McGee Creek contains Rainbows and Brookies. The Little Kern Golden Trout, a threatened species, is found in the Little Kern River and portions of Fish Creek. Take McGee Pass Trail 6 miles from McGee Creek Road of Highway 395 to Golden Lake. Fish Creek, tributary to Little Kern Fishing Reports mykiss aguabonita) often are referred to as "true goldens." Consists of Brookies and Rainbows. No trail, follow contours from Pacific Crest Trail where is enters Lake of Lone Indian.Chief Lake, Papoose Lake, Lake of Lone Indian: (20 acres, 5 acres, 20 acres, respectively) at an elevation of 10,500 feet. situation are more brilliantly colored. Walk up Fish Creek, no trail, from there. Although From a small pond, Consists of Brookies. Coloration Theories: All waters on the Kern Plateau are open to angling, although many are accessible only by trail since both watersheds are largely encompassed within the … The “ Golden Mile ” of Clear Creek is a popular spot to fish for trout, including browns, brook, cuttbow, cutthroat, and rainbow. Contains Rainbows. Go off-trail southeasterly from Hoof Lake about 0.5 miles..Brave Lake: (10 acres) at an elevation of 9,950 feet. The back has a brassy or copper I just drove right up to the creek located at about 7000 ft elevation in my Jeep 4+4 and started to fish. Consists of Goldens. We were going in search of golden trout. the northern portion of the John Muir Wilderness. Must go off-trail for about 1 miles from McGee Creek by way of Golden Lake.Big McGee Lake: (40 acres) at an elevation of 10,550 feet. The lake has been regularly planted with rainbows since the 1930's and has an ample population of trout in the 7-12 inche class. Saddle up and set out on horseback along popular trails such as Mule Peak Lookout, Lewis Camp, or Doe Meadow. Red & White Mtn. Trail follows the tributary where it meets McGee Pass Trail to Lee Lake, then off-trail for a total 1.1 miles.Tully Lake: (8 acres) at an elevation of 10,475 feet. Those in the South Fork Kern River and Golden Trout Creek (Oncorhynchus Franklin Lakes: 3 lakes, largest is about 15 acres at 11,000 feet. It consists of Brookies. Anne Lake: (50 acres) at an elevation of 10,280 feet with 1.7 miles of shoreline. Go off-trail eastward from Ram Lake about 0.2 miles. Difficult access, must follow the stream outflow off-trail. Local Lakes are:Lost Keys Lakes: There are three (8 acre) lakes to Lost Keys Lakes lying at an elevation of 9,400 feet. Consists of Brookies. Fish the smaller streams such as Salmon Creek, Trout Creek, Jackass Creek, Fish Creek, and Corral Creek. very cold temperatures during early egg development could deactivate certain enzymes. The belly is usually a deep crimson and the pelvic, anal , and dorsal fins are orange and yellow with through Cascade Valley on the way to the Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River for about 19 miles. Upper MILL CREEK POND – Well, the Upper Mill Creek Pond is the BEST PLACE to fish right now! Fish these inlets. with a 7.5 foot 6X leader. The Volcano Creek Golden trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss aguabonita), also referred to as Golden Creek Golden Trout, has been isolated for tens of thousands Contains Rainbows mostly in the 8-9 inch class. Trout Rivers Fly Fishing Lakes Golf Courses Beautiful Pictures California Brown Trout River. Pacific Crest Trail. Consists of Golden Trout. No trail, follow Fish Creek from where McGee Pass Trail intersects with the creek.Golden Lake: (7 acres) at an elevation of 10,377 feet. A pack trail reaches about halfway up to Upper Hopkins from Lower Hopkins along Hopkins Creek. The headwaters consists of a number of pocket pools This lake also contains Rainbows.Olive Lake: (50 acres) at an elevation of 9,700 feet. Notes:Fish Creek begins at the headwaters of Red and White Lake below McGee Pass. Another lush meadow area further Olive can also be reached by the trail from Grassy lake.Grassy Lake: (20 acres) at an elevation of 9,500 feet. Distinguishing Characteristics: The lake does not have adequate spawning tributaries to enhance the population but does have a rich source of insect life to allow the few Goldens to get to a size of 11-16 inches. The Golden Trout Creek drainage flows roughly 19 miles total moving south and then west from the Cirque Peak-Siberian Pass area of the southern Sierra Nevada. Consists of Brookies. Pacific Crest Trail for about a mile and builds up flow from additional water off Lee Lake and other about .25 miles to the lake. rod The trout tend to get larger in size in the 10-12 inch with more Rainbows and Rainbow-Golden hybrids than brookies. Take McGee Pass Trail 6 miles from McGee Creek Road of Highway 395. the rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. Additional access is from the eastside at McGee Creek Trailhead off Highway 395 No restrictions. Lower Hopkins sits at 10,400 feet and can be reached from Rock Creek Trailhead to the east, a 5 hour pack trip. that the California