Golden West Outings: The Heart and Soul of Our Club
We take off for spots all over Northern California on a dozen or so trips a year that range from a day to a week, from float tubing lakes to boating spring creeks to horse packing small streams to tackling blue ribbon trout rivers like the Pit, the Trinity or the Truckee. Most trips are over weekends, when we'll stay in cabins or motels, but camping is often arranged. Occasionally we plan a more far-flung trip, to Oregon or Montana, or even further afield like Belize or Alaska.
Outings are not limited to the traditional trout season either, as we seek out opportunities for steelheading in the winter, and lake fishing before April and after November. Outings are conceived and led by our own members who want to share their favorite destinations.
We find that we can learn more and improve our skills quickly in a group setting, and the fringe benefits of sharing good meals and trading stories about fishing and other subjects make our trips a high point of the season.
GWWF
Outings for 2008
updated
2/10/08
GWWF
Outings Policy
All members who sign up for GWWF trips are required to provide payment
for the full cost of the trip at the time of reservation (unless specifically
noted otherwise). If a member is subsequently not able to attend, it is
her responsibility, and not that of the Outings Chair or Fishmistress,
to find a replacement to cover her costs. Anyone can be a Fishmistress!
If you'd like to share a favorite spot, or spearhead an exploration to
a new one, all it takes is a call to Outings Chair Wendy Parfrey, and
she'll help you organize it. No special skills are required - just pick
a place, and be the contact person.
April
12 (Saturday only) - Kistler Ranch
Join
GWWF for a fun day-trip outing in the Oakdale/Knights Ferry area. This
ranch is located approximately 100 miles from Oakland and about 1 1/2
hour drive. The Ranch has 3 ponds with bass, bluegill and crappie. These
fish are a blast to catch on a flyrod. The ponds are easiest to fish from
a float tube since the edges are muddy and weedy, but some good fishing
from the shore is also possible. If you are a beginning float tuber, this
outing is for you! You will use 3-6 wt rods and either floating or sinking
lines. Plan to arrive around 9 and fish until dusk, or until the wind
blows you off the ponds…it can get windy! Significant others and friends
can attend as space is available. The cost for this outing is $20 each
person. Limit is 18 people. If you are interested, contact fishmistress
Loretta Strickland at lorvamp@hotmail.com.
May
2 - 4 (Fri - Sun) - Pyramid Lake
Pyramid
Lake is located approximately 40 minutes north of Reno and the fishing
is for Lahontan Cutthroat trout, average size 16", but can be as large
as 30". It's a beautiful, desert lake with constantly changing colors
and scenery, and the fishing improves as the weather deteriorates. This
is a great chance to learn or practice your double-haul technique with
a 7+ weight rod and shooting heads, or simply nymph with an indicator
with a 5-7 weight rod. Both techniques are best in combination with a
stepladder or stepstool. Accommodations will be in trailers at Crosby's
Lodge at lakeside; cost is approximately $60 per person for Friday and
Saturday nights. We'll have a BBQ potluck on Saturday night. Your tippet
and flies can be purchased at a local fly shop either prior to or on the
outing. Contact Fishmistress Judy Decker at (650) 340-0179 or jdecker@vectorlabs.com,
and send your check for $65 (made out to Judy) to 735 El Camino Real #103,
Burlingame CA 94010.
May
30 - June 1 (Fri - Sun) - Bonnie B Ranch Bass Fishing
FULL - call Cindy for the wait list!
Bass
fish on the private Bonnie B Ranch near Mariposa/Yosemite (about a 3 hour
drive from San Francisco). This is a 400-acre ranch at 3,000 ft elevation
with 5 ponds, a stream and a guest house. The Ranch website is www.bonnieb.com.
Approximately $200 per person covers 2 nights stay and 3 days of guided
fishing. This trip is limited to 8 participants and it is for members
only. Contact Fishmistress Cindy Charles at (415) 759-0232 or cindy@ccharles.net,
and send your check for $200 (made out to Cindy) to 1403 Willard St, San
Francisco CA 94117.
