Blue skies, white peaks and waiting trout, anglers
The pickups and vans and one cherry old Bronco finally came rolling en masse into trout opener hot spots like June Lake, Crowley Lake Fish Camp and Convict Lake all day Friday.

In the not so long ago old days the mass migration would have started to peak Thursday afternoon and pour into the campgrounds and motel parking lots all night long, but now it seems folks have to stay home and work another day or maybe even wait til Friday night to make the run. By any means it looks like the local economy will get a good boost, especially since nothing but sunshine and decreasing winds in the forecast and it is even supposed to get hot and still by Wednesday for those lucky souls who get to hang out once the opening weekend is over. And the good weather means no one will get chased away and a lot more folks will be tempted to stay. I know I am.

The best thing about the opener is how it brings old friends and families together. Campground that were empty just yesterday have a trail of smoke climbing overhead and talk and laughter surrounding the campfire. Father, son, cousin, daughter, brother, uncle, sister peak into streams and the edge of the lakes to see what awaits them the next day. Every fifth or sixth truck parked at Mammoth Mountain has a ball hitch on the back as the snow helps pass the time before the fishing starts. When I visited Crowley Friday I saw Crowley Fish Camp Manager Lane Garrett on his quad chasing down parking violators, while Dennis Yamamoto of Owner Hooks told me he's going to catch the biggest fish and with the Fred Hall Memorial Trophy. "I'll give back the cash, but I want my name on that trophy." Time to put on some fresh line.

Rich Holland's Roundup