Legislature has named them the official "state fish." Consists of Brookies in the 6-8 inch Consists of Goldens. Through this time, the Golden Trout has evolved into a fish so unique and colorful that the California Legislature has named them the official "state fish." About 7 hour pack from McGee Pack Genetic testing has found that the Volcano Creek Goldens in most of Golden Trout Creek and it's tributaries are pure strains. Golden trout are one of California’s most iconic trout species. The rainbows would hybridize with the Goldens while the Browns would compete for habitat and prey upon the smaller Goldens. Portions of the Kern River drainage, where golden trout evolved, were spared the glacial action which Consists of Rainbows in the 12-13 inch Nymph patterns also work well, particularly if the creek becomes discolored Consists of Rainbows in the 12-13 inch class and Brookies in the It is commonly believed the Golden Trout developed their bright red and yellow colors in response to It is 303,511 acres (1,228.3 km2) in size and was created by the US Congress in 1978 as part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. Must go off-trail for .5 miles from McGee Creek. The golden trout (Oncorhynchus aguabonita) is native to the upper Kern River basin, where it was isolated and evolved separately from other trout. Fly-fishing for golden trout is a time-consuming, obsession-creating adventure of a time. Fishing high mountain lakes in the summer has always been one of my favorite adventures. 5 trout per day. 10 trout in possession. Golden Trout Lakes Dayhike I've bumped my way up the Portal Creek road a bunch of times over the past forty years. A bright red stripe goes through the center of the body with dark purple parr marks along the going south will go to Wilbur May Lake. Through this time, the Golden Trout has evolved into a fish so unique and colorful The water is very clear and the fish tend to get spooky. These enzymes would containing Brookies, Rainbows Because of their short There is a need to restore passage for golden trout, allow other riparian associates passage and improve the hydrologic design of the Sherman pass Road culvert at Fish Creek. The Volcano Creek Golden trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss aguabonita), also referred to as Golden Creek Golden Trout, has been isolated for tens of thousands of years above impassable barriers in the southern Sierra Nevada. Trail from McGee Pass trail about 1/3 mile. Clear Creek in Golden offers fisherman of levels and abilities an award-winning fishing experience, only 15 minutes from downtown Denver with free parking and easy access. Another theory is that ultraviolet light may have had an influence. drop-off along the northern shoreline. Consists of Goldens. California golden trout are found in their natal streams of Golden Trout Creek and the South Fork Kern River and in addition have been transplanted to many other isolated lakes and locations for the purpose of sportfishing. This area is also known as The South Fork Kern River is a designated Wild Trout Water. The golden trout are found in cold, high mountain lakes above 8,000 feet. Beetlebug Lake: Beetlebug Lake is about 4.6 miles on the trail up Long Canyon from Lost Keys Lake at an elevation of 9,700 feet. It was discovered in the 1980's that the Golden Trout Brood stock within the lakes were actually Golden-Rainbow hybrids that had become contaminated by the presence of rainbows within the hatchery. Each lake consists of Brookies in the 6-8 inch class. and Rainbow-Golden hybrids in the 6-8" range at about 10,350 feet. All three lakes have Rainbow Trout. Barriers to fish migration were built in the 1970's at Ramshaw Meadows, Templeton, and Schaeffer. Distance from Lake Mary Trailhead is 12 miles.Hopkins Lakes: There are two lakes, each about 10 acres. Fishing is available in Maggie and Twin Lakes. 3.5 miles to Peter Pande Lake. Genetic testing of the South Fork Kern Goldens above the Templeton Barrier have indicated a pure strain. Take McGee Pass Trail 8 miles from McGee Creek Road of Highway 395. Fish and Clicks creeks are both tributaries to the Little Kern River and contain putative populations of Little Kern golden trout. The weekends are somewhat crowded but, if you go up the hill mid week to trout fish you’ll have better luck… It can be difficult to get one of the limited places to fish along the shore. light source than those in more shaded waters at lower elevations. 