Falcon/Globe Pequot Press. The Fishing Spots section is dedicated to letting you know where the fish are for all the lakes in the Golden Trout Wilderness. It is beautiful and a hard to get to area that is first come first serve and has about 10-15 camping spots. Lakes 1 and 2 hold golden and brook trout, while only goldens are found in lakes 3 and 4. The trail pass fortunately has no quota. The Forks of the Kern Trail is a wonderful out & back 2-3 day backpacking trip. At no time in my life have I felt worse than amidst the dire clutches of altitude sickness. Both are found in this wilderness. Backcountry fishing also requires thrift in gear selection. Pass over the log bridge or rock hop, and proceed on the flat trail skirting a meadow that holds Cottonwood Creek. If quick strips don’t work, slow the retrieve. The fly was engulfed as it slowly sank on the pause. #2 - Muir Lake from the old Cottonwood Trailhead. The trail arrives at Lake 1 to the northeast. The feeling of amazement and blessing, as I gazed for the first time upon the overall masterpiece of a true golden trout in the Sierra Nevada backcountry, will not soon depart. Common Destinations: Golden Trout Lakes. Chap stick and sunscreen or long sleeves, pants and a large-brimmed hat are important as the sun’s rays are more intense in the alpine environment. Packing light with a water filter is a viable option. Our entire route is nicely portrayed on the Tom Harrison map: “Golden Trout Wilderness." From here you can see west into Sequoia and Kings Canyon for spectacular views. The hike isn't very stenuous at all. Slow trolling cut catfish baits can lead to dramatically more bites than still-fishing over an... Summer Playbook: Action abounds both on and off the water in the Western New York region. Information on trips to Coyote Lakes in the Golden Trout Wilderness. Thirteen-thousand-foot Mt. The Golden Trout has supported native populations of golden trout (California’s state fish) for thousands of years in the drainages of the Upper Kern River. We service the Golden Trout Wilderness, home of the beautiful Golden Trout, as well as trips to the Sequoia National Forest. If traveling to the Sierras from elevations below 6,000 feet, consider camping or lodging at about 8,000 feet for a couple days to acclimate to the environment before setting out for higher destinations. Below the shimmering surface of the crystal-clear depths lay pure California gold. Cheyenne - The name golden trout conjures up images of pristine, remote, wilderness, spectacular, sore knees and an aching back. It provides excellent location and species information. NOTE: As of September 2020, this trail is closed due to unhealthy air quality. Watching fish approach the fly from more than 20 feet away is a remarkable experience. Prior to heading out to catch The Big One, you will need to know a few things. Just remember: information on catch rates and fish size can change dramatically between seasons. This week-long trip, which is divided between camping at Golden Trout Wilderness School and backpacking through the surrounding Cottonwood Lakes Basin in smaller groups, is their first taste of the Thacher outdoor experience. The complete hike climbs about 1,100 feet over 5 miles. After a 6-second countdown, I began my retrieve with short, quick strips, pausing randomly. Starting at Horseshoe Meadows parking lot (10,000') on the left S, you head up some soft incline and a few switchbacks to hit the PCT. The Golden Trout Lakes trail (Trail #89) is located up Portal Creek in the Gallatin Canyon near Big Sky. The trip begins on a mostly sandy trail leading you North into the Golden trout Wilderness. A favorite is Gaia GPS, which allows maps of an area to be downloaded to most devices. Golden Trout Wilderness School is a non-profit educational center located at Golden Trout Camp in the Southern Sierra Nevada. Dade loomed overhead to the south. Golden trout are native to the Kern River watershed in California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range, more specifically the Kern Plateau. Stepping down onto a boulder along the lake’s edge, I rolled the olive-green sinking line into the depths. There are many phone navigation apps. Every year, just a few days after arriving on campus, first-year students find themselves on the trail to Golden Trout. A number of common trout-fishing techniques with flies or lures coax these little beauties into a strike, but prepare to work for the goldens, particularly if fishing later in the season. Fly-fishing offers the best opportunity for success, in my experience. Simplify breakfast or brunch for a crowd by making this savory venison chorizo quiche recipe. I recommend a full-sinking fly line and just a few common wet-fly and nymph patterns as the single, most effective method. If backpacking this trail, you will need a wilderness permit from Lone Pine. Golden trout can be as finicky as they are beautiful – especially late in the season. The Golden Trout Wilderness is a federally designated wilderness area in the Sierra Nevada, in Tulare County and Inyo County, California. From the west, various roads stem from Hwy 190 near Giant Sequoia National Monument. From the northeast to the south, and around to the northwest, the Treasure Lakes are numbered 1 through 4 on a map included in Eastern Sierra Back Country