Jim Stimson Reports on 10.27.2016

We had an interesting weekend of weather throughout the Sierra. At our end of the State we had primarily a wind event, though the town of Mammoth Lakes reported just over 4” of rain. I watched the river flows on the San Joaquin go from 5 cfs to over 900 cfs on Sunday evening. This ended up being a nice, wet event. The ski area received a few feet of snow depending...

Jim Stimson Reports on 10.13.2016

I have been dividing my time between fishing and photography. The autumn colors are about as good as it gets between Bishop and Bridgeport. The mornings are crisp with frost and some fog settling in along the river basins. Dress warmly if you head out early. Once the sun hits the valley however, it warms up nicely. With any luck we will be on the receiving end of...

Jim Stimson reports on 10.6.2016

First things first, Go Giants!

Autumn is on full display now on the high benches and most of the canyons along the Eastside. The mornings are very crisp with frost and some fog settling in along the river basins. Dress warmly if you head out early. Once the sun hits the valley however, it warms up nicely.

Lower Owens River

Jim Stimson Reports on 9/29/2016

We had to throw some plastic over our garden tomatoes and peppers last night as the temperatures plunged into the low 30’s. Autumn is in the air. There was a hint of frost on the ground but that should all but vanish by the weekend with a rise in the thermometer. The aspen trees in the high country are starting to turn yellow. With the hazy blue in the mountain...

Jim Stimson Reports on 9.8.2016

Gone are the sweaty nights sleeping with the windows open, no covers, under the sweeping drone of a ceiling fan. The morning temps are starting to dip into the 30’s, fall is in the air. Squirrels are busy caching away food for the dark days of winter, the bears in town are getting that sleepy, uncoordinated swagger in their gait as the urge to hibernate starts to...

Jim Stimson reports on 9.1.2016

My home lies on the edge of two worlds….. the Eastern Sierra and the Great Basin Desert. The light is changing, the shadows grow longer and the distant peaks are picking up the hazy, blue tones of autumn. The rabbitbrush is in full bloom, their yellow flowers are a hint of the fall colors soon to come. September and October are the best months on the eastside. The...

Jim Stimson Reports on 8.25.2016

Last Sunday I ventured into new territory. I led a backcountry photography workshop into the Emigrant Wilderness Area just south of Sonora Pass out of Kennedy Meadows, not to be confused with the Kennedy Meadows in the southern Sierra. Although this was a photography outing, I was able to “sneak” a 7’6” Redington 2wt rod into my pack and fished everyday of the...

Jim Stimson Reports on 8.11.2016

Ahhhh….. we’re enjoying a lull in the local fires. We’ve had two major fires, just to the north and just a few miles from the house. Scary! Thanks to all of the hard working fire personnel who are frantically trying to save California and the West. Enjoy the summer, be careful with campfires, and keep an eye on the water temperatures. Get out there! Have fun!

C...

Jim Stimson Reports on 8.4.2016

Summer is the time of year when I think about getting into hiking shape. We live at the base of the eastern escarpment of the Sierra and nestled up high, often above timberline, are thousands of lakes. Most of these lakes have some kind of trout: brookies, browns, rainbow, cuttys, and goldens. The California State fish, the golden trout, is a treasure to hold. These...

Jim Stimson Reports on 7.28.2016

It has been clear and hot for weeks now. Usually we start getting some monsoonal flow come July, but no sign of relief yet. It would be nice to get dosed with some rain and cool breezes. With that said, watch the water temperatures. Buy yourself a thermometer and keep it handy like you would a pair hemostats. I checked out the East Walker last week on my way to...