TR: Frenchman's Creek...now I'm caught up!

San Diego finally received some meaningful rainfall over the last couple of
weeks, and it appears that the trout in Frenchman's Creek will make it
through another season. We had to make sure though...sometimes it's best to
check these things out firsthand.

Danl and I met at the chosen parking spot at 7:30 a.m. where he presented me
with the material to tie up a bunch of a San Juan favorite. I think this is
a tie even I can pull off! We set off down the frozen trail, our shoes
crunching the icy ground and our breath hanging in the cold morning
air...perfect hiking weather. Soon we found ourselves at the mouth of the
canyon and started down the boulder-strewn watercourse. Both of us had
fished the upper section of this creek in the past, and we pointed out some
of the pools that had yielded memorable fish...for me the hook-jawed male in
spawning colors, and for Danl the 13 inch brown that wasn't supposed to be
there. Streamside rocks were slick with a skin of ice, and sheets of the
stuff covered the still water in most of the eddies. We carefully threaded
our way over and around boulders and through thick brush for a little over
an hour, and finally rigged up, unable to stand it anymore.

For the next few hours we worked our way downstream, fishing as we went.
The water was very cold, and both fish and insects seemed to be quite
sluggish. We picked up the occasional fish, Danl on dries (of course) and
me on a midge dropper. Slow as it was, we had a fine time working some very
nice looking water. When things warm up a little bit, some stretches of
this creek are just going to be a blast! Because it was still close to the
Christmas season (I need an excuse), we.mostly me.spent a little extra time
hanging ornaments from the branches of the streamside trees. Nice ornaments
too.tufts of colored feathers with golden beads and iridescent trim.quite
beautiful in the afternoon sun.

At a point deep inside the canyon we came to a gorgeous pool fed by a fair
sized waterfall. Spots like this just aren't supposed to exist in this part
of the state. There *had* to be fish here, so we started casting in
earnest.and casting and casting. I think Danl got a couple of strikes here,
and I got zip. Then one of us tied on a Little Brown Streamer (from the
2003 swap) and BOOM! A pretty little rainbow. Then a hit and miss. Then
another fish. We had found the hot ticket and played in that pool for
another thirty minutes before being forced by the late hour to start back to
the cars. We fished as we walked, and Danl managed a couple of final trout
before we finally broke down our rods. We were back at the cars by the time
it was dark. Thanks, Danl, for another great day.

As for the pictures, I was still using the cheap disposable camera from the
Owens River trip, and the photos I shot just didn't turn out.too little
light in the canyon. I don't like to post so many pictures with me in them,
but Danl took some shots that really show the character of the stream very
well. I hope you'll like them.
http://users.adelphia.net/~wmason/FrenchMansCreek.htm

Cheers,
Bill

In article , Bill Mason
wrote:

http://users.adelphia.net/~wmason/FrenchMansCreek.htm

Very nice TR Bill.. Not at all what I expected it to look like from
your description, thought it would be browner.

Allen
Catonsville, MD

Bill Mason wrote:
San Diego finally received some meaningful rainfall over the last couple of
weeks, and it appears that the trout in Frenchman's Creek will make it
through another season. We had to make sure though...sometimes it's best to
check these things out firsthand.


Nice Bill. Handsome fish that Danl had. Looks like a cool little stream

Willi

"Bill Mason" wrote in message
...
San Diego finally received some meaningful rainfall over the last couple of
weeks, and it appears that the trout in Frenchman's Creek will make it
through another season.
snip
Good news, and good TR. Thanks, Bill.
--
TL,
Tim
http://css.sbcma.com/timj

"Bill Mason" wrote in message
...
San Diego finally received some meaningful rainfall over the last couple
of
weeks, and it appears that the trout in Frenchman's Creek will make it
through another season. We had to make sure though...sometimes it's best
to
check these things out firsthand.

Danl and I met at the chosen parking spot at 7:30 a.m.


[Good TR of a damn fine day snipped]

Cheers,
Bill


That was a great day, Bill. Good thing you figured out the fly de jour.

The "hike" in and out of "Broken Leg Canyon" that houses Frenchman's Creek
is darn tough! You gotta really want to see those little fishes to climb in
and out of there. Makes those cricks in Nawth Cackalacky look like golf
course ponds. Hell, Mr. Frodo had an afternoon stroll to his mailbox by
comparison. The cockles of my heart are kept nicely warm on these long
winter nights (62 degrees here at 7PM) knowing that those little jewels are
hidden in that small splash of water.

Danl

Let's do it again soon.

"Danl" wrote in message
...

The "hike" in and out of "Broken Leg Canyon" that houses Frenchman's Creek
is darn tough! You gotta really want to see those little fishes to climb
in
and out of there.

And that was the easy route! The ropes along another "trail" aren't just
there for decoration. Still, the old gent's tale of "nothing under 21
inches" rings around in the back of my head. We need to figure out that new
access we talked about!

Cheers,
Bill

Danl wrote:

Makes those cricks in Nawth Cackalacky look like golf
course ponds.

hmmm... methinks cal danl has yet to experience a genuine carolina
trout. lemmeesee, greentown trail, linville canyon, hooper bald, a bit
of upper wilson, whadya think waldo?

see you in october danl?? g

jeff

Nice report and photos, thanks for keeping our spirits up here during
the dark and cold season!

--
Jarmo Hurri

Spam countermeasures included. Drop your brain when replying, or just
use .

Jeff Miller wrote:


Danl wrote:

Makes those cricks in Nawth Cackalacky look like golf
course ponds.


hmmm... methinks cal danl has yet to experience a genuine carolina
trout. lemmeesee, greentown trail, linville canyon, hooper bald, a bit
of upper wilson, whadya think waldo?

see you in october danl?? g

jeff


i think dan'l been sippin' from a bad mason jar..... not that i
be opposed to such activity, it's just that if yer gonna make
bald assed statements like dat, ya need to be sippin' da good
stuff.... preferably on a cabin porch tucked away in the high
country of nc.... along with some nc boys that will reintroduce
the forlorn adventurer to some mighty fine streams.... course,
'ole danl most likely to get lost tryin' to keep up with us bounders.

wally

"Jeff Miller" wrote in message
news:uJbMb.71110$hf1.44370@lakeread06...


Danl wrote:

Makes those cricks in Nawth Cackalacky look like golf
course ponds.

hmmm... methinks cal danl has yet to experience a genuine carolina
trout. lemmeesee, greentown trail, linville canyon, hooper bald, a bit
of upper wilson, whadya think waldo?

see you in october danl?? g

jeff

Pshaw, Jeffie. Them places got names that even include the word "trail".
Whaddazat tell ya?

Don't know bout October, but I'm gonna be wading in some Western NC cricks
in May. Unfortunately, bout the same time you're gonna be bivouacked in the
Penn's Monsoon.

Danl