High Sierra Trout Fishing Opener -

Saturday, April 24th - 2010             

One of the many lakes in the Bishop Creek Drainage, with only the photograper to enjoy it...Photo by Dave Finkelstein

It's that time of year again! Most of my fishing is spontaneous, but the trout season opening day is the exception. For over 2 months now, I have been planning out the first few days of the opener. Phone calls, emails, and trips to the tackle stores have all contributed to the excitement of preparing for the opener. A tradition that started back when I was the cook at Cardinal Village was to go out at Midnight Friday to Intake 2 just below Cardinal Village. I'd have my first cast over the water at just seconds after midnight. You see in Inyo County, you don't have to wait until sun-up to get started. The season starts at one second past Midnight! About 10 years ago, there were only a few lanterns that could be seen at midnight around Intake Two. Now it has turned into quite a party with an easy 75 to 100 anglers visible around the lake starting at 11 pm Friday. It looks like giant fireflies have taken over the dam with the now popular LED head lamps and caps. Even the float tubers have joined in the last couple of years! Most people fish a couple of hours and then head back to the campsites for some Z's until just before the sun comes up. Marlon Meade and I are one of the exceptions. The past few years we fished from midnight until 3pm the next day! Crazy? A bit, but we definitely have fun. There is something about being denied access to the waters in the Sierra Mountains for half the year. It sure makes us all look forward to the time we do get. Maybe we are on to something here... I might try applying this concept to other areas of my life. Chores? Date Nights? Taxes? I'll have to get back to you with the results...

So what do the fish bite on when it's still dark? There is always the trusty Power Bait that you can fish off the bottom as you won't be able to see a bobber. This method has landed some of the biggest fish caught in the first few hours of Opening Day. Some try to use a bobber but don't have much luck when they constantly shine their light on the water in front of them. The fish don't seem to like this. I have the best luck using white mini jigs that glow in the dark. You have to shine your head lamp on them every other cast to keep the glow going. Tip your jig with a power worm or better yet a piece of night crawler and no one will believe you when you tell them how many fish you caught. Marlon and I have each broken the 50 fish mark well before the sun even started to show. (See, I told you no one will believe you.)

Cardinal Village Resort sells the Glow Mini jigs and is located one mile above Intake Two. (Just save a couple of packs for me please.) Ken Cluff is the owner there and will probably be the one to help you out in their general store.  Their phone number is 760-873-4789 if you need and update on the latest weather conditions for Bishop Creek Canyon or Intake Two on opening day.

A great way to see the current weather conditions in the Sierra's is by going to Gull Lake Marina's live web cam. The Over the past few weeks I have been able to see the ice melting to where it is now. You can see it for yourself be clicking here. I always keep a photo link to the live web cam in the top right corner of this page as well.

 Anyways.... Here is another great article and  photos from Dave Finkelstein, top angler and photographer from Southern California. Dave has spent a few decades perfecting fishing the Sierra Mountain range and will share some valuable tips with you below.

See you Opening Day!

