Lake McSwain trout troll

Took a small break from the family to finally go paddle and fish!

Kayak fished Lake McSwain saturday eve. and Sunday mid day. McSwain is a forebay type dam for it's larger, higher, sister lake, Lake McClure. These lakes are located just East of the small town of Snelling, Ca.

Camping was available, and my friend and I got a basic site in the overflow camping are. After making camp we finally got OTW at 4pm Sat.

It was hot already - in the mid 80's., this place will be in the 100's in a month. Elevation at the lake is 600 feet, but the water in McSwain is drawn from the bottom of Lake McClure so it stays cold and is a good temp for trout to flourish.



During the hot afternoon hours we trolled flashers and nightcrawlers, my first time to do this.
I must have had the wrong color flasher or something as my buddy released two fish on an all silver flasher(recommended by YakHopper/FW) while I paddled for nothing with a rainbow colored flasher set-up.

As the sun finally was leaving the water the lake came alive with 14 - 24" trout vaulting out of the lake chasing bugs I assume, (there didn't seem to be a prolific hatch above the water)

The flasher set-up was beginning to annoy me so I whipped out the fly rod and tied on a small mosquito pattern. The breeze had settled and I started blind casting around noticing how pretty the canyon was with the oaks and grasses in bloom.

Trout continued to swirl and launch all around us, but no takers for the dry fly.
Switched to a #12 bead head hare's ear - and after a couple of casts and a 4" jerky stripping action I finally got some love.

16" of McSwain Rainbow slammed that little fly hard, miraculously I remembered to line strike the hit instead of whipping the rod back, and was stoked to be on a hard running trout on a willowy 5 wt fly rod. Jeez, it felt good to be on a fish again! Surprisingly strong, the little guy bulled around the kayak a few times before I got him into the yak.



First fly rod trout off the yak for me!
Got a cruddy shot with the cel phone cam and stringered him up for Ashley back at home.

8 pm. and it was getting dark so we started back to the launch about 2 miles away.
Tied on a Jointed Rapala brown trout and began a moderately fast troll back to the ramp when my spinning rod went bendo nicely. I must have had about 75 yards of line out as I reeled for awhile finally getting the beautifully colored 22+ incher to the side of the Yak, where one last ditch wriggle gained freedom for the awesome native.

Fished Sunday midday for nada, did see some PB's hooking up on the same sized trout using flasher worm rigs.

In all, cool little lake with a family type atmosphere, loaded with trout, and the 10mph speed limit for the entire lake made it pleasant to paddle there.

Thanks for the tips YakHopper!
pics: 1. typical mcswain scenery
2. rainbow with beaded hare's ear laid on it

great report! I love catching trout, nothing like that flashing of silver as they come up. Tried too pull me in some trout outta stone lagoon a few days ago..no luck.

Mcswain is a great little lake, I try and fish it during the week after work. It does get a little busy during the weekends. There are some big trout in that lake. Thanks for the report.

Craigh