Learn to Fly Fish Level 1 - Yosemite High Country Fish-out

This outing is exclusively intended for currently registered Level 1 students in the GGACC's "Learn to Fly Fish" (LTFF) program.   There will be four sessions of 10 openings for a total of 40 fishing spots.

Cost: $250 / person

Overview

This trip offers fly fishing for several trout species in two pristine high alpine settings. Each day includes up to 2-5 miles of day-hiking at 9,000 - 10,000 feet. Please contact the fishout leader, Charles Marsh, if you have questions or concerns about your physical ability and this trip.   (senor.charles@gmail.com).

This year we have a guide, Steve Slater, to lead both the mentors and students on to certain stretches of small alpine streams.  We have a great group of LTFF alumni and club members with experience on this watershed to help you and show you strategies and skills for this water. Between the the club mentors and Steve there will be a wealth of Yosemite knowledge at your disposal.

Students will use overhead casts in meadow sections and practice roll casts in areas with trees. We'll use mostly small dry fly patterns with thin mono tippet (4x - 6x), but you may want to nymph the deeper holes. 

Those wanting to fish on days where they are not scheduled with mentors, are encouraged to stay in a neighboring campground on other days, but are asked to not fish the same locations that the mentored students will fish. In the pre-fishout meeting, we will suggest alternative local fishing spots.

Lyell Fork

At 9,000 feet, this stream starts at Lyell Glacier and only drops 500 feet in 10 miles. This provides a gentle stream that meanders through meadows and granite pools for a truly unique experience. 

The stream is waist deep and wide, offering dry fly fishing to Brown, Rainbow and Brook trout. It's a great place to spot fish in clear water and practice gentle overhead casting. Most of these wild trout are in the 6-9 inch range, but a handful of fish are caught each year in the 18 inch range. Larger fish require more stealth and finesse, while the less spooky smaller trout will attack dry flies readily, often with acrobatic displays.

Dana Fork

Similar to the Lyell Fork, the Dana Fork is a small mountain stream that meanders through meadows at 9,500 ft. elevation. This stream follows along Hwy 120, meaning slightly less hiking and easier access. There are many fish to be caught on a fly along this 2-mile long stream since each hole seems to have an endless supply of wild trout.

Registration fee includes:

• Guide fee

• Sack lunches each mentored day

• 1-2 dozen selected flies

Other Student costs:

• Yosemite National Park entrance fee, carpooling helps save on this cost.

• Guide gratuity

• Possible additional campground fees, depending on whether we are successful in finding an open campsite in any of the nearby campgrounds.  

• Lodging costs for motels, condos, or other vacation rentals available in the area, should you not wish to camp with the group.

Accommodations:

We will be camping at a campground to be determined, most likely the Aspen campground. There are a number of campgrounds near Lee Vining that are not reservable, so we will have an advance party head up a day earlier to secure the campground and send out a note for the location.

There are hotels and RV parks, but they are reserved very early.

Carpooling

There is extremely limited parking available at the campground. This impacts not only "where" (or if you can) park, but also limits the ability to sleep in your car.  Students will be required to carpool and tent camp (or stay elsewhere on your own) to ensure we are not over our limit. Please plan accordingly

Yosemite Entrance

Yosemite has been enacting an entrance ticketing process over the past few years. The exact process for this year is not yet announced, but when it is, it will likely require everyone driving to obtain a pass that allows them to enter the park. Once the program is announced, we will communicate further on this topic.

Wading

Waders are generally not useful on this fish out. We will be wet wading. We recommend a wet wading system of neoprene guard socks and wading boots.  Lightweight (i.e., nylon) long pants are recommended for wet-wading over wearing shorts to better protect your shins from scrapes on rocks, scratchy brush.

Gear
Not a complete packing list

• Don't forget your CA fishing license

• Bring (or plan to buy) your own breakfast, dinner, coffee, and snacks for each day.

• Camping equipment (e.g., tent, sleeping bag and pad, cooking equipment, etc) 

• Headlamp and extra batteries, especially useful at night in camp

• Small backpack, large sling pack, or vest with a large back pocket to carry lunch, water, packable rain jacket, etc.

• Water bottle(s) or water bladder large enough to carry a full day of water (1.5 - 3 liters); or a filter system to replenish a smaller water bottle.

• Fly fishing gear (3-5 wt rod, a couple 4X or 5X mono leaders, 5X - 6X mono tippet, nippers, forceps, fly box with additional flies, net optional).  No split shot or indicators will be needed.

• Dry fly floatants - flies need to be floating high on the water surface all day. It's virtually imperative to have BOTH the liquid (gel) silicone and desiccant "dry shake" versions.

• Sun protection (hat, sunscreen, neck buff)

• Wet wading shoes like Chacos or Tevas. Or wading boots with neoprene guard socks. Unless you just prefer to, there's very likely no need for wearing waders on this trip, which will be a little more difficult to hike in.

• Mandatory items:  wading staff (or hiking sticks), polarized sunglasses. 

Eating

• We strongly encourage a group dinners for the evening following your first of the two guided days. Getting to know your fellow students and everyone on the trip is part of the experience. We will discuss this over email and in the pre-outing zoom call. 

• In Lee Vining options are available at Woah Nellie Deli (in the Mobil Gas Mart), right at the junction of Hwys.120 and 395, should you end up camping in the area and would rather not cook your own dinners. For a gas station mart, this is remarkably good food. The deli is open 7am - 9pm.

• Other dining options are available in the Mono Lake area (Lee Vining) and further south in the Mammoth Lakes area; however they're sure to be more expensive.

Registration fee of $250.00 is non-refundable. It does not cover your travel costs, motels (if you decide not to camp), food (except lunch), or other sundries.

Cancellation Policy:  There are no refunds.  In the event that a student is, for any reason, unable to attend, he/she may resell his slot (rod) to another LTFF member (by first pulling from the waitlist if one exists).  It is the sole responsibility of the student to manage this transaction.