Fishing Guide, published by the CDFW. Golden Trout Wilderness tour: Kern Lake Sequoia National Forest. Kneeling on the flat boulder, rod tip held high overhead, I softly cradled my first golden trout in the frigid alpine waters. https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/california/golden-trout-wilderness Please be aware that the Cottonwood Lakes trail passes through Sequoia National Park and only service animals are allowed there, no pets. All Game & Fish subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. The trail follows the PCT for about 10 miles, past Chicken Spring Lake, and then on around to the west of Cirque Peak to meet up with New Army Pass (12,300') just south of Mt. Starting from Onion Valley, Golden Trout Lakes Trail ends at Golden Trout Lakes, in the John Muir Wilderness. The gray walls of the high peaks reflected off the deep blue of the lake. While pursuit of High-Sierra gold is the allure of a backcountry trip into the Treasure Lakes, proper fishing gear and technique are only pieces of the puzzle of success. Horseshoe Meadow has two major trailheads (Cottonwood Lakes and Cottonwood Pass) providing access to areas such as the Golden Trout Wilderness, Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park, and the John Muir Wilderness. Note: Parts of this trail are closed on the western side of the route. Plan your next fishing and boating adventure here. The hike is relatively flat. The Golden Trout Wilderness encompasses 304,000 acres in an area known as the Kern Plateau, at the southern end of the Sierra Nevada. Other things to consider in thin air at altitude is the sun’s rays. — Scott Trumbo. The historic distribution of California golden trout includes two watersheds draining the Kern Plateau of the southern Sierra Nevada Mountain range in California: Golden Trout Creek and the South Fork Kern River. Each rock threatens to jar the fillings out of ones teeth. The California golden trout, or simply the golden trout (Oncorhynchus aguabonita or Oncorhynchus mykiss aguabonita), is a species of trout native to California.The golden trout is normally found in the Golden Trout Creek (tributary to the Kern River), Volcano Creek (tributary to Golden Trout Creek), and the South Fork Kern River.It is the state freshwater fish of California. Southwestern Venison Chorizo Quiche Recipe, 6 Steps to the Perfect Trigger Pull on Your Compound Bow, The South's Best Waters for Trophy Catfish, 10 Secret Catfish Baits You Didn't Know About, 10 Best Long-Range Rifle Cartridges Ever Made, Work the Night Shift for After-Dark Crappies, Precision Slow-Motion Techniques for Reservoir Catfish. Here's everything you need to know to load a stringer with slabs under the lights. To avoid losing the trail among the boulders, follow the bottom of the drainage and work along the right side of the canyon as you ascend. Their beauty, complimentary to the breathtaking wilderness areas in which they thrive, the effort required to reach their habitat, and the suite of skills required to entice a strike harmoniously strums every chord in my soul. Approximate hiking time to the lakes is 5-6 hours. The Season is in full swing and our wranglers are working hard and playing hard. Michael Cassidy and Paul Pluff talk about their elk hunt in New Mexico using the Ruger Hawkeye Long Range Hunter. Most fishing rods feature both an action and a power rating, but what do those ratings mean and how do you use them to select the right rod for different scenarios? They are native to Kern Plateau area but their native populations are strained due to the introduction of invasive species and habitat destruction. The trail begins to gain elevation and you will want to avoid a turn off toward Golden Trout Camp. At an elevation of 11,200 feet, Cottonwood Pass serves as a gateway to the Golden Trout Wilderness and Sequoia National Park.The pass is reached via a 3.5-mile one way trail from Horseshoe Meadow, which has an elevation of 10,000 feet, making this is one of the easiest passes for hikers to reach in the Eastern Sierra. From the parking lot trailhead, there is a steep decent down to the river. As a boy, fishing the South Fork Kern River in 1913, he reported catching California golden trout in the "gorge" just upstream of the Bloomfield Ranch, near the southern boundary of the Domeland Wilderness. The solemn green of the evergreens cast deep contrast against the light granite with a dappling of brilliant goldenrod amid sparse quaking aspen and grasses changing with the season. If you've been catching catfish with the same method for years, it's time to change it up and... Field Skills: Want to be a better shooter? Golden Trout Trail Map Located in the South Sierra Nevada mountains alongside the Southern Sierra Wilderness. Fishing is available in Maggie and Twin Lakes. The main trails are well-manicured, but an official trail to Treasure Lakes has not been developed. A moment of panic overwhelmed me, as I realized I was playing a trout I had obsessed about for more than a decade. Please note that the gate leading to this trailhead is currently closed (06/04/2020). Numerous hiking adventures are possible. Here are the 10 most common spinning and baitcaster reel performance problems and how to fix... As most catfish anglers know, blue cats, channel cats and flatheads will eat darn near... Want