An Exceptional West Walker River Rainbow (Off HWY 395)

I came back to see if I could capitalize on the promising conditions I saw the last time I was there for a short session.
#rainbowtroutfishing

[@104silvae]

Great fish!!! Excellent video congratulations and thanks for sharing.

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

That fish was not giving it up easy!

[@julianengine4226]

Grew up fishing a lot of the spots from your videos. This style of fishing (barbless/artificial/creek/small river) is soooo difficult and you make it look easy! You are a great fisherman.

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

Thanks. The thing with these barbless jigs is when the fish jumps that jig is always in danger of getting shook free. Constant pressure is needed., They usually fall right out of the fish's mouth when I get them in the net,.

[@CC_Marauder]

True story

[@flyfisher1649]

Hell yea….awesome, like Montana / Wyoming….

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

Right on. This is a great cold weather river. I plan to go hit it up in the Leavitt Meadow soon. That's one of the last stretches I haven't fished yet on my channel's river fishing playlist.

[@colincook437]

Haha! I was sweating hoping you would land it. Nice job! Great fish!

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

I was sweating too! Once I saw that thing I couldn't lose it or it would be haunting me!

[@michaellacy8510]

That was a picture perfect rainbow! I was thinking the same thing about it testing your knots!

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

As soon as I start fighting a fish like that my knot becomes a focus of my worries! I check my not a lot when I'm jig fishing in rivers. Both my not and my jigs take a beating as I'm bouncing them over the rocky bottom.

[@thomgilbert1546]

Time for a Walker Burger and shake after that football! Nice catch!!

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

It felt like I needed some kind of celebration!

[@califmike2003]

That fish looks like a wild rainbow, that is one monster fish for the west walker river, great job.

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

Yeah, totally looked wild. Flawless fins and fought like crazy. Loved reeling that one in.

[@markvanderstelt8999]

wow that was one hell of a rainbow out of that river nice job.

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

That thing was fighting like a beast! My little 5' rod was maxed!

[@angelogarciajr5356]

Very cool. That river starts way up at 12,000" elevation. I like seeing where these rivers come from. As it comes down, it goes thru some gorgeous meadows. Looks amazing up there. I frequented that Sonora Junction area alot years ago. Thanks for bringing back good memories.

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

Right on. The flow is real nice right now for jigs. Love how clear the water is in this river.

[@angelogarciajr5356]

@@wildernesswithamani1027 I was hoping to get up that way this weekend, but turns out I have a commitment Saturday and Monday. wth Looks like next week now. Fish On!

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

@@angelogarciajr5356 The fish will still be there. Watch out for the first heat wave because the rivers will probably swell up and get dirty!

[@angelogarciajr5356]

@@wildernesswithamani1027 Good thing I will be missing the weekend rush I guess Maybe hit the Carson, .then up to Echo Lake because I have never been there and lasty Fallen Leaf or Tahoe.

[@joebass517]

Nice toad bud, thx for sharing, good fishing in WW, WOW 👍🎣🎣

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

When I saw that fish I knew I had to finish. Losing it would have been painful!

[@jamesmonroe2741]

What a lunker!! Thanks for all the awesome posts. Great job again…season opens next week!!

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

Thanks. Yeah, I'm torn between where I want to go for the opener. You can bet I'm going somewhere! Good luck where ever you might go if you have a chance to make it out.

[@christophergraham5901]

Really nice WILD trout!!... congratulations, it was awesome.

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

Right on. There are planters in there but there are a lot of fish that seem to be spawned in the system. Nice browns and rainbows. I got a nice Lahontan in there a while back that I think is on my Highlight clip #9 if you want to check out what it looked like.

[@iamstarseediam9240]

This is unbelievable for me. What a major Déjà vu , My dad used to take me up here every year and Occasionally with some family members To fish the Walker River and Owen's river and White Rock lake. I remember hand fishing out of the Owens river. We're talking 51 years ago.

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

Right on Man. I have a lot of Eastern Sierra Content across my channel playlists if you want to keep on strolling down memory lane! I will have a lot more coming too!

[@gregoryk.tanaka4285]

Great commentary and beautiful fish!!! 🎉

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

This fish was awesome and the fight was epic. A fish like that on ultralight tackle is always a pleasure.

[@lancerman]

Love it, hopefully one day I’ll see you on a river. Excellent catch

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

If you fish often we'll probably cross paths at some point.

[@vincenttalman9630]

Wow, that was some fish. Beautiful! Thanks brother.

