It was another beautiful and busy weekend at the Lake. We’re still plum (or is it plumb) full with about 4-6 inches of water going over the spillway. DingleBerry Creek is still pouring in water and Misty Falls is as beautiful as ever. And thank goodness for the breezes we’re getting as it keeps the skeeters at bay (a bit) and cools you off – yup, it’s downright hot up here at the Lake – in the upper 70s to even low 80s (remember it’s all relative).
 
The catching part of fishing has picked up a tad. Rick and I finally had a day to fish on Tuesday with my daughter, husband and our grandson (that’s why the report was a bit late – the family was in town from Denver) and caught fish over by the George Inlet on NightCrawlers.   I know I sound like a broken record, but this is what’s still working - NightCrawler, PowerBait, Mice Tails, Salmon Eggs, Jigs, Thomas Buoyants and Kastmasters were the catching baits and lures of choice.
 
Jayden (6 years old) with a little help from Dad Mark Lowe from Hawaii caught his first Lake Sabrina limit on Mini-jigs and Salmon Eggs. Brennan Munoz and Miranda Kalagian worked together to land a nice 2-1/4 pounder on a NightCrawler. Brian Sakaeda worked the Inlets with NightCrawler to find his 2 pound Rainbow. It was TMAFI’s 15th year and Josiah Douglas (8 yo) won the junior class with a 1-1/2 pound Rainbow using a Shakespeare Pole and a NightCrawler. Aaron Nagy brought in a 2-1/2 pound Rainbow on a Garlic Gulp NightCrawler.
 
We’ve had a smidgen of smoke from the Lyons Fire located about 7miles southwest of Mammoth Lakes which started in early June by a lightning strike. It is burning in rugged and inaccessible terrain and definitely putting out a lot of smoke in other areas. We’ve gotten a bit of smoke (yup, you can smell it and see the haze), but nothing like the Valley and Mammoth, but that could all change with a flip of the winds. You can keep up with fire info at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5850/.

If your plans include hiking the Pacific Crest Trail and the John Muir Trail, they remain open at this time. Lateral trails leading into the fire area will be closed in the near future. Those trails include: Sierra NF: 26E01 (Mammoth Trail) to the Inyo NF Boundary, 26E56, 26E14, and 2646 from the Inyo NF boundary. Inyo NF trail closures include 26E01 from the Sierra NF to 2601 junction, and 2601 from the boundary of the Inyo NF and Devil’s Postpile National Monument (King Creek Trail). Hikers are advised to check the areas they are interested in going to before starting. All lodging and recreational services remain open in the town of Mammoth Lakes and the Reds Meadow Valley.
 
You may ask why they just haven’t put out the fire, well, fire plays an important role in maintaining a healthy forest ecosystem. Previously accepted practices of fire suppression have resulted in abnormally high buildup of fuels. The fire is being managed for multiple resource and protection objectives including suppression, firefighter safety, and hazardous vegetation reduction. As the fire burns through the heavy blowdown and areas of tree mortality, higher than normal amounts of smoke is being produced. The fire is located in designated wilderness; therefore firefighters are utilizing MIST (Minimum Impact Suppression Tactics), such as using natural barriers for containment lines and minimizing line construction, only using hand construction crews. (Took this right from the incident page)
 
People, sure would be nice if y’all would pick up your trash when you leave. It’s really not that hard. Just sayin! If you need something to put it in, come into the store and we’ll give you a bag.
 
Now, both the White Lilac and Purple Lilac are in bloom (sure smells awesome on the trail) as are the Yellow Columbines and Purple Penstemons and there are some other Yellow flowers. We’ve also got Purple Iris and Purple Wild Chives blooming. I do believe Summer has arrived in the High Country.
 
The House Wrens in the Weather Station box by the front door to the Café have had their babies – we’ll try and get some pictures this week. We also had a Momma Duck and four ducklings floating on the Lake. The Eagle continues to put on a show mostly at the back of the Lake now. No Bear sighting here at the Lake, but we do hear of a bear down at Cardinal Village in Aspendell. And slow down coming thru Aspendell as the deer like to hang in the neighborhood.
 
A few breezes thru Friday with temps in the low to mid 70s for highs and mid 40s for lows. No rain or thunderboomers in sight. You can check out the forecast for the week at www.weather.gov(enter Aspendell, CA in the search and scroll down to see the temps).
 
And the hiking conditions:
Our backcountry protectors are out in force – the Skeeters – be prepared.
 
If you’re hiking stay safe out there. Remember to leave a note about your destination and approximate return time and a clothing description. And please hike with a buddy!
 
Things to do when you’re not at the Lake:
 
6/30:  Trout Fest at Hot Creek Hatchery.  Touch a fish!  Taste a fish!  Feed a fish!  Catch a fish! 9am - 1pm, all activities are free!  For more info, email [email protected]
 
7/7:  Laurie Lewis, Tom Rozum & The Right Hands in Concert at Laws Railroad Museum.  5:30 picnic and Brill Car train rides.  6:30 pm concert. A great family event!  Adults $20, children under 12 free.  https://lawsmuseum.org/index.php
 
7/28/18  - GOLF FUN DAY! - PRIZES!     FOOD!     FUN!
Everyone is invited to join the Bishop Chamber of Commerce for our fifth annual golfing fun day at Bishop Country Club!
Not your typical tournament format!  Each hole will feature a different golf game with prizes at each hole.  Everyone entered will receive entry into the BIG Raffle.  
Everyone welcome...members, non-members,  great golfers & hackers, too!
For more information, or to register contact April (760)873-8405 or [email protected]
 
All Aboard!
A visit to Laws Railroad Museum and Historical Village is always a treat, but come on a day the train is running and it'll be extra special!  
https://www.lawsmuseum.org
 
Important stuff that just stays in the report for a bit:
The Skeeter population is ramping up again! Plan accordingly!
 
PRIVATE BOATER:  Please don’t overload your boats – it causes me great distress!!! USE YOUR NOGGIN! See photo!!!
 
Spoke to the local Department of Fish and WildLife Game Warden regarding fisherpeople needing to have their own stringers and up to five fish per stringer. His response is – “It is highly recommended, but not required, but everyone better be present if I’m checking”.
 
If you catch a big fish or a limit just to have your picture taken for the webpage and then try and give your fish away – we won’t post your picture, but then again we may post it as ‘WASTER OF A PERFECTLY GOOD FISH TO EAT’! Crimp down your barbs, take a picture on the boat and release it for another day.
 
When using the bug juice or hand sanitizer or sunscreen or lotion or cologne or perfume, try not to get it on your hands – you’ll transfer it to your bait and the fish just don’t like any of that foo-foo stuff. Wash your hands in the stream or Lake to get it off, and then use some fish attractant on your hands.
 
Make sure you wear some kind of sun protection – the sun and reflection off the water will do a number on your skin and eyeballs!
 
Juanita, Rick, Patti, Dwayne, Jamin, Bob and Cullen