possible fishing near kirkwood CA (silver lake area) on rt. 88.

I'm visiting some friends up there this weekend, might take my yak for some trout trolling/drifting.

if anybody has any advice for me, I'm all ears. I don't have a fishfinder, so some
kind of UL trout trolling with small minnow or shad plugs is highest on my list, can do
threaded nite crawler if that's required to get a bite.

fair to decent fishing, lack of crowds, no need to stop and pay somebody, miminal people on the lake
is usually my highest criteria.

If it's a tip you want kept quiet, I will do that, pm me.

J

Caples lake is near there. Hwy 88 runs right next to it.

I don't know the name of the river, but it intersects PiPi Valley Road right off of 88.
Not a kayak fishing place, but I was catching trout out of there every other cast about five weeks ago.

Cheers,

Brett

thanks!

Caples and Silver have larger fish in them. I would recommend deep trolling with large plugs for the macs and fast (3-4 mph) trolling shallow with gold and silver j9 rapalas every few minutes jerk the rod...this is for browns.   Bear River also has good fishing but I am not as experienced with this lake. In the past I have trolled wedding rings with a redworm for low to moderate sucess. If all else fails.....so the chartruess colored powerbait.

-Brian

hey John, flashers with night crawlers are the ticket in either of these lakes for rainbow plants, i always go exactly 18 inches on the leader.  same setup as the merced falls post.  I tried gold crushed triple teasers and my minnow lures 3 times up there for 1 fish and then went to a flasher setup and scored. 

remember a month ago or so that guy posted about that huge brown trout???  there was a link to a fish sniffer article about jigging for macs and kokanees if I recall correctly in that thread, that seems like it would be interesting to try also.  ya dont need no fish finder good luck up there.  jtf..

Thanks man, I just read the sniffer on Caples. lots of info. sounds like they may have just planted it too. timing seems right at
a few weeks after ice out. wind and bugs might be a problem, at least you don't get them at the same time.

I'm not sure, but I might be in a house right next to the lake. that would be convenient.

the options seem to be:

big plugs trolled fast, possibly deep (3.2 mph), small plugs near the shoreline pretty fast (2.4 mph), or dodger/flasher 1/2 crawler (less than 1.3 mph).
all depend on how you want to lay your bets. I will probably try a little each of the latter two.

It will require mooch-like dedication for me to actually fish saturday morning, but it might happen.

Got any caples launch tips? sounds like cartoppers can launch anytime but trailered boats have to wait for "Mad John" to open the
launch ramp @ 7.  sounds like with a bunch of work, canoes pontoons and other craft launch anywhere and everywhere.

If you go to Caples you can park along the side of the road near the dam and have maybe 20 feet or less to put your kayak in. From that spot if you look along the shoreline away from the dam you will see it jut out about 50-75 yards from where you park. There are some very large boulders right near the shoreline there and some very big fish hold in that area.
Bring your nightcrawlers. If all else fails this is your money shot.

Thanks Tote! free parking and road launching is my kind of fishing!


J