DS Fishing Blog

I fished for a good 5 or 6 hours before I took a break and had some grub.  The truth is, the flow seemed a bit high.  I had some success with a parachute Adams early on and then as it warmed up I found midges and caddis pupae to be the ticket.  Well, as I was eating I noticed the lightening.  A nice squall was moving our way.  While I was eating I said hello to another guy who had been fishing just upstream from me.  Scott, as it turns out acutally guides out of Ken's Sporting Goods in Bridgeport and he was doing what most guides do when they don't have a client.  You gotta fish!  Anyway, along with giving me some much needed pointers, he convinced me to wait out the storm.  I ended up talking to his buddy Scott who used to work the pack mules for some of those back country adventures.  He said to me, "This is the East Sierra.  If you don't like the weather, wait 15 minutes."  While I waited, I met another guy who had made the drive from LA.  Jordan and I fished for awhile together once the squall passed.  

Crowded streams tend to bring out the worst in fly fishermen.  Etiquette can go out the door.  Words can be spoken.  Often, just angry glances and epithets muttered under the breath are par for the course.  I was really taken aback by the hospitable nature of everyone I came across.  I think that more than the fishing made my trip.

At about 4 PM or so it started pouring.  My jacket just wasn't doing the job and the fishing had been off since the thunder and lightening had come and gone, so I made my way into town for a bite.  I was pretty beat after dinner so I crashed out early.  The next morning the water was off color.  The storm was surprisingly heavy and the runoff had brought enought dirt and silt to darken the water.  I knew the fishing would be a little more challenging,  but I was game.  After an hour with nothing to show for my nymphing, I decided to put on another parachute Adams.  On my first cast to some pocket water - BAM!  I had fun tossing dries for another couple hours, but it just seemed like the river shut down. 

I decided to say goodbye to the East Walker and head south to Hot Creek before making my way home.  In hindsight, I think I should have stayed put.  About 45 minutes out of Bridgeport, I hit some weather again.  It rained all the way to Hot Creek and kept on raining.  Hot Creek was also off color and pretty challenging.  I missed a couple strikes while nymphing and after an hour or so, decided to switch it up.  As I was trying to decide which way to go I hear a voice say, "Try an Elk Hair Caddis."  I looked up to see Ming smiling at me.  He and his crew had just come from the Upper Owens and like me planned on hitting Hot Creek before heading home (Fresno for them.)  I switched to an Elk Hair Caddis, missed a few more strikes and got wet.  After a couple hours I gave up.  With a smile on my face I headed back to my car.  Blue Highways had me in its grip all the way to In-N-Out Burger.  I was in bed by 11:00 PM.

So, the fishing wasn't the best, but without question the excitement and friendliness I encountered was totally unexpected and, although I had been looking for solitude myself, was really welcomed.   I'm thinking I might just do it all over again as soon as I can.  A wise man once said, and I paraphrase, it's the journey, not the destination.  

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