The 2017 Very Large Trout Lover's Thread Get Together!

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Messages 1 - 27 of total 27 in this topic
micronut

Trad climber
Fresno/Clovis, ca
Topic Author's Original Post - Aug 2, 2017 - 11:48am PT
I think its high time the VLTLT lurkers got together, met face to face, told some tall tales, shared some patters and caught a few fish. We could do it late fall someplace up north or yall could come down to Fresno and we Cen-Cal folks could show you the Lower Kings in winter/December! WTF? BG? Ruppell? Stimbo? G_Gnome? Limpingcrab? Who's in?

Hors d'oeuvres included
T-shirts $20
Specific pattern beta for our secret spot..... $200 per person per session
G_Gnome

Trad climber
Cali
Aug 2, 2017 - 02:56pm PT
Personally I would love to do this some where and when that I can throw some dry flies and have at least some chance of raising a trout. If not then I hope your secret flies are all streamers.
ruppell

climber
Aug 2, 2017 - 05:40pm PT
I'm in. I think we should all just put a choice out there and figure out where. My first choice would be the McCloud River. For no other reasons then it's historic and I haven't fished it yet.
Stimbo

Trad climber
Crowley Lake
Aug 2, 2017 - 10:38pm PT
Count me in, great idea. As for local rivers on the eastside that are fishing well, there is the San Joaquin, East Walker, and even the West Walker (once the flows dip a little more).

As WTF has mentioned previously, the McCloud and Pit are great, a workout at times, but five star fishing.

There is good camping at all of these venues.

Jim
'Pass the Pitons' Pete

Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
Aug 2, 2017 - 11:49pm PT
I'd love to fish with yous guys, if I'm around. Keep me apprised of dates please.
guyman

Social climber
Moorpark, CA.
Aug 2, 2017 - 11:51pm PT
I'm with Gome.... some dry fly action is what I'm after... and a 10 inch monster...

Folks tell me the McCloud , Pit is sort of like the North Shore... if I'm going to drive 12 hours I could not imagine a better bunch of folks to go hang with.

But really anyplace is cool... I just need to know in advance.

Once I mark my calendar in Pen I go...

G_Gnome

Trad climber
Cali
Aug 3, 2017 - 07:06am PT
I've fished the mccloud and hat creek and had a blast but it is a looong way for us from so cal. I just fished the West walker for the first time last year and would like to try it again. But I would probably drive anywhere for a meet up.
micronut

Trad climber
Fresno/Clovis, ca
Topic Author's Reply - Aug 3, 2017 - 10:51am PT
Glad to see there's some interest here. I too would favor some dry fly action and would love to get on some water I've never seen. What's all this talk about the McCloud. Where is it? Whats the fuss? You boys are talkin' like its holy ground or something. My interest is piqued for sure!
limpingcrab

Trad climber
the middle of CA
Aug 3, 2017 - 11:38am PT
Super

Awesome

Idea!!!

I'll do my best to make it, but since I've basically only fished the southern Sierra I'll leave the location to the more travelled fisherman.

Dibs on all the fish
G_Gnome

Trad climber
Cali
Aug 3, 2017 - 02:12pm PT
The largest fish I ever raised to a dry was on the McCloud. I was fishing October caddis and this beast the size of Largo's leg came up and inhaled my fly. Stupid me forgot how big he was and that it would take a moment for that monstrous mouth to close and pulled the fly right off of his tongue. I sat down and cried for a while. Not that I probably would have landed that 20+ pounder on my 6x leader but I would have loved to try. And the place is stunningly beautiful!

If we meet up there does anyone have access to the Fall River?
SalNichols

Big Wall climber
Richmond, CA
Aug 3, 2017 - 04:24pm PT
MicroNut, the Nature Conservancy section of the McCloud is one of the prime catch and release sections of trout water on earth...well outside of Argentina and New Zealand...and a couple of trout farms in Bavaria that I was allowed to play in. It's fed by both springs and glacier melt off the east side of Shasta. There are plants around the falls sections of the creek that will hit virtually any nymph you toss. The fish down further in the nature conservancy are not easy...nor is the wading, take a staff...also...it's one of the frigging snakiest and poison oak infested places in the state.

That said, G Gnome is right, it's a loooong ass drive from SF, let alone SoCal. I'd bet that you could fly and meet in Argentina before you get out of your car in Dunsmuir.

If you happen to know Patti Hearst, ask her if you can access the creek at Wyntoon.

However, just a bit closer...the Upper Sac around Redding is one of the best known secrets around. The fish are yuuuuge, like footballs. Talk to the Fly Shop in Redding. The Upper Sac below Dunsmuir along the Amtrak rails is a gas, definitely worth fishing.

I've only fished the Pit once...it was a tough weekend...like nature's version of college hazing. I was actually afraid that I wouldn't die.

Look up the Fly Shop in Redding on line. they have the latest scoop on conditions and hatches, and have all of the local patterns...and they might be able to help with access on the Fall River and Hat Creek.

The upper Sac, lower McCloud, Pit, Fall River, and Hat Creek would be a dream 3 week CA trout trip.