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

Yeah, that fish was a stand out in that river. Fought like crazy. Right after this, I went downstream to fish for my Patreon for an hour where I got a brown around 19" and a Lahontan cutthroat. If you want to see the Lahontan Cutty it is in my clip "highlight clip #9..." that can be found on my highlight clip playlist. That was also a beautiful fish.

[@jimwachsman1636]

Beauty of a fish. Love your countdown method.

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

Right on. Yeah, I was seriously pleased with this fish. Especially when I got it into the net! If I lost it, there would have been a small hole in my soul!

[@chrisdevine7122]

Nice! A lot of those big guys in WW are stocked but that looked wild. 👍

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

That fish was awesome. I drove down the road a mile or so to make a few casts for my Patreon and I got a brown and a Lahontan Cutty, both in the 18''-19" range , nearly on back to back casts! I didn't even know they had Lahontan Cutthroats in here but I guess they do. Thing was extremely colorful.

[@reohdarwell6962]

@@wildernesswithamani1027 they're the only native trout to the river system!

[@CaptainCompassion1]

Beautiful Rainbow. You hit some of my favorite spots on the river. Haven't been up there sense the fall. I'll wait until the opening crowds go.

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

Man, I went downstream a little to fish for my Patreon after this and hit a nice Lahontan Cutthroat around 18" and a brown around 19". I knew they had browns in there but that's the first Lahontan Cutty I've seen in the West Walker.

[@CaptainCompassion1]

@@wildernesswithamani1027 The Bridgeport folks are putting all kinds of critters in there. We got a Tiger in the day use area just north of Walker. Again a beautiful Bow.

[@joejohnson3934]

@@wildernesswithamani1027 awesome fish man, I saw poster there at one of the camp sites saying how the biggest cuttie caught out of there was something like 50 lbs, but it was like 100 years ago or something crazy, didn't know they were still in there either, glad to hear it

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

@@joejohnson3934 I had no idea either. When it jumped I knew I had something really colorful but a Lahontan was the last thing on my mind. They must be reintroducing them.

[@joejohnson3934]

@@wildernesswithamani1027 have u caught or heard of any brookies from there, I've heard their suppose to be in there, but never caught one

[@mmfruitveg]

That was a wild fish for sure.....maybe originally hatchery but at least 3 years ago...so that's WILD...!!

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

It's fins were perfect which can sometimes be a sign unless it was planted as a fingerling. I'll yell you this, it fought like a wild fish!

[@richarddolan128]

Nice fish, great fight! You gotta put your time in, and if you do, you get your reward. Good job!

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

Yeah, I was a little discouraged by the lack of action I was getting on my jig. At least until that fish! Quite pleased after that! Right after I went downstream and got a fat brown and a Lahontan Cutthroat fishing for my Patreon subscribers. I actually put the cutty in the highlight clip I'm going to put up shortly. Been working on that clip for the last 2 days around my regular job!

[@BradRLeBeau]

Wow! Great fish😎

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

Thanks. It was! Made me feel nice!

[@davidpickens6916]

"Over the hill and through the woods" I'm going to have to take a drive over Sonora Pass to hit the river... Thanks for sharing!!

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

It's got some quality fish. Just after this sweet wild fish, I went downstream a mile or so to fish a little for my Patreon and I hit a nice Lahontan Cutthroat and a brown around 18". The Lahontan is on my recent upload "highlight clip #9 for Wilderness with Amani" if you want to see what it looks like. That's the first one I've encountered in the West Walker River. I know they were the indigenous trout for this general area back in the day but I wasn't aware they were currently in there.

[@cbs9053]

Saw you walking down 395 along the walker today, had to blow the horn at you. Lol. Keep doing it, man.

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

White car? Love the "drive by hello"!

[@mmfruitveg]

Right on!...still might be a few cutts lingering.....

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

I got a nice Lahontan Cutthroat soon after I finished this clip just downstream while fishing for my Patreon. It was roughly 18". I can confirm that they are lingering!

[@brendacash3442]

Ya Buddy!! Can’t wait to try Wes Walker! Thanks for the extra content on Patreon.

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

It's good right now. I hit a nice Lahontan Cutthroat and a brown, both over 18", just down the river a bit after this fish while fishing for my Patreon. Did the doubleheader again. I didn't know they had Lahontan Cutthroat in there but I can now confirm that they do! Go get some!

[@brendacash3442]

Can’t wait to see that

[@aescoto1871]

Beautiful fish man love keep the vids coming

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

Right on. That fight was great but I was happier when the fish was in the net!

[@coughranjosh]

I love your custom handle on your reel! 🤣🤣

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

So do I! I don't care what the equipment looks like, just get me to the water!

