Spur of the moment trip! Alicia wants to camp for the first time, one night excursion. I settled on the eastern Sierras as I have never been. Gonna do Thursday into Friday. Was gonna do Lone Pine area but seems like it might be a bit boring with the mountain roads closed. Gotta keep the lady entertained too, not just a fishing trip. But, you know...
Might stay a little further north at a BLM campground then push north the next day to the Upper Owens.
Bringing 4wt fly rod and UL gear. Gotta start crimping my barbs.
The weather is nice up there right now, I'm going in a couple weeks but keep in mind most areas are closed for fishing until last weekend of April (Fishmas) Lower Owens is open but most Lakes are still closed. Enjoy, it is beautiful with all the snow capped mountains 8) The Regulations are posted near the water as far as barbless hooks and take limits, they do check ;)
: Tim524 March 24, 2026, 08:08:31 pThe weather is nice up there right now, I'm going in a couple weeks but keep in mind most areas are closed for fishing until last weekend of April (Fishmas) Lower Owens is open but most Lakes are still closed. Enjoy, it is beautiful with all the snow capped mountains 8) The Regulations are posted near the water as far as barbless hooks and take limits, they do check ;)
The weather window was perfect for this, doesn't even look to be any wind on Friday in the valley.
I'm going to fish Goodale Creek and the Upper Owens, probably just south of Benton Crossing. It looks like both are CnR, scentless, barbless artificials only. I will also do a hike to Convict Lake which it appears is no-touchy right now.
My original plan of staying in Lone Pine was getting ruined by the mountain portals being seasonally closed, otherwise I might have sprung for golden trout down there.
Hoping my barb mashing is sufficient, I didn't do the q-tip test on the flies I just mashed on today.
I got checked last trip up there, luckily I used a Dremel tool on my hooks and I keep a small file in my Tackle Box, Mr. Ranger was impressed ;D
Used to drift a single salmon egg on a hook with a little split shot and get bit in creeks. Wonder if a bead pegged near the hook or slipped over it would work. I know they use beads in the north west.
: sasquatch March 25, 2026, 02:30:54 pUsed to drift a single salmon egg on a hook with a little split shot and get bit in creeks. Wonder if a bead pegged near the hook or slipped over it would work. I know they use beads in the north west.
I was thinking about trying beads. I've got a few people with strong convictions insisting that I fly fish, so I might commit to that. But I would be pretty comfortable with beads and spoons.
Put a fly under a bobber The old school red and white ones. Tell them it's a strike indicator. Extra style points if you do it on a fly rod.
: jrodda March 24, 2026, 09:02:03 pBringing 4wt fly rod and UL gear. Gotta start crimping my barbs.
Just walk around with a big weighted treble on the rod and record everyone's reaction. Lol
Have fun boss and good luck with the fairy wand!
: jrodda March 25, 2026, 05:36:41 p: sasquatch March 25, 2026, 02:30:54 pUsed to drift a single salmon egg on a hook with a little split shot and get bit in creeks. Wonder if a bead pegged near the hook or slipped over it would work. I know they use beads in the north west.
I was thinking about trying beads. I've got a few people with strong convictions insisting that I fly fish, so I might commit to that. But I would be pretty comfortable with beads and spoons.
I would lean towards being a master baiter over an anal beader, but bring a little spinner fly also if you have one.