May
15 - 18 (Thurs-Sun) - Upper Sacramento River at Shasta Springs
Our club has once again been invited to stay and fish at CalTrout's private
camp located outside of Dunsmuir. This time we will also host 2 winning
women bidders from the CalTrout auction in 2007. There are 3 tent-cabins
with 2 cots each, and plenty of space to stake your own tent. Dunsmuir
is just 1 highway exit south so you can also stay in town (make your own
arrangements). The camp has a gas grill, gas lights, a cistern to keep
items cold, picnic tables, fire ring, portable toilet. There is a path
to the river and we usually have CalTrout host/guide/high-stick nymphing
expert Craig Ballenger come to help us fish. The first 3 will have a spot
in the tent-cabin. Dogs are welcome. Contact Fishmistress Cindy Charles
at 415-759-0232 or cindy@ccharles.net
May
22 - 26 (Thurs - Mon, Memorial Day weekend) - McCloud River
Fish
the beautiful Lower McCloud River below Lake McCloud during the long holiday
weekend. Camping is at Ah-Di-Nah campground at the river's edge. Fish
at the campground or at the famed Nature Conservancy stretch. If you would
like to stay in a motel in nearby town of McCloud (45 min. drive), you
will need to make your own arrangements. A $25 per person donation to
the McCloud River Preserve secures your spot on this outing. Contact Fishmistress
Anne-Marie Bakker at (707) 939-0932 or bakkersmith@sbcglobal.net and/or
send your check for $25 (made out to Anne-Marie) to 1295 Calle del Arroyo,
Sonoma CA 95476.
June
19 - 22 (Thurs - Sun) - Chester/Lake Almanor
Creekin'
at its best. Famed Yellow Creek, Rice Creek, Mill Creek, Deer Creek and
Butte Creek are all within a short distance and let us not forget Upper
and Lower NF of Feather River, Hamilton Branch, Lake Almanor, and Butt
Reservoir. We will be staying at The Village in Chester (www.Chestervillagerentals.com).
Cost for accommodations are approximately $35.00 per night (based on full
occupancy). Spouses and significant others are welcome. Stay either 2
or 3 days. To reserve space, contact Fishmistress Chris Hicklin at 510-673-3260
and send a check payable to Chris Hicklin at PO Box 193 Fremont, CA 94537
June 19-22 and July 3-6 (2 outings) - Fall River @
Circle 7 Guest Ranch
Fish
this wonderful spring creek, halfway between Mts. Shasta and Lassen. We've
reserved the Green House (4 people) in June and the White House (11 people)
in July at Circle 7. Cost for accommodations is $88 per night for Thursday,
Friday and/or Saturday nights, and you can stay for either 2 or 3 nights.
Boat rentals ($80 full day, $50 half day for 2-person boats) are paid
for on-site. Significant others and friends are welcome as space permits.
Contact Fishmistress Jan Horn on her cell phone (510) 207-5868 and send
your check for $88 x nights you wish to stay (made out to Jan) to 3885
Quail Ridge, Lafayette CA 94549.
August 22 - 24 (Fri - Sun) - East Carson River and
Markleeville
Beat
the heat by exploring higher-altitude creeks in the Markleeville area
30 miles south of Lake Tahoe (Wolf Creek, Silver Creek and the Wild Trout
Section of the East Carson). August will bring good dry fly action using
aquatic and terrestrial imitations. We will stay in a rental house in
Markleeville (sleeps 5-8 at approx $80 per person for 2 nights), and nearby
cabins or camping/RV sites. Please make your own reservations at the Carson
River Resort, Sorensen's Resort in Hope Valley or Creekside Lodge next
to the house. We may have time for a visit to Grover Hot Springs to soak
in the mineral pools after a hard day of fishing. Contact Fishmistress
Wendy Parfrey at (510) 339-1071 or wendybrk@sbcglobal.net for a list of
accommodations and local fishing including the private Pleasant Valley
Preserve.
