Fishing and Camping the Saddlebag Lake Area

Can’t believe it’s September and this is only my 2nd backpacking trip. The twenty lakes basin has been in my radar for awhile and finally decided to make the drive. Just my luck, the temps dropped 15 degrees and wind gusts were up to 55 mph when I decided to go. Still an amazing area and some pretty nice brook trout, by my standards were caught!

[@ronaldmcdonald3965]

Thanks for the video. Last time I was there was 1972 at the start of our Boy Scout 50 miler to Tuolumne Meadow. My memory is fading so I appreciate your reminder. On the other side of the pass, crossed McGee Lakes in a thunderstorm.

[@newflyfishingodyssey]

I’ve watched a few Sierra Nevada videos from the 60’s and 70’s and I always make the comment wow it looks the same. Then I realize how silly of a thought that is haha.

[@johnhadley7991]

Great video, my brother and I were in there last week and also experienced some bad weather. We looked longingly at the lakes and wondered how the fishing was

[@newflyfishingodyssey]

If you fish the loop you have a shot of getting the sierra slam. Hopefully the shuttle is back next year. Makes day trips even more feasible.

[@UncleSumoDT]

Oh, another thing...me and my buddy that got me into throwing and tying flys...always got on me for stripping in the trout I caught. He wanted me to get them on the reel. His reasoning was that it would be good practice for when you get a decent fish and the drag would do a better job of of doing what drags do. My thought was that the fish would dictate when they wanted to take line. If my tippet was not in jeopardy, I'm not gonna waste time taking up the line and chance getting slack, I would tell him. We would go back and forth about that...I sure miss him now. I was luck enough to catch a permit, bonefish, triggerfish and coho salmon this past year that sure worked my drag. I know that Steve was watching and was laughing and saying "See...I told you!" Well, I've got some practice now getting fish on the reel. DT2

[@newflyfishingodyssey]

I’m more strip them in because it tires them less. But if they’re salt water completely opposite. Just because you never know what’s on the other end!

[@flyguy2021]

Nice Brookies, nice video, nice steak. I love that area. Even without the shuttle it’s pretty doable as a day hike. I’ve done the entire loop in a day with some stops to fish.

[@newflyfishingodyssey]

I definitely want to head back and fish the other lakes. You’re prob a better hiker than me. 8 miles and fishing would be a long day for me haha.

[@flyguy2021]

@@newflyfishingodyssey great thing is it’s so flat. Only a couple hundred feet of elevation change around the loop.

[@UncleSumoDT]

Way to go NFFO. I'm not sure how my wife would have brave those elements. Those were some nice brookies in that lake. Maybe we can go for some of a different color. Gonna have to try that loop with Es after I get another sleeping pad. She got the lobster taquitos at that place. They were ono. DT2

[@newflyfishingodyssey]

That reminds me to bring up my wide Tensor

[@ironflies2037]

Nice Brookie

[@newflyfishingodyssey]

Thank you

[@thebrackishfly1707]

Looks like a great trip! What net do you have? That thing is beautiful!

[@newflyfishingodyssey]

Thank you! It’s a spalted maple net made by Sierranets. He does some of the most amazing nets in the world.

[@thebrackishfly1707]

@@newflyfishingodyssey awesome! Gonna check that out! Thanks!