Eastern Sierras 2017

[Saba Slayer]

Reservations are made...June 4th thru the 18th at my little slice of heaven.
The USFS campsites allow a reservation 6 months in advance...
Anybody interested in some trout and CRAWDADS...come-on-up and lets party!



Tony and Robbie are talking about making reservations for a weekend in June also...let's make it a BWE weekend...!
I reserved campsite #23. It's across the access road from the lake and has plenty of room on the beach for the yaks.

[makobob]

Sounds like a great weekend trip, I would be interested in attending.

[Saba Slayer]

OOPS...We've got the "Battle of the Bay's" CCA Kayak Tournament at King Harbor on the 10th of June... so I may have a little conflict there...Well...I've got the reservation, so at least the week of the 11th thru the 18th is a definite. Father's Day in the Sierras anyone?
It looks like Tony's reservation is 2 thru 5.

[cris]

We went up in late October and we had a couple of beautiful days and got snowed in on the last. I'd be interested in driving up for a few days this summer too.

[TheBoyScout]

That sounds fun! Can you message me details?


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[Saba Slayer]

TheBoyScout... "That sounds fun! Can you message me details?"

I'll have a reservation from the 4th thru the 18th of June 2017 at the Silver Lake Campground in the June Lake Loop...I'll be back in town for the Santa Monica Bay part of the "Battle of the Bays" Tournament on the weekend of the 10th then right back up there for another week or two.
Tony has campground reservations for the 2nd thru the 5th.
Reservations for campsites can be made thru USFS campground reservations 6 months in advance of your visit.
http://www.recreation.gov/camping/si...O&parkId=75194

[FISH11]

I love going to Silver Lake. Last year I went in the middle of June, but this year I will do like years past and go in the middle or late part of May, before school is out and the place is jammed. This last year could have been partly do to the State Campground being closed for re-paving. I like staying across the road in the RV park with the full hook ups and then just wheeling the kayak across the road to the boat ramp. Its a very short distance. The breakfast and lunches at the restaurant are awesome and it gives my wife a break from having to cook too many meals while on vacation. I'm going to go for a full week, it's like heaven there. I have to try the Crawdad boil, after seeing your pictures I can't wait.

[ful-rac]

Yep! Crawdad boil here we come!

[Mahigeer]

I hope I can set the time for it.

[jettytaco]

What are the regulations for taking crawdads? Please let me know


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[deltadelta]

Dang! Emelie and I where planning on going the week after I get off school, June 19-23. So we will just miss you if we make it up there.

I bought a couple of the Promar collapsable minnow traps a few weeks back to add to the stash.
FYI, Jim gave me (thank you again) one of the same collapsable traps when I first met him last year at Silver Lake and they outperformed the cone-shaped metal basket types that I was using.

As for regulations these are the only ones I can find.
5.35. CRAYFISH.
(a) Open season: All year, except for closures listed in subsection (d) of this Section.
(b) Limit: No limit.
(c) Methods of take: Cray sh may be taken only by hand, hook and line, dip net or with traps not over three feet in greatest dimension. Any other species taken shall be returned to the water immediately. Traps need not be closely attended.
(d) Closures for Protection of Shasta Cray sh: Fall River upstream of Spring Creek Bridge, Lava Creek, Tule River and all connected waters upstream of Little Tule River, Sucker Springs Creek, Crystal Lake, Rising River and Rising River Lake are closed to take and possession of cray sh. (See Section 4.30 for prohibition against cray sh use for bait in sections of the Pit River).
(e) The season closures in Chapter 3 (District Trout and Salmon Special Regulations) do not apply to cray sh shing with methods other than hook and line (see sections 7.00 and 7.50(a)(2)).

From my interpretation you only need a fishing license.

[Saba Slayer]

Sorry I didn't get back on the regs...
The DFW Crayfish regulations are so lax it's almost as if they want you to get them out of the lakes...LOL...!
I'd love to hang out with you and Emelie again...maybe I'll stay a few more days since the Battle of the Bays kayak tournament will cut short the first half of my trip...Denis has reserved the adjacent site for this trip, so he'll be up there too.

You can see in the first photo the trap that Delta Delta used. The round style collapsables are much more efficient and easier to store.

Those little crustaceans add a whole new level of fun to our Sierra trips...





Nothing but smiles when you eat these little buggers...!!!

[ericko]

Might try to make a second trip later in the summer... Jada making the ALL STAR Soccer team will be taking priority as she's only young once...

[Saba Slayer]

I forgot about that little beauty...



I wouldn't want her pissed off at me on the all star soccer field...that's one determined little Girl...Congrats!

By the way...that's the trap model you want to use...it works perfectly at keeping those little guys in the trap. 24" is the right size.

If I can have the Tournament ready to go... I'll try and be up there that weekend and drop the yaks and the trailer off and enjoy a boil with you guys before heading back down here.

[Geno Machino]

I'd love to Jim, however when Lori and I went up there last fall - there were just way too many people for me. I do not do crowds well anymore. I need my space and serenity. Looks amazing though.

Geno

[bwana]

I hate to be the downer in the group, but...

What about the parasitic white worms?

My friend was up at Silver Lake in December and all their crawdads were infested with white worms.

He caught dozens before he noticed and threw them back.

Cook 'em good.

He brought me a large box of black obsidian from the area to practice my knapping skils.

[JJ]

Hi all.

Here's a little food for thought.
Just trying to be helpful.
I've been skiing and fishing Mammoth Lakes for many decades.
This year is turning out to be a banner year for skiing.
Right now, the entire Sierra Nevada range, including Mammoth lakes, is under well over 20 feet of snow, and more is on the way.
In some areas, the snow is over 25 feet deep.

For those of you making plans, I would recommend camping/backpacking trips later in the season.
Typically, early season water temps in heavy snow years tend to stay really cold.
The fish remain in their winter mode much longer than usual, and are not very active.
Of course, this is assuming the lakes will be accessible and/or ice free.
If the current pattern continues, May and June will be super tough.

Again, I'm not trying to be a buzzkill about all your plans, but definitely consider this.
Also, assuming things warm up going into May, the runoff will be super heavy.
this will definitely impact fishing condition.

Just my two cents worth.

-JJ-

[Harry Hill]

Originally Posted by JJ

Hi all.

Here's a little food for thought.
Just trying to be helpful.
I've been skiing and fishing Mammoth Lakes for many decades.
This year is turning out to be a banner year for skiing.
Right now, the entire Sierra Nevada range, including Mammoth lakes, is under well over 20 feet of snow, and more is on the way.
In some areas, the snow is over 25 feet deep.

For those of you making plans, I would recommend camping/backpacking trips later in the season.
Typically, early season water temps in heavy snow years tend to stay really cold.
The fish remain in their winter mode much longer than usual, and are not very active.
Of course, this is assuming the lakes will be accessible and/or ice free.
If the current pattern continues, May and June will be super tough.

Again, I'm not trying to be a buzzkill about all your plans, but definitely consider this.
Also, assuming things warm up going into May, the runoff will be super heavy.
this will definitely impact fishing condition.

Just my two cents worth.

-JJ-

just drag your kayak out onto the ice and drill a hole, then sit in your kayak so your butt doesn't get cold

[Holy Mackerel]

Thanks Stevooo, and other comments. Didn't think how cold it might be in May. I am more worried about the family being comfy camoing than the fishing, hope both are ok.