The Northern California Fly Fishing Board

Buzzed out to pyramid this afternoon. First time I'd been out this season. Yep, the lake is still there. Just looking out the window you'd have no idea of the season, the standard brown desert and blue sky. Got that normal "look at all the water, where do I start" feeling as well. Picked up the season pass ($75 again) and got it out of the way. New regs don't really change anything for me since I already used barbless, but won't be able to hit the nets come spawn time. No report from the store, just random fish here and there, generally slow.

Water was calm, cool and pretty clear, typical slow day conditions. Found myself at south nets and toted the ladder out... way out. Looks to be a foot or more lower than last spring. Dusted off the stripping basket and tied on my go to midnight cowboy / jawbreaker bugger and black w/ purple beetle. Shannon read a book while I got used to having a free and clear backcast. After a couple hours, I ended up with 1 missed, 1 hooked and lost, and 2 fish spotted. Not the worst day I've had for sure, and more than satisfied the test.

Hey Eric,
Did you see any other fishermen? I was there a couple weeks ago and there wasn't a fisherman on the north or south end of the nets. I fished the deeper waters north of Sutcliff and did not catch any fish.

Jeff

Buck pic in my profile pics because I couldn't figure out how to add it to the post. After 5 years of trying, I finally drew X7b for deer. Got this dude on top of Boca Ridge closing weekend. Hanging weight at the meatcutter was 121 lb with little wasted meat (1-2 lb). Seems small for the mulies I'm used to. Is that normal for those eastern Sierra deer?
Thanks
Huck

My neighbor wandered over yesterday while I was raking pine needles and oak leaves in the front yard. Ted is a great neighbor, always willing to use his snow plow on our other neighbors driveways and sidewalks (not mine, I love to shovel) when needed...he doesn't ask, he just does it. Anyway, he also loves to talk fishin' & he had a Pyramid report from mid-week last week...using a foam beetle in an area with an accessible drop off, he brought six to hand, including two over 25", the largest being 29". He too had the area to himself.
FTIR

Thanks, Greg. Sooner or later I'll figure out posting pics.
H

There was one at south nets. White truck, I think he always fishes there (name is shawn maybe??). Saw him hook up as I was rigging. Only a couple boats though a few passed on the highway as I was on the way. Pretty quiet for sure.

Hi Mike,
I was prepared to go to deeper water but spotted one right as I climbed the ladder in about 4' of water, then hooked up about 1/2 an hour later (beetle as well). Only minor touches of weeds so I stayed put. My second bump was solid but I was asleep at the switch. :p I don't think 6 would be out of the question if I'd put in a full day and been there in the morning.

For a closing weekend buck, he is a nice take. You hunt an entire season when you finally draw an area like one of he X zones and you look for the buck of your dreams because you know he may be there, then, if you can't find him, you settle. I've settled for a lot of smaller bucks on the last weekend of the season than this one. A trophy is in the eyes of the beholder and the chase is what is most fun anyway. I love venison and always bring a buck home, no matter how small, when it comes down to the last day. So, to answer your question, yes there are bigger bucks on the eastern sierra and no, it is not often that a tag holder brings one home. Nice buck -- be happy with the take and enjoy the meat, my friend.

Jeff

Yeah, I'm ecstatic with the meat and with the fact I whacked something decent. I would have shot a forkie on the last weekend.
It was actually my first chance ever to hunt the eastern Sierra. So , I was surprised at the weight after hunting Idaho bucks for a long time. Some of them I've shot from SE ID push 200 lb hanging weights.
Doesn't really matter though-the only thing better than a little venison is MORE venison!
Thank you, Sir.

That's pretty darn good for this time of year. "Nice shootin Tex" Now if you don't want the rack let me know, always looking for more stuff to hang around the house! (Is that 8 or 10 points I count???)

For some perverse reason, I keep my racks even if they're not trophy quality (which this one isn't). I have quite the little bone pile in the garage.
FYI, easterners including Texans count total points including the brow tines ("eyeguards". So this would be a 10 pointer in their vernacular.
Westerners don't count brow tines and count points per side. So this one is described as a 4X4 ("4 by 4".
Deer hunting trivia of the day......