Charlie Halsell

charlie@highsierrawoodcarvings.com 

Cardinal Pond - photo by Dave Finkelstein

Creek and Stream Fishing The Sierras

By Dave Finkelstein

  Creek and stream fishing with minijigs and powerworms require a different technique to use especially in fast moving currents. Several times a year, I go up to the Eastern Sierras. I go up Memorial weekend to June Lake Loop. In the fall, I go to Bishop Basin and fish the South Fork and North Fork of Bishop creek as well as SouthLake,Sabrina and North Lakes. My fall fishing partner is none other than Marlon Meade. He is by far , the best jig fisherman I have ever met. We can be fishing the same rod ,reel,line and jig and he'll outfish me 5-1 in the fish count almost every time ,standing 10 feet away from me!! Sounds like bragging but what I'm telling you is true. I've known this man for many years and a lot of people ask me what does he do that is so different than other anglers when fishing jigs that makes him so successful. There are many factors to his success but the one most important factor to me is his presentation.This is why some guys catch 90% of the fish and others 10%.
Can you imagine standing on a rock in the middle of a rushing stream and continuiously casting a jig over and over and over again to a fish until you finally hook it an hour or more later? That fish may well be an Alpers that is over 5 lbs. and I myself have have done this same routine. I pulled a 9 lb. Alpers out of North Bishop Creek on 2 lb. test using the same technique as Marlon. Sometimes I just watch him fish as a pupil to a teacher in hopes of learning something new.So how do you fish jigs in a rushing stream? Well, lets start off with some basics. I tend to use 3 or 4 lb. Maxima ultragreen line for streams. The rod needs to have some backbone and usually I fish with a light-med.rated rod at least 6'6" in length. You need to be able to turn a large fish in heavy current so that you can have a shot at landing them otherwise your in trouble . I like to postion myself up stream of eddies that I feel hold fish . I then drop my 1/32nd jig into the whitewater ,let out some line to where I think the fish are holding and then close the bail and use my rod as a guide to moving the jig in and out of the eddies close to the whitewater. Its harder than it sounds and takes a lot of practice. This method works well in fast moving waters.I like to use a pearl white jig in this type of water.It seems to work more so than many other colors. Another color to use in a pink-brownish salmon roe color. This one works well also. And of course , my favorite all round jig color green perch. When the fish bite it feels like you snagged something like a rock but then you feel the weight of the fish and it gives some and you know its a fish. Again ,you need to adjust your drag accordingly and never too tight. I always have a large net close by when I stream fish. You may not get much opportunity to play these fish under these conditions so don't play these fish too long. Get them to the net and in ASAP , but under control not hap-hazardly.
In slower moving streams you can go down stream and cast upstream and work your jig in by reeling very slow and steady. If you see a fish chasing your jig then slow it down but donot stop the movement of the jig. A lot of times these fish will chase a moving object but turn away when the object stops moving. So keep this in mind when you see a trout chasing your jig. Again, if your not getting hits then change colors. This method works with powerworms as well and sometimes even better especially on Brown Trout and brookies.Several other friends I know use the bobber method in streams to control the depth of the jig. This method works well in medium moving streams and allows you to adjust your jig to the waters depth.The bobber aids in a visual strike indicator. For the spinning lure fans you can use these methods in streams as well with very good results except with a bobber.

Good Luck!

Dave F.

More High Sierra Fishing Reports

by Dave Finkelstein

High Sierra Woodcarvings is privileged to partner with Dave Finkelstein in providing you with expert fishing tips and advise on some of the best spots that the Sierra's have to offer. Dave has over 20 years of extensive experience fishing in the Sierra's and has become well known as an outdoor journalist as well as an accomplished photographer. He has written for outdoor magazines such as Western Outdoor News and Fish Taco Chronicles. His photography has also been published many times as it skillfully captures the essence of what draws so many of us to the High Sierra's.  Check back soon as we will begin to post articles and photos from him that you won't want to miss. 

                    Finesse Fishing the Sierras

by Dave Finkelstein

A cool breeze ripples through the Aspens as I'm looking out onto one of my favorite Sierra fishing holes on North Bishop Creek . Standing high on a boulder looking downstream where the white water disappears into crystal clear pools I can see schooling trout beneath the surface . To many anglers this is trout fishing  heaven, myself included. High Sierra fishing can be rest and relaxation  for the mind and soul and sometimes a transcending experience when your fighting a five pound Alper's trout from a rushing stream on two pound test line. It takes some angling skill and a lot of patience to consistently catch these fish in their natural habitat . Learning the art of finesse will make the difference between a fishless day and the fish of a lifetime for some. Over the years , I have learned some successful techniques that put trout on my stringer when others can't even get a nibble. Some people think finesse fishing is stealth tactics but most of the time it doesn't require any more work than walking and working the fishable areas where trout are likely to be at. This is where finesse fishing starts.

       Most Sierra streams are lined with trees and rocks that make fishing access to likely fish holding areas very difficult. Learning a couple of techniques to fish these areas will get you hooked up but fighting and successfully landing these fish will be an unparalleled challenge for most. Access to the fish holding areas requires presenting a lure in a way that allows you cast , retrieve and fight a fish. This means adapting to your environment within the streams confines. If the stream is lined with trees and brush that makes the area you believe is holding fish too far or difficult to cast to then you will need to try a technique and lure capable of getting there. Learning how to present your lure makes all the difference between catching and just fishing. I try to find one access point to the water , generally upstream , that allows me to fish right up to the water's edge. This is important since you will need to fight fish against a current and hopefully be able to net them.

