Thought I'de give a report on my weekend adventure. I decided to head up the 4 corridor. I arived in Avery and started looking at my GPS. The closest access was on Candy Rock Dr. I followed it down to the end. There was a couple of cars to my suprise, which turned out to be tennage partiers. Well, it was a river, but if you've been there, a little rough. The flows were fine, but mostly big falls and pools. I did catch quite a few rainbows, all around 6". It was late, so I didnt get to explore as much as I would of liked. It was a little dangerious in spots, slipery with big drops. It was getting dark so I started back and at one point lost my footing. I didn't go down, but my Maui Jim's did. They were my good pair so I said screw it and went diving for them. The only result was waders full of water. After draining my waders as best I could I started the hike back up the hill, luckyley I brought my head lamp. I was soaked and had at least 10 pounds of water left in my waders. Man the hike kicked my ass, I'm still sore.
After a dinner of Doritos and Fig Newtons, I was lucky to find that Calaverras Big Trees State Park had a spot for me to sleep in my car. I hung my stuff out to dry and went strait to bed in the back of my car. I awoke around sunrise had a Power Bar and a Starbucks Doubble Shot for breakfast and headed for the Stanaslaus taht runs through the park. I was the first on the river and started too hook a few planters. Cant say I was proud of my efforts, but even if they were planted, the thrill of that slack line going taught followd by the head shaking is the best way to start a day. Fathers and sons started to arive with their power bait and salmon eggs and asked how I was catching all those fish and why wasn't I keeping them? Must say I felt a special for about ten minutes. I did land a few small wild fish, som beautiful Brookies and a couple of Bow's that I thout were at least hold overs.
So I finished my newtons with a warm diet Coke for lunch and headed down the mounted to try the lower portion of the river. I ended up at Camp Nine. The flows were high, I didn't know where to go, so I headed up river. I decided to wet wade which was a good idea, cause there was little wading to do. The flows were high and dangerious, besides it was hot. I climed around rocks, poision oak, and sticker bushes, looking for a suitable place with a more mild flow. Wasnt easy, but I gave it a try. I finaly hooked a couple of 8-10" ers, swinging a Wullybugger. That was a first for me, hooking up with a streamer and it felt good to finally acomplish that. I tried a little more exploring. I was rewarded with mosquitos, bloody scratches on my leggs and mild dehidration. It was great!
This was my first solo adventure in exploring new waters. Though I hoped to find some magical spot where I would be hooking wild beasts, or my first Brown, I still had a great time. It reminded me of my early days of searching for that perfect surf spot, never finding it, but having an awesome time trying.
What I learned? Pack more nutricious food, more water, first aid, and get a lighter set up for the higher elevations. Also, get some fishing buddies that know where to go.
Yep, Shaun's right, Sourgrass area can be quite good and you can leave the salmon egg slingers behind. Had some outstanding dry fly days on that section.
This kind of "adventure" adds to your overall knowledge and experience in finding new waters. You've already figured out what you need to take on your next fish scouting trip. Might I add croakies or a sunglass lanyard so you don't lose your expensive Maui Jim's again. If you're going to head out into a deep river recess for the day, also consider a light daypack with rod tube capacity, light rain jacket, fly gear, pair extra socks and room for a more "nutritious" lunch, as you say. Though we've all done the "Doritos dinner" a time or two in our fishing careers, a decent lunch beats the hell out of a bag of chips, any day.
Its also good to eventually hook up with someone who can show you a few basic spots. But finding your own can't be replaced when you score hot fish. Check out a few books such as Stephan Haggard's "Fly Fishing the Tahoe Region", Bill Sunderland's "California Blue Ribbon Trout Streams" and own a DeLorme Northern California map book. Ply the knowledge of your local fly shop for info and also do your area research as most of the veterans have done on this board. Maps, internet, maps, internet, and more maps!
If your fishing hard and long the physical effort some of these rivers takes is really hard. Cover just a few miles of sierra river in a day and your burning serious calories. Try better food, and a comfortable place to sleep next time. Guarantee you will catch more fish. As another board member and myself have discussed, Presentation begins long before the first cast of the day. It starts with being hydrated, well rested, and eating good. In my opinion those three things will make you fish better, go longer and further, and overall make for a more enjoyable experience. I also beleive the number one thing that will make for good fishing experience on any sierra river is this, GET AWAY FROM THE EASY ACCESS AREA"S. If guys are showing up to dunk power bait you didn't go far enough. Good luck out there and be careful.
What you did is a great way to discover new, uncharted water. I do the same thing and have made some epic trips into the American River canyons to some great small stream fishing. In one stream, where the water was no wider than 20' across, I pulled large fish out all day. Could not believe it. After the hoof out, I knew why. The hike was 2 1/2 miles and 1800 vertical feet. It just kicked my fanny. No one was fishing that stream.
I've had some other great days up there. The streams are in every canyon and rarely get hit. Some are easier to access than others. Lots of Power bars and Vitamin Waters. Keep it up and you can eduvate us on more places.
Not a thing wrong with any of those places you mentioned. Flows are not the greatest, especially by Camp Nine...But, they are coming down.
I've fished that section at the bridge in Big Trees a handful of times, typically spending just a few minutes releasing planters to warm up the dialogue with the other fishermen -- then heading upstream for the remainder of the day.
All good suggestions/recommendations!
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There's no greater fan of fly fishing than the worm...
Thanks for the suggestions. I had a blast. Its been a long time sinse I have had 24 hours with nothing to do but explore. Yes, I could of been more prepared, I didn't realize that everything pretty much closes down by 9PM, hence the mini-mart dinner. I did hours of searching different maps and studying flows and got pretty frustrated. My choice was made because the flows on the N fork Stan, seemed to be the most managable. Thanks to the Flying Dutchman for giving me some suggestions and tips prior to my journey.
I wish I went to Sour Grass, but when I was in Ebbetts Pass Sports, an old lady buying worms said thats wher she was going to try her luck, so I figured I would go the other way.
As for food, a simple camp stove will fire up some oatmeal in a few minutes to get you started, that stuff gives a heck of a kick in terms of solid energy, damned cheap too. Something I've done that worked out great is to use the powdered food that cyclists use. Each scoop is something like 110 calories, and you can squeeze 8 or 9 scoops into a 20 oz water bottle. Carry water too for when you're thirsty, you don't want to have to eat every time your thirsty. A couple of energy bars, bananas and a bottle of that stuff and I've gone all day and never got hungry or tired.
-- then heading upstream for the remainder of the day. 