September in the Eastern Sierras

[Saba Slayer]

Time for another road trip...
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It was a little smokey coming up Owens Valley towards Bishop last Monday and there were some thunderstorms forcast for early in the week...but we had reserved a great campsite at Silver Lake (in the June Lake Loop) and a 27' trailer from Adventure in Camping...so it was on...weather cooperating or not!

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It rained the first day and evening so we just set up camp and told some lies while drinking and kicking back in our luxurious digs...with the heater on!

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Carson Peak cleared up a little on Tuesday with some light showers and really heavy winds, so we went for a drive around the loop to check out the conditions at the other lakes in the loop. It was WINDY everywhere, including little Gull Lake...It looked like Rush Creek was the only protected place to fish the Hobies. I figured we could fish the creek and then be blown back across Siler Lake to our campsite.
The Creek was Awsome as usual and didn't disappoint with the trout catches and sightings. It was so calm back there and QUIET!

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As if it was perfect enough....then these two showed up and made my day...

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There were lots of little Brook Trout that we caught and released on the worms.

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Then it was time to pay the piper and go back across the windy lake....

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We hit the creek for three days and the fishing was really good. Once the weather cleared out, life was good!

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We set 4 Crawdad traps on Wednesday afternoon along the banks were Rush Creek goes into Silver Lake. There were actually Big Crawdads crawling along the creek bottom in broad daylight and we were able to net a few with the landing net. They were GIANT...!
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We trapped about 150 with those 4 traps and most of them were quality bugs.
The Crawdad boil that evening made us a lot of friends in the campground...

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Thursday was one of those picture post card days in the Sierras just made to let a few newbies try the Hobies...

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We set 8 traps on the south side of Silver Lake on our last night and pulled them the next morning hoping to bring some Dads home for a couple of parties here in town.
It was a really cold night...I had to scrape ice off the windshield and the Hobie Vantage seats the next morning...luckly I had folded the seatbacks down so at least we wern't sitting on ice.

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We killed em...WFO on big monsters.

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Plenty to bring home...

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I already looking forward to next summer up there...!!!

[ful-rac]

We gotta a do a team sewer campout up in the sierras again...

Monster crawdads there jim...hope they tasted good as they are big!!!


....by the way when did "Smokey" the bear go Gay anyways...?

[PescadorPete]

Fishing the Sierras is great fun. Thanks for the report.

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[makobob]

Very kool trip!! Might have to think about it for next year.

[Yellfever11]

I'm sure its legal to catch the crawfish, but is there a limit to them?

[Yellfever11]

BTW: The place look awesome Jim. Gotta try that area next time im in the sierra. I've been going to Sabrina Campground for the past couple of years.

[T-Rex]

Very cool report! Man those are big crawfish!

[FISH11]

RV camping and fishing at Silver Lake was awesome, I had a great time there last year in June. The scenery is unbelievable. The restaurant at Silver Lake is also awesome and it was nice to sometimes not have to cook, especially breakfast. I can't wait to go back up there. Thanks for sharing the great pictures and story.

[Geno Machino]

Awesome read there Jim!!!

Was just up in Bishop in June, what a beautiful area. Tried out my first kayak/fishing adventure also. Caught small rainbows fly-fishing from the yak. Pretty cool!

Pics were amazing!

Thanks for sharing,

Geno

PS. Once cooked, how do you eat those crawdaddy's? I mean shell and all or peal and devour!:D

[tim506]

we spend at least 3 wks a year in that campground,it's always windy. and those bugs are what the big browns are after this time of year.can't wait to go back

[EastLosYaker]

Did you run into any tough spots while floating rush creek like rocks, weeds, fast water, shallow spots? Did you leave your mirage drive up and paddle? Looks like an awesome trip.

[tunaseeker]

Awesome post!

[momo fish]

Wow great trip Jim! Was starting to wonder what happened to you..

Good to see your still enjoying life. See you at one of your lobster seminars.


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[Harry Hill]

PS. Once cooked, how do you eat those crawdaddy's? I mean shell and all or peal and devour!:D[/QUOTE]

you break the tail loose from the carapace, then you suck the stuff from the head, then you pinch the tail to break the meat free and pull the meat from the tail

[jrip]

That's a major bug!

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[ctfphoto]

Very nice deer photo!

I love the Eastern Sierra, spent some serious time there not fishing.