to test the outer limits of your shooting skill? Standing among the jagged peaks, stunted pines and crystalline waters of the alpine elevations neatly framed the experience for this angler. Golden trout fishing requires gaining altitude to where the scenery and trek can take your breath away. https://www.nps.gov/maps/full.html?mapId=1a3dabe6-06e2-4766-ac55-a7d41b37ea14 The area is traversed by several hundred miles of scenic trails and two wild and scenic rivers (North and South Forks of the Kern River). Breathtaking trail and plenty of close mountains to … Fly-fishing for golden trout is a time-consuming, obsession-creating adventure of a time. Please review the USDA's map for further information. A narrow fisherman’s path follows the Treasure Lakes drainage from the southern end of Long Lake, traversing a long boulder field as it climbs. And if all else fails, choose a smaller fly. #5 - Maggie Lakes via Summit Trail [CLOSED], #6 - Mount Langley Loop via Cottonwood Pass [CLOSED], #7 - John Muir Trail: Horseshoe Meadow to Happy Isles [CLOSED], #8 - Forks of the Kern Trail to Painters Camp [CLOSED]. Accessing the wilderness via the Mosquito Flats-Mono Pass Trailhead provides a generally modest hike into some of the most scenic wilderness the Western U.S. has to offer. Let your line sink at least 6 to 8 seconds before beginning your retrieve. Common, effective wet flies and nymphs include soft-hackle flies, such as Hare’s Ear, and nymph patterns — Pheasant Tail, Copper John, Hare’s Ear in sizes 14-18. On the Sequoia National Forest … It offers scenic views of the Sierra, meadows, alpine terrain, and lakes. Fantastic tenkara fishing. Be sure to place the fly far enough ahead of a cruising fish to avoid spooking it as the line touches down on the clear water. Reaching the lake is an uphill hike but the first half is almost flat and the second part, the steeper one, is nicely graded. Golden Trout Pack Station offers horseback riding, fly fishing, hunting, and Our loop takes us deep into the wilderness to visit two of the most spectacular high alpine lake basins in the Southern Sierra: Cottonwood Lakes and Rocky Basin Lakes. The heaviest use of the wilderness is near Burnt Corral crossing of Little Kern, Little Kern Bridge, and Forks of the Kern, Coyote Lakes, Maggie Lakes, Rattlesnake Trail and Kern … Trail ends at Sheep Mountain entrance of the Golden Trout Wilderness (GTW). It is thought that California golden trout may have extended downstream of Lake Isabella prior to the construction of Isabella Dam. Mostly flat with more aggressive switchbacks at the end which actually is much better, since it's less boring. This campground is located 45 minutes up from Highway 395 at an elevation of just over 10,000 feet. In fact, much of the South Fork of the Kern River is only accessible to the dedicated outdoorsmen who are willing to ride in by horseback. You may need to vary retrieval speeds, and if a simple reel-in retrieve doesn’t produce with the Daredevle or Super Duper, try pausing or twitching randomly. Hydration is also key in remaining comfortable at high elevation. This trail is steep, rugged and difficult to follow. #9 - Trail Pass to Cotton Wood Lakes Loop [CLOSED]. Lure patterns such as Panther Martin, Rooster Tail, Super Duper, and Daredevle spoons are reliable classics, but use the smallest size available. The campsites along the way are lovely usually skirting the meadows but watch out for the livestock - cows, horses, mule deer and bear tracks are common. A permanently shadowed, remnant snow pack, dusted gray by the wind, was feeding the lakes. There are a few places to get water, but 3-5L for the entire hike is good enough. While some larger fish may be lurking in the depths, the majority of your catch will likely measure 12 inches or shorter. But beware, goldens can be quite picky, scrutinizing a dry fly like a clever spring creek brown trout. You can avoid the buoyancy issues of the tapered leader, and the softness of the fluorocarbon will allow the fly to move more naturally under water. Lakes 1 and 2 hold golden and brook trout, while only goldens are found in lakes 3 and 4. The Golden Trout Wilderness is a good area for novice backpackers and stock users. Like Cottonwood Lakes, the portion of the Kern River where golden trout can be found is extremely tricky to get to. But for those who make the trip, catching a golden trout, the state fish, is worth the effort. Keep the fly on the water as long as possible, allowing cruising fish to spot the fly. There are a number of golden trout lakes in the Sierra Nevada range, but the Treasure Lakes in the Little Lakes Valley are by far the most productive, in my experience, and are managed under the general fishing regulations for the Sierra District of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The 300,000+ acre Golden Trout Wilderness (GTW) was designated by Congress in 1978. Family Fishing Getaway: Niagara Falls, N.Y. 5 Fall Fishing Tips on How to Earn Your Stripers, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Hobie MirageDrive 360 Kayak Propulsion: Amazing Control and Power, Hunting Elk with the Ruger Hawkeye Long Range Hunter in 6.5 PRC, Action and Power Ratings- How to Choose the Right Bass Rod, Catch More Bass on a Jerkbait in the Cooler Months. 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