I addressed this in my recap at the end. TLDR; It's a local rule, not an official DFG regulation. So I made the decision to step in the water to land and release the fish. I don't think it's possible keep them wet and politely put them back in the water from the bank.
Wading all the way into the center of the creek to land a fish? You idiot. > I don't think it's possible keep them wet and politely put them back in the water from the bank. You are simply wrong.
@@driftstone those trout were really interesting darting in out amongst the weeds, I know where your hiding... :). Since I was euro nymphing, a single fly strategy on heavier side fly helped target the "spots"
@@driftstone Aww...thanks bro. You have me pegged. My favorite movie is Casablanca because as my Cheryl says: "You are a HOPELESS romantic." I hope I never lose that sense of love and wonder. Your videos never fail to inspire that in me. Whether you catch bigguns or not!
The fish holding in normal places... As somebody who has spent some time at hot creek I don't know of a spot that requires more than a toe in the water to land and release a fish. You were clearly in the stream to make casting easier. Etiquette counts.
I appreciate how much you took care when fishing Hot Creek. I fished it as a kid but wouldn't now. Thanks for letting me fish it vicariously! I am so enjoying your Eastern Sierra vids. I miss that area immensely. It is truly special but as you point out, the pressure due to SoCal proximity is definitely something to consider. Great video.
I hope I made the right decision going in the water, I'm sure I'll get some pushback on that. Having been there now and understanding just how much pressure it gets, I'll probably skip it next time. I think it's proximity to both LA _and_ SF make it a big target. Also, when a cool river is limited to one tiny mile, that scarcity makes people even more interested, I think.
@@driftstone I have fished Hot Creek for 30 + years and saw no issues with what you did and in fact was probably the best decision. This kept the fish in the water the longest. I do the same. Just a local "rule" that has no "LAW" backing the rule.
You should have known that the reason not to wade Hot Creek is because New Zealand mud snails were found in it (as well as other local waters). You have fished in multiple waters and I assume it was within just a few days of each other. If you did not treat your wanders or use a different set for each water, you may have carried the invasive species with you. Maybe, like others who respect that practice, you can learn to release fish from the shore. Yes, I caught the disclaimer at the end but the best response you could have made to others like me who called you on it is that you are sorry, understand the potential harm and won't do it in the future.
It was a bit breezy and we were upwind, so I noticed the sulfur just a couple times. I bet that brown is still there. I started there with the wrong flies and when i got back there, one of the guides clients was parked there the rest of the day. So I never got another chance.
You shouldn’t ever walk through spawning gravel in thin water. Walking though either mud or on rock does not effect the river in any way. You didn’t do anything wrong that water was too deep for spawning beds to be there.
Thought HC was strictly no wading, not to throw shade but that ecosystem is pretty fragile.
I addressed this in my recap at the end.
TLDR; It's a local rule, not an official DFG regulation. So I made the decision to step in the water to land and release the fish. I don't think it's possible keep them wet and politely put them back in the water from the bank.
That’s what I thought too. That’s what they told me at the troutfitter in mammoth last time I was there
It is strictly no wading - not to mention, a big NoNo to cross it…
Came here to say this, and probably wouldn't have been so nice.
Wading all the way into the center of the creek to land a fish? You idiot.
> I don't think it's possible keep them wet and politely put them back in the water from the bank.
You are simply wrong.
Good top to bottom review of the creek,temps,flies,rules and geography. Very thorough.
Appreciate the tips on strategy...light flies and avoiding the weeds...so tricky there.
Yeah, it took us a couple hours to get it dialed in, but once we did, it was lights out.
@@driftstone those trout were really interesting darting in out amongst the weeds, I know where your hiding... :). Since I was euro nymphing, a single fly strategy on heavier side fly helped target the "spots"
100 percent!
Nevada Smith. Whenever I see vids or visit Hot Creek I think of that incredible film!
I love how romantically see the world. It comes through in your radio show so well. Looks like I have a new classic to watch.
@@driftstone Aww...thanks bro. You have me pegged. My favorite movie is Casablanca because as my Cheryl says: "You are a HOPELESS romantic." I hope I never lose that sense of love and wonder. Your videos never fail to inspire that in me. Whether you catch bigguns or not!
Lately I've been trying to foster that wonder in my kids who often give their attention to a screen and miss so much.