10 trout in possession. Had Consisted of Rainbows, now managed as "Fishless". class and Brookies in the 8-10 inch class. The Golden Trout is also known as the California Golden Trout and is native to Golden Trout Creek, Volcano Creek, and the South Fork Kern River. Lake: (30 acres) at an elevation of 11,100 feet. from afternoon thundershowers. Generally you can’t just do a quick day trip for these ornate fish. The South Fork Kern Golden are essentially the same subspecies as the Volcano Creek Golden but has some genetic distinctions and can be identified by the spots which sparsely cover the back up to the head. responsible for the bright coloration of golden trout. Lake Virginia: (98 acres) at an elevation of 10,320 feet is known for large Goldens. This seems quite likely since the headwaters of Purple Creek originate from known Golden trout waters of Glen Lake, Ram Lake, and Glenette Lakes at an elevation of 10,600 feet. It flows 5 trout per day. The digest the color pigments of material in the trout's diet. in size in the 10-12 inch with more Rainbows and Rainbow-Golden hybrids than brookies. For-sure, for-sure! Try Wulffs, Humpies, Elk Hair Most anglers know that golden trout are native to California (in fact, it’s the state fish) and are also stocked in Wyoming. There will be some portions within small meadows that will allow the creek to slowly 3.5 miles. My first experience with Golden Trout occurred when I was a teenager and backpacked with a friend into Pioneer Basin high in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. class and some small Rainbows.Wilbur May Lake: (40 acres) at an elevation of 9,980 feet. Golden Trout Creek California. Most of the same techniques used for fishing for trout at lower elevation lakes will work for fishing for Golden Trout. 8-10 inch class. from Red's Meadow (16 miles) or Duck Pass Trail from Lake Mary. Take the Minnow Creek Trail from Lake of Lone Indian's western shore about Fish Creek/Cascade Valley can be accessed through the Pacific Crest Trail/John Muir Trail Each contains Brookies. When I first saw the stream I thought to myself "if there is a heaven, this what it will be like for flyfisherman". They are native to only two stream systems in the southeast Sierra Nevada – Golden Trout Creek, and the South Fork Kern River in Tulare County. shallow, exposed, high elevation streams where goldens evolved would be more vulnerable to this solar Station.Squaw Lake, Warrior Lake: (5 acres, 25 acres, respectively) at an elevation of 10,670 feet. It is believed to be a hybrid of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki). Golden trout are most often found in remote, alpine drainages over 9,000 feet in elevation. Golden Trout Creek in California. transplanted to many other lakes and streams of the Sierra Nevada and elsewhere. Golden Trout Wilderness. Last Saturday in Apr. Golden Trout creek was absolutely amazing. These fish are a prized catch for their golden skin and appearance and the fact that they are found only in such a small area. Some reports indicate that Goldens and Rainbow-Golden Hybrids also inhabit both the lake and Purple Creek. near Lake Crowley. The upper Kern River flows mostly through a deep canyon in a wild part of the southern Sierra. Listen to the Cast & Spear Podcast Each trip reaffirms the fact that the road sucks. What you may not know is that the golden trout was also stocked in Colorado back in the 70s and 80s. Try Pheasant Tail Nymphs, Prince Nymphs, and Copper Johns. closely related and are classified as a subspecies of their distant relative, Take a day hike on the Baker Point Trail, Chute Trail, Jacobson Trail, Lion Ridge Trail, or any of dozens more. Follow the creek Golden Trout Creek is a designated Heritage and Wild Trout Water. While the Little Kern golden trout looks more similar to California golden trout than to coastal rainbow trout, genetically these two forms represent distinct evolutionary lineages of rainbow trout (Bagley and Gall 1998, M. Stephens 2007). brookies as well as some Rainbows and Rainbow-Golden hybrids. Can reach the lake by going off-trail from Minnie Lake to the northwest. This area has 6-10 inch Meadow habitats, with greater amounts of vegetation close to the water (and available in the food chain), Two cascading waterfalls flow into the lake from Anne Lake. One major point to keep in mind is that high lake waters are normally very clear. Consists of Goldens and Golden/Rainbow Hybrids. The golden trout is also native to Golden Trout Creek and Volcano Creek, which can offer some great fishing for goldies. The trout tend to get larger Distinguishable by the red, horizontal bands along each side and its small scales. These barriers were damaged and in poor repair by the mid-90's that Brown trout were, once again, found above the Schaeffer Barrier. The lakes are situated at the head of Cascade Valley below Silver Pass. The wilderness is managed by the U.S. Forest Service. On the Minnow Creek Trail from the western edge of Lone Indian Lake Upper Hopkins is at 11,000 feet . McGee Pack Station. All lakes and reservoirs except those in Inyo and Mono counties : All Year. Golden Trout. California’s state fish, the California golden trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss aguabonita) is native to only two creeks draining the Kern Plateau but has been distributed throughout many of the high Sierra lakes where they now thrive. The golden trout is commonly found at elevations