08-22-2012, 11:10 AM
MAMMOTH LAKES, Calif. - An Eastern Sierra stream closed to fishing since the mid-1990s will be opened on Sept. 16 to a limited number of registrants to the Fly Fishing Faire. There will be no limit on the number of brook trout that anglers can catch and keep.
The Mammoth Lakes Faire, presented by the Southwest Council Federation of Fly Fishers (FFF) has special permission that allows fly-fishers the opportunity to catch and remove an unlimited number of brook trout from Silver Creek, a tributary of the Walker River. "Sometime in the future, Silver Creek will be inhabited exclusively by Lahonton cutthroat trout," according to Dawne Becker Emery, environmental scientist, California Department of Fish and Game.
Emery, of the aquatic restoration and recovery division, will serve as volunteer group leader and guide on the brook trout "catch and keep" and electro-shocking trip, said Michael Schweit, president of the Southwest Council FFF.
In addition to the Silver Creek brook trout outing, the Sept. 13-16 Faire will feature fly-tying demonstrations and instruction, fly-fishing classes, youth and adult casting instruction, free seminars and related activities. Headquartered at Cerro Coso Community College, 101 College Parkway in Mammoth, the Faire will be a potpourri of every aspect of the sport utilizing both the school and nearby Eastern Sierra waters.
Adult admission is $10 with children and teens age 16 and under admitted free. One admission is good for all Faire days. Registration, class, film and seminar information is available on-line at the Southwest Council FFF site.
The day-long Silver Creek brook trout event will depart from and return to the Cerro Coso College event headquarters.
According to Emery, "A few volunteer efforts by angling have occurred over the years as well as some Silver Creek poaching. Other than those instances, it's been closed for years.
"All brookies will need to be dispatched, and can either be taken by the volunteer or properly disposed of if too small. All Lahonton cutthroat trout (LCT) will need to be returned to the water, hopefully unharmed. Participants will hear a brief lecture on identifying brookies vs. Lahontan cutts and must fill out volunteer forms. This will all occur at streamside, then participants can follow the water to wherever they'd like to fish.
"The creek is wadeable, but the openness and clear water may be more conducive to bankside angling. For the electro-shocking, I have a limited number of dip nets and would probably need only three netters, one bucket person. Participants can trade-off if there is a lot of interest," she concluded.
Reservations to the Silver Creek brook trout outing and all other classes, seminars and activities at the SWC FFF Mammoth Fly Fishing Faire are on a first-come, first-served basis at www.regonline.com/flyfishingfaire or by calling (818) 757 3474.
The Mammoth Lakes Faire, presented by the Southwest Council Federation of Fly Fishers (FFF) has special permission that allows fly-fishers the opportunity to catch and remove an unlimited number of brook trout from Silver Creek, a tributary of the Walker River. "Sometime in the future, Silver Creek will be inhabited exclusively by Lahonton cutthroat trout," according to Dawne Becker Emery, environmental scientist, California Department of Fish and Game.
Emery, of the aquatic restoration and recovery division, will serve as volunteer group leader and guide on the brook trout "catch and keep" and electro-shocking trip, said Michael Schweit, president of the Southwest Council FFF.
In addition to the Silver Creek brook trout outing, the Sept. 13-16 Faire will feature fly-tying demonstrations and instruction, fly-fishing classes, youth and adult casting instruction, free seminars and related activities. Headquartered at Cerro Coso Community College, 101 College Parkway in Mammoth, the Faire will be a potpourri of every aspect of the sport utilizing both the school and nearby Eastern Sierra waters.
Adult admission is $10 with children and teens age 16 and under admitted free. One admission is good for all Faire days. Registration, class, film and seminar information is available on-line at the Southwest Council FFF site.
The day-long Silver Creek brook trout event will depart from and return to the Cerro Coso College event headquarters.
According to Emery, "A few volunteer efforts by angling have occurred over the years as well as some Silver Creek poaching. Other than those instances, it's been closed for years.
"All brookies will need to be dispatched, and can either be taken by the volunteer or properly disposed of if too small. All Lahonton cutthroat trout (LCT) will need to be returned to the water, hopefully unharmed. Participants will hear a brief lecture on identifying brookies vs. Lahontan cutts and must fill out volunteer forms. This will all occur at streamside, then participants can follow the water to wherever they'd like to fish.
"The creek is wadeable, but the openness and clear water may be more conducive to bankside angling. For the electro-shocking, I have a limited number of dip nets and would probably need only three netters, one bucket person. Participants can trade-off if there is a lot of interest," she concluded.
Reservations to the Silver Creek brook trout outing and all other classes, seminars and activities at the SWC FFF Mammoth Fly Fishing Faire are on a first-come, first-served basis at www.regonline.com/flyfishingfaire or by calling (818) 757 3474.