Eric and I took our first fishing trip of the year Sunday. Common sense should have told us that it was too early in the year to fish but Mother Nature's slutty daughter,Spring was whispering in our ears, promising plentiful trout and an ample supply of wood nymphs.
We headed to the Upper Kings river, above Pine Flat dam. This spot is known for its large, wild trout but it’s also known for it’s large rattlesnake population. Also, it’s not real easy to get too. After a hour and a half drive from Fresno around the lake it takes a long ten mile drive on a rough, narrow dirt road that takes you several hundred feet above the river. We passed what must have a been a hundred cyclists taking part in a race. It slowed us down until we got to the back side of the lake. At one point we came across a rock slide that just barely left enough room for a single vehicle to pass.
At the end of the road we parked and hiked for a couple more miles up a slowly climbing canyon and the back down again to gain access to the river.
The water looked great, not too high or low and fairly clear but it was still cold. 45 degrees was the reading Eric got. The air temperature was in the 60’s but the water was just not warm enough to bring the fish out of their dormant state.
We fished a number of spots along the river and never ever saw a fish. Usually we at least see some fish taunting us but if I diddn’t know better I’d swear that there were no fish.
We kept trying until it got dark but ended the day covered with the strong stench of skunk.