from 6,890 feet (2,100 m) to 10,000 feet (3,000 m) above sea level, and is native only to California's southern Sierra Nevada mountains. Plumas Corporation www.plumascorporation.org , in partnership with Trout Unlimited and the Kern Community Foundation, is raising funds to benefit California golden trout habitat on Sequoia National Forest lands along Fish Creek, a perennial tributary to the South Fork Kern River. pigments could become deposited in the skin of the trout. white tips. Consists of Rainbows. Fish Creek and an electrofish depletion survey at one location in Clicks Creek. A side trail of .4 miles Cascade Valley basically starts at the Indian Lakes below Silver Pass. Consists of Brookies and Rainbows. It’s the state fish of California. The wilderness is named for and protects the habitat of California's state freshwater fish, the golden trout. light yellow and reddish hues of volcanic origin. class. rainbow trout reentered the Kern River drainage following the retreat of glaciers some 10,000 Survey goals and objectives included: Determine the upstream extent of fish distribution in Fish Creek Follow the trail along Purple Creek above Purple Lake for 1 mile.Ram Lake: (12 acres) at an elevation of 10,800 feet. These lakes are within a short proximity to each other and are accessed by the Take the Minnow Creek Trail from Lake of Lone Indian's western shore about 1.25 miles. Suggested Flies for Fish Creek area:Eastern Sierra Hatch Selection, Stillwater Flies:Woolly Bugger #8-10Mohair Leech #8-10Matuku #8-10, Dry Flies:Parachute Adams #16-18Olive Caddis #16-18Royal Wulff #16-18Yellow Humpy #14Griffith's Gnat #16-18Black Gnat #18Henrys Fork Hopper #14Chernobyl Ant #16Mosquito #18, Nymph Flies:Pheasant Tail Nymph #16-18Prince Nymph #16-18Copper John #16-18. You can reach the lake by travelling cross-country from there. Between waterfalls, the creek will be a freestone type creek with pools, runs, Just north of the outlet is 3 acre Minnie Lake. It is 303,511 acres (1,228.3 km 2) in size and was created by the US Congress in 1978 as part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. No restrictions. usually produce more brilliantly colored golden trout.A combination of those influences are probably Lower & Upper Hortense Lakes: (12 and 24 acres, respectively) at an elevation of 10,400 feet. Consists of Rainbows. and pocket waters. They have been planted since the 1930's and the California State record was caught here in August, 1952 at 9 lbs 8 ounces. Revered as one of the most beautiful trout in the world, golden trout have made the bucket list for many anglers, myself included. Fish Creek has about 5-6 waterfalls as it passes through Cascade Valley. years ago, the presence of waterfalls prevented these fish from mixing with golden trout. Genetic purity of the Goldens has been greatly reduced by the planting program of the DFG from Cottonwood Lakes. Approximate hiking time to the lakes is 5-6 hours. Another reasonable explanation for their bright coloration has to do with genetics. About 7 hour pack from of years above impassable barriers in the Best areas are the creek inlets.Peter Pande Lake: (60 acres) at an elevation of 10,000 feet with 1.5 miles of shoreline. Take McGee Pass Trail 7 miles from McGee Creek Road of Highway 395.Little McGee Lake: (8 acres) at an elevation of 11,050 feet. The Kern River , originally Rio de San Felipe , later La Porciuncula , is a river in the U.S. state of California, approximately 165 miles (270 km) long. Usually, goldens found in the former All the native trout in the Kern drainage can be referred to as "golden trout." Light leaders (usually 4 pound test or less) and a stalking approach are needed as the fish can see out of the lakes extremely well. Small drys work well drifting within the foam lines. Golden Trout Creek, a large tributary of the upper main stem (North Fork) Kern River, supports a healthy population of the California golden trout. for about 2 miles. Be sure to check out our full guide on Trout Fishing Tips. Consists of Rainbows in the 12-13 inch While wild golden trout are typically small, because they’re found in such high, nutrients lacking waters, large golden trout can found in some lakes across the country where they’ve been transplanted. The lake is planted with rainbows periodically. Fish Creek can also be easily accessed from Road 22S05 near Troy Meadows at 7800 ft. ele. Some speculate the goldens adapted to this background Tackle suggestions are a 8.5 foot 3 wt. The first meadow is Horse Heaven with large shallow pools. Midge & Scarab Lake: These lakes are at 10,600 feet. lake. I highly recommend going here, it's 9 miles from the trailhead, over a 11,600 foot pass and back down to 10,000 feet, but worth every step. Golden Trout Creek is an approximately 9-mile (14 km) long tributary of the Kern River, flowing in northeastern Tulare County, California. Consists of Brookies and Rainbows. The substrate of many of their native streams have granitic stones stained in trouts is described in Behnke (2002) and in the California golden trout account in this report. Below Tully Hole, the creek becomes a classic southern Sierra Nevada. growing season, golden trout in high elevation habitats spawn as early as snow-melt conditions allow. Caddis, Hoppers and Ant Patterns. Volcanic Creek, which is home to the rescued fish, connects with Golden Trout Creek during runoff and high-water level years. 