At my request SW was kind enough to gather some Kings River pictures and made a special outing for me. The Kings River is located in Central California. Starts life as a beautiful, fast moving stream full of big boulders and rocks. It cascades down toward the City of Fresno and then this mighty river is dammed just above the city. Mankind needs electricity and this is the prize that we pay. The Upper Kings is fast, tretcherous to access and fish as it tumbles down the mountain between some truly tall canyon walls and rock cliffs. To get down to the river it takes a little less than half an hour on a slippery trail. Coming back up is another story and might take a couple of hours to make the ascent to the top. Most of that time was wasted by poking under bushes and rock shadows for the famous Kings river rattle snakes. By the way, when they tell you snakes can't swim, don't you believe it!
The water below the Pine Flat Dam is consistent and smooth and offers some excellent fishing with regular mayfly and caddis fly hatches during morning and evening hours. The evening Kings River Caddis hatch lasts only about half an hour and the fishing can be very fast and frantic. Sort of like fishing the West Fork of the Wandering River outing in beginner mode. There are so many fish rising and feeding at the same time that one must pick the larger fish to cast to or you would have wasted a quite bit of precious time. Remember? Only half an hour before dark! A nice fishing situation to be sure. If you hit the hatches just right, and have the right fly you might catch some very nice sized Rainbows.
I can't talk about the Kings River without telling you a funny story. One day my friend and I decided to fish the Upper Kings River. The drive up to the Kings River National Park was scenic and very enjoyable. At noon time we stopped at a small gas station/dinner/bar for some food and directions. We met this Western (cowboy) looking guy behind the bar in a cowboy hat. We got a burger and a drink and some trail maps. I went over to the pinball machine and inserted a quarter (25 cents) into the slot. Before I could get the game started I heard a voice talking to me from behind. I turned and saw this great big grin, tobacco stained teeth enclosed in a dense mountain man's beard. This mountain man said, " Hi there, you are Chinese, ain't you"? I replied and politely confirmed his observation. Then out of the cradle of his arms he produced a jar with some yellow colored meat stuff in it. He flashed a big grin and then said, "I hear the Chinese eats anything, you want to try my rattle snake meat"? I thought it would be very impolite to throw up but I swallowed really deep, intending to defend my people's honor and said, "hell yes, we do"! I really wished I hadn't said that!
I should have known as there were more than thirty big rattle snakes skins strung all over the diner and bar and he had a snake skin hat band around his cowboy hat. This guy was the ultimate rattle snake terminator! To make a long story short this man opened the glass jar, and brought out some crackers. He quickly made a cracker with snake meat spread generously all over it. Then he proudly handed it to me and said, "try it, it is good"! With great reluctance I obliged, In real life I hate snakes but what is a man to do under those circumstances but to accept the offer? I swallowed the snake meat cum cracker like a dog would swallow a piece of meat, without chewing. Then I said, "hey, man, this is good, it tasted more like chicken than snake!". The mountain man was very impressed and asked me if I wanted more. I said I was okay, having just cramped down his oily Cheese Burger. I thanked him profusely for the special snake treat and made it out to the car. I drove more than 2 miles before I threw up all over. So much for defending the national pride!
Fishing was not good that day as I was spending more time looking for the rattle snakes than finding the fish in the water. Never went back up to the Upper Kings after that!The Lower Kings is a different story. It is even, smooth and full of great runs and riffles. One could fish this beautiful stream very effectively on a floating tube in the warmer summer months. The river, being quite close to a large city, is pretty heavily fished. The bigger fish are not shy but very wary and selective and the fishing is very target oriented. Meaning most of the time you would first sight the feeding fish, and then you cast your fly to it. It takes a lot of patience but once you catch your fish there is an immense sense of accomplishment. It is also a catch and release stream in most sections.
Thanks SW, for bringing back some of my fondest memories of California trout fishing on the amazing Kings River!
Regards,
Stanley
This is the Kings River Caddis Fly!
