This is an entrance to Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks. Thirty minutes of channeling my inner mountain goat, teetering and hopping up, over and across jagged granite, I found myself perched 11,300 feet above sea level. Golden Trout Wilderness School is a non-profit educational center located at Golden Trout Camp in the Southern Sierra Nevada. (Photo by Brad Trumbo). The Department of Fish and Game use some of the lakes in this area as a hatchery, from which they seed the Sierras with Golden Trout. There are a few places to get water, but 3-5L for the entire hike is good enough. A favorite is Gaia GPS, which allows maps of an area to be downloaded to most devices. The trailhead lies at approximately 10,200 feet elevation, 20 minutes up the Rock Creek drainage from U.S. Highway 395. 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 Golden Trout Wilderness. 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. Sight-casting works with a soft presentation. Turning around, I faced the cluster of four alpine lakes, known as the Treasure Lakes, in the John Muir Wilderness of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. 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. Subscriber Services. Prior to heading out to catch The Big One, you will need to know a few things. Thirteen-thousand-foot Mt. 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. 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 … 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. 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. Wind can be unpredictable in the higher elevations, but casting comes easy when the gusts lay down. If backpacking this trail, you will need a wilderness permit from Lone Pine. Muir Lake from the old Cottonwood Trailhead, Mount Langley Loop via Cottonwood Pass [CLOSED], John Muir Trail: Horseshoe Meadow to Happy Isles [CLOSED], Forks of the Kern Trail to Painters Camp [CLOSED], Trail Pass to Cotton Wood Lakes Loop [CLOSED]. Revered as one of the most beautiful trout in the world, golden trout have made the bucket list for many anglers, myself included. 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? The Golden Trout Wilderness was designated by Congress in 1978. Like Cottonwood Lakes, the portion of the Kern River where golden trout can be found is extremely tricky to get to. 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. Beautiful Alpine Lake. NOTE: As of September 2020, this trail is closed due to unhealthy air quality. When conditions are right, dry-fly fishing can be remarkable. Tapered leaders carry buoyancy that floats the fly above the sinking line and reduces the fly’s action. Below the shimmering surface of the crystal-clear depths lay pure California gold. 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. https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/california/golden-trout-wilderness Fantastic tenkara fishing. It’s common knowledge that atmospheric oxygen saturation decreases with increasing elevation, but it’s difficult to appreciate the significance of “thin air” without having survived it. Inside the remote rugged peaks of a deep, granite crevasse known as the Upper Kern River with ancient Sequoia forest to the west and to the eats, some of … A permanently shadowed, remnant snow pack, dusted gray by the wind, was feeding the lakes. Just remember: information on catch rates and fish size can change dramatically between seasons. Keep the fly on the water as long as possible, allowing cruising fish to spot the fly. 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. Let your line sink at least 6 to 8 seconds before beginning your retrieve. 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. You can chose to complete the loop section anyway you like. This campground is located 45 minutes up from Highway 395 at an elevation of just over 10,000 feet. All Game & Fish subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. 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. The TripThe Golden Trout Wilderness is more open and gentler than the better-known areas of the Sierra to the north. The entry point and home base for the Golden Trout Wilderness and Cottonwood Lakes is the campground, Horseshoe Meadows. The Fishing Spots section is dedicated to letting you know where the fish are for all the lakes in the Golden Trout Wilderness. Cheyenne - The name golden trout conjures up images of pristine, remote, wilderness, spectacular, sore knees and an aching back. Another tip for fishing wet flies and streamers: steer clear of a tapered leader. Almost too easy. Other things to consider in thin air at altitude is the sun’s rays. If spinning gear is your forte, focus on ultralight tackle with no larger than 4-pound-test monofilament or similar diameter fluorocarbon line for finicky fish. The Little Lakes Valley is nestled between the towns of Bishop and Mammoth Lakes, along the eastern side of the Sierras. From here you can see west into Sequoia and Kings Canyon for spectacular views. Michael Cassidy and Paul Pluff talk about their elk hunt in New Mexico using the Ruger Hawkeye Long Range Hunter. The gray walls of the high peaks reflected off the deep blue of the lake. Want to tangle with giant striped bass during the fall months? There are trails that shoot off from this loop that head to Muir Lake, South Fork Lake and New Army Pass. 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. Golden Trout Pack Station offers horseback riding, fly fishing, hunting, and The trail begins to gain elevation and you will want to avoid a turn off toward Golden Trout Camp. Please note that the gate leading to this trailhead is currently closed (06/04/2020). After a mile there is reliable water in the form of a creek. All Rights Reserved. #1 - Cottonwood Pass / New Army Pass Loop. Extending from the western foothills all the way to the eastern high desert, the Golden Trout Wilderness can be reached from both sides of the Sierra Nevada range. 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. A very nice trip into the lesser used Golden Trout Wilderness in the Southern Sierras. 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. From the west, various roads stem from Hwy 190 near Giant Sequoia National Monument. It offers scenic views of the Sierra, meadows, alpine terrain, and lakes. Richard B. Russell Lake on the... Give a Gift   © 2021 Outdoor Sportsman Group. 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