[@williamparker6649]

Beautuful fish,

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

That fish was a heart stopper when it was running!

[@davidbrown7932]

My son and I are hitting the Manistee river in Michigan , Amani , I’m going to try the black jig Technique 🙏God Bless

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

Go for it. I hit a Brown and a Lahontan Cutthroat just down the river while fishing for my Patreon right after this fish. Both were around 18"-19". Larger trout love these things. Stick with the jigs and vary your retrieve. Don't rule anything out, even ripping them upstream through pools if that's the only shot you got. Good luck!

[@radiantcarpets]

That was a beauty, nice job.

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

Thanks. That fight was intense.

[@KyleSilva1990]

Another Great video brother. Beautiful fish man. The Tail End of the holes are always the most productive in my opinion, steelhead fishing we call them the Tail Out of the hole. Steelhead especially seem to love that 2-5 ft deep of consistent walking speed current, unless the water is gin clear those steelhead will sit in that spot over anywhere else on the rivers. So i'm sure the trout are similar in where they prefer to hang. Thanks for the videos sir,

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

I always hit the tail end. I nail a lot of nice trout in that tail end section in multipole videos on my river fishing playlist. I am just as eager to hit the tail end of a pool as I am the head where the water is coming in.

[@KyleSilva1990]

@@wildernesswithamani1027 yes sir I totally hear that. My theory about steelhead is, it all depends on the river in which your fishing and the waters clarity. I find when steelhead fishing in alot of the rivers close to home here, they keep color in them after rains for longer amounts of time. Many factors take play for that, but that’s another conversation. Anyway when those steelhead have some good color in the water that’s like they’re camouflage. Which for getting a shot to catch one of course is an advantage, I’ve caught more fish out of water that is 2-5 feet and pretty still or slow current then anywhere. Spots where on another cleaner less sediment filled river, that same spot wouldn’t even be a place where you’d think of casting, let along targeting. But like said it all depends on which river your on and what the conditions are that day. My home river is one of the biggest in making someone with lot of knowledge of fishing steelhead, scratch his head and say what the hell. Damn near everything they’ve ever known or learned should just get back seated when fishing my home river. Fish lay and hold in water that you’d think would only have bass, catfish or carp. But for whatever reason. One being I think even when considered clear water, my home river is still never fully clear. You can’t see in that semi deep frog water. And those fish would rather exert zero energy while holding then using a bunch. Shoot I’m sorry for rambling Amani. Once I start fishing I could just go all day, especially when it comes to trout, steelhead or salmon. I freaking live for these fish. Happy thanksgiving brother man

[@fishingd67gil]

Great catch and even better releasing it 👍🏼

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

That thing was battling! Great fish.

[@chrishudgins5707]

Man that might be the biggest river rainbow I've ever seen great fish Amani!

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

Once I lay eyes on a fish like that I have to land it. If it got off It would haunt me for a while. Lucky for me, I didn't have to worry about that in this case!

[@williamcooke6056]

Awesome fight, what a beautiful Bow!

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

That rainbow made my day. I was loving that fight.

[@lapeercharlie8691]

The hardest-working KZbinr in the USA. Well done!!

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

Right on. That fish was awesome to fight. The day only got better when I fished downstream for my Patreon. Nice brown and Lahontan Cutthroat. It was quite a day on the West Walker River.

[@mikeroll9868]

Beautiful fish.

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

Thanks. That thing was a tank!

[@mmfruitveg]

Used to be some really nice cutthroats in that river when I was a kid but that was 50 years ago!! Not sure of they are still around

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

I got about an 18" Lahontan Cutthroat a little bit downstream fishing for my Patreon. I didn't know they were in there. I have fished it a fair amount. All I have ever caught were rainbows and browns before this one.

[@bradcranston]

Fished it several times have had trips where there were so many fish in the river from planting ,I caught over 100 rainbows all my fished were released, there were trips where the fish were bigger and natural. It's a river that is well maintained and the small communities support the fishing by planting fish everyone from motels to restaurants contributes

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

This river has a nice mixture of planted and natural fish. I even got a nice Lahontan in it a year or so ago while fishing for my Patreon. I believe I show that trout in my highlight clip #8 if you haven't seen it and are interested in checking it out.. I have a highlight clip playlist.

[@kevinmuraoka720]

I have two reels that I no longer use. A never used Kastking & a once used Penn. Since you dont have a P.O.Box tell me of the post office nearby you if you want them. I can sent them like a hiker resupply box & they will hold them for you untill pickup. Saw California Gold where they airdrop restocking fish to the hard to get to alpine lakes. Before used pack mules & horses. Nice fish man! I'd do a catch & cook. Problem is I cant catch.