September 21- 28 (leaving Sunday) - Fishing in Montana
Chico
Hot Springs is a beautiful old hotel that charms people from all over
the world. Its pride and joy are the great indoor and outdoor hot springs
and great food! The hotel is half-way between Livingston and Gardner at
the entrance of Yellowstone Park. Join Fanny Kreiger and Lori-Ann Murphy
for a week of fishing at Chico Hot Springs on September 21st to 28th.
The cost is $2,595 per person. There are presently 8 GGW members going
on the trip. For more information, contact Fanny at 415-752-0192 or fannykrieger@mac.com.
October 2 - 3 (Thurs-Fri) and October 3 - 5 (Fri-Sun)
- Fall River @ Circle 7 Guest Ranch
Fish
this wonderful spring creek, halfway between Mts. Shasta and Lassen. We've
reserved the Cabin House (6 people) on Oct 2-3 and the White House (11
people) on Oct 3-5 at Circle 7. Cost for accommodations is $88 per night
for Thursday, Friday and/or Saturday nights, and you can stay for either
2 or 3 nights. Boat rentals ($80 full day, $50 half day for 2-person boats)
are paid for on-site. Significant others and friends are welcome as space
permits. Contact Fishmistress Jan Horn on her cell phone (510) 207-5868
and send your check for $88 x nights you wish to stay (made out to Jan)
to 3885 Quail Ridge, Lafayette CA 94549.
October 24 - 26 (Fri - Sun) Trinity River
October
is prime time to fly fish for steelies on the Trinity River. If you were
at the October 2007 WWF meeting, you saw pictures of these steelhead beauties.
We arrive Friday, October 24 and depart Sunday, October 26. We will be
staying at the LakeView Terrace Resort in Lewiston: http://www.lakeviewterraceresort.com/Cabins.htm
Lewiston is about 40 miles west of Redding on Hwy 299. You can camp in
your RV at the resort with full-hookup. No tents are allowed at the resort,
but there are cabins to rent (up to 6 people) that cost about $30 per
person each night. Leashed dogs are allowed for $10 per pet/night. Cabins
have fully furnished kitchenettes and there will be a potluck on Saturday
night. There are lots of places to fish on the Trinity, both in Lewiston,
Douglas City, and Junction City. Significant others are also invited on
this trip. If you are interested, contact fishmistress Loretta Strickland
at lorvamp@hotmail.com.
Last weekend in October - McCloud River
Fish
the beautiful Lower McCloud River below Lake McCloud and enjoy the autumn
colors. Camping is at Ah-Di-Nah campground at the river's edge. Fish at
the campground or at the famed Nature Conservancy stretch. If you would
like to stay in a motel in nearby the town of McCloud (45 min. drive),
you will need to make your own arrangements. A $25 per person donation
to the McCloud River Preserve secures your spot on this outing. Contact
Fishmistress Roxanne Tobler at (925) 798-4121 or eeplans@aol.com and/or
send your check for $25 (made out to Roxanne) to 5294A Park Highlands
Blvd, Concord CA 94521.
Kodak Moments
of GWWF Trips
Also be sure to check the Photo Gallery for links to the online albums of our members!
Fishing
Montana July 2005
Check out photo album by Todd
Cary
Dierdre Moy - Montana 2005
Lower Yuba Trip June 2005
Robin with fish and guide
on Lower Yuba
Middle
Fork Feather Sept 2004
Kelly O. and Barb K. pause
before casting.
Truckee
River
Lois R coaches Jane H
on Truckee subtleties. Click on the pic for MORE photos of this trip.
February
2004 - San Luis Reservoir
Dorothy Z. floats and waits for the decisive moment on the
San Luis Reservoir Striper Fishout Feb 19-21
