Native Rainbow Trout

[monstahfish]

I was thinking there probably was fish up there.

[DarkShadow]

I was thinking there probably was fish up there.

There's still quite a few native rainbow populations in a lot of our watersheds.

But then begins the, "risk/time/effort v. reward" analysis.

If I'm driving to Palm Springs, taking a tram, hiking a lot more.....

Why not just drive to the Kern? Or Bishop?

[monstahfish]

True. But if I’m in Palm Springs and I’m going up the tram, why not have an adventure? Of course the spots around sd I know of are full of poison oak so not worth it and I’d rather leave the fish be.

[DarkShadow]

True. But if I’m in Palm Springs and I’m going up the tram, why not have an adventure? Of course the spots around sd I know of are full of poison oak so not worth it and I’d rather leave the fish be.

True, especially since there's hell else to do in Palm Springs when it's 300 degrees down there, and it's a cool 60 degrees up at the top.

There's a handful of spots here in the local San Gabriel and San Bernardino mountains that have fish. The ones in the San Gabes are about 45 minutes away, and if you don't mind a brisk bike ride, you can get into some pretty good water.

There was a favorite spot of mine in San Bernardino, that I stopped going to a few years ago. Aside from the slog up the windy mountain highway, the 45 minute off road trek on $hitty roads, and then the subsequent 45 minute hike, it would be 3 hours by the time I left my house to me making my first cast.

At that point, I did the math and I could be in Bishop if I added another 40 minutes or so. Plus, the wear and tear on my vehicle! Some of those roads are just atrocious, especially as of late when they weren't graded and the rains caused havoc to them.

That's where I start factoring risk v reward. But like you said, if you happen to be in Palm Springs, fishing that watershed would be a fun change of pace.

[twin22s]

I got into small stream trout fishing a couple years ago and have been exploring a few of the well known areas such as west fork SGR, bear creek/upper Santa ana river, Trabucco creek when it its stocked... but recent floods then fires in those areas have left most of them either shut down or not worth fishing. It would be cool to meet up with a fellow adventurous trout angler and share spots and techniques. I'm trying to make time to fish this Saturday somewhere and at least one day in December. I have a list of places I'd like to explore but won't give too much away to the lurkers, haha.

[Midnightpass]

I got into small stream trout fishing a couple years ago and have been exploring a few of the well known areas such as west fork SGR, bear creek/upper Santa ana river, Trabucco creek when it its stocked... but recent floods then fires in those areas have left most of them either shut down or not worth fishing. It would be cool to meet up with a fellow adventurous trout angler and share spots and techniques. I'm trying to make time to fish this Saturday somewhere and at least one day in December. I have a list of places I'd like to explore but won't give too much away to the lurkers, haha.

Love to join you, but my old knees don’t do well on the rocky stream beds any more… Have fun..
Butch

[DarkShadow]

I have a list of places I'd like to explore but won't give too much away to the lurkers, haha.

Unfortunately, if a savvy web user can do a Google search, they can find documents via the DFG that entails every single waterway in SoCal that has had a 'history' of trout in them. And from what I've seen, this is a very extensive list. All it needs is someone to find access, and roll the dice. Half the waterways don't even have water anymore. But, find the ones that do, and you might find trout that winter over in deep holes.

But again....risk, reward.

[Spektrum]

Deep Creek, Bear creek below the big bear dam and the little creek out of (into?) Piru come to mind. I believe there is a stream near Santa Barbara with a tiny population of SoCal Steelheads.

[DarkShadow]

I believe there is a stream near Santa Barbara with a tiny population of SoCal Steelheads.

I'd seriously recommend not going to any creeks in SoCal that may have Steelhead. They are federally protected and from what I've seen, you can poach all you want in lakes, but the moment you mess with a Steelhead, DFG will track you down.

[twin22s]

Wish i had the time to investigate all my hunches but with only about 1 day a month to spend it exploring somewhere or on a boat on the ocean I guess it’s just a shot in the dark and a nice hike if nothing else…

[Spektrum]

I believe there is a stream near Santa Barbara with a tiny population of SoCal Steelheads.

I'd seriously recommend not going to any creeks in SoCal that may have Steelhead. They are federally protected and from what I've seen, you can poach all you want in lakes, but the moment you mess with a Steelhead, DFG will track you down.

Perfect spot for a catch and cook

[DarkShadow]

I believe there is a stream near Santa Barbara with a tiny population of SoCal Steelheads.

I'd seriously recommend not going to any creeks in SoCal that may have Steelhead. They are federally protected and from what I've seen, you can poach all you want in lakes, but the moment you mess with a Steelhead, DFG will track you down.

Perfect spot for a catch and cook

Believe me, I laughed too when I first saw this.

Someone did a hero post on a now defunct fishing message board based in SoCal about them catching a nice Steelhead out of Santa Ynez creek.

2 weeks later, a DFG warden had created an account, and had found the exact spot that the person caught the fish, and somehow found them and sent them a nice message letting them know that it wasn't 'cool' to be fishing there.

It was the running joke for that forum for a while, considering when anybody else calls Cal Tip, nobody shows up, but yet this species who is years from being extinct from SoCal are still being coddled.

I'm with you. If i catch it, it fries.