The Sleeping Indian....

Goggle diving Sespe Creek for Southern Steelhead…

Not really a spearing report but a fun snorkeling adventure. I was looking to get some pics/video of the Southern Steelhead.

The Sespe Creek water shed is one of the largest uninterrupted water sheds in southern California. Located in the Sespe wilderness area of Ventura county the river runs for 60+ miles from its source at 5000’ before meeting the Santa Clara river in Fillmore California and eventually meeting the Pacific Ocean. More here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sespe_Creek

It is a long, hot, dry hike into the Sespe wilderness in the middle of summer. The trail head starts out in a forested area but quickly changes to a more desert like environment as you descend into the canyons. After about 8 miles the river starts to drop and bend. These bends form nice deep, clear, pools for the native trout and returning steelhead populations. They are also great places to cool off from the long hike. The water is sun warmed during the day and the bottoms of the pools remain cool. The rivers are fed by many tributaries along the way offering a reliable source of drinking water. Air temperatures were 90+ and I hiked early mornings to avoid the worse of the heat. This area is also home of some of the hottest running geothermal springs in California. Willet hot springs is 9 miles from the trail head followed by Sespe hot springs at 16 miles. The trout were very hard to approach in the water. However, in the evening and in the morning the fish were actively feeding on the surface. Probably would have been fun to toss a fly out in front of them.

Cooling off in a deep pool....

A few native fishes....

The Sleeping Indian......

Thanks for the advice. I will be looking into a packable fly rod for the next trip.

Mike