Since it was deleted, let me reiterate what was said in a little more depth and set the record straight. Like my farewell post said "Trout Bums Move On" is exactly it. Those of you who know me well know my passion for fishing. Guiding on the Kern just was not satisfying for me anymore, catching the same 12-14" stocker every day on the same river got old quick. Waiting to catch a "trophy" fish meant waiting for the hatchery to dump them in. Don't get me wrong the Kern is a great river and could be recommened to any fisherman to fish. My point is not to slam the Kern. The wild trout section is a beautiful place, but how many times can a trout connoisseur walk that trail to catch mostly what are considered smaller fish. At one time we did get some hogs out of there but they were stockers that had run up due to very warm water down below. Even then the poachers were up there illegally. On the Kern the bait fisherman rule, I know that has changed slightly for the better. Ask anybody that has spent any time on the Kern and they will tell you of the garbage and trout killing they have witnessed at one time or another.
Then I was introduced to the East Walker river! My first trip I caught a 24" wild brown trout and watched him eat my five inch streamer. That fish was not the only one hooked. I was too. Next was Hot Creek, at 12,000 wild trout per mile I was in a trouter's paradise landing twenty plus fish my first time on with half of them being browns! (it's a little more difficult now) Next, was the Upper Owens which cuts through one of the most beautiful high elevation meadows I have seen. The east side divides the bait fishing water from the fly fisherman, allowing one to fish fly fishing only water in nearly all locations. The east side just has that much water. I began making weekly trips fishing the east side with my sons and wife. They loved it as well. I began making arrangements to fish over here more, it is a trouters paradise with the amout of flowing waters to fish being endless.
So thats it, as a 14 year veteran guide I found something much more satisfying with many more opportunities than I had on the Kern. That is the bottom line and that is it, period. If I had wanted to stay on the Kern, I would of made a way, like I made a way for myself over here.
Since my farewell post I have also been pretty much banned from the forum. (They reset my password so I could not log on to check my PM's...I hate to say this but it is the truth, check to see when the last time I logged on there was.) Maybe my leaving made it look bad for them. I do not know the reasoning why I was banned and not allowed to post. Thankyou for reading.
David
My sons and I on Hot Creek...springtime
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