Western Sierra Fishing

[Loye]

I have a list of a bunch of streams,rivers,and lakes accesible by road or a short hike in the western part of the Sierras. I would like some reccomendations on what you guys think are good spots that have good successes and are accesible outside of Bakersfield,Fresno,or Visalia. Im thinking about the south Fork of the Kern or some other spots on the Kaweah.

[jackrabbit]

Well, Loye, I see nobody has replied yet. But that's common on the freshwater forum -- not that many members real hot on fishing. Overall, the Western Sierra high country lakes are no where as accessible by vehicle as the lakes in the Eastern Sierras. But with some travel on graded dirt roads and a hike here and there, you can find good fishing in the Western Sierras. I just bought a new book called "The Difinitive Guide to Fishing in Central California", by Chris Shaffer, that covers about every lake and stream from Bakersfield to Sonora from the Coast to the Eastern Sierras. It rates each lake or stream regarding accessibility and fishing success. This is the firts new book like this that I've bought in twenty years and I think it is pretty good. I fish the Western Sierras northeast and east of Fresno. Seeing as how you seem to be from Cambria, I would think the Kern River drainage would be closer to you and there's good fishing up there in Lake Isabella (watch the wind!), the river, and the high forest up the canyons. I've never fished the Kaweah drainage nor the Sequoia NF. There is good fishing at Pine Flat, and the Kings river east of Fresno. I like the lakes up the San Juaquin river drainage like Shaver, Huntington, and for a long trip, Edison Lake, Wishon Lake, Dinkery Creek, Courtwright, the Kaiser Wilderness high lakes, etc. But Fresno is a long way from Cambria, and the high country fishing is 1.5 to 3.0 hours drive from Fresno. Eastern Sierra high country lakes and streams open for trout fishing the last Saturday in April, so you see a lot more folks on this forum pretty soon. Good Luck.