Literary accounts of fishouts in the recent past,
to make you sorry you didn't go.
Pyramid Lake, March 19-25
by Harry Petrakis
Pyramid Lake, March 19-25
by Harry Petrakis
As always we had a good turnout for this popular fishout. We only had one bitterly cold day in the beginning. The weather was mostly unsettled with two sunny afternoons and several days of west winds that, combined with the high lake levels, put the fishing off. Over 20 members plied the lake's shores. This was the year of the big fish rather than big numbers, with five of the six people in our cabin catching their personal best Pyramid fish. For some, it was the largest trout ever. Tim and Jim had fish near the Bigas class, pushing 8 pounds and the rest with fish over 4 1/2 pounds. Dave Bailey, a friend who drops in on us, had his best fish also, in a class with Tim and Jim's. (And these numbers are AFTER I've made adjustments for the 10 percent factor.)
We were treated to a pretty good snowstorm on the evening of the 21st. The mountains', blanket of snow was especially beautiful as we drove to our fishing spots the next morning. Rain on the 25th provided rainbows enough for everyone. Wherever you were on the lake, there was a rainbow for your viewing pleasure. Undoubtedly this is one of the most beautiful high desert lakes anywhere.
After Tom Donovan's luck, the next wave of float tubers was led by the unsinkable John Steele. As I approached, John was donning a float tube, determined to rid himself of Pepe Le Pew. A good wind was blowing, but John would not hear my concern. He was on a mission and as it turned out the wind died down and he came away with eight.
The usual gourmet meals were prepared, as they have in the past. They included duck and abalone, thanks to John and Marcus.
For the last three years Jim, Duwayne, Dougald, Tim, Loren, Howard, Chris and I have made the 30 mile drive (10 miles of which is on gravel road) to the lake's namesake pyramid on the west side. Each year we pay our respects to the Stone Mother and take somber joy in fishing in the shadow of the great Pyramid, occasionally catching a fish or two there. We tried a new place further down the road and had some good sport with the aquatic residents of the other side of the lake.
I believe Pyramid is a very spiritual place and that the spirits who inhabit the lake are benevolently watching, waiting for the opportunity to reward a fisherman down on luck. I even witnessed just such a reward. Elaine had stuck out a fishless day on her ladder. Just before dusk, as she was stretching her back, her endurance was rewarded with her first fish of the day, and then another. Then it was over.
John Steele, Ed Marcillac and Gil Santos, you guys are great. Thank you for the mentoring. Thank you, Jim Hall, for your generosity with your flies and information and for sponsoring this great fishout.
Be watching for the annual slide show. There will no doubt be some remarkable photos.