Suggestions for backcountry hike-in off-trail camping and fishing

[jplee3]

Hey all,

No experience with the backcountry/hike-in/off-trail camping stuff but always wanted to do it. A friend of mine, also a Marine, has some experience doing this (his son is in Boy Scouts as well) and so we may rely on his experience with this. Was wondering if any of you have good suggestions on places where we could do this. And we of course would want to get a decent amount of fishing in.

I was thinking anywhere between SoCal to Mammoth or Bishop.

Ultimately, car camping works as well if there are no good suggestions for "noobs"

Would appreciate suggestions.

TIA

 

[flytie]

North Fork Big Pine Creek/Big Pine Creek Trailhead. There are campgrounds at the base or overnight parking and you can back pack in. Lakes were stocked by plane and had lots of pan sized trout. We would pack in and spend a few days, then pack out.

Use this as a guide point on a map: https://www.google.com/maps/place/B...9b005!8m2!3d37.1280215!4d-118.4277643!5m1!1e4

 

[jplee3]

North Fork Big Pine Creek/Big Pine Creek Trailhead. There are campgrounds at the base or overnight parking and you can back pack in. Lakes were stocked by plane and had lots of pan sized trout. We would pack in and spend a few days, then pack out.

Use this as a guide point on a map: https://www.google.com/maps/place/B...9b005!8m2!3d37.1280215!4d-118.4277643!5m1!1e4

Thanks! Do you need to get into a lottery if wanting to backpack in and camp off-trail? Seems like it's a minimum 3-4mile hike in at least to the first lake and then varies depending on how far you want to go?

 

[pacificscout]

Kernville.
Plenty area for camping and fishing.

 

[flytie]

Thanks! Do you need to get into a lottery if wanting to backpack in and camp off-trail? Seems like it's a minimum 3-4mile hike in at least to the first lake and then varies depending on how far you want to go?

You should only need to pull a permit from the local office. Haven't done it in years but that is they way it used to be.

 

[flytie]

Kernville.
Plenty area for camping and fishing.

What he said.

 

[jplee3]

Thanks for the suggestion on Kernville. I'm assuming this is for the dispersed camping around there? Is it pretty 'easy' as far as hiking in to any of those given spots? Need to avoid anything involving scrambling or climbing as I have a couple torn ligaments in my wrist and that I don't want to re-injure after an upcoming surgery. BTW: I'm considering planning something for Spring time hopefully... right now it seems a bit too cold hahaha.

 

[Tunahead]

My favorites were the many hiking trails and off beat lakes up high in Tuolumne Meadows in Yosomite National Park. Lot of close off the road and 1-5mi hikes to prime trout lakes. Summer
only, closed in winter=too much snow.

Tuolumne Meadows - Yosemite National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

new Tuolumne Meadow webpage

www.nps.gov

 

[marlyn]

June lake loop gives you walk in fishing to a bunch of lakes,parker and walker lakes,fern creek lake,rush creek trail to agnew,gem and waugh lakes and more plus you have june,gull,silver and parker lake without hiking in at all.
Depends on how far you want to walk in.

 

[yakdout]

Don’t count out the desert here in CA and baja. Lots of open land in both. I suggest getting onx maps and you can see boundaries for property lines. You can basically go camp anywhere on BLM land and national Forrest areas. To add to the fun, do it doing turkey season and bring a shotgun along with you. And if you’re hunting on public land you are also allowed to open carry a sidearm.

 

[hronk]

Hey all,

No experience with the backcountry/hike-in/off-trail camping stuff but always wanted to do it. A friend of mine, also a Marine, has some experience doing this (his son is in Boy Scouts as well) and so we may rely on his experience with this. Was wondering if any of you have good suggestions on places where we could do this. And we of course would want to get a decent amount of fishing in.

I was thinking anywhere between SoCal to Mammoth or Bishop.

Ultimately, car camping works as well if there are no good suggestions for "noobs"

Would appreciate suggestions.

TIA

 

[hbouldin1216]

Don’t count out the desert here in CA and baja. Lots of open land in both. I suggest getting onx maps and you can see boundaries for property lines. You can basically go camp anywhere on BLM land and national Forrest areas. To add to the fun, do it doing turkey season and bring a shotgun along with you. And if you’re hunting on public land you are also allowed to open carry a sidearm.

"There is a California Penal Code law that allows anglers to carry a gun while fishing and while hiking to and from their angling site. California Penal Code, section 12025 prohibits carrying concealed firearms in California, however, section 12027 provides the following exemption to this prohibition: “Licensed hunters or fishermen carrying pistols, revolvers or other firearms capable of being concealed upon the person while engaged in hunting or fishing, or transporting those firearms unloaded when going to or returning from the hunting or fishing expedition.” Remember that some areas that allow fishing, such as state and national parks, and some incorporated areas where fishing is allowed prohibit the possession of any firearm. Make sure to check on the local laws where you plan to fish. The California Bureau of Firearms in the Department of Justice posts a summary of California firearm laws online at http://ag.ca.gov/firearms/.

I read the bolded part as being allowed to carry concealed without a CCW, not open carry.

 

[yakdout]

"There is a California Penal Code law that allows anglers to carry a gun while fishing and while hiking to and from their angling site. California Penal Code, section 12025 prohibits carrying concealed firearms in California, however, section 12027 provides the following exemption to this prohibition: “Licensed hunters or fishermen carrying pistols, revolvers or other firearms capable of being concealed upon the person while engaged in hunting or fishing, or transporting those firearms unloaded when going to or returning from the hunting or fishing expedition.” Remember that some areas that allow fishing, such as state and national parks, and some incorporated areas where fishing is allowed prohibit the possession of any firearm. Make sure to check on the local laws where you plan to fish. The California Bureau of Firearms in the Department of Justice posts a summary of California firearm laws online at http://ag.ca.gov/firearms/.

I read the bolded part as being allowed to carry concealed without a CCW, not open carry.

Yes I meant to say conceal carry sidearm, not open.

 

[Troy]

North Fork Big Pine Creek/Big Pine Creek Trailhead. There are campgrounds at the base or overnight parking and you can back pack in. Lakes were stocked by plane and had lots of pan sized trout. We would pack in and spend a few days, then pack out.

Use this as a guide point on a map: https://www.google.com/maps/place/B...9b005!8m2!3d37.1280215!4d-118.4277643!5m1!1e4

This is also my go to spot. Can be crowded in summer months but great set up with Glacier Lodge and two campgrounds at the trail head. Yes it’s a hike to get up to the lakes but so worth it.

 

[palella09]

This might be a bit old but this is how I usually do it.

Go on AllTrails and scope out trails based on length of hike, difficulty and reviews referencing the fishing. Comments of reviews usually give you a good idea of how the weather is and if there is snow on the trail.

If backpacking you'll need a wilderness permit. Go to recreation.gov and look up a wilderness permit starting from the trailhead you choose.

I've done two backpack trips and both had plenty of lakes to fish from and I recommend both.
Cottonwood Lakes Trail
Little Lakes Valley to Gem Lakes

Pack Tylenol, most trails in that area get over 10k in elevation and it is easy to get some sort of elevation sickness.

Always remember, ounces=pounds and pounds=pain!

 

[CI_SeaWolf]

A nice break in for new hikers is Lamarck Lake out of North Lake trailhead north fork Bishop Creek. You would need a wilderness permit I think.

 

[jer dog]

A nice break in for new hikers is Lamarck Lake out of North Lake trailhead north fork Bishop Creek. You would need a wilderness permit I think.

Monnache meadows

 

[CI_SeaWolf]

Monache meadows is pretty far south from Bishop