A walk to Crater Lake

[Mistwalker]

Sunday morning I deciced to go try out the new rod and reel I got for Christmas. So...under a dark grey sky I headed up to Crater Lake to see what I could catch (nothing but a few pictures) and enjoy the hike in. In the winter months, from Dec. 20th till Mar. 15th, most of the side roads at Prentice Cooper W.M.A. are closed in order to prevent errosion damage so I had to hike about two miles of the trip in rather than being able to drive to it. Sorry but the pictures aren't the greatest this time as I was using a cell phone rather than my camera.

Here is where I parked, rather than walk the road I decided to cut across country along a petrolium pipe line.

I put my canteen, some snacks, my small tackle box, and my contingencies bag into a small pack and that and the rod and reel was my gear for the day.

The view ahead

You can just make out my truck behind me

The first small branch I had to cross

Some fungi along the way

and a deer rub

and some stones for resting benches

The second small branch in my path with it's fallen-log waterfall

and another

and another

and then finally after a peaceful walk at the point where I turn off of the pipeline

Just a short walk down a graveled trail and then through the woods checking out some berry trees and their bark....and a burl on a pine tree...

and then I made it to my destination, the clear green waters of Crater Lake

Never caught anything but I did enjoy the hike very much. I was a bit confused how I could come to this place with only my knife and survival sheath, and some leftover pizza crust, find a branch for a pole, and using the line and hooks in my sheath and the pizza crust for bait and catch eight Bluegill but hump in a pack, pole, and tackle and catch nothing. I wished I had left the pole and brought something to cook and just had a nice lunch enjoying the view. Apparently I have a bit more to learn about freshwater fishing lol. Then there was this bat on the way home...I must have taken twenty shots trying to catch the flittery little fella on film and this was the best one I got lol.

Well..., sorry I didn't catch anything but I hope you enjoyed the hike anyway, I sure did

 

[Mesquite]

Excellent story and pics again MW. Thanks for sharing your day out with all of us.

 

[littlebiglane]

Thanks for the pics and story. Good stuff.

LBL

 

[Mistwalker]

Glad you enjoyed the pics, I've been advised on a better method to try next time. Maybe if I go earlier I can end up cooking some fish over some coals..., that would be nice.

 

[Shewie]

Excellent stuff Mistwalker, I always look forward to seeing your photos. I`m amazed at the quality considering they`re taken with a cell phone, I only get to change my phone at work every 3 - 4 years so I`m still using an old brick.

Crater Lake sounds like something off a James Bond film, thanks for sharing the trip.

Do you ever get much snow down your way ?

 

[Enzo]

It's always a joy to see your pictures.
Thanks for sharing, :You_Rock_

 

[Eric_Methven]

Lovely photos. I especially like the look of your canvas pack. Any chance of a photo of the other side, with the straps? I have a lump of canvas sitting here just begging to be made into something useful. That pack looks like a candidate for the job.

Eric

 

[Mistwalker]

Excellent stuff Mistwalker, I always look forward to seeing your photos. I`m amazed at the quality considering they`re taken with a cell phone, I only get to change my phone at work every 3 - 4 years so I`m still using an old brick.

Crater Lake sounds like something off a James Bond film, thanks for sharing the trip.

Do you ever get much snow down your way ?

Thanks Shewie, I'm very glad you enjoy them. The phone is a new Samsung and though it was hard to tell on the phone's screen what the pics looked like some came out pretty good...other not so good.

I think Crater Lake may have actualy been created for a movie....years ago part of a movie called Star Man was shot there, I think the part where he came to earth.

Not much snow anymore...couple inches now and then but usualy an inch or less.


Thanks Enzo, glad you like them, I always enjoy going out to take them.

Thanks EM, I'll take some pics of it all around in a little bit when I get to the laundry. It's supposed to be an "Australian" ruck sack but it is a knock off, it used to be O.D. green but the sun has faded it over time. I'm thinking of getting some dye and camauflaging it.

 

[Andy2112]

Great post Mistwalker, i always enjoy them. Thanks for sharing them with us.:You_Rock_

 

[Eric_Methven]

I'd leave it as it is mate. It has a beautiful patina.

 

[Opal]

Nice tale, next time, dig a worm or two.

 

[Mistwalker]

Here are more pics of the pack, maybe they will be of some help...some of the pics were taken with a flash

Nice tale, next time, dig a worm or two.

Had worms...huge night crawlers...I think maybe they were so big they scared the fish lol.

 

[bushcraftbob]

Good pics looks a nice lake to fish aswell

 

[Mistwalker]

Thanks, the last couple of times I went up there I caught four or five Bluegill each time....using minimal gear lol. these are some of the pics from another trip

Using a limb I found on at the lake, some spider wire a Crapie hook and...,hhhmmm....,some left over pizza crust I managed to catch a few Bluegill

Chumming the fish

The four I caught

They were all lively little fellows, and yep that's the pizza crust on the tree limb, I hope you all enjoyed your Saturday morning as much as I did mine.