5 trout per day. 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. 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. and Rainbow-Golden hybrids in the 6-8" range at about 10,350 feet. Consists of Brookies and Rainbows. class and some small Rainbows.Wilbur May Lake: (40 acres) at an elevation of 9,980 feet. Consists of Goldens. Consists of Rainbows in the 12-13 inch class and Brookies in the On the plateau you will find both the Golden Trout Creek and the South Fork Kern River. This area is also known as This is an entrance to Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks. Coloration Theories: These enzymes would Barriers to fish migration were built in the 1970's at Ramshaw Meadows, Templeton, and Schaeffer. Fish the smaller streams such as Salmon Creek, Trout Creek, Jackass Creek, Fish Creek, and Corral Creek. 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. What you may not know is that the golden trout was also stocked in Colorado back in the 70s and 80s. Each lake consists of Brookies in the 6-8 inch class. Distance from Lake Mary Trailhead is 12 miles.Hopkins Lakes: There are two lakes, each about 10 acres. 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. Between waterfalls, the creek will be a freestone type creek with pools, runs, in size in the 10-12 inch with more Rainbows and Rainbow-Golden hybrids than brookies. mykiss aguabonita) often are referred to as "true goldens." The golden trout are found in cold, high mountain lakes above 8,000 feet. rod 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. Pacific Crest Trail. tributaries. Approximate hiking time to the lakes is 5-6 hours. 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. of years above impassable barriers in the white tips. Follow the creek Must go off-trail for .5 miles from McGee Creek. Another lush meadow area further containing Brookies, Rainbows Crocker Lake: (7 acres) at an elevation of 10,880 feet. The lake consists of Brookies and Rainbows. Pacific Crest Trail for about a mile and builds up flow from additional water off Lee Lake and other Nymph patterns also work well, particularly if the creek becomes discolored 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 north side of the lake is the most accessible with a trail that follows the shoreline. 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 most brilliantly colored, have the least number of black spots and have been Lower & Upper Hortense Lakes: (12 and 24 acres, respectively) at an elevation of 10,400 feet. Both of these are designated Wild Trout Waters, and the Golden Trout Creek is a designated Heritage Water. The golden trout (Oncorhynchus aguabonita) is native to the upper Kern River basin, where it was isolated and evolved separately from other trout. 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. You can reach the lake by travelling cross-country from there. Consists of Goldens. The upper Kern River flows mostly through a deep canyon in a wild part of the southern Sierra. Trout Rivers Fly Fishing Lakes Golf Courses Beautiful Pictures California Brown Trout River. Each contains Brookies. The back has a brassy or copper Additional access is from the eastside at McGee Creek Trailhead off Highway 395 closely related and are classified as a subspecies of their distant relative, Consists of Brookies. Golden Trout. 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. 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