       When stream fishing you will need equipment that can do the job. I fish with either a 6'6" - 7'6" graphite ultra light or light action  fiberglass rod. Some rods that are good to use are Kencor , G .Loomis and Phoenix . There are so many rods available today that choices are too numerous to list all here but the main reason I choose these rods is action and the ability to handle large fish. When it comes to reels, my choices are Daiwas and Shimano 1000 series reels. Since Daiwa and Shimano make many different reel models its important to remember just one thing. Get a model that has a really good drag system and it will pay for itself after catching lots of fish .The primary reason for having a good drag system is because the line choice for me is Maxima 2 or 3 pound test in ultra green. This is really light line so the possibility of breaking off  a big trout is a reality but then finesse fishing requires a line that is nearly invisible to a wary trout. Another line that I have used with much success is Izorline XXX Supermono  in 2 and 4 pound tests. One item needed that never really gets attention is a good landing net. I prefer a 3 foot handle with a minimum 15-18" net opening. Anything  with a longer handle gets to be tough to carry along streams without getting hung up on branches . The models that have a collapsing handles and net are good choices. Accessing your tackle can be hard to do when your standing perched on top a rock or a place where there is no room to place a tackle box so using a fanny pack and a fishing vest are smart choices for gear storage.

                                              Bobber Dropping

     Fishing with bobbers sounds simplistic and have been around for centuries but the truth of the matter is that when used correctly, these little gems will help you catch lots of fish. I use one inch round bobbers made by Plastilite. Some  bobbers I drill a small hole big enough to place 3-4 BB's into and then seal  the hole with silicon or JB weld mix. The weighed bobbers can cast really good distances on open waters and in windy conditions but for streams I use a regular bobber. There are many lures used in trout fishing but one of the best is the mini jig or tube jig. They come in many sizes, colors and weights and their ability to catch trout repeatedly is unquestionable . Whether used in lakes or streams these lures account for lots of really big trout . The tube jig mimics a darting minnow and big trout love them. Some color choices that work well in the Sierras are whites, greens, browns, yellows and roe .Change size and colors often if not getting strikes. Jigs hooks come in many weights so choose a weight that works best with the speed of the current.

    The bobber will aid your presentation in several ways. Using the bobber will help to adjust to the stream's depth and current flows. By clipping your line to the top and bottom of your bobber allows you to fish the tube jig at the right depth and the bobber itself will be your strike indicator. Bobbers also aid in slowing down the lure to the right speed in a strong current. Other lures can also be used with the bobber. Good choices of lures would be nymph flies and if the current is strong enough, try using a small needlefish close to where  whitewater riffs tail out into pools. For native Browns and Brookies try using a non inflated garden worm on a small number 12  or smaller bait hook. If access dictates that you cast upstream then reel in your slack as the current draws your lure to you, keeping slack to a minimum. When dropping a bobber downstream, fish with an open bail and keep your free hand close to the spool and bail arm of the reel so that you can quickly set the hook. Allow enough time for trout to take a lure. Watching your bobber can aid in timing your hook sets. Previously thought of unfishable stream sections can be fished with some certainty of strikes when bobber fishing, so don't hesitate to try .

      When access is good for casting you should try casting a tube jig without the bobber and slowing retrieve while very lightly shaking the rod tip . By placing your index finger out from your rod hand let the line hit your finger and this will make the tube jig mimic the darting action needed . You'll need to experiment some as to get your timing down just right.

                                             Common Sense

     Common Sense or lack thereof  have helped make fishing stories good and bad. As a general reminder, don't put yourself in harm's way to catch a fish. High Sierra streams are really frigid and falling into one will be an experience you won't soon forget ! Even in the summer months the water temperatures will harbor below 55 degrees in some areas of high elevations.

     I wouldn't think of fishing an area that has a high degree risk of injury and you shouldn't either. Using good judgement and common  sense will help you to come home in one piece. The weather changes very rapidly up in the Sierras and it's not uncommon to have a sudden drop in temperature and snow storms even in the month of June. If your fishing near waterfalls and steep cliffs keep a watchful eye out for falling debris and rocks . Watch your footing and look out for moss on rocks when walking as well as wet leaves.

      Several areas in the Sierras are home to large populations of bears and mountain lions. I've had my share of both and any bear that wants my stringer of fish is welcome to have it and not me for dinner. If the weather turns stormy and thunder is on the distance then take notice to leave the area. Many people have had some scary encounters with lightning strikes up there and graphite fishing rods conduct electricity.

All the best on your next time out,

Dave Finkelstein