Nature Deficit Disorder in kids is a real thing. And damaging. The real 3-D + 1 world of nature can't be beat.
The fish holding in normal places... As somebody who has spent some time at hot creek I don't know of a spot that requires more than a toe in the water to land and release a fish. You were clearly in the stream to make casting easier. Etiquette counts.
Loved to see those red bows'
I've never seen any quite like it, they were cool.
I appreciate how much you took care when fishing Hot Creek. I fished it as a kid but wouldn't now. Thanks for letting me fish it vicariously! I am so enjoying your Eastern Sierra vids. I miss that area immensely. It is truly special but as you point out, the pressure due to SoCal proximity is definitely something to consider. Great video.
I hope I made the right decision going in the water, I'm sure I'll get some pushback on that. Having been there now and understanding just how much pressure it gets, I'll probably skip it next time. I think it's proximity to both LA _and_ SF make it a big target. Also, when a cool river is limited to one tiny mile, that scarcity makes people even more interested, I think.
@@driftstone I have fished Hot Creek for 30 + years and saw no issues with what you did and in fact was probably the best decision. This kept the fish in the water the longest. I do the same. Just a local "rule" that has no "LAW" backing the rule.
Cool looking rainbow @ 10:45
It sucks to see his mandible broken off, be he sure was pretty!
I forgot all about that squaw fish. That was unexpected. I will say having some success here certainly helped my overall confidence as an angler.
That's huge, having confidence goes a long way!
Beautiful little stream. Loved watching the pocket like water, fishing among the weeds.
Yeah, that was a really fun experience. Never seen a stream like it! Thanks for watching!
Question which flies were the most productive eastern Sierra trip.
Hands down, the Shop vac was the best for me. Then a Duracell and thread Frenchie.
I’ve never not seen HC loaded with hundreds of people in that mile stretch. You must of won the lottery.
Hundred?!? I saw 15ish other anglers and thought that was a ton 😂 It's fun fishing, but not that fun.
@@driftstone the last year when I fished there, I had someone 20 feet to the left and right of me. It was like that for the entire stretch.
Wow, that's hard to imagine. How was the fishing amongst all that pressure?
You are right, some great colors on that Bow! Another great place to fish! Love the thumbnail on this one also.
Thanks, these stunning rivers have been making the thumbnails pretty easy.
The color in those fish was fantastic. Cool seeing the behaviour in that grassy weird water! Great video as always!
Yeah, I've never seen anything like it. There's a reason it's so popular.
Awesome little stream. I almost that the colored up bow was a cutty. Beautiful fish that was.
Ha you're not wrong, it was so colored up! It's super fun there!
That seems like it was super fun! Awesome when you can break down water and find success on a techy, pressured stream!
We really did have a ton of fun. You nailed it, it was a super satisfying for all of those reasons! 🙏
Great video buddy that one nice bow looked almost cut throat good times
Yeah, no kidding! It was a pretty unusually rainbow for sure!
Hot creek!!! My favorite!!!!
It's super unique, we too had a great time!
Do you use a Gopro for your underwater release of your fish? With a sense cover?
Yes, a hero 8 and it's in a dome housing.
You should have known that the reason not to wade Hot Creek is because New Zealand mud snails were found in it (as well as other local waters). You have fished in multiple waters and I assume it was within just a few days of each other. If you did not treat your wanders or use a different set for each water, you may have carried the invasive species with you. Maybe, like others who respect that practice, you can learn to release fish from the shore. Yes, I caught the disclaimer at the end but the best response you could have made to others like me who called you on it is that you are sorry, understand the potential harm and won't do it in the future.
I fished that same first spot. There's a nice brown that lives under that rock. That's a beautiful place to fish but stinky. Enjoyed this video bro.
It was a bit breezy and we were upwind, so I noticed the sulfur just a couple times.
I bet that brown is still there. I started there with the wrong flies and when i got back there, one of the guides clients was parked there the rest of the day. So I never got another chance.
Lots of haters on Instagram, great video! 😅😅😅
It's not working, is it?
Thanks for watching 👋
You shouldn’t ever walk through spawning gravel in thin water. Walking though either mud or on rock does not effect the river in any way. You didn’t do anything wrong that water was too deep for spawning beds to be there.
You gotta leave in the swear words.
haha for some reason the bleep makes me laugh.