Westward we go...soon.

[Devan S.]

Currently things seem stagnant. I'm in a funk and need of some small stream native therapy. Fishing this spring locally has been lack luster. Other than one good white bass smack down on Beaver tailwaters....I've lost my way. Therefore I intend to give a pre-trip report and maybe a slight time delay play-by-play of the next Western Native Trout trip with @Prifish

Current Pre-trip planned statistics:

Total time: ~155hrs

Flights: 1610 direct miles airport to airport.

Driving: ~30hrs est. drive time from wheels down to wheels up(1600miles)

Hiking: 10-20 miles est.

Streams/Rivers: 5-6

Lakes: 1

States: 3 minimum with a chance for 4

Species targets: Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii, Oncorhynchus mykiss stonei , Oncorhynchus mykiss aquilarum, Oncorhynchus mykiss newberrii, Salvelinus confluentus, Oncorhynchus mykiss gairdneri.

This listing is not absolute and subject to changes/adjustments depending on timing and success...should know more by the end of the week. 

*I have not done a whole lot of research/investigation for this trip like normal. I don't have a lot of backup spots and were going to be very close to several National Parks which are still indicating some closures due to snow so I largely don't know what we are getting into.  

 

To be continued........

[FishnDave]

Good luck!  Have you picked a date?

[Devan S.]

Leaving tomorrow. 

[ness]

Sounds like a wonderful trip! I'm looking forward to the reports.

For OAF-ers that don't speak trout Latin, I have Googled the species names for your convenience: 

Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii = Coastal cutthroat

Oncorhynchus mykiss stonei = McCloud River Redband

 Oncorhynchus mykiss aquilarum = Eagle Lake Rainbow

Oncorhynchus mykiss newberrii = Great Basin Redband 

Salvelinus confluentus = Bull Trout ( I actually knew this one)

Oncorhynchus mykiss gairdneri = Columba River Redband

 

 

 

[Devan S.]

Some additional information....

McCloud River Redband We actually may catch instead O. mykiss calisulat vs. O. mykiss stonei based on where we plan to fish. New naming happened back in March 23 but at a high level still is a McCloud River Redbands. I don't plan on counting gills and scales so we are upstream of the falls and it is what it is.

Eagle Lake Rainbow-This is a must have for the broader Western Native Challenge and is the one that has me personally most concern with getting stuck. Eagle Lake is big and we are going to be shore bound. My research indicates this is the most difficult time of year to be shore bound and catch fish. Really there is no backup here either. My current information says boats are not rentable at this time.

Great Basin Redband-Should be able to pick this up while passing through Northern CA. Specifically looking at Goose Lake Redbands. This would set us up for completion of the California Heritage Trout challenge at a later date. It'll also break up a drive a bit without a lot of work. One of those when in Rome deals. 

Bull Trout-This is what the trip is really all about. Although we have a few days before we get to focus on it. 

Columba River Redband-This is really just something we will likely catch in the process of Bull Trout. If things go according to plan or better than plan and we have time we might push a little farther East and bag another state. 

Right now the firm commitment is Washington Coastals, California Eagle Lake Rainbows, and Oregon Bulls. We miss any of those and we will be re-shuffling the deck for later trips. 

[FishnDave]

2 hours ago, Devan S. said:

Eagle Lake is big and we are going to be shore bound. My research indicates this is the most difficult time of year to be shore bound and catch fish. Really there is no backup here either. My current information says boats are not rentable at this time.

 

What about buying/renting/borrowing some sort of packable inflatable watercraft?

[Ham]

I am relived/encouraged/bemused that there are other crazy people taking crazy fishing trips. Have you considered all the FUN other fish that you  might try for aa little bit along the way? Bull Trout would be Grand! You might plan a backup for where you could at least get a small one. I'd LOVE a Mountain Whitefish almost as much as a Bull Trout though. 

[BilletHead]

2 hours ago, Ham said:

I am relived/encouraged/bemused that there are other crazy people taking crazy fishing trips. Have you considered all the FUN other fish that you  might try for aa little bit along the way? Bull Trout would be Grand! You might plan a backup for where you could at least get a small one. I'd LOVE a Mountain Whitefish almost as much as a Bull Trout though. 

Been there done that many years and awaiting the day we can start again!

[Quillback]

I'll be interested to hear where you fish in Washington.  

[Devan S.]

Quick update while we drive from Boise back to central Oregon for our last day and a little more relaxing.

We have thus far fished Washington, Oregon, California, and Idaho. The Idaho wasn't planned for but we had a spare day and took it. We have missed 1 of our target species. We fished hard at Eagle lake but just could not remotely get close enough to where the fish were.

We're closing in on 2000 miles driving with a bit still to go.

More to come....