Trip advice for 3 day, 2 night fishing trip for this weekend

[Annex138]

What level of backpacking experience do you have?
Level 3- Numerous backpacking trips, some x-country travel

What terrain are you comfortable/uncomfortable with?
- Class 3 terrain/pass/x-country
- River crossings

What is your main interest?
- Lakes
- Forests
- Big Mountain scenery
- Fishing

How many days/nights is your trip, not including travel to trailhead?
3 days 2 nights

How many miles did you want to do a day, any layovers?
5+-

Do you have a route logistics preference:
loop, out and back

Is there a particular area in the Sierra that your most interested in?
Anywhere from alone Pine up to Bishop

Will you be hiking with a dog?
No.

First off, I am new here. I have been lurking for about a week since I found this great site and desided to ask for some advice. I have been fishing the sierras since I was a baby in one of those baby backpacks. Never did any backpacking. Only day trips. I just got into backpacking in the last few years. Back in June my girlfriend and I hiked north fork Big Pine. Spent 5 nights around 4th lake. Explored and fished everywhere in the drainage with the exception of Sam Mack Lake. Hiked up to the glaiser(wish I would have brought the fly rod along. Did not know Sam Mack lake had fish). I do a lot of backpacking during deer season down in the so Ca mountains but I have only been to big pine. I am looking for somewhere new.

Anyways, I am looking for something for this coming weekend. I plan to leave So Ca(Riverside) early Friday morning so I can be in Lone pine when the visitor center opens to pick up a permit. I am bringing my girlfriend and buddy along. I am looking for somewhere with good fishing and good views. I know that's not too hard to find anywhere in the sierras. Something around 5-6 miles or less. I would like to hike in Friday and set up base camp and spend the rest of the time fishing/exploring and hike out and drive home Sunday.

I was thinking maybe cottonwood lakes but not sure if I can get a permit Friday morning or it will be all full.

Anyone have any advice or tips?

[Troutdog 59]

The main trailheads(North Lake, South Lake, Onion Valley,etc) could be tough to get a permit, but you can always try. Good less used options are McGee Creek and Pine Creek (steep). Both lead to nice basins with good fishing.

[rlown]

A 3/2 makes it tough. I would agree with North Lake->Muriel and then a day at Goethe. You might be the lottery winner there! Or Tomahawk and Mesa. same TH.

If you're doing walk-in permit, you'll have to have a map and look beforehand at other areas that might have permits in case you can't get one.

Pine Creek will just hurt you. Hurts me just thinking about it.

And welcome to the HST!

[Annex138]

I am trying to get a hand full of ideas so that I'll have a back up plan if I can't get a permit for my first pick. So far I am thinking cottonwood lake or maybe a trip up to the 2 lakes below dragon peak. Other then that, I have no idea where else to go.

[rlown]

I know the use of the phone seems to be a lost art, but...

Try calling the Bishop ranger station at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/inyo/home ... ev3_003862" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

lower left. Ask them specific questions and see if 1) you can get a permit for what you want, or 2) what they'd recommend.