Fishing trip to Hemet Lake CA

The primordial customs and rituals of fishing reinforce our social behaviors and values. They often take us back to our childhood memories. When our group goes fishing everyone has a fish tale to share, this tall tales are familiar to everyone. Jorge, for instance, shared happy memories of his youth. "I  recall  going fishing for bass with my uncles in the damn Las Virgenes next our rancho Las Delicias in Chihuahua, Mexico. "My uncle Raul taught me to fish for bass... I brought up some huge fish in those days". Childhood memories such as Jorge's are familiar to all of us, they link us to relatives, friends, places and good eating. A good example was last weeks trip. I was busy, cleaning my garage. Jorge calls me inviting me and Bob to go fishing at Hemet lake in the scorching heat of Riverside County CA. Bob who is always ready to fish any time any place, as long as he has a good feeling, signed up to go. Of course, I prefer fishing over work any time.

After a quick trip to the tackle shop where we replenished our gear. Jorge took the lead and made all the arrangements. We drove to his vacation home in the open spaces of San Jacinto, also home of the Sosoba gaming casino. He planned for everything from sleeping arrangements, dinner menu, breakfast to driving schedules. His plan called for each one of us buying our own dinner stakes and staples. Bob said: " Well... if that how you want to handle it,  I guess it's OK".

The following day, with Jorge at the wheel, we departed in the afternoon and we arrived in San Jacinto a few hrs. later. Our first stop was at his favorite market. To our surprise he said, "guys everything is on me" We of course would hear none of this. "Please" he added "I got it" after his many appeals, we agreed. We arrived at his beautiful home evocative of a Tuscan villa retreat. He assigned bedrooms, each more glamorous and hospitable than any Italian boutique hotel in Italy. The only thing missing were the grape vines.

Jorge, being aware that yours truly is a gourmet chef, asked me to prepare dinner. I happily acquiesced.  Before I began preparing the marinade, Bob pressed Jorge, "you need to let us pay our share of the expenses, we insist!". " Guys, I have something to confess, my wife gave me an ear-full". We listened attentively, "She scolded me, and taught me the essentials of good etiquette" Bob wanted to know what he was talking about. "Well... she chided me; and asked how could I invite friends to our home and then charge them for the food". After his confession Bob said, "Good for her, she is obviously  a  polished lady  who know how guests should be treated when invited to one's home" Of course, I we agreed and forgave Jorge for his social blunder. It also gave us a insight as to who was the real interior decorator of their beautiful home. Jorge said he was, but knowing his taste, we are sure it was his lovely wife Gloria.

After, an alfresco, dinner accompanied with a few bottles of excellent red wine which Jorge brought forth from his wine reserve, we continued our conversations on topics, our host enjoyed, ranging from fishing, food, politics, history etc., etc., etc., after hours of listening to our friend. I decided to turn in for the night. Bob stayed behind listening, listening, listening, liset... to Jorge.

We were up early after our host prepared some breakfast burritos and good coffee, we were on our way to the lake. Again, Jorge's loquaciousness continued. Suddenly, like a lighting bolt Bob and I looked at each other when jorge mentioned a noun in Spanish El Perico, a talking parakeet. "Yes!... that's it!" we shouted simultaneously with exhilaration.That's exactly what we were looking for! Right there Jorge was baptized El Perico.

Center View of Hemet lake

right side view of lake

Finally we arrived at Hemet lake, a man made water reservoir which also serves as a recreation area for local citizens and visitors alike. The common species found in this lake are rainbow trout, bass and catfish. The lake was virtually deserted I only saw two or three anglers aside from us. We tried casting iron, cast-masters and feather jigs with out  getting any bites. We changed to power baits of different colors. with out luck. After a couple of hours el Perico said, "let get out of here" We drove to Jenks lake where we had better luck and went home with our limit of trout and a happy Perico.

Bob with the only catch at Hemet lake-this guy never throws anything back

El Perico-all smiles with his early catch at Jenks lake

 On the way back home Perico was reflecting on his fishing trek and because he didn't want to clean the fish, he suggested that I should take them all home. I told him that I was very tired and my injured knee was swollen. I was not able to stand for a long period of time. He, of course, didn't believe me until I demonstrated my aggrieved knee, only then did he demonstrated some humanity and agreed to clean the fish,therefore, he kept them all.

pobrecito!

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Fishing The Eastern Sierras

(click on picture for larger view) 

Successful fishing trips require good planning, insuring every member has a good time, has the necessary equipment and tools, schedule of daily activities and adequate lodging. Further, as the reader may recall, insure the attendance of a master angler is Paramount. All of these ingredients were taken into account before our departing date. Suddenly our master angler, Bobby had, in his words, a terrible feeling about this trip. He had studies the cycles of the moon, the weather projections, some weird alchemy and guidance from his spiritual shaman.  All of these forces, had convinced him to reconsider making the trip. In the end he decided not to accompany us. I must confess, the group was devastated. One of our most garrulous members, Jorge, knowing that Bobby was on a fixed income, volunteered to pay all his expenses. Javier also wanted to help, but Bobby did not budge. He said it was not a question of money, "I have plenty of money!",  he retorted with a feeling of frustration. It was question of forces beyond his control. Jorge, chuckled, he was not convinced... Javier was incredulous, and rolled his eyes. Still we left without him.

