Bamboo on the Pacific Crest

[Dave Westburg]

Took my 8'3" Sharpes Wilson International bamboo rod to a shallow 2 acre lake just off the Pacific Crest Trail. The flowers were out but there was still mist around the lake when I arrived.

Any doubts about winterkill were dispelled by this healthy cutthroat which took a golden olive bumble fished as a dropper. A 5 weight line matches the Sharpes International well.

There were occasional rises to midges but the fish didn't want normal wets fished on an intermediate line. Action picked up when I switched to a floating line and long 4lb floro leader and fished a size 16 griffith's gnat. The fish didn't want it dry. They took it as a twitched wet well sunk.

The day brightened and it was time to leave. I'll bring my tiny wets next time.

 

[Mike Monsos]

I would guess is you were to go "light" for the day you could cast from the meadow and stay pretty busy.

 

[Dave Westburg]

The little meadow lake is extremely boggy around the edges. I think you'd go over your waist in mud by the time you got to the edge of the weeds.

Only 12 of the 61 high lakes I've fished over the past several years have decent bank fishing. Lots of alpine lakes have trees to the bank.

And many of the high lakes with open shorelines have mud or marl which makes it hard to wade.

This is one perfect high lake bank fishing scenario. An open shoreline at one end of the lake and a rocky inlet stream which creates a shoal out into the lake - not to mention the fact that there are golden trout...

And here's another good scenario. An open bowl with rocky shores...

Just make sure you avoid the bear when you are over by the snowbank...

 

[Mike Monsos]

Looks like the DIY Pack Raft I made would need to be used for most of the time. It's nice at just under 2 pounds for these adventures.

 

[Tom Butler]

Looks like the DIY Pack Raft I made would need to be used for most of the time. It's nice at just under 2 pounds for these adventures.View attachment 72151

I used to pack a 6.5# navy pilots raft that looked similar. Made oversized ping pong paddles to use for propulsion. I think Dave's lightweight raft with fins is slick.

 

[Cliff]

Looks like the DIY Pack Raft I made would need to be used for most of the time. It's nice at just under 2 pounds for these adventures.View attachment 72151

Nice looking raft, Mike. I still use my 26oz Curtis raft on high lakes. It's over 30 years old and still hold air. I can't believe that.