Los P trout 10-28

What started out as a pretty nice day turned into a grueling, arduous journey. But, then again, it was just another day in the Valley. Every time I make the trek up there, it's something different.

MByakker and I went up into Carmel Valley to catch some native rainbows. Well, they're actually steelhead that haven't ventured into the ocean yet. I've fished this Res about 15 times but MByakker hadn't been there yet so we loaded our yaks onto a cart I made and trudged our way up to the dam, which is over a mile uphill from the parking lot. It was tough and we were way later than planned but we made it OK. I thought my kayak would be perfect for this small lake because it tends to get very windy and my floattube turns into a sailboat in gusty wind. I was right; the kayak performed great once the wind picked up.

Launched into glassy, flat water with multiple fish rising around us. There was only one other person fishing, and he was on the shore. Usually the shore fishing is tough because access is very limited---but since the water was so low, there is plenty of shore access right now.

I hooked up with a beautiful 14-inch rainbow on a 1/8 oz Lil Cleo (silver w/ orange stripe) on my third cast. MByakker hooked into a pretty little bow on his first cast and we had a double going. Thought it was a sign of good things to come. I was wrong. We should've stayed there but we paddled back into the river and explored a bit. By the time we finished exploring, it was like 11am and the bite turned off. I only caught one more fish (on a wolly bugger fly) and lost a nice one on a roostertail.
 
It was a nice day--it usually is up there, except for the wind. But the wind never really got too bad yesterday. After a couple beers and more exploring we called it a day and paddled back to the launch. However, we soon discovered that my home-made cart was not going to make it back to the parking lot. The axel bent, then one of the tires fell off, then my "cart" was turned into a "sled." No dice! That thing was not going to work and it was a long walk back to the parking lot.
After debating which method would be best to transport our yaks+gear back to the parking lot, we decided to carry the yaks and come back for the gear. No dice!
We were fortunate to run into a generous Navy sharpshooter and a backcountry hunter (strapped with 3 guns and decked in camo--typical for this area though). Well, these guys helped us lug our stuff all the way back to our trucks! It was an amazing example of generousity. I kept telling them, "I've never felt so grateful AND stupid at the same time!" The backcountry hunter was a local and told me how to build a better cart. Time to start working on a new cart!

By the time I got home, I was ready to pass out from exhaustion! Ate some food and retired at 8pm, missing a friend's halloween party. At least I had a good excuse...I had just endured the most grueling, physically tiring hike of all time. But, then agian, it was just another day in the Valley at Los P.

Still really sore,
PK 

What nice weather!  Shorts in the end of Oct, we're so freakin lucky.  Reading that report made me think of all the cart casualties at the Elk Tourney. 

Man .  I'm still sore from all that lugging.  Those guys had to be the most insanely generous guys if they are even close to as sore as I was after that - although they probably managed it a little better than I did.'  Still, you have to have seen this place and the trail to appreciate the effort these 2 strangers made on our behalf helping to carry 2 boats loaded with gear over a mile by the bow/stern handles.   I'm going to have to do a big favor for somebody someday . . hopefully not that big, though.

What Pat was nice enough to leave out was that I got there first but had forgotten my cart.  I had heard that the trail to the lake was about 1/2 mile so I decided to carry my yak.  I made it about 1/2 way down this definetly longer than 1/2 mile trail before giving up.  I went back to the parking lot defeated having abandoned my yak halfway to the lake.  Thankfully Pat had not forgotten his cart . . and then you know the rest.

I really liked that lake, though . . I'm going to try to go back again this year.  The haul would not be so bad with a cart with knobby, inflatable wheels - just like the one I spaced on Saturday morning (doh!).  There seem to be lots of fish there, too . .we should hit it earlier next time.  Nice job on that trout, too . . that is definetly an incentive to return.

The cart is sometimes on EBay.  Got mine for $150 (shipping was include).  Good to buy in winter months.  Lower prices because for most Kayaking is a summer sport.

Ken kickfish

Pony up. Rolleze baby!!!

Is this the Los Padres dam?

My dad wanted to do a canoe/kayak camping trip at this lake.  He mentioned the hike from the parking lot but I didn't think it would be as bad as you describe.

I've camped there before, but a looooonngggg time ago.  Last time I was there there were a lot of hunters also.

I need to make my cart.

MolBasser

Nice report.  Too bad about the cart-casualty!     Every time I cart an appreciable distance I start thinking of the contingency plan - that I DON'T have!  I agree with Tote - get Roleez!  I love mine - sand and hard-ground models.  Thanks, Scwafish.   

One of the more hilarious aspects of this story is that a Roleez is exactly the cart that I left at home.

Have you ever tried to cart 2 yaks on one of those carts?

We did two kayaks on one Roleez from Highway one to the beach at Lime Kiln.  It was my tandom OK Malibu II with my OK Scrambler on top.  No problem, just had to make sure the gear did not fall out of the top yak.  Definately not as long a your haul but it worked.

MB are you still in the area?  When will you have to go?

I haven't done two yaks, but I loaded a tandem with lots of gear on the sand wheels and did a few miles on the beach - no problema.  I also loaded the hard-ground wheel cart with my Scrambler and lots of camping gear and it did well, but I did lose air from the tires, so a pump is a good thing to have...   

MB are you still in the area?  When will you have to go?

Yeah . .still hanging around.  I'll be here at least until January and maybe longer . . not really sure.  My plan is to stick it out as long as possible.