Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 6:21 pm
Thanks Dave!
Thanks gb, all your previous comments about lakes and differences in fish due to spawning habitat, feeding habits, etc, was really sticking in my mind the whole time! I had really hoped Hortense would not disappoint me, based on a rumor of good fish I had heard or read somewhere earlier this year. Once I saw a pic of the place I decided I just had to include it on a trip! Once interesting thing was Tully Lake. I really thought there would be goldens in there based on what I had read about it and seen documented elsewhere, but I was surprised when we started pulling out nice brookies. Maybe they were still in there somewhere though. Wish we had been able to get up to Red&White too, but my friend was kind of ready to go I think. I figured I would have plenty of time to do more the next week (I was going to go to Pioneer Basin on a solo 5-day trip) so I didn't push it, but as it turns out my father-in-law was in the hospital so I had to cruise home for a few days and that changed the plans. Once he was ok though I was able to backpack up the Kern River a ways (about 5 miles above the J-dale bridge) on a brief 3-day trip and I caught one of the biggest trout of my life, a 15.5". PLUS a 14.5. On dry flies! Granted I only caught 5 fish in 3 days but those two really made it worth it, it was cool.
Anyway thanks for all your fishing info and tips especially with regard to this trip, it was a big help.
Thanks gb, all your previous comments about lakes and differences in fish due to spawning habitat, feeding habits, etc, was really sticking in my mind the whole time! I had really hoped Hortense would not disappoint me, based on a rumor of good fish I had heard or read somewhere earlier this year. Once I saw a pic of the place I decided I just had to include it on a trip! Once interesting thing was Tully Lake. I really thought there would be goldens in there based on what I had read about it and seen documented elsewhere, but I was surprised when we started pulling out nice brookies. Maybe they were still in there somewhere though. Wish we had been able to get up to Red&White too, but my friend was kind of ready to go I think. I figured I would have plenty of time to do more the next week (I was going to go to Pioneer Basin on a solo 5-day trip) so I didn't push it, but as it turns out my father-in-law was in the hospital so I had to cruise home for a few days and that changed the plans. Once he was ok though I was able to backpack up the Kern River a ways (about 5 miles above the J-dale bridge) on a brief 3-day trip and I caught one of the biggest trout of my life, a 15.5". PLUS a 14.5. On dry flies! Granted I only caught 5 fish in 3 days but those two really made it worth it, it was cool.
Anyway thanks for all your fishing info and tips especially with regard to this trip, it was a big help.