Independence Day in the Sierras

7/3 - We arrived in South Lake Tahoe before 10 pm just before K-mart closing time.  JU forgot to bring life jackets for the Ave Maria.  Bought new life jackets just before closing time.  The Wiz and Nomad were already at the cabin.  We planned out the following day trip at Indian Creek Reservoir (ICR): 4 poles in the Ave Maria and 4 poles from the banks.  The poles used for trolling had setup taught by the Pro from the American River, i.e., crank bait with modified single hooks.  Rods from the banks had sliding sinkers with 3' leader.  The go to Orange Power Ball would be used for bank fishing.  Sweet dreams of catching big fish was very comforting as we retired for the night....

Any life jackets?

7/4 - The Wiz and JU did an early dark thirty run.  We visited Carson River at Chrystal Spring.  There were already two campers by the fishing hole, plus two additional vehicles parked.  You knew they were serious fisherman when they slept in their campers to wait for legal fishing time.  We didn't bother getting our fishing lines wet.  We went instead to Woodsford Bridge.  There were three fishermen on the East Side of Carson River.  We went to the West Side.  JU got a couple of hookups using the Thomas, but nothing was brought to net.  We then scouted Markleeville Creek and Carson River at Carson Cabins.  The water at Carson Cabins was very murky and brownish.  No hits at the site.

We came back to the cabin for breakfast.  MT saw the neighbors' U.S. Flag hung proudly.  She said to Nomad, "You're not thankful because you don't have your flag."  Immediately, Nomad went into the cabin and came back with a beautiful U.S. Flag and tied it to the outside lamp holder.  "I'm thankful
now," said Nomad, to which MT responded, "You're not thankful because you don't have your flag holder!" "?!?" Nomad roared in laughter.

"You don't have your flag holder!"

By around 11 am, we landed at ICR.  It was July 4th, but no one was at the group camp site and no one was at the parking lot!  We felt like millionaires with our own resort.  The weather was hot (~80 degrees?  Geez).  Mrs. M and the kids hung around the picnic tables by the boat ramp in the shades.  They did not want to get the lines wet.  The Wiz, Nomad and JU trolled using techniques taught by the Pro for use in catching steelhead in the American River.  Less than a minute of leaving the the boat ramp, BAM!  First fish landed: a nice 15" Lahontan Cutthroat Trout (LCT).  We had trouble getting to the dam because of the weeds growth.  We had to resort to paddles a few  times.  Finally near the dam, we spoke with a fisherman in a float tube.  He said he already landed 11.  So we trolled by the dam.  The Wiz and Nomad both had take downs, but no hookups.  That was the first round.  On the second pass, wham!  JU landed another one 15" LCT.  Looking at the menacing clouds, we headed for shore.  It was before 1 pm.  Two nice fish for a couple of hours of trolling time.  Awesome!

These have all landed trout!

Done by 1 pm

"Hurry, they're heavy."

Lahontan Cutthroat Trout

After supper, Nomad and JU went for an everning run.  We stopped by Chrystal Spring.  This time there was one lone fly fisherman.  He said he landed a few.  JU fished opposite side of the river from the fly fisherman.  Nomad did what he does best: venturing up and down the river in search of fish.  In a short time, JU snagged and lost his Thomas.  JU went up to the truck and grabbed a spare rod with a Panther Martin spinner.  First cast: fish on, fish off.  Second cast: fish on!  The fish fought hard, but was netted.  The hook fell off while the fish was in the net.  Turned out that one of the prong from the treble hooks had broken off some time in the past.  JU landed a 15" Rainbow on a defective spinner with duo hooks rather than treble hooks.  Wahoo!

7/5 - JU went scouting the Carson River at dark thirty at four different locations.  Several hookups, but no keeper.  JU talked with a fisherman from Stockton.  He had 3 on his stringers.  He said the trout were planted Tuesday.  However, with heavy pressure, they were very finicky.  He resorted to worms and salmon eggs instead of artificial lures to get his catch for the day.

After breakfast and another trip to K-Mart to get fishing lines at 75% off.  Team United, Inc. proceeded to Silver Lake around 30 miles from the cabin.  On the way, we saw lots of the tourist locations filled with cars.  We went by our secret location and walked down to the lake.  JU missed the original trail by 50 yards.  So we improvised and started taking another path down to the lake.  On the way we talked with the brother of the owner of the cabin who assured us we can't get lost.  All paths lead to the lake.  As a matter of fact, he told us there were already two lounge chairs by the beach and we were free to use them!  A short hike of three minutes top, we arrived at a private beach with a dock and two lounge chairs.  We used 3 fishing poles rigged with Orange Power Balls and fished straight out from the dock.  We fished from noon to 3:30 pm at the worst hours for fishing.  However, we landed 10 fish on 3 poles.  Nomad landed 5 by himself!  Once again, we had the entire beach to ourselves.  We picked up and went back to the cabin for some R & R.  We had a delicious dinner which included the fresh trout.  We are blessed!

Surfing - Wait, shouldn't have shown the dock!

Uh, we good boys ;-)

Welcome to my paradise island...

Sisters???

The Miracle Kids

No clams here.

My teeth are whiter than yours....

Come to papa

Don't I look cute?

Flying high

Two more years of study? Ok, may be three.

Can you do like me?

Let Nomad do all the work :-)

Look at me.

Wait, we didn't kiss yet.

Young fisherman in training.

Got my limit for the day.

Uh, hello.

I caught the biggest!

Fresh

I'm hungry

 7/6 - On the last day of our trip, the Wiz, Miss Princessa, and JU did a dark thirty run.  We fished at Chrystal Spring.  The Wiz and MP fished by the bridge while JU hiked downstream in the direction of Woodsford.  A quarter of a mile down, JU brought out his secret weapon, the fish killer, yellow banana with red poka dot Z-RAY!  First cast: fish on.  After a few seconds, JU got a look at the 8 incher before it shooked off.  A few casts later in the same pool, another hookup!  The fish fought hard, it was a beautiful 15 incher.  Unfortunately, it went air borne and spat out the hook.  Several more casts, and another one gobbled the Z!  The third one didn't fight as hard and was brought to hand easily.  To JU's disappointment, the Brook Trout or maybe Brown Trout was not much bigger than the Z.  It was released for another day.  Since JU didn't want to get wet and he did not have his waders, he headed back.  He met up with Wiz and MP at the bridge.  It was not yet 7 am and MP already landed 2!

Already landed two!

Fish lives here

Fish here too :-)

We moved on the Woodsford Bridge.  Once again JU hiked downstream to fish while Wiz and MP fished by the bridge.  By the bridge, Wiz and MP had hook ups, but none was landed.  Downstream, JU did better.  Almost every other cast with the Z resulted in a hook up!  Three were landed and a baby was let go.  We were sad, but the fun must end.  We left before 8 am with 4 keepers.

Fish went back down in one of these holes

Proof!

May God continue to bless America!