High Sierra Topix

I need a bit of help here, I have been in Emigrant a few times but never
done much fishing and would like to this year.
I am hoping you can help me come up with a loop, 10-15mi. in, lazy
around a couple days then back out. I have 5-6 days to be on the trail and don't really have a clue about fishing prospects.
All of my past trips have started at Burst Rock and ended up around Wire Lakes but the fishing opportunities in that area seem a bit scarce, any other suggestions?
I don't need to know the special spots but would like a couple fish dinners.

Thanks

If you're looking to visit Emigrant in 2011, I recommend a time machine.

(Sorry! I just couldn't resist. But since I don't have any substantive knowledge about this, here's a link to search results for 'Emigrant' in the Fishing Hole.)

I'm certainly no expert on the area having only hiked into the Emigrant once, many years ago in late season, but I found the fishing pretty good. We hiked out of the Kennedy Meadows/Relief Res area to Lunch Meadow/Summit Crk, then on to Emigrant, Buck, Cow Meadow, Huckleberry, Maxwell, Emigrant Meadow Lakes, etc. The fishing was typical mid summer stuff with the fish active mostly early and late, but we did get some nice sized bows and brooks.

Damn, my Way-Back Machine will not fit in the pack, had to edit.

I don't fish but I did help consume some big fat trout my friends caught at High Emigrant Lake a few years back. Big enough they had to be cut in half to fit in the skillet.

frediver wrote:I need a bit of help here, I have been in Emigrant a few times but never
done much fishing and would like to this year.
I am hoping you can help me come up with a loop, 10-15mi. in, lazy
around a couple days then back out. I have 5-6 days to be on the trail and don't really have a clue about fishing prospects.
All of my past trips have started at Burst Rock and ended up around Wire Lakes but the fishing opportunities in that area seem a bit scarce, any other suggestions?
I don't need to know the special spots but would like a couple fish dinners.

Thanks

My experience, there's nothing lazy about 10 miles into Emigrant. I loved Wire lks. If you want to see the heart of Emigrant, head down towards Deer Lk. And all the lakes SE of there.. You hike that far; take them in.. Yes, it's work.. It's work just to get to the Wires.

We spend a lot of time there....

Look at Wood Lake, Red Can and Five Acre. These are not 10-15 miles, closer to a 20 mile loop. But you will get some great scenery and excellent fishing.

Check out our website for the trip reports and photos etc.

Here's an example:



The EASIEST access to this area is via Crabtree Cabin and then to Grouse lake...you only have a couple of ridges to climb. Or Kennedy Meadows, where you have to climb over horse manure...!

I've made two trips into Emigrant in the last 4 years, once out of Kennedy Meadows, the other out of Crabtree. Neither time did I have good luck fishing, but I think that's on me more than the area.

On the north slope of Granite Dome there are quite a few lakes which I've read do have good populations of trout. The exception to that is Iceland Lake—it is apparently fishless. The creek draining Lewis Lakes was full of little ones and I did pull a couple out of there. My friend with a spinner setup (I fly fish) was getting hits left and right.

Out of Crabtree we fished Big Lake and Pingree Lake. No luck in either place, but we saw some lunkers in Pingree. Both fly and spinners used. Balzaccom is directing you in the right direction. I've also read Yellowhammer lake has a healthy population. Incidentally, the drainage below Yellowhammer looked like fun creek fishing last year (high water year), but not sure how it will be in a normal or low year. I didn't have my rod with me on that day hike, but I wish I had.

Both the area around Granite Dome and Big Lake/Pingree Lake are beautiful. I'd suggest either to anyone. Do a search here for "Emigrant" and you'll find multiple reports.