When?
It's been a little slow around here lately, so let's see if I can generate a discussion.
I would like to complete the California Heritage Trout Challenge next year and would like to know what month (June - August) would be the best time? I would like to throw the Whitney summit in there somewhere so I need to apply for a permit by February.
I would like to attempt the southern three species of the Kern drainage, as well as the Lahontan. The other fish needed to complete the certification, I'm up in the air on. Redbands? Will the Paiutes still be off limits in 2010?
Any advice is welcome!
Thanks,
Chris
When to come to CA
July- And you do not need to procure a permit to go to Whitney unless you really want to climb it with 400+ people the day the permit is good for. This is how I would plan your trip-
Fly in to Sacramento, CA
Trip # 1 - From Sacramento drive downI-5 to connect to hwy 99 in Stockton/Modesto. Go to Kern River Drainage via Hwy 190 out of Porterville to Quaking Aspen. There you will have trailhead to drainages that can get you Kern River Rainbow, Little Kern Golden. Then drive up over J67 out of Johnsondale over Sherman Pass to Hwy 395. Then go to Horshoe Meadows Trailhead. That will get you over Cottonwood Pass to headwaters of Golden Trout Creek for that fish.
Trip #2- From Horseshoe Meadows go up Hwy 395. There are some streams in the Eastern Sierra that have Paiute but I will not name them and they are not native waters and will not qualify for CHTC. Doubt SKC will be open to catch & release in 2010. You can look for them and catch them with a little research. I would drive up 395 to the junction Hwy 89 just north of Walker. From there you are in Lahontan Cutthroat Territory.
Trip #3- From Markleeville Area - Drive up Hwy 89 to Eagle Lake. Fishing will be tough in July at the Lake but you can get an Eagle Lake Trout in a little section of Pine Creek (Tributary) that is open to fishing. From there go up to Hwy 244 and drive to Alturas and then hook back on to Hwy 395. Fish the Warner Mountains for Goose Lake Redbands and Warner Lake Redbands.
Trip #4- Drive back down Hwy 244 from Alturas and turn at Hwy 89 Junction and drive to the town of McCloud. You are now in McCloud Redband Territory. From there drive to Interstate 5 out of Shasta City and drive north to Hwy 96 and Klammath River Hwy. Here you are in Summer Steelhead Territory. Then connect to Hwy 169 to the Klammath River mouth (long winding drive) once at the coast there are several Coastal Cutthroat oportunities.
Trip#5 Go down hwy 101 and connect to Hwy 299. If you failed to get a Summer steelhead in the Klamath then you will have another chance at the Trinity River. King Salmon will be in too. From there go to Redding CA. You can fisher numerous waters for Coastal Rainbows in the vacinity.
That's it. 12 Native Trout of CA. You will see many parts of the state that only a few Californians ever get to see. Let me know when you have your itinerary set.
Ned
Thanks!
Thanks for the excellent information.
I won't try to complete the entire Heritage trout list in one trip. I'll probably go with the three Kern watershed species, Lahontan and the redbands. I also wanted to do a couple of side trips; such as Yosemite, Methuselah, and (yes) Mt. Whitney. I've done Colorado's Mt. Elbert (#2 of the lower 48), why not do #1?
Is this all "do-able" in two weeks?
Again, it's all in the planning stage and I greatly appreciate your assistance.
Thanks,
Chris
2 Weeks is enough time
Hi Chris,
Hey definately go to the top of Whitney. I just wasn't sure if you were trying to tie into one entire trip to go after Goldens in the vicinity. From what you tell me, this is a revised trip plan I would suggest.
Fly into Los Angeles, CA
Drive up I-5 north and cuttoff to Hwy 99 to Bakersfield and continue to Porterville (Hwy 190 exit). Continue to Quaking Aspen. Golden Trout Wilderness trailhead will get you into Little Kern Golden waters in less than 5 miles. Hike back. Then try for Kern River Rainbows at Peppermint Creek (Roadside fishery just past Quaking Aspen off Hwy. 190) lots of planters in Campground but all wild Kern River Rainbows in upper section. These fish are small. Drive to J67 to Sherman Pass. Monache Meadows offers excellent Golden Trout Fishing and is an easy hike. (Keep in mind all of the fish out of these waters will qualify for the CHTC). from there continue to Hwy 395 and then to Whitney portal. From there, drive up Hwy 395 to Hwy 108 Junction. There are nearby Waters that have Lahontan Cutthroat here or continue up Hwy 395 to Hwy 89 and Markleeville area. There are numerous waters in the East Carson drainages that have Lahontans. From there you could continue up Hwy 89 all the way to McCloud and go for that redband subspecies there. Then you could fish the lower McCloud (below McCloud Res.) and catch a Coastal Rainbow. From there drive down 1-5 out of Redding, CA and fly out of Sacramento, CA. You could easily do all of this in 2 weeks however make sure your rental car has unlimited mileage!!! You will have a great time on this trip.
Ned
Let's talk Pine Creek
Have you fished it Ned? I went there where it is open above the highway and accessed it at a culvert where a dirt road crosses. Below the culvert the creek was bone dry. Above it, it was barely a trickle. A hiked up a ways--the hiking was very tough going too--and it did not get any better. I only caught small brook trout, of which there were quite a few but only in the deepest pools and with the water so low they were very very spooky. Have you had better luck there?
That is the second person
That is the second person that I have heard say that they caught an Eagle Lake rainbow out of Pine Creek. I stopped and looked at it a couple of years ago, but it looked tiny.
Dave- You still interested in maybe doing a trip for Eagle Lake Rainbows this next year? I sounds like Memorial Day can be good if you catch it right.
Eagle Lake- When to go
Gary,
Late Fall is the time to fish Eagle Lake. Best time of year is early November. Can limit out in less than 10 minutes. Remember, this is a catch and take fishery. pH levels are too high in the lake and mortality rates were too high on released fish conducted by CA DFG. Limit is 2 fish and you are done fishing for the day.
Back in 1978 & 1995
Hi Dave,
Yes I have fished it years ago but it wouldn't be my first choice to go after Eagle Lake Trout. I camped with my Dad & Grandfather when I was 5 at Upper Stephens Meadows and we caught many small Eagle Lake Trout (probably fry no longer than 6"). Went back in 1995 and managed a couple small ones intermixed with brook and browns. Pine Creek is closed to all fishing from Hwy 44 all the way down to Eagle Lake. However with WVBrookie coming to CA in summer-Eagle Lake is to warm and full of algae too fish and is almost a waste. This would be his only "shot" to go after an Eagle Lake Trout in summer in my estimation. Sounds like it isn't in his plans anyways.