In-take II lake

Being charged with the planning and coordination, I was ready for any unforeseen event, I had to use my ace in the hole. Javi, a fine young man from Sacramento who, as a little boy, I had taught to fish. He would be meeting us in the Sierras. Now a graduate from the University of Davis, he is not only a master angler but also a published environmental scientist, working with the California  Department of Water Resources - fishery improvement. We learned that he is not only highly skilled at catching fish but because he has been studying them for so long, he also thinks like a fish. After hearing the news of who our new member was, the team was euphoric.

We arrived in Bishop, our home base, on a Monday afternoon and headed straight to in-take II. A small body of water, where  Javi surprised Javier with a handsome new fishing pole and a state-of-the art reel. We started by testing different color and scents of  power bait, scented worms, jigs and feathers. We quickly eliminated the dark colors; salmon-peach and rainbow power baits were most successful. In a short time we noted that Nicko our youngest angler caught the first trout and Javi had attained his limit in less than an hour while Jorge, Javier and myself had to struggle to get a few prizes in our stringers. After a few hours we decided to head down to Bishop for dinner and a good night rest in preparation for the full day fishing on Tuesday.

Javi at In-take II with his flotation device

Very early in the morning after some light nourishment, we headed towards one of the most beautiful lakes  in the sierras, Sabrina. A large body of water with excellent streams, perfect for the stream enthusiast. Four of us quickly sought out a spot along the shoreline and proceeded to cast out lines. Javi, just as energetically, headed towards the streams. After a half hour, Jorge who is not known to possess the virtue of patience expressed "l don't think there are any fish here." Nicko told him to change his bait and get a longer leader. Unexpectedly, our stream angler returned, with his limit of 6 huge trout.

The Sacramento stinger-Always with his limit.

All of us made our way lickety-split towards the streams, and secured some excellent spots around tide pools, deep holes and shaded water. We also tried salmon eggs, worms, feathers and power bait. After about an hour, we noticed that Javi was busy catching and releasing trout. The rest us us were blanking-out on strikes. Jorge, frustrated,  said "Let's get out of here, this is too hard" Feeling responsible as I was the coordinator of the trip, I asked them to pack-up and returned to Intake II. We arrived just as planting was taking place and fished there until noon. Javi, the "Sacramento Stinger"  had already caught his limit at the streams so he caught and released perhaps 50 to 60 trout of various sizes. The rest of us, except one, caught our limit. But fear not, Nicko helped him reach his limit.

Then, we drove to town for a much needed lunch on the way down our master gave us a few pointers on how to improve our chances of increasing the number and  size of trout. We were all eagerly listening to his lecture. Jorge, the continuous learner, of course asked many, many questions. After lunch Jorge asked to be dropped off at the gambling casino to try his luck with the one arm bandits. We returned to pick him up perhaps around 8:00 pm. He sure was in better spirits, he was in his own Nirvana, smiling even his prominent jowls we jovial.  We all asked him, How much did you win? Nothing... "I lost $80.00 dollars". And... "that makes you happy" Javier asked "yes", he replied, "it was fun".

Triple play-with this team-Nicko, Jorge, Javi-fish don't stand a chance!

Nicko & Jorge working as a team with good result

Upon our return to the lake in the following day, I noticed that Jorge was more productive after Nicko  tutored him on how to "set the hook" and to read the movement on the tip of his fishing pole. We asked Nicko where he learned trout fishing, he said "Master Bobby taught me at Jenks Lake". Although Bobby wasn't here, his force made a powerful presence... in his young apprentice.

Thursday was our last day of fishing and by the time we got to the lake, we were welcomed by much cooler morning and clouds. It seemed like a perfect day but it was tough going: we had to fight for every fish. Still, all of us caught our limit. During this trip, Javier received a few lessons on how to cast jigs. Afterwards he couldn't put his pole down.He caught so many fish "jigging"... he also started catching and releasing. " I love casting with my new outfit. Thanks son!..." In all of my life, I had never seen Javier so happy and catch so many fish as on this trip. His happiness was  so overwhelming that he volunteered to clean the day's bounty.

Javier & son bonding

look mom!

We quit earlier in order for us go to a barbecue restaurant which had been in Jorge's mind all week long.
After dinner, the conversation returned to the highly successful week thanks to the guidance and assistance from our new master angler. Jorge who has been blessed or cursed with the need to talk incessantly, wondered out loud who would come out ahead in a fishing contest between our northern master, Javi and our southern master, Bobby. Javier thought it would be interesting. Nicko reflected that Javi is younger but Bobby taught him more. Jorge felt that each one had his strengths. Javi is at least forty years younger, faster, smarter. Bobby, on the other hand, is patient, older, slower, wiser. Javi interjected, "Hey guys remember as a little boy, Bobby taught me how to fish the streams". I volunteered my services to promote the event, "If you guy want, I can coordinate the contest between;
          The Sacramento Stinger  vs. The Yucaipa Satyr .
Javier, who happens to be Javi's dad, stipulated that I would have to find a neutral lake."Remember Bobby is a crafty, old buzzard. He only wants to fish Jenks Lake",  "In a neutral place" he said, "I go for my boy!". I exclaimed with delight that the Rubicon would be crossed. I committed to be fair and impartial in scheduling the contest and of course, ... "I'll take on the winner".

 We left Bishop with good memories of friends having fun, breaking bread together and excellent fishing.



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