The Northern California Fly Fishing Board

On my way back from my annual desert pilgrimage after being chased out of Death Valley by the heat last weekend I happened to be camped on Independence Creek on opening day weekend. Brought back fond memories of younger days as I watched intrepid urban fisherfolk parade past my campsite Pautske eggs in hand. I was camped next to a small pool with half dozen stockers in plain sight. A bunch of guys and gals fished over them with no results. In fact it was surprising how many folks had been skunked. The fish were not really feeding. Virtually all were fishing with spin gear when high sticking with a fly rod would have been far easier and effective on the pothole water in that stretch. When I passed Crowley on Sunday there were far fewer boats than I remember on opening day weekend when my uncle used to take my cousin and I up there. The weather was unusual in that people were wearing T shirts at 8000 ft. in April and there was almost no snow on the highest peaks of the southern Sierras. Fished lower Twin Lakes from shore and scored a nice 2 pounder on a bugger than Pastor T.D. sent me years ago. All in all a good trip.

Hey DD, great to see a report.

Me, I stayed home, but a buddy of mine, picked up a beauty at Twin Lakes, 30" brown.(trolling)

Still a bit chiily for decent hatches up in the hills around me. Might drag a wooly bugger on some lakes.

Paul

Carpster...Same was true re. insects over there. The fish were not pointed upstream waiting in feeding lanes. They seemed to be waiting for something to fall off the brush. The weather at Twin Lakes was really mild for this time of year and I saw a number of nice fish come to hand. All of the campgrounds in that area were open which is unusual this early. I stayed at the Walker River Lodge and they were complaining that their guest numbers were way down for opening weekend. I suspect the lack of cold weather allowed a lot of folks who would normally retreat to a motel at night to camp instead.