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As some of you know, I love taking pictures and I of course love to ride. I also love to flyfish so with camera and flyrod packed, I pointed the R east for a quick trip up to the Sierras and the Merced River.

I’ve never fished the Merced (near Yosemite) despite driving by it numerous times on my way to the National Park so I chose it as my destination. I also knew that there was a fun, twisty road I could take that was not too far out of the way.

Curvy Highway 49, near Bear Valley. Since it was a weekday, I had the road practically all to myself. Over 20 miles of smiles!




The scenic Merced River flows out of Yosemite, carrying the snow melt from the high country peaks. This time of the year however, it’s a gentle flow unlike spring and early summer when kayakers and rafters can enjoy Class 4+ rapids.


Highway 140 takes you right along the river, hugging it for over a dozen miles – all the way to the park’s western entrance.


After finding a good looking stretch of water, I park, ditch the riding gear, pull on some shorts and string up the flyrod.


Here fishy, fishy, fishy…take my little fly!


Success! A nice rainbow fooled by (for you fly-fisher people out there) a #14 caddis emerger imitation.


A fun day of riding, fishing and shooting. I can’t wait for my next trip.

None of my skills or hobbies fit riding, photography or trip reports.....

But I am grateful that yours do. Thanks for the smiles.

M

Michael,
Nice self timer shot! And that trout is gorgeous. I fished when I was younger, but I never caught the bug...
I'm thinking about riding through Yosemite on my way back home from Reno towards the end of the month... I'll research this online, but do you have any thoughts about that ride?
Thanks for the pics.
T.

A curse on you - I want to be there!!!!!!!

All my favourite stuff - Fantastic shots and looks like a brilliant road.

Have you considered writing short trip articles for the bike magazines? It's pretty common over here for 'readers' to write about their trips and send an article and photos to one of the bike mags. Your stuff would fit right in.

Taosport:

Great, Great report. I've been thinking about getting a 5 piece or 6 piece to carry on my bike ever since I got back from Alaska (sorry, no trip report yet). What rod are you using? Wt? Reel? It looks like a 4wt or 5wt?

This may be my favorite report of yours so far. That is an excellent picture of the rainbow. How big do the rainbows get in those waters? Any Brown trout there? Golden? You caught a really beautiful fish! But my King Salmon still has it beat. And my hat is still better than yours!

Michael! Great pics as usual. Now take a look at your PMs...but wait a few min. I haven't written it yet.

Those pictures are just gorgeous.

Just call me Mr. Green (with envy)

I know squat about fly fishing, but I do know it must be a real treat to be able to combine two hobbies. Joining three makes me feel like my head is going to explode.

Excuse me while I go smash my camera.


DSKYZD

toner87 wrote:I'm thinking about riding through Yosemite on my way back home from Reno towards the end of the month... I'll research this online, but do you have any thoughts about that ride?

One word of advice T...stay off I80!

Seriously. If you have the time, I'd head to Reno via Highway 88 and up along Tahoe or 395. On the return, definitely go up Tioga Pass through Yosemite's Tuolomne Meadows area. You won't regret it. Also if you're in Lee Vining around lunch time try the best gas station food you've ever eaten at the Whoa Nellie Deli at the Mobil gas station there in town.

http://www.yosemite.org/newsroom/clips2 ... 081705.htm

PM me if you want some more ideas and...if you happen to be riding on one of my off days and want some company, I'll gladly join you up in the Sierras.

LonestaRR wrote: You caught a really beautiful fish! But my King Salmon still has it beat. And my hat is still better than yours!

K,

I knew that was coming…yes, yours is bigger than mine. I’ll just have to get over it someday!

Now to answer your questions,

The rainbows in this particular river average 12-14 inches but I’ve been told bigger fish can be found including brown trout which are less common to catch but generally bigger. The golden trout are only found at higher elevations.

Most of my flyrods are 4 and 6 wt graphites made by Sage and Fenwick. My travel rod is a 4 piece 6 wt graphite rod. It breaks down to a 24” length making it perfect for backpacking or strapping to a bike. The reels I like to use are made for Orvis. (CFO IV)

The chest pack is something I just bought last month and I love it. Much lighter and cooler than a traditional vest and it has a fold down foam fly keeper so an assortment of flies are quickly accessible. It also attaches to a backpack for those days I’m out all day and need to carry additional gear. This is the model I have :

http://www.fishpondusa.com/shootingStar.cfm

Now excuse me while I go shopping for another hat...

all of my favorite things! I wish you were my neighbor....er....I wish I were yours.

thanks so much, it's like the vacation I can't take. Vicarious trips are all I get, and this looks like the one I really need.

Once again - Michael - wonderful report and pictures! The trip report standard around here keeps going up and up!

The self timer shot reminds me of the time I shot a picture of myself nearly falling off a cliff!

I was just there and I didn't see you!

Just kidding -- I didn't see any bikers other than harleys, but if it was on Thursday we could have passed each other. However I was in the company car. I Wish I had the bike though. Went from the 99 to the 4 up to Angels camp, then up and down Hwy 49 to the 140 at Mariposa, up to Yosemite and back down the 41 to Fresno. Next trip will be on the BMW if I can swing it. Although it might be bad weather in October ... wait and see.

My first time in Yosemite valley ... very nice there on Thursday afternoon...

Wow!!...great ride report and brilliant pictures...postcard quality.

I have a little tip for you..that pic of you catching a fish..you have your back-pack on the wrong way round..

Just kidding... ...great pics..I'm sure you have more..come on..cough them up.

DJ

DJ. you're too much. You made me go back and take another look. Now I'm laughing at myself.

Wow, look at those curvey roads

Fun, fun, fun . . .

taosports wrote:

toner87 wrote:I'm thinking about riding through Yosemite on my way back home from Reno towards the end of the month... I'll research this online, but do you have any thoughts about that ride?

One word of advice T...stay off I80!

Seriously. If you have the time, I'd head to Reno via Highway 88 and up along Tahoe or 395. On the return, definitely go up Tioga Pass through Yosemite's Tuolomne Meadows area. You won't regret it. Also if you're in Lee Vining around lunch time try the best gas station food you've ever eaten at the Whoa Nellie Deli at the Mobil gas station there in town.

http://www.yosemite.org/newsroom/clips2 ... 081705.htm

PM me if you want some more ideas and...if you happen to be riding on one of my off days and want some company, I'll gladly join you up in the Sierras.

Michael,
Thanks for the tips! I have to be in Reno on Wed. 9/27 and will return on Thurs. the 28th... I'll probably come back through Yosemite Thursday morning/afternoon. I could conceivably stretch this thru Friday, but I do have another "Ballo" Friday night and I certainly can't miss that.
Cliff

Love the picture of your fly rod and your R... two great pastimes all in one photo... and that trout pic... SWEET.

Thanks for sharing your fishing trip.

--Doug

taosports

I'm not much of a fisherman, but that fish and the water so clear make me foam at the mouth. On the other hand does curvy roads in Yosemite make me get goose pimples............

Great pics, thanks for sharing........there are so many great roads in this land of ours and we haven't even scratched the surface.

More great pics Michael!

Hi everyone - new addition to the board here from the south west of the UK. I don't know much about fishing... but what a helluva road that is! My daily commute is pleasant enough, but what I wouldn't give to try that one out!