High Sierra Fishing Report (SMFR)

| July 6, 2022
June Fishing in the High Sierras
Photo Credit: Keith Knoxsville
A Hen and a Drake Green Teal on the truck bed. Not a limit on anything, but a fun morning out.
From the Editor:
It took a while for us to get around to publishing, we’re sorry, and figured it better a little late than never.

Things are heating up in the Eastern Sierra’s high country! A low snow year and warm temperatures allowed us to check out a few locations over the past couple of weeks. We discovered that dry fly season is already underway in the alpine lakes and streams. Now is the time to get into the mountains, and here’s what you’ll need to know to hook some hungry high country trout.

First, be aware that the only lakes that are completely thawed at this time are those below 11,000 feet. Luckily, that’s where many of the Sierra’s larger lakes are located. If you plan to cross any high passes to get to a specific area, be prepared to encounter snowfields and the potential for a stray thunderstorm.

A beautiful trout

A beautiful trout from the scenic High Sierra’s

We observed trout actively surface feeding everywhere we went, so you shouldn’t have much trouble slinging dry flies. Elk Hair Caddis, Pale Morning Dun, and Parachute Adams all worked pretty well and the Purple Royal Para Wulff seemed to entice some of the pickier fish. It’s always a good idea to bring along a variety of nymphs and streamers for when the fish aren’t surface feeding or the weather changes to cloudy or windy. Brightly colored Copper Johns and Zebra Midges, and small to medium streamers are typically effective.

Be prepared for the high altitude and the normally cloudless Sierra days by bringing sunscreen, and sunglasses, and consider a sun shirt and a hat. Extra layers, like a wind/rain jacket, are always a good idea. The snow is still melting so plan for wet, muddy trails and consider waterproof hiking boots or shoes. Always be sure to check the weather before heading into the high country.

Recommended Gear:
A 5wt, 9ft rod and reel combo or Try a Tenkara Rod
Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake Sun Hoody
Suncloud Polarized Sunglasses
Size 18-20 Parachute Adams dry flies
Size 16-18 Elkhair Caddis dry flies

catch and release fishing

Catch and release fishing in the High Sierra’s

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What is the Best Motion Dove Decoy in 2023?

| July 4, 2022
Mojo Voodoo Dove Decoy In Tall Grass
Photo Credit: Keith Knoxsville
A Hen and a Drake Green Teal on the truck bed. Not a limit on anything, but a fun morning out.

In the world of motion dove decoys, there are only a couple of good options, and while most are spinners, there is at least one that is a little bit unique. We decided to test and review the 2 most well-known spinning wing decoys, the MOJO Outdoors Voodoo Dove Decoy and the Lucky Duck Lucky Dove HD Decoy, as well as the unique flapping wing motion decoy, the Lucky Duck Rapid Flyer Dove Decoy. We put them to the test in the field and chose the best one for the 2022 dove season.

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If you are looking at spinners, then you’ll split hairs choosing between the Mojo Outdoors Voodoo Dove Decoy and the Lucky Duck Lucky Dove HD Decoy. The choice comes down to preference. With the Voodoo you get a slightly more solid construction and an oversized decoy body, but it vibrates during operation, and you may wish it had a taller stand.

The Lucky Dove HD gives you vibration-free operation and a slightly more natural-looking decoy. However, the build quality may leave you a little underwhelmed.

There really are no losers on our list. The Rapid Flyer, while not great at attracting doves from afar, does a good job enticing them into a decoy spread when they are nearby. It was our last choice if you were to only use one motion decoy, where a spinner is favorable. However, situationally the Rapid Flyer is a very effective tool, and if you are deploying it on an old dairy, or other place with lots of nearby doves and pigeons, it’s the perfect tool.

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