My last campout at Jackson Meadows 11/4 – 11/7/13. The forest service left open Pass Creek campground but there was no one there. I had the whole lake to myself for three whole days. It was amazing. Actually when I got there on Monday, there was a solo fisherman camped just below me in the overload CG. He left early the next morning after catching four trout Monday nite, one huge one.
The Hennesey Pass road out there, had some icy spots which made me a little nervous if I was to meet up with a logging truck going the opposite direction. That could have put me out of the dry ruts and onto some slippery stuff, however, it didn’t happen. Weather was gorgeous in the low 30s at nite and 50s during the day.
As far as fishing, they didn’t seem to want what I had to offer for the first 2 days. I was using power bait then I tried every lure in my tackle box. Finally I decided to add more weight to my sliders and use the red powerbait. This allowed me to cast out further and into deeper water. Bingo! It resulted in a beauty. A 19″ rainbow trout who was a real fighter getting him in. This was Wednesday nite, then the next morning, I caught another smaller one, around 12″ but I let him go. I figured that big boy was enough for me.
Kate and I had it for dinner when I got back, and between the two of us we could only eat half of it. The rest will be another meal. We cooked it on the bbq and tried a new method of slicing it down the sides and back, and stuffing it with garlic, butter, rosemary and lemon. Then Kate made a butter, wine and capers sauce to put over it. So tender and tasty.
With no one around, I only heard the sounds of the geese, ducks, birds, lapping of water on the lake and wind in the pines. It was such a heartwarming feeling. A really sweet connection with this place. I also find it interesting and fun to walk thru the empty campgrounds, the absolute stillness as a contrast to the summertime hustle and bustle of campers which ended only a month earlier. And walking along the shoreline as the water level keeps dropping, displaying new things to see and places to explore, all previously hidden under the water.
My favorite picture is the cooked fish which was soooooo delicious;-) thanks for dinner;-))))
xo
Beautiful, meditative and such a great description of what you love about it.
Nice report, Geoff.
That’s a nice trout too.
I am going to post some of the pictures on the Jackson Meadows Camp Store Face Book Site. Great Pictures!