Have fun guys!
micronut

Trad climber
Fresno/Clovis, ca
Topic Author's Reply - Aug 3, 2017 - 06:07pm PT
WTF and G and Sal,

You've got me salivating over the McCloud! Give me a town so I can map it and look how far it might be from Fresno. I'm guessing 6-7 hours? That's a drop in the bucket for a nice rise!
SalNichols

Big Wall climber
Richmond, CA
Aug 4, 2017 - 06:45am PT
https://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/california/placesweprotect/mccloud-river-preserve.xml#planYourVisit
G_Gnome

Trad climber
Cali
Aug 4, 2017 - 09:31am PT
Micronut, figure 8 to 9 hours to the McCloud from Fresno. 7 hours will get you to the upper Sac. For a southern Cali resident I have fished up there a lot. I grew up water skiing on Shasta every summer (the best place to ski in California) and would spend many afternoons and evenings fishing the upper Sacramento. My brother used to live outside Sacramento so I would pick him up and we would fish up that way for a week every couple of years. The main river I have missed is the Pit. Great fishing up there but a long way away.
limpingcrab

Trad climber
the middle of CA
Aug 4, 2017 - 10:20am PT
I'm just looking forward to fish anywhere with some of you guys there to learn from.

Upper sac in early July. I caught all the baby fish so the big ones are ready now.
SalNichols

Big Wall climber
Richmond, CA
Aug 4, 2017 - 03:56pm PT
G Gnome, have you fished the lower Sac? It's best from a drift boat, but holy hell man, there are some big fish in there. You can't keep the salmon btw, and everyone prefers that you release the hogs. It's one of those "best with a guide" float trips.
Stimbo

Trad climber
Crowley Lake
Aug 9, 2017 - 09:03am PT
I am not lobbying (yet) for a particular location but I did want to throw in a few photos. It seems as though the Shasta area or the Eastern Sierra are the two prime contenders so here are a few photos to wet the appetites out there.

My wife on the Upper Sac.... she's not afraid to go for it.


.... and she knows how to catch fish.


And myself on a local stream during "unfishable" conditions.
Stimbo

Trad climber
Crowley Lake
Aug 9, 2017 - 12:10pm PT
Might be able to come down in a couple weeks to play if you have time.

Just give me a heads up, I would love to go fish with you again.
micronut

Trad climber
Fresno/Clovis, ca
Topic Author's Reply - Aug 9, 2017 - 01:15pm PT
Nice shot of your gal on the Upper Sac Stimbo! What beautiful water. I'm game for any of the rivers mentioned. I really hope we can make something happen here!
briham89

Big Wall climber
santa cruz, ca
Aug 9, 2017 - 02:09pm PT
I'm in!
Q- Ball

Mountain climber
but to scared to climb them anymore
Aug 9, 2017 - 02:20pm PT
Dang! If you guys change it to Tennessee camp at my place! Silver queen corn is about ripe pick as much as you want, goes great with trout.

Have fun hope them fish are biting!
Qball

limpingcrab

Trad climber
the middle of CA
Aug 17, 2017 - 04:40pm PT
I like the looks of the Shasta area, but the eastern Sierra might be better for the SoCal folks. Living near Fresno it's probably not a huge difference in drive time for me so I'm up for wherever.

Someone choose a date/location so I can try to make it work!!!! I'd LOVE to go fishing with you all and learn a thing or two, or teach you how to miss a strike.

The further out it's planned the more likely people will be able to make it, especially for those of us with kids and jobs and all that stuff that takes away from fishing time.

Maybe the San Joaquin below Balloon Dome? ;)
guyman

Social climber
Moorpark, CA.
Aug 18, 2017 - 10:08am PT
Maybe just a little bit up-stream.

DaveyTree

Trad climber
Fresno
Aug 21, 2017 - 03:06pm PT
Crabs, Hell's Half Acre can be awesome. If it works out I will be in.
G_Gnome

Trad climber
Cali
Aug 21, 2017 - 07:55pm PT
I'm pretty sure Stimbo's porkulence is on the East Walker. I would love to get a good introduction on how to fish this river these days. It fishes a LOT differently then when I fished it in the 80s. Then there is the West Walker nearby that also holds some footballs. And south a little is the Owens and the San Jaoqian which is fishing really well and has many miles to fish. Sad to say that Hot Creek isn't worth the effort these days.
micronut

Trad climber
Fresno/Clovis, ca
Topic Author's Reply - Aug 22, 2017 - 08:13am PT
Ok ladies.....lets get down to the nitty gritty. It seems like there's a good deal of interest here for a gathering, but lets talk dates.

Like many of you I don't want to put this thing on the life calendar, drive 7 hours and have nobody show. If its gonna be a "thing" I'd like to do it up right.

How does late October sound?

October 20-22 or Oct 27-29 are two open weekend on my schedule right now.

How would the fishing be that time of season on the McCloud. Yall have definitely piqued my interest in that area. If we head up there who would be our "host?" Who knows the water and can put us on some big fish? Where would we stay/camp/lodge?

Lets start chipping away at some details here and see what kind of interest we have! I can be the point man as far as organization goes, but I'd like to get cell numbers/emails, etc to organize so we can do thi thing right!

Scott
Stimbo

Trad climber
Crowley Lake
Aug 28, 2017 - 08:25am PT
Ok ladies.....lets get down to the nitty gritty. It seems like there's a good deal of interest here for a gathering, but lets talk dates.


Hi Scott,

Thanks for taking the sharp end for planning this Troutfest. I am going to be limited to something close to home (Eastern Sierra) if this happens. October is busy for me but that shouldn't dissuade others from making plans. I will make it work if possible. The other possibility would be to wait until early winter, then make a mass assault on Pyramid Lake. It is a fun place to camp for larger gatherings, hang out, stand around a campfire, and fish.
Messages 1 - 27 of total 27 in this topic
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