Upcoming Fishing Outings

June Surf Fishout
Fishmaster: Sam Bishop

Saturday, June 5 at 5:50 AM (Sunrise), we take on the expansive Palm Beach, aka Pajaro Dunes. A 5:15 AM + 3.1 tide means we will be fishing a high ebb tide. And just for grins, you might want to join me the following week, same place, same time, to see what the same beach is like with a negative tide. On Saturday, June 12, there is a low tide of minus 1.4 at 5:50 AM. Then you can choose your favorite tide to fish; high receding or low flood.
Take West Beach out of Watsonville until it ends at the State Park.
Everyone is welcome, but if you are not a reasonably proficient caster, you probably want to practice on the schoolyard a few hours. The ability to double haul increases your ability to catch surf fish immensely.
More surf fishing info on our website here, just click on the green link near the bottom of the table of contents.

General: After Lake Davis was poisoned 2-3 years ago to remove the pike, the lake was loaded up with trout (over 3 million, I was told). Last year, spring and fall, the lake fished beautifully. In the fall, the average fish was 15-19 inches, with some even bigger. The damsel hatch should be happening in June and can be a very good time. Some folks fish from shore since the fish will be in the shallows, but usually a float tube or pontoon boat is used. This is a beautiful lake, with some of the best full service campgrounds in California. There's even pay showers (bring quarters). This will be a camping fishout, but there are motels 5 miles away in Portola if that's your preference. Also, by law, you must wear a PFD.

Camping: We will use Grasshopper Flats campground, on the east side of the lake. When you drive in, check the bulletin board - I will post my campsite number. I usually try for a site between No. 5 and 14. Most sites accommodate 2 vehicles, so you can share a site. They go for $20 per site a night, max 6 people to a site. Those arriving Wed or Thursday should have no problem getting a site, but if you will be arriving Friday or Saturday, you might want to make a reservation, toll free 1-800-444-6777. Each person is responsible for making his/her own arrangements. (Local motels: Sleepy Pines and Sierra motel. Also, Lake Davis resort has cabins). Grizzly campground is right next door also.

Food: Bring your own everything. Friday and Saturday nights, we will do a group BBQ at Fishmaster's site. Bring whatever you want to BBQ for yourself and ALSO something to share with the group (bread/butter, hor d'oeuvers, side dish, dessert, salad). The Grizzly Store near the dam has ice, beer, and basic food supplies and some flies you can purchase also.

Miscellaneous: Bring some charcoal, a chair, and WOOD FOR THE CAMPFIRE.

Rods and Lines: A 5 or 6 wt rod. One floating line, with 9 ft non-fluorocarbon leader (fluoro sinks too fast when fishing with damsels), and some indicators and also an intermediate line, type II. 4x and 3x tippett. 5X if you are brave.

Basic Flies: Damsels, dark brownish olive and brown, small size 10-12. Also an assortment of callibaetis nymphs (PT's, hare's ears, prince). Small wooly buggers in olive and brownish and black size 10-12. Rickards Stillwater numphs, and especially sheep creek nymphs (these have been excellent). Blood mide pupas and emergers in size 14 thru 10. Damsels are fished shallow with a floating line. Blood midges are fished under an indicator.

Good Information: check out: www.flyfishwithdon.com. Don is a local guide his website has excellent info about Davis. Especially read the sections on "strategies" and "entomology and flies." There's a map of the lake also.

Directions: Hwy 80 to Truckee. North on Hwy 89. In Sierraville, left on Hwy 49 for about 2-3 miles. At Sattley, right onto A23 for 10 miles. At Hwy 70, go left for a bout 2-3 miles to Grizzly Road. Turn right and lake is 7 miles. Stay on Grizzly road all the way to the campground.

Sign-ups: We will do a sign up at the May and June meetings. You can just show up, but it would be good to have some idea of who is planning to participate.

I have the final specifications for the High Sierra Pack Trip. The date is Aug 30-Sept. 4. We meet at Vermillion Resort at Edison Lake at 7,500 feet elevation, one of the most remote access points by car on the western side of the Silver Divide in the High Sierra. High Sierra Pack Station will fit us for horses.
While the packers load our gear on a mule team, we might have an opportunity for breakfast. (pie optional).
We'll ride along the north side of Edison Lake, cross in front of the dam to Bear Ridge Trail Head, ascend up and over Bear Ridge via switchbacks. We'll ford Bear Creek at least once continuing on up stream to old Kip Camp (through reseach, I've found there are better camp sites 1/2 mile up stream) covering approx 10 miles. We set up camp at 9,100 feet elevation, on the stream side along the John Muir Trail.
While cookie prepares dinner we will have our first opportunity to wet a line in search for rare High Sierra Golden trout. Over the next five days we'll wake up to a fire and breakfast while we plan where to explore one of the most scenic reaches of the Sierra.
We'll hike to higher elevation lakes (10,000 - 11,000 fee elevation) in all directions, or head down stream for rainbow and brookies, returning to camp for prepared meals by a warm fire. Sept. 4th, we break camp for the final leg of our wilderness experience, once again saddling up to return via horseback to Vermillion Resort. Hot tubs are available a few miles down the road,.to watch the sun set on trip of lifetime. Cost is $800 per person Sign-ups will start on a call-in basis Friday May 7 at 7:00 PM.

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