Rollins Lake

I got a rare weekday day off this week so I decided to head up over Donner to Rollins Lake.  I got up at 3:30 am, loaded my kayak, and hit the road. There was a forty five minute delay on the way up due to a semi catching on fire. I got to the lake around 7:00 am, launched the kayak, and went across an inlet to the first sheer bank I saw. I was fishing a Shannon's Streamer, on an intermediate line, on my new Fenwick fiberglass rod.  The rod cast great, and handled the large streamers with ease. I was working my way along the bank, and had my first strike in just a few minutes. It was going to be a great day! Not too long after the first bite, I got my first fish to hand, a nice, hard fighting spotted bass. It was still early and mostly shady so the pictures of the first few fish weren't very good. 

The Shannon's Streamer was sinking a little too slow for my patience level so I switched to a bead head simi-seal bugger. It sank much faster, and I was able to cover water a lot quicker. I caught a few more fish, but the highlight was when I saw a fish rise against the bank. I put a mini hopper on my little yellow Eagle Claw rod, and cast over to the bank. I was expecting a sunfish of some kind, but what I got was a scrappy smallie. It put up a great fight, and I lost it right at the kayak. I also saw a bald eagle grab a fish out of the lake, and an osprey steal the fish from the eagle! Awesome! I even got a crappy photo of them.

I had to be home in time to pick the boy up from school, so I called it a day early. I landed seven fish, lost one, and missed a bite, Not bad for about three hours. I'll definitely be going back to Rollins Lake again.

I'm not really sure if all these bass were spotted, or if some were largemouths. If you know the difference please leave a comment, and let me know.

Osprey above, eagle below.

Gratuitous truck picture.

Umpqua River Smallmouths

After about twelve years of waiting, I was finally able to make it to the Umpqua for my 40th birthday.  We booked a whole day float trip with Todd Harrington from the Big K Guest Ranch.

Todd was professional, knowledgeable, and an all around great guy to spend the day with. We left early from his back yard, and were into fish immediately. I started off with a fire tiger type popper, and landed a few. It was slow according to Todd so I switched to a girdle bug nymph. This was the go to fly, we caught them everywhere. Some from casting blind and stripping, some from a straight shot down to a sighted fish. It was a blast. My biggest fish came from NOT setting the hook on a small fish. As soon as the little guy spit out the fly a much bigger one came and nailed it. This kept up the whole float, one fish after the other. I was most impressed with average size of the fish. At least a14" average!

This was truly a dream trip. I was dealing with a case of tennis elbow, and was truly sore and tired from fighting fish constantly.

Headed out.

Beautiful markings.

Nice one.

A chewed up girdle bug.

Killer lunch.

Another pretty one.

My best Smallie.

Lake Britton Smallmouth.

Headed out early Friday morning for a weekend of camping, hiking, and fishing.  This is the second year in a row that myself, and a couple of Cub Scout Dads have gone camping at Lake Britton.  This trip is a tent camping trip, with no trailers allowed.

I was able to fit everything in the back of the Sammy, with some room to spare. As we left it was raining with some snow on Peavine, not a good start. 

We arrived at Hat Creek at around 9:30. I decided to fish a little with the boy. It was tough going with him wrapping his line around his rod three times in an hour. I did manage to land one small wild Rainbow though.

With all the training I could handle we set off for the lake. We got to the campsite, set up camp, and I started casting a"complex twist bugger" from Fly Fish Food. My second cast landed me my biggest Smallie ever. Awesome! I worked my way around the cove, and caught several more. This fly is great, all of the hook ups were strong and deep. No hesitation.

The next morning I caught a couple more bass, and made pancakes for the boys. After breakfast we headed to Burney Falls, made the hike, and even followed the Pacific Crest Trail for awhile. Good times.

Sunday morning found a couple more bass. One that I sight fished to, in shallow water, with a slow sinking "Blue Collar Leech". After some breakfast burritos, and the Subway Caves, we headed home.

We had no rain at all while camping, and it rained the whole way home. Perfect timing.

Packed and ready to go.  Just the basics

An ominous looking start.

A big 'ol blowdown.

Wild Hat Creek Rainbow on a Utah Killer Bug.

My biggest Smallmouth ever.

"Complex Twist Bugger" inhaled.

Again.

White got it done.

Cribbage with the boy.

Campsite.

Another nice Smallie

Burney Falls

Scout packs.

Cheers

Sleepy ride home.

Welcome home weather.