When you think about Southern California, chances are you think of warm weather, sunny beaches, crazy traffic, astronomical cost of living and amazing food. What you likely don’t think of are mountain streams full of wild trout. Places like that are usually associated with alpine environments like the Sierra, Rockies, or the Northwest. But as unlikely as it may seem, Southern California has its own hidden gems ready to be discovered by those with a bit of know-how and an extra dose determination.
As a Southern California native and an avid fly fisherman, I've spent the last couple of years seeking out these spots, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that if you want to catch wild trout here, you’ll have to work for it-this usually involves no small amount of researching, hiking, and bushwhacking. But finding these wild fish in an area where they survive against all odds is one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had as an angler, almost like striking gold. This time around, I headed up into the mountains outside of the greater Los Angeles area to fish a stream full of wild rainbow trout hoping for a great day-the fish and the terrain definitely made sure that my work would be cut out for me, but it was a great day nonetheless.
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