08-18-2013, 10:15 AM
Went back up to Silver Lake in the June Lake Loop (44th year in a row). Still as stunningly beautiful as ever. Deer walked right past us eating the ripe berries all over the camp ground, something I had not experienced before. Weather was on the warm side during the day, so we spent a lot of time knee deep in the lake or under the shade of the aspen trees. Knights were pleasant except for the bear that came into the campground to make sure everyone had a clean camp site.
Fishing was off the hook, as always. We chose to relax and enjoy Silver Lake instead of hike around and search out the monsters. Early mornings were easy limits before the sun hit the lake, so I fished the bubble/fly combo for safe releases of 1/2 to 1lb stocker trout. Berkley Mice Tails worked amazing while fished drop shot and a slow retrieve. 5-8 trout in consecutive casts were common, ON THE SAME BAIT!!!
The kids fished the Berkley Power Bait and for the first time they fished exclusively. No video game requests, movies at night or riding their bikes. So nice to see the two 9 year old boys finally take to fishing like their Dad. I was very proud, to say the least.
We did get one bigger model trout on the PowerBait. It came on a rod I cast out really far, mid day. All of our bites had come right at the drop off just 20' off the shore, but for some reason I chose to tie on a longer leader of 2# fluoro and bust one WAY OUT. Then, I went to lay down for a nap. Our friends Dawn and Joe Davis were with us, and Joe did the honors of bringing up the 3.4# hookjaw bow. What a beauty. Below you will see a photo of Jake holding the fish.
Silver Lake is hard to get reservations for, but they do have first come site available. What I like is the absence of undesirables. No boom box stereos blasting at night, smell of weed, drunks or mean people. 6 hours away from LA apparently is just out of the reach of gang members. The graffiti you see is along the lines of "Betty Loves Jason 69', 70', 75', 81"......like that.
I get a lot of people telling me I should "go here or, go there." The ashes of the great grandparents, grand parents, Mom, Aunts, Uncles and cousins are all spread here, so this is where I will always go. I have been all over the Sierras, but still have not found a place a beautiful as Silver Lake. 44 years of fishing it does't hurt, I know the lake and Rush Creek as well as I know Catalina.
I am going to try to get reservations for a lakeside spot next Spring Break. I know I speak for the entire Jones Family when I say "we'd love to see you all up there!" The more, the merrier.
Fishing was off the hook, as always. We chose to relax and enjoy Silver Lake instead of hike around and search out the monsters. Early mornings were easy limits before the sun hit the lake, so I fished the bubble/fly combo for safe releases of 1/2 to 1lb stocker trout. Berkley Mice Tails worked amazing while fished drop shot and a slow retrieve. 5-8 trout in consecutive casts were common, ON THE SAME BAIT!!!
The kids fished the Berkley Power Bait and for the first time they fished exclusively. No video game requests, movies at night or riding their bikes. So nice to see the two 9 year old boys finally take to fishing like their Dad. I was very proud, to say the least.
We did get one bigger model trout on the PowerBait. It came on a rod I cast out really far, mid day. All of our bites had come right at the drop off just 20' off the shore, but for some reason I chose to tie on a longer leader of 2# fluoro and bust one WAY OUT. Then, I went to lay down for a nap. Our friends Dawn and Joe Davis were with us, and Joe did the honors of bringing up the 3.4# hookjaw bow. What a beauty. Below you will see a photo of Jake holding the fish.
Silver Lake is hard to get reservations for, but they do have first come site available. What I like is the absence of undesirables. No boom box stereos blasting at night, smell of weed, drunks or mean people. 6 hours away from LA apparently is just out of the reach of gang members. The graffiti you see is along the lines of "Betty Loves Jason 69', 70', 75', 81"......like that.
I get a lot of people telling me I should "go here or, go there." The ashes of the great grandparents, grand parents, Mom, Aunts, Uncles and cousins are all spread here, so this is where I will always go. I have been all over the Sierras, but still have not found a place a beautiful as Silver Lake. 44 years of fishing it does't hurt, I know the lake and Rush Creek as well as I know Catalina.
I am going to try to get reservations for a lakeside spot next Spring Break. I know I speak for the entire Jones Family when I say "we'd love to see you all up there!" The more, the merrier.
