Yosemite High Country - LTFF Beginner Fish-out
July 14-15, 2018
Limited to 8 Students from the 2018 LTFF Beginner Class
Cost: $75 / person
Overview: This trip offers fly fishing to 3 trout species in two pristine high alpine settings. Each day includes approximately 5 miles of day-hiking at 9,000 - 10,000 feet. Please only sign up for this event if you are in shape to hike 5+ miles a day at high elevation.
Day 1: Tuolumne's Lyell Fork
At 9,500 feet, this stream starts at Lyell Glacier and only drops 500 feet in 10 miles. This provides a gentle stream that meanders through meadows and granite pools for a truly unique experience.
We'll hike from Tuolumne Meadows along the Dana Fork for 1.5 miles until we arrive at the Lyell Fork. Here the meadow stream is waist deep and wide, offering dry fly fishing along the banks to Brown Trout. Traveling upstream we move into Brookie and Rainbow territory, arriving at several large and shallow granite pools the size of small ponds. It's a great place to spot fish in clear water and practice gentle overhead casting. Traveling slightly further you pass through endless granite channels and pools mixed in with more meadows, each section memorable and unique.
Most of these natural trout are in the 6-9 inch range, but I've seen a handful each year in the 18 inch range. Larger fish require stealth while the little trout will attack dry flies with acrobatic displays.
Students will use overhead casts in meadow sections and practice roll casts in areas with trees. We'll use small dry fly patterns such as Purple Haze and Lime Trude with thin mono tippet (5x - 6x).
This river has become a special place to my wife Abby and I. We look forward to sharing it with you.
Total hiking: 5 miles at high altitude (9,000 ft)
Day 2: Tuolumne's Dana Fork
Similar to the Lyell Fork, the Dana fork is a small mountain stream that meanders through meadows at 9,000 ft. elevation. This stream follows along hwy 120, meaning slightly less hiking and easier access. I've had a 75 fish day in 4 hours along this 2 mile stretch. Each hole seems to have an endless supply of natural trout.
Students will primarily use overhead and roll casts. We'll use attractor dry fly patterns such as Purple Haze and Lime Trude with thin tippet (5x-6x).
Registration fee includes:
- 2 nights Car Camping in TBD campground (Friday and Saturday)
- Lunches (Saturday and Sunday)
- ~ 1 dozen selected flies
Other Student costs:
- Yosemite National Park entrance fee of $30, good for 7 days. Annual pass is $80. Carpooling helps.
- Possible extra campground fees, depending on where I am able to book sites for us the day before. (Campsites may not be reserved in advance.) Registrants to be notified that Friday via email or text message on the actual campground location.
Items not to forget (not a complete packing list):
- Bring your own breakfast, dinner, coffee, and snacks for two days starting Friday nite.
- Camping equipment (e.g., tent, sleeping bag and pad, cooking equipment, etc) for use in the campground
- Headlamp and extra batteries
- Small backpack, large sling pack, or vest with a large back pocket to carry lunch, water, packable rain jacket, etc.
- Water bottle or water bladder large enough to carry a full day of water (1.5 - 3 liters)
- Fly fishing gear (4-6 wt rod, 5x mono leaders, 5x - 6x tippet, nippers, forceps, fly box with additional flies, net optional)
- Dry fly floatants - flies need to be floating high on the water surface all day. It's helpful to have both the liquid (gel) and dry shake versions.
- Sun protection (hat, sunscreen, neck buff)
- Wet wading shoes like Chacos or Tevas. Or wading boots with neoprene guard socks. No need for wearing waders on this trip, which will be difficult to hike in.
Other notes:
- Dinner options are available at Woah Nellie Deli (Mobil Mart), 3 miles from the campground if you'd rather not cook dinners on Friday / Saturday. It's open 7am - 9pm.
- Other lodging options are available in the Mono Lake area; however they're expensive, not a great value, and typically book up months in advance.
For further information, contact: Fish-out Leader: Steve Golebiewski stephen.golebiewski@gmail.com or John Murphy jmurphy7599@gmail.com