Well, another short entry. Why? Well, because we got skunked and skunked hard. Maybe it was all the bad things I said about fellow Virginia Lakers last week. I doubt it. We didn’t see another fly fisher catch anything either. There weren’t as many fisherman this week, so maybe that place is having a case of the summer doldrums. Who knows?
Henry out on Virginia Lake.
Owen intensely fishing a nymph.
Anyway, my sons, Henry and Owen, and I arrived about 7:45 am and were fishing by 8:00. Just like last week we saw fish rising sporadically. We worked our way around the lake counter clockwise. Owen and I were together most of the time and Henry was off on his own. Teenagers!! Owen and I both got strikes from a couple small fish by the inlet from Blue Lake, but nothing else. I then decided there had to be better fishing somewhere and instead of Blue, this time I choose Red. Kind of like The Matrix, but without all the cool, black clothes and designer sunglasses.
Virginia Lakes is one of the more beautiful places in the Sierras.
Part of the Fly Fish Nevada Navy.
As I was cruising around Virginia, I reached across my vest to grab something and as I brought my hand back something bit me! WTF! I looked at my hand and I was bleeding. Then I remembered the small pliers whose pointy jaws I had seen last week protruding from a pocket on my vest. I had jammed one of the points into my hand. So, like the mature adult I am (just ask my wife), I yanked them out of the pocket, said a few choice four letter words, as if they could hear me, and then threw them into the lake. They now rest in about 30 feet of water just off the boat ramp. If you find them, you can keep them.
We worked our way across the lake to the south side and made landfall, then hiked the torturous 5 minutes to Red Lake. Figuring those little buggers in there would be biting. No way! they were in a funk just like in Virginia. All together we fished for about 4 1/2 hours, not counting the time I spent untying the kids casting knots and tying on new leaders and flies. I always thought being a fishing guide would be fun, but now I am rethinking that.
Rivulets above Red Lake.
My fly fishing hero pose. What the hell am I looking at?
Other than the guy who’s car alarm went off…twice (Really? It’s not Compton. No one is going to steal your rims, dude), it was a nice quiet day. Especially considering the lack of fish splashing at the end of our lines. I think we will find another spot to go next time and leave Virginia alone until the fall. In fact, August 2nd, the Team FFN leaves for 4 days in Elko, Nevada. Look for the reports, maybe even from the road!
Filed under: On the Water Tagged: | Henry, Owen, Red Lake, skunk, Team FFN, Virginia Lakes
Hi Dan-
Tumbled on to your site while checking out the web for info on the Little Walker. My brother and I fish that side of the Sierras once in a while,and we’re trying to make up our collective minds whether to stay on the west side or go East. I was worried that the flows might be down too low for good fishing, but after looking through your entries for the past few weks, it seems like it might still be OK the week of August 9- 13. What do you think? Thanks for posting the info. Glad to see you’re taking your kids fishing. My Dad took us and 45 years later my brother and I are still going. And every time we get skunked we think wecan hear the old man is laughing at us…
Best Regards,
Mike
Hey, Mike! I think that week should be great. There is still lots of snow up there, so creeks and streams should have plenty of water, but not too much to fish. Most streams have been coming into their own over the last couple of weeks and they look to stay in good shape until fall. Check out some of my links to the fishing reports and forums. Lots of good info on sierra fishing and lots of helpful folks on the forums.
My dad used to take me fishing too. Good times and great memories. I hope my boys look back as fondly as you do.
Let me know how you do!