forgotten blog..

It's been forever since I have posted anything.  Ive been swamped with family, work and fishing. It leaves little time to post reports. The summer was a really good despite the drought. We are getting wet fronts into the west coast now but have a long way to go before we will really see any measurable relief.  The central Sierra above 4500' fished well through out end of summer right on into the Fall. Lots of Browns, Bows,Brookies & Smallmouth. Carp on the fly the past few months had also been real consistant. I spent less time this year than the last 5 or 6 but  there were lots of fish around as recent as last week. Nights are warm and the fish love these rains so today I will get out there and look around.  Thats about it. We have made all the nessesary changes to our Cabin in Long Barn, Ca and it is making a perfect base camp for exploring the back country in the Central Sierra. Here are few random photos from the couple of months. Enjoy the rest of the Fall, keep the storms coming our way and have a fantastic Christmas!

Blacktail fork buck

sunset at the cabin

Love me some redears!

Tail water Stripers

Clarck Fork Stanislaus

San Francisco Bay Stripers from the rocks

Likely the last Brown of 2014

New favorite Brookie hole

High Country Smallie

Pumpkin orange Thanksgiving Carp

 

Late Sept Sonora Pass @ 10K

 

 

That was fast..

Summer got away from me and so has this blog.  Lots of fishing and family events this year and I just have not had time to do any updating. We have been working on and setting a our cabin in the Sierra so that has consumed thr last couple of months. A few garage sales later and some needed repairs finished and she is looking pretty good I think..

Despite the horrid drought we are in out here in the far west, the fishing has been OK. Obviously more water would be better and many fisheries are suffering or dead but I'm finding fish. 

 As summer closes its time to bring down mother cow & calfs. Same route and range that 5 generations before us have used. It's definitly a throw back in time to be there.,

Justin on point

Strwberry Flat

Herring Cr area. Horses resting

our place

Carpin..

Took advantage of this morning being free and got out for some morning Carp. The low light fishing was pretty decent and I was able to muster 6 or 7 fish with two being on dries.. Last stop is the cement pond in my back yard! Enjoy the holiday.

random fishing..

I haven't really been focused on one place or specie. I got caught up on the Shad so Carp took a back seat.  Another Shad run has come to end for me. It was a lack luster year but I did have a couple of  decent days.

I've been jumping around to other stuff but I always seem to complete the circle with more Carpin.  Carp on the fly is excellent for numbers. Little tougher to find quality fish but they are around and will eat if you stay after it. No really big fish but good numbers of 10-14# lb class Carp. Especially the tidal fish. Really hot hard fighting fish. Some of those 12-14 class fish are a hand full and just do not quit. One of my attractions to them I reckon. That and the one or two seconds when everything connects. Can't imagine not chasing them. 

Lots of these guys around. Fun but..

On the other trash fish front. Big Squaw fish are plentiful in skinny water and are challenging. Great eats and the bigger fish in current will battle you on light sticks. Not to many give a shit about them but they are missing out on some fun fly fishing. The bigger fish are in the 24-28" range in my parts.

26" Pike Minnow

Of coarse bass, Stripers and inshore coast fishing is good! Good number of Stripers in the surf but I just have not had the drive to hit the beach. Maybe soon, maybe not. I prefer Skiff fishing the ocean on this part of the Pacific. To be honest I feel more safe. The ocean here is big and dangerous and beach fishing is not for everyone.

That's about it for now. Have a great 4th of July.

Summer is here...

in full force..triple digit temps and the hills are dry as a bone.  Fishing is decent but damn it's been hot and putting in sun up to sun down days can be tough.

Carp are done spawing and not quite in the summer pattern I like. A lot of mudding and not to many quality fish cruising.  It seemed like the spawn lasted forever but they are coming around. Lots of small everywhere but the big girls are little harder to find right now. That will change pretty quickly and I expect to start seeing them back in the shallows in more numbers soon. 

American Shad, Stripers and Bass have been the main targets as of late. Saterday was one for the books. . I marked a school of good fish in about 30'..My partner drops down and boom..A big Rainbow about 7lbs. Ok, it happens often enough that it isn't any big shocker but we moved over to another close by spot and we proceeded to catch 5 more Rainbows from 6-10lbs +..That does not happen everyday.  We missed just as many short bites. We also caught a few Smallies and Largemout but the three hours on that hole is memorable. Even if they were hold overs it was a lot of fun.

Hit some Shad grounds the fllowing day and it could not have been hotter. 103 at 1pm when I got off the water..A good number of small males and one 22" hen. Shad ae fun and stunningly beautiful in my opinion. A nice deversion and we sight fish them so all the better. It was good morning and I had to stop off for an Ice Cold beer and the best Tamales ANYWHERE on the way home.

Average Male

22" American Shad.

Tamale shack