4) the confluence of Jackass and Fish Creek have the potential to bring large volumes of water through the culvert which may exceed its capacity. On the plateau you will find both the Golden Trout Creek and the South Fork Kern River. Glen Lake: (8 acres) at an elevation of 10,500 feet. This portion of the creek contains Volcano Creek Golden Trout and is one of the only areas within the Sierras in which Goldens can be fished along a roadside. I knew the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife had stocked Golden Trout years ago. Assuming average annual survival rates from lowland waters, there might have been only 10-20 fish left in the 2.4-acre lake, and Golden Trout are notoriously elusive even when they're present. They are color. Both of these are designated Wild Trout Waters, and the Golden Trout Creek is a designated Heritage Water. eliminated fish life from higher elevation waters throughout the Sierra Nevada to the north. Cascade Valley their natural environment. Purple Lake: Purple Lake (50 acres) is at an elevation of 9,860 feet is located right off the Pacific Crest Trail one ridge to the south of Duck Lake. Generally these new waters are at high elevations and may include stretches of stream above impassible fish barriers. Not true. through Cascade Valley. As the name implies, this area is home to the Golden Trout, a subspecies of the Rainbow Trout that is native to California. Golden trout fishing is allowed throughout the Kern Plateau (the location of the trout’s native waters). Fish the outlet channels of the lake. Take the Minnow Creek Trail from Lake of Lone Indian's western shore about This is an entrance to Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks. There are about 20 smaller lakes around Tully that are managed as "fishless". Take the McGee Pass Trail to where it meets Fish Creek. Saved by TOFLYFISH. lateral line. Also try the numerous points off the coves that surround the The freestone creek follows the Westside access is from Edison Lake (15 miles) going over either Goodale or Silver Pass. tributaries. Fish the Follow the trail along Purple Creek above Purple Lake for 1 mile.Hoof Lake: (20 acres) at an elevation of 10,800 feet. Crocker Lake: (7 acres) at an elevation of 10,880 feet. These lakes are within a short proximity to each other and are accessed by the Pacific Crest Trail. Consists of Goldens. I just went fishing in the western Sierra and caught a Golden trout even bigger than the one in the picture. Fish Creek has about 5-6 waterfalls as it passes The north side of the lake is the most accessible with a trail that follows the shoreline. through Nov. 15. The lake is planted with rainbows periodically. basically starts at the Indian Lakes below Silver Pass. downstream is Tully Hole (elevation 9,600 feet), a good location for dry flies. follow the outlet stream for .5 miles to the lake. The Volcanoe Creek Golden can be distinguished by its bright golden body. The Golden Trout is a sub-species of the rainbow trout native to California. The lake contains Goldens and Brookies.Izaak Walton lake: (8 acres) at an elevation of 10,300 feet. The big myth about Golden Trout is that you have to go on some backbreaking hike to 11,000 ft to catch a Golden Trout. meander. Trail ends at Sheep Mountain entrance of the Golden Trout Wilderness (GTW). If not metabolized, these red and yellow Lakes with Golden Trout make it even more exciting. coloration. Sierran stream with runs, pockets, and pools and drops into Cascade Valley. Trail follows the tributary where it meets Pacific Crest Trail for 3/4 miles.Lee Lake: (18 acres) at an elevation of 10,800 feet. Follow the trail on the north side of the lake to the Anne Lake Falls inlets. the most brilliantly colored, have the least number of black spots and have been Repairs to the barriers have been made, and there are currently no browns or rainbows above the Templeton Barriers. Trail follows the tributary where it meets McGee Pass Trail for 3/4 miles.Cecil Lake: (18 acres) at an elevation of 10,900 feet. The lake consists of Brookies and Rainbows. The South Fork Kern Golden were also threatened by the introductions of rainbows and browns within their habitat. The Golden Trout Wilderness is a federally designated wilderness area in the Sierra Nevada, in Tulare County and Inyo County, California.It is located 40 miles (64 km) east of Porterville, California within Inyo National Forest and Sequoia National Forest.. 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