Backcountry Fishing

Gordon is an avid backcountry trout fisherman in the Sierra Nevada.

Preferred Type of Water

Seeks steep, remote creeks with defined plunge pools — not meadow meanders or flat float water. Wants pocket water and boulder-choked canyons with wild trout and genuine solitude. Hikes in, camps 2–3 nights, hikes out.

Favorite Waters (Lost / Seeking Alternatives)

WaterStatus
**North Fork San Joaquin**Favorite, fire closed the trail
**South Fork Kings River**Still active
**Ilillouette Creek**Still active
**Bubbs Creek** (Kings Canyon)Top pick as replacement
**Clark Fork Trail**Under consideration

His benchmark is Sheep Crossing on NFSJ — steep granite canyon, big plunge pools, wild rainbows and browns, total solitude. A fire took out the trail access several years ago and it's now too difficult to reach. He's been searching for a comparable replacement ever since.

What He Looks For in a Trip

  • **Hike in:** 5–8 miles preferred
  • **Camp:** 2–3 nights, needs flat ground near water, some tree cover, genuine remoteness, and ideally a view
  • **Permits:** Open to lottery locations but prefers easier permit situations
  • **Fishing + camping together** — both must be good; good fishing alone is not enough

    • What He's Done / Explored

  • Bubbs Creek (Kings Canyon): steep bouldery canyon, defined plunge pools, good camp near the creek, ~5–6 miles in
  • Clark Fork: trail starts near river then climbs high on canyon wall, drops back to river at ~5–6 miles for camping
  • Mono Creek (west of Lake Edison, John Muir Wilderness)
  • Carson-Iceberg Wilderness — East Fork Carson River (wild trout section)
  • Wind River Range, Wyoming (South Fork Little Wind River) — grizzly territory
  • Lost Sierra north of Truckee
  • Colorado and New Mexico explored as alternatives — neither matched the Sierra

    • Grizzly Consideration

    The Wind River Range has a growing grizzly population as part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

    Related: Hiking, Outdoor Gear