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

I saw the same California gold on air stocking trout. I loved watching Huell Howser on that show. That's what inspired me to do the trailside interviews in some of my early hiking clips on my 'hiking and backpacking' playlist. Covid hit and it kind of killed those interviews but they might be coming back. I will look up the address of the nearest post office when I get back from fishing today. Thank you for your kindness.

[@kevinmuraoka720]

No problem. I tried to sent you a photo of a huge trout this guy caught at Silver Lake in the June lake loop. Dont think Patreon or KZbin allows viewers to upload pics. Just cleaning up my shed. My friend scored on alot of shooting & reloading equipment. Covid screwed up my summers. Did you see Huell in the Yosemite firefall video? People think that I'm 45 cause I look young but I'm 65. As a kid I saw the coals raked off of Glacier point from Camp Curry a real looking firefall. These days the park won't allow it. Like the crowds in the Valley, I take a bicycle with me to avoid traffic. Hate the valleys heat so its cooler up the Tioga pass Campgrounds. No more first come first serve reservations only. Be in Mammoth more than Yosemite this summer.

[@Tony-T.]

Nice catch bro, weather is getting a little warmer I’m gunna start planning some fishin trips soon

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

This fish was awesome to fight. I was so worried it was going to shake that barbless jig if it jumped. luckily that thing just kept trying to go deep. Yeah, it's been like Winter on a lot of my trips out in April. I'm not crazy about the heat anymore but right about now I'll take a little! Good luck when you get out there.

[@Tony-T.]

@@wildernesswithamani1027 yup I can’t wait for good weather to hit Tahoe lol thanks bro hopefully it’s a good summer for fishin 😎

[@karlbe8414]

Nice fish Amani!

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

Yeah, that thing was testing my line, my rod, and my nerves!

[@freetrailer4poor]

You should do a vid on west and east walker river all the way to walker lake. East Walker best for big browns but so rushie. However even in rush water they sit behind rocks. Larger streamers and plugs 30 years ago worked.

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

I want to fish the East Walker eventually. I like fast rushing water. Good for my jig fishing. Less time for the fish to look at it!

[@jeffjeff5845]

Nice battle that beast was running I enjoyed the battle Also dry oatmeal epic

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

That was definitely an epic fight.

[@colbymyers6278]

Nice fish! You need to start measuring your fish. It would be nice to how big they actually are

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

My priority is making sure they get back in alive and well but I get it. The outer dimensions of the width of ring of my net is about 16" which helps. I also measure the fish I keep on my 'lakes and reservoir' playlist in addition to many of the trout I have caught over the decades so I have a pretty good frame of reference. I've become pretty good at making fairly accurate estimates. I know CA fish and wildlife wants fish put right back in when there is a zero bag limit.

[@colbymyers6278]

@@wildernesswithamani1027 so that fish might have been 25” max? Just get a soft seamstress tape next time you are at the dollar tree. There is nothing wrong with measuring fish.

[@eddiemoto250]

Have you ever tried East Walker right below the Bridgeport Reservoir dam? Pretty good in there with some big browns.

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

I haven't yet but I have been planning to go there. Tried to fish the East West Walker across the State line last Winter and there was so much ice I couldn't do much.

[@droo1378]

Damn that is a big chungus hen. Well done. Ya there's no standard for hatcheries, they mark in a few different ways but I think you're right. Shes a big fat mustang

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

That fish looked wild through and through. Unless fish are stocked as fingerlings, hatchery fish often sport the worn fins from the rearing tanks. The first fish I hit had those worn, rounded fins.

[@707SLAYER]

Know that was A Wild West Walker Trout Son .....

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

That fish was great. I hit a nice Lahontan Cutthroat and a brown, both over 18", right after this fish while fishing for my Patreon a little ways down the river. The West Walker was golden today.

[@FishPornTV]

Damn. Amani always catching hogs

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

Once I laid eyes on it I was hard pressed not to lose that fish! So relieved when I got it in the net. I rolled down stream a mile or two and fished an hour for my Patreon and got a Lahontan Cutty and a nice brown. Both over 18" It was on for me this day!

[@mmfruitveg]

You might want to, if you have not yet, go throw those jigs in the East Walker down by the Nevada/Calif line....oh boy some nice fish in there......

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

I plan to go check that out. I tried to go to the East Walker in Nevada this winter for my Patreon but there was so much ice in the river it just sucked! I hear the river is good below Bridgeport. I hope to get out there.

