Two friends of mine (Keith Veltkamp and Greg Whitley) recently made a trek for Golden Trout to the Little Kern River (a trip I will never be able to make, but that's another story). One thing (out of the many things) that I enjoy about operating a fly shop is people sharing their experiences in their pursuit of fish. Not all of their experiences are good! On this particular trip, Keith describes their hike in (and more importantly the hike out) from their destination. Packing a heavy pack and suffering through difficult terrain, resulting in painful blisters and the future loss of a toe nail, they achieved their objective of adding another species to their California Heritage Trout Challenge. The Challenge is to catch six California native trout species in their historic habitat. The photo is that of a Little Kern River Golden Trout. I quote Keith, " God knows how to paint them doesn't He ". No truer words than those.Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Golden Trout
Two friends of mine (Keith Veltkamp and Greg Whitley) recently made a trek for Golden Trout to the Little Kern River (a trip I will never be able to make, but that's another story). One thing (out of the many things) that I enjoy about operating a fly shop is people sharing their experiences in their pursuit of fish. Not all of their experiences are good! On this particular trip, Keith describes their hike in (and more importantly the hike out) from their destination. Packing a heavy pack and suffering through difficult terrain, resulting in painful blisters and the future loss of a toe nail, they achieved their objective of adding another species to their California Heritage Trout Challenge. The Challenge is to catch six California native trout species in their historic habitat. The photo is that of a Little Kern River Golden Trout. I quote Keith, " God knows how to paint them doesn't He ". No truer words than those.
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I fish and I love everything about it however I seem to find something magical in trout. My brother and son are both avid Bass fisherman. I understand the passion they have but I would rather spend all day stalking a native trout in a small stream and never catch it then sit in a boat and pull in Bass after Bass. The trout has become a true passion and borderline obsession for me. Evan after looking at pics of giant steelhead this little golden trout is a true trophy. Congrats. I hope to have a similar picture in my album as well.
hello my name is tim, ive been fly fishing and backpacking in the southern sierra for three years now, and recently ive began my stab attheca heritage trout challenge. A favorite spot of myself and friends is the wonderous hike from blackrock ranger station into the golden trout wilderness. Stopping at casa vieja meadow at 8300 feet to catch the little goldens out of nine mile creek two feet wide and just as deep. Then down following nine mile as it cascades its way down the mountain, pouring istelf into pools with skiddish fish swimming around looking for stone fly nymphs or the hatch of the day. The trees are as tall and green as the surroundings are beautiful. Then 5 or so miles down the ghost resort of Jordan hot spring. Cabins, corrals, cedars, and caddis flies. The hot spring has been a destination for travelers since who knows when the native people first discovered it. in the two mile stretch below the spring proper there are at least three other hot springs with temps hot enough to keep you out. Its this area from the hot spring south to kern where the action for golden trout truly begins. In the deep pools ive brought them out as big as thriteen inches, some , i believe they are considered volcanic goldens ( from volcano creek) are so vividly colored, so striking, so incredibly beautiful, its sometimes easy to admire them too long before returning them to there home. I plan some summer to follow nine mile creek all the way out to the forks of the kern...i believe its 16 miles from jordan to the river. Then as its time to go i look up nine mile, trying not to be intimidated by the 6 plus miles out with a gain of nearly 3000 ft of elevation, that trek can truly separate those who want from those who shouldn't have. Those who want can park at blackrock on a friday eve., hike to casa vieja in the twilight, camp, and go down the hill in the morning, fish and rest your muscles in the hot spring, fish some more ,explore, fish, sleep,awake hotspring for surise (i had the awesome experience of being in the hot spring late fall, early morning with the sun rising behind me as the almost full moon set in front of me, both in the sky at the same time, truly unforgetable)pack up camp, hump the hill and be back at your car by mid afternoon on sunday wishing for one more nice cast, one more pretty little fish, one more soothing dip....one more day off.
im wondering if the golden trout caught in nine mile creek beside jordan hot spring will count for the trout challenge, also will the little kern rainbows from durrwood creek count as well?
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