Literary accounts of fishouts in the recent past,
to make you sorry you didn't go.
Mount Shasta Fishout
By Bruce Dau
Mount Shasta Fishout
By Bruce Dau
Ten hardy souls converged on Mount Shasta last month to test the legendary waters of the Upper Sacramento and McCloud Rivers. We were greeted with a snow-covered mountain, which foreshadowed the weekend's activities. Last fall's warm weather encouraged car camping. This year Mark Myers and Tom Dwyer braved the elements in their tent, and the two attorneys were grousing Saturday morning about the false representations of their 20 degree sleeping bags.
The correspondingly cold water had a dampening effect on the fishing. But Shasta veteran Tom Donovan managed several browns over 16 inches. Elaine and John Cook, along with Betty Rentz, found a gem of a lake (Juanita) about an hour's drive north. Despite 42-degree water they managed some nice trout in spectacular surroundings. On Thursday Kathy Powers and I tried our luck below the Cantara Loop on the Upper Sac, but the fish came grudgingly. Friday, the group decidied to fish below Dunsmuir, where things were warmer (upper 50's air temp), and Tim Loomis, Dougald Scott, Tom Donovan, Kathy, and Betty had a good time in Castle Crags State Park. Saturday, a contingent headed to the McCloud. Tom Dwyer and I hiked into the canyon below Ash Camp, and were treated to spectacular scenery and mediocre fishing.
I hate to say it, but they really missed it. On the following Tuesday, election day, I had the best outing of the year on the Upper Sac, capped off with a nineteen inch rainbow. Of course, Wednesday morning I was greeted with howling winds and snow flurries.