[@donaldstephensen8654]

Beautiful fish buddy..what you get em on?

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

I was fishing the usual 1/8 OZ marabou jigs I have a lot of success on river fishing. I have a clip on my fishing tips playlist where I go over a few types of 1/8 OZ jigs I have had success with in the past.

[@donaldstephensen8654]

@@wildernesswithamani1027 ok awesome thanks...tight lines

[@joanlynch5271]

Did you get the reel from Scheels? I have a very similar reel which I recently purchased as a combo. Cheers!

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

I probably don't have the reel I was using in this clip. I have broken a couple since I shot this clip! I'm rocking a couple of $22 reels from Walmart now that have done quite well for me. As long as the drag works well I'm ready to go.

[@joanlynch5271]

@@wildernesswithamani1027 I like Walmart too. I want to get a bait caster for Christmas, so I will probably get it from Walmart.

[@fabulousrobert6607]

Nice fish 😃👍🏼 That rainbow 🌈 put up a good fight huh? Its good you’re letting those fish go. Go have a steak 🥩 at the steak house. You deserve it dude.

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

Right on. That fish was strong! Steak House is where I'm going Monday with my Aunt and Uncle in the Sac area and then I'm headed straight south to hit some river in the foothills on the western side. Not sure where yet but I hope the water is clear and not too raging where ever I end up.

[@gmc5426]

🎣🐟 BEAST!!!!!!!

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

I can't wait to get back onto the West Walker River. As soon as I feel like I won't snap my leg trying to get over ice and snow on the boulders around it I'm all in!

[@ramonagarcia6453]

Is your jig essentially a barbless fly?

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

I have a clip on my trout fishing tips playlist giving the details on the types of jigs I have had success with in my river clips. Basically they are 1/8 Oz Marabou jigs that I make barbless with a file.

[@ramonagarcia6453]

@@wildernesswithamani1027 Thank you!

[@mkventures5259]

Nice catch!! What campground is that?

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

It's Chris Flat Campground. Nice water below it. I went downstream a couple miles and hit a Lahontan Cutty and a nice brown for my Patreon Subscribers. It was a great day on the river.

[@mkventures5259]

@@wildernesswithamani1027 thanks for the info’ keep up the great work.

[@rogeeeferrari]

What a great video, gets me excited because I will be out there in about 3 weeks avoiding the holiday nonsense. Was the second spot still Walker ? Anyway, love the video...

[@thomgilbert1546]

Yes both spots were on the West Walker. The Walker chamber of commerce stocks heavy toads in the summer. They have a big fish contest in august and July 4-8pounders are regularly planted.

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

That was the Walker. The first fish was clearly planted but this fish looked wild and fought like a wild fish. Then I got a Brown and a Lahontan Cutthroat in the 18"-19" range just downstream while fishing for my Patreon. Good day on the West Walker River!

[@user-ri8tx4by8z]

What jigs do you use

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

I have a clip on my fishing tips playlist that details all of the 1/8 OZ jigs I have had success with since I first started using them a few years back. That's what I get a lot of the larger trout on in the videos on my river 2 fishing playlists.

[@user-ri8tx4by8z]

@@wildernesswithamani1027 damn I just use mini jigs that prolly why I don’t get hella big ones

[@snowyowl5356]

That's a Tuna, Brah!!!

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

You're telling me! I battled that thing!

[@Jay-we8xy]

no great fish smoke it with lettuce and tomato sandwich u the man

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

I save that for Lake Tahoe Rainbows!

[@fishingtimeletsgo598]

Beautiful fish my man, that would of made my day and time to eat my sandwich, congrats on that fattie, thanks for sharing👍🎣👊

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

That thing was running hard! I'm just glad it wanted to go deep instead of jumping. Jumping fish with barbless 1/8 OZ jigs hanging out of their mouths is a bad situation!

[@avid2112]

That was a toad!

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

Yeah, I loved battling that fish.

[@mmfruitveg]

Where's your hat Bro!

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

I go with the wider hat for keeping the sun off the back of my neck and face.

[@permculture]

we can hear you, you can stop yelling now

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

That's funny because I sometimes get comments that people can't hear me. They want louder audio! If you want yelling, wait until I get the clip I shot today up!

[@AdventureswithDon5]

The 2nd fish was a hog for sure!

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

Yeah, that first one was ok but the second fish was golden. Loved every minute of it.

[@larrey1328]

Love your stuff but you complain a little too much.... be happy man you fishing. Don’t be offended just honest feedback

[@wildernesswithamani1027]

I say what I say I guess. Keeping it real.