Devan S.

Some of the coolest predator hunts I've been apart of almost always involves bobcat. They suddenly appear, you're not sure where they came from, or when but poof there they are 20 yards away in kill mode.

I will add, we were underwhelmed with Golden Trout Creek. We hit it in a meadow section and it was incredibly tough to fish due to all the brush and lack of waders or wading boots. With my blister situation, I just could not muster the desire to hike on another 2-4 miles in search of better fishable water in a canyon section either up stream or down stream. We basically caught fish, stayed the night, and packed out. Really would have liked to explore lower as I feel like a lot of people hit the very section we did and that is it. Would have also liked to jump another ridge and head to one of the stringers for Volcano creek.

The hike itself is not terrible. It's high elevation 9k+ but mostly downhill going in. The issue is that the trail in probably 90% sandy dusty dirt. Which makes it far harder than you expect. Coming out over Trail Pass is is about an 1,100ft climb in fairly short order. Lots of open area exposed to the sun. It was hot but not 90F hot. We also had much better water situation. I did develop blisters about mile 2 going in so they matured nicely over the remaining 20+ miles. Overall it was a fun catching trip. Nothing giant but some of the prettiest fish we have caught along this adventure. I'm sure from a numbers perspective we blew most other trips out of the water. If I had to do it all over again, I think a mule train from the west side to the east side fishing the same/similar locations would be far more leisurely and would allow you to fish more quality water vs. just running through the water closest to you after hiking for miles.

We finally got permits and hiked the 11-12 miles into where GTC and South Fork of the Kern get within a couple hundred yards of each other. Those fish were even less skittish and often would launch themselves out of the water to get caddis flies dangled above the water. Reckless abandonment.

We closed out the day with a sunset trip to Dante's view in Death Valley California since we had to work around to the East side of the Sierra's anyways. It's wild being in a place and it be totally dark and still 110F. We also hiked out into the Mesquite Flat Sand dunes in the dark. We were the only ones out there. 10/10 for a dark sky park. Our plan for the next morning was to get permits for camping in the Golden Trout Wilderness overnight down by Golden Trout Creek. We were bummed when we found the Inyo National Forest visitor center was closed and we couldn't get permits. Instead we went up to the cottonwood lakes area and found some Golden's. Its unknown how many we caught but it was a bunch. Each pool or run had 3-5 fish and they were not spooky like most fish in these types of spots.

A beautiful location with fairly difficult access. You really needed to be able to cast and the shoreline shrubbery prevent many good spots from being fished well. Add in there was another group hopping around with us. It was a challenge but we did catch our fish. I assume later into the afternoon the dry fishing would have picked up but we bailed about noon. It was getting hot. About the time we headed out I realized I had not packed the water I thought I did. It was somewhere between 90-95F coming up and out. Miserable, elevation, no shade, and not prepared fitness wise was not good on me. Some might argue with me but these are just a Rainbow in a difficult place. Box checked.

We did not bring waders or wading boots. The Upper Kern would have been much easier to fish with waders or a desire to get wet and slog back out. We did not have that desire. We put on sandals for crossing the little kern which was little and easy to cross. I almost stepped on this rock hopping along. This would have surely ruined the trip.

We spent the night right near the trailhead for Forks of the Kern. Forks of the Kern drops immediately 1,200 feet down in the first 2 miles prior to crossing the Little Kern. Its also mostly in a burn scar so almost zero shade. Going down was no problem early in the morning cool. Crossing was chilly in the early morning. We knew we had to get away from the forks themselves and get aways into the upper Kern to avoid "mutts" that might cross with some Little Kern Goldens.

We ended up staying in Porterville, Ca which as it turns out, is about as far from Forks of the Kern trailhead as it is from Sequoia/Kings Canyon NP. What the heck, we burned a day driving looking at trees and looking for bears. Some fishing was done but no catching happened.

I've been looking forward to my yearly westward trout trip for months at this point. Plan was to fish the southern Sierra's, finish off my California Heritage trout challenge, and finish off my Western Native Challenge for all states except Alaska. I had not done the amount of research I normally do but knew we had plenty of time to pivot if we would need it with few targets and all being reasonably close together. Little Kern Goldens, Kern River Rainbows, and California Golden Trout. Landed in Vegas about 1 am Saturday 8/26. Caught a few hours of sleep then burning a trail across the desert to the mountains. Original plan was straight for the California Golden Trout but we decided at last minute to pivot and work West to East. Up into the mountains we went higher and higher along the mainstem of the Kern river. Dropped in right away at first trailhead to good fishing for Little Kern Goldens. What they lack in size, they make up for in color. A very short hike to find fish. That fish turned out to be my big fish of the trip. We all 3 caught more fish than we cared to count in just a couple hours of fishing. Also got our first wet muddy boots in the meadows. Fishing mostly in a burn scar and many, many trees we thought could fall anytime in the wind. We decided not to sleep here and head down a curvy road to town.

Checked off North Dakota and South Dakota last week on family vacation. Outside Oklahoma and Alaska/Hawaii I'm now complete with everything west of Missouri. South Dakota there is a lot of options in the black hills. North Dakota was in Camels Hump Lake just outside Theodore Roosevelt NP. Really the only shot in ND is stocked fish.

I got pulled into the social media hype. Been seeing lots of big cats caught at the Lock and Dam on facebook so I headed down Saturday. Water is big-150k cfs. Main river is ripping but generation was non-existent. I wandered down the generator side trying to get as close as I could to where the current and slack water met. I got there.....setup on the big concrete rip rap. Fished big bluegills never had a bite, lost some tackle. Such is my life and the Arkansas River Tailwaters. Lots of people out fishing but I did not see anyone catch.

@rps I'd sure be interested in what you know about this bend. Upstream from Beaver but downstream from cow patty. Its a long deep section but I never see anyone really fishing that area.

I've thought of heading there or way back in Indian where it splits. Of course with the predicted water, I may just set out in front of the dam and hope for a big blue to be in the area sucking up whatever gets pulled his way.

Man what a fish....I really think I am setting myself up for failure. I will say the comment about baits right above bottom is tough. Lots of water in the dam area that is 60+ feet deep.