Fishing Sequoia & Kings Canyon NP

Yes that is the legendary Pocket Fisherman.  Pro and Con's, lightwieght doesn't take much room.  Casting with it presents some challenges.  side arm and under hand casting work well for short powerful casts.  Any distance it is a soft lob with a high ark to get it out there.  As a kid I used it for small brooks, and casting wasn't an issue.  Retrieve, this is a sore spot as there hasn't been any improvements in it since 1978 when I got my first one.  It is essentially a closed faced reel spooled with 10lb test (need to change that as I think it is to heavy for it).  Typcal spin caster with a single pin sticking out of the bell housing to grab the line, if the line has an obtuse bend in it, it won't pick it up.  I also experienced a backlash of sorts when the line retrieved on the drive shaft and not the spool.

I got this for those long mountain hokes, put it in the motorcycle saddle bag, and have something when ever possible.  I might look at a telescopic rod for my ultralight reel as well. who knows.


That trip made a dream come true as allways wanted to be on a secluded mountain lake.  I didn't get as much time as I wanted but it was an awesome trip none the less.

As for the bears, they seemed to be doing there own thing.  I am not a small person at 6'2", I give the bears there own room, that is the closest I have ever come to them (Well at least that I know of).  I worry more about cougars than bears.  I give both a healthy dose of respect.

Some more pics.   Dinner the first night, Pics of Zumwalt Meadow in Kings Canyon.  Due to the weather we had the place to ourselves.  GF at first didn't want to go, but I said hey we can take some pics no one gets to see.  After we left Zumwalt we started th long trek home, and met a park service guy throwing rocks off the road, seems there was a lot of slide actvity.  At the Kings Canyon Entrance we had lunch, and saw two guys on BMW touring motorcycles, who said they had just come down from Loodgepole and they had snow up there.  Glad we choose the Lodge at Kings Canyon instead of tent that night.

Hiked in there a while back and caught my biggest brook trout and my very first golden trout (both were released). Will try to find pics...

I used a telescopic cabelas pack pole and tossed a yellow roostertail (replaced the treble hooks with a siwash barbless hook).

Nice report / pics!

thanks for the trip!!  That requires some serious planning!   
even though it lacked a fish pic, it was VERY informative and scenic!  

Enjoyed your report/pics. I haven't been back to Kings Canyon since 1978. Myself and two friends did the Rae lakes loop and down to Mt Whitney. Some great fishing back then. Glad to see its still pristine and beautiful.
thanks...aka-kimo

Beautiful scenery!