High Sierra Topix

rlown wrote:Showed the lakes as fish-less.

The particular fishing opportunity of this trip lies in the journey, not the destination. Heck, that was even true of this year's meet-up: Jim and I were both wondering why, why didn't a place as incredible as Wales not have fish? But it didn't matter, because along the way and even next door provided enough fishing to satisfy even the most jaded GT hunter.

Consider the Miter x-c route - 'nuff said. What about Shepherd? As a quick spur, WLB rocks even if you don't go all the way below Tulainyo. And the Kern itself? A true native Sierra species, never planted either 5, 50 or 100 years ago unlike every lake in the Sierra north of the Kern, Golden trout creek or the SF Kern watershed.

k. i'm done. sky blue,et al looks better.

The lakes in KB are fish less, but Picket Creek and the lakes in that drainage have
fish Russ, that is from a good source, who was through there last year, not 20 years
ago.

never saw a TR on that. prove it someone. And not 6" fish.

PM-ed the member to please chime in about the size of the fish he saw in the
Picket Creek drainage Russ.

Edit: So we have you on record, if the fish are larger than 6" you coming.

Thanks. 14 or better.. or not going. There are other choices.

Per a private exchange a few years ago with Tom K, who has traveled in these parts many, many times over the last 20-30 years, and isn't one particularly prone to hyperbole:

"The Kern river definitely has some huge fish in it, especially as you go further downstream. I say 2 were at least 20" hanging in the current XXX just north of YYY back in 2006. The water is bigger down there and there is a lot more insect life. It's great fly fishing water down that way. The bears are fatter, too."

I've kept copies of these emails in a file folder for a Kern river trip ever since. Next year is my chance - all I needed was an excuse to finally pull the trigger.

i don't doubt that report. I now know what i'm doing next year. Not the meet up. Not that I don't want to see you guys/gals, but, I do what I do. BTW, fish don't live much beyond 20 years.

Thanks for organizing the HST Meetup for 2015 Maverick.

I camped for two nights at Island Lake in Kaweah Basin this year. It was the first time I have ever taken a planned zero day. . .and I am still looking forward to going back. As you all know this is a beautiful basin.

The xc routes from the Kern Kaweah were fun scrambles even while carrying 8 days of food. For anyone interested in more info about the two easiest routes I did a trip report with some details (http://seatosummitultralight.blogspot.c ... -2014.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;).

I didn't bring fishing gear to Kaweah or Picket basins, but I saw 3 - 4 good sized fish swimming along the shallow shoreline of Picket Lake in the morning in late July this year. They looked about 12" and similar to other fish I saw in the upper Kern area. The lake is located at the north end of the basin, just before the drop off to the Kern Kaweah River.

Cottonwood Pass is the easiest pass into the area and the trail miles are mild on the approach. I still haven't been over Crabtree Pass or fished the lakes. I'm definitely bringing fishing gear this time and I have some unfinished business with Pyra-Queen Col and will probably use that as an exit route.


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I am hoping to make it this year. I have never visited the Kaweah Basin and meeting you fine folks would make it extra special. I need to peruse the maps but would probably do a west side entry or via Cottonwood....