High Sierra Topix

I have mainly hiked out of the east side of the Sierra due to the proximity of getting there. This year with all of the permit issues, Ive decided to do a west side hike in late August. Problem is im not that familiar with the west side. Ive only done a few hikes on the west side in the past (Big loop out of VVR over siver pass and back over Grave yard lakes pass, Florence to Evolution and the surrounding lakes) and needed some input regarding this years plan.

The main goal to catch bigger fish on a fly rod. Id like to spend a few days hiking 6 to 7 miles a day and getting to a base camp in order to do day hikes for several days to different lakes.

Option one - Lake Edison up Mono Creek to Mott, Big horn lake area, Grinnell area.

Option two - bear creek to Rose, marie, Three Island Lakes area. Being on the JMT doesnt sound all that appealing, but I read some good stories of bigger fish there.

Option 3 - ? any other ideas.

I appreciate any input, Phil

Phil, the biggest challenge in your question is the 5-7 miles. West side approaches tend to be a little longer than the east. You could go into Blackcap Basin out of Courtright or Wishon (it has a couple lakes with decent size fish) or you could go into the Woodchuck country, but it is a ways to get in there. The one place I have yet to get to is Darwin Canyon (maybe next year)...but you can get there out of Florence if you don't mind putting more mileage in. Wish I had better suggestions. Good luck.

Thanks for the reply. Sorry if I wasn’t clear, I would like to hike 5-7 miles per day for several days 10 - 15 total miles in order get to a base camp area and then fish for bigger fish for several days in a basin. I would then hike out. I looked at black cap and Maxon areas, but the fishing reports weren’t overly exciting. Wood chuck area does look good with some good fish reports. Curious about the scenery there.

I went up into the Darwin and evolution area out of Florence several years ago and got into some bigger Sierra fish and incredible scenery. Hoping for help finding similar results in another area.

Well, I'd rank the scenery in the Woodchuck area as.....so so. Get a little farther over near the Leconte Divide and it gets wonderful. I also don't think that area makes for a great base camp situation. You could camp at Woodchuck and then spend a day or two fishing the Crown/Scepter area, but there really isn't much more than that (Chimney and Halfmoon are OK, but nothing special. Of your options, I'd do #2 and get myself up into the Bear/Vee world.

Hey Ox2, I agree strongly with tlsharb's advice:

Of your options, I'd do #2 and get myself up into the Bear/Vee world

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And if you can pry it out of the likes of Giantbrookie, you might learn of good fishing opportunties around Bear Basin. In my ignorance, I have done nothing but casting practice up there, but it's beautiful!:

My buddy fishing at Marie Lake, with the Bear Basin mountains in the distance. (BTW, the cross country hike over to fish Three Island Lake was nice.)

A brookie as wide as a boy's shoulders! (*It would've been twice as big if he held it out farther.)

Bear creek it is! Thanks for the help and the Photos