a couple of good buddies and hiked into a remote, crystal clear stream deep in the San Gabriels. It's one of my favorite creeks - rarely does it produce a "big" fish, but it has a very plentiful wild rainbow trout population and consistent water flow to support them.
We caught dozens of shiny rainbows, amidst the sharp contrast of spring sunshine punctuating the dark canyon floor from above. All fish were safely released to be caught another day.
Canyon Trout - video of the fly fishing trip (and some conventional)
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
Have been fascinated by this particular creek for years, researching it to no end, but had not fished it-until now. I'll let the photos and video do the talking.
Scouted a local trout stream in the San Gabriel Mountains, outside of Los Angeles. In the past, I would catch many fish throughout the creek. However, with the drought, I saw most of the creek dry up and the fish disappear. Imagine my thrill and surprise when I hooked into several small rainbows in the creek while fly fishing today! Nothing huge but beautiful nonetheless.
Have you
ever spotted an awesome body of water from the road and wondered if you could
fish it? On a recent road trip to Bishop, I encountered Haiwee Reservoir and
could not help but think about just that. After considerable research, emails,
and phone interviews, I have a tale for you!
North and
South Haiwee Reservoirs may be seen just to the east of 395, before Olancha and
after Fossil Falls. Two picturesque bodies of water, they represent a
tantalizing target for anglers and a symbol of the historic conflict over water
that has haunted this region for years.
Do they have
fish? Absolutely, according to the LA Times, the lakes hold rainbow trout,
largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, brown trout, Sacramento perch, bluegill,
carp, and more. The lakes were even stocked by DFG for several years (Daily
News Outdoor). Sadly, while once open to anglers, these lakes remain closed
for the last 10 years. Fortunately, concerned locals are pressing for the right
to once-again be allowed to enjoy these public lands (under BLM and Los Angeles
Department of Water and Power (LADWP) regulations). Click below to keep reading
