I've been fishing Lake Crowley since I was 11 years old and haven't missed an opening day with the exception of 1964, and 1965 when I was serving in the U.S. Army. Most of my earlier years of fishing were with my Dad and a bunch of his fishing buddies. In those days we camped, slept in tents, and got up early EARLY to head to the lake for the morning fishing. Over the years we gradually progressed from tents to camping in campers, trailers, motorhomes and for the past 10 years we've been in 1st class accommodations at Wally's condo in Mammoth Lakes. In the 50's 60's 70's and 80's we were out on the lake 1 hour before sunrise and back at camp eating breakfast by 7:30 AM with our limits of trout and then some. For the past few years it's a much different story; the fish are smaller and no longer as plentiful. Opening day this year (2008) we hit the lake at 5:00 AM as always and didn't return to the boat dock until 5:00 PM, short of our full limits. It's always fun no matter how many or how few fish are caught. Next year we'll most likely be fishing the June Lake loop (June, Gull, Silver, and Grant lakes) mostly due to the less than spectacular fishing at Crowley Lake.
The pictures posted here are from 1998 at Lake Crowley and 2005 at Convict Lake. My fishing partners today are Wally (a friend from RAND where I worked) and my son Brent and son-in-law Matt (Stephanie's husband). The picture at the top of me holding the 5+ pounder was actually caught by my son Brent. The picture of me holding two 5 pounders; one was caught by me and the other by Wally. We always have enough fish for a good fish dinner opening day evening. There's nothing like cooking and eating the fish you've caught that day.
Early one morning we had two unexpected fishing buddies join us in the parking garage. They were helping unload a truck, just a few spaces from where we were parked.
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