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.