A couple buddies and I spent the weekend before last backpacking a Native Trout drainage here in California. We caught some good fish and lost some great ones.
On the first night I rose a nice fish on a stimmie right in front of camp and the hook quickly popped out... then I saw him spook upstream... he was easily 18-22"... The next day after moving camp, I hooked a fish in a deep slot on a copper john, He moved a bit then stopped. I tried to encourage him to move by putting a little pressure on, and then I can only assume he turned cross-current and SNAP... 5x tippet busted in a heartbeat. I never saw that fish... but its always the big ones that get away.
I will be sharing a big whack of pictures below, and will not bore you with much more dialogue.
We were all blown away by the strength of even modest sized fish from this fast/strong river. 8" trout would put huge bendos in my 3wt.
The weather was stunning, but chilly at night. Fish were found in all the likely holes.
Anyway, enjoy the pics.
Justin picks up the first of the trip:
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...d/23550cd1.jpg
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...d/f3670563.jpg
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...d/7aa550fc.jpg
My first:
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...d/4de4e839.jpg
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...d/6f20ba0a.jpg
Pretty Native fish.
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...d/47156c46.jpg
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...d/cf771e76.jpg
My biggest fish:
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...d/7903d0ab.jpg
Ryan's New love in the morning glow of our first camp, Loop AEG 5wt.
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...d/edaabec9.jpg
Fall Scenery
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...d/f46ebfc4.jpg
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...d/3a06d370.jpg
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...d/2cc6da6f.jpg
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...d/3ff8c98e.jpg
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...d/fce81400.jpg
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...d/8c12f595.jpg
Hookups!
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...d/bb864bf1.jpg
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...d/2f846b47.jpg
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...d/4006b951.jpg
Whoops, dropped it!
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...d/db3f9be7.jpg
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...d/1da1c3ac.jpg
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...d/98291f96.jpg
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...d/03364e35.jpg
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...d/9b32b88e.jpg
Where's all my spots?
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...d/995c8bdd.jpg
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...d/64c099ee.jpg
Pretty Water:
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...d/9b50350f.jpg
Nice campsite:
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...d/5d0ed23c.jpg
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...d/451e5b97.jpg
Ryan battling his biggest of the trip (I think it was the biggest of the group):
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...d/3da4df7f.jpg
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...d/a2cbae6b.jpg
A couple parting Scenery shots:
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...d/4bd750d2.jpg
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...d/8756fadc.jpg
