Trout Fishing on the White River

From the bridge at the DOT State Roadside park about 4 miles east of Hesperia, the White River appears to be a fine cold water stream full of wild trout. Instead, it was rather warm without a trout in site.  I walked to the center of the stream to take the photo; the water felt to be about 74 degrees Farenheit - too warm for most trout.

The drinking fountain in the park runs continuously.  Down by the river a sluice empties an artesian spring into the river.  It's a beautiful setting where people take a break from work to eat a picnic lunch.

With the presence of the springs , I expected the river to be a little cooler.

Farther upstream near what  used to be the two-mile bridge the stream narrows and  runs much  cooler.  According to my thermometer the water temperature was 66° F.

The river runs over a sandy to gravel bottom with undercut banks and some deep holes on either side.   By appearances and reputation, this is an outstanding trout stream.  Unfortunately, I didn't catch a single fish all day.  That doesn't mean it was an unsuccessful fishing trip.  Quite the contrary.

I saw raindrops on ferns...

...and fern varieties I hadn't noticed before.

An Eagle's nest.  I don't know whether it was just the beginning of the nest or if it had been abandoned and fallen apart.  Nonetheless, I would love to be here when the Eagles return.

I was also entertained by moths and butterflies...

...mating damselflies...

...and this surprising old man on the river.

I expected trout to be tremendously excited about eating this caddis pupa imitation.  No such luck.

On the other hand - actually, the same hand - I missed two spectacular hits on this marabou streamer while reaching for my camera to take photos of butterflies, moths, damselflies or some other interesting visual.  This marabou streamer imitates a leech when it's wet.

This fishing lodge surely has more interesting faces, but this is the only shot I could get without trespassing.  I was surprised to find such an intersting place on such a small stream

Around a bend the owners have a nice sitting area where I imagined them enjoyng a  single malt whiskey and exchanging fish stories on a warm early summer evening.

A little farther downstream, but still on the fishing lodge property, sits this decorative cross. Electric lights with underground wiring  illuminate it at night.

Any day on a trout stream is a successful day.  There are beautiful images to see; the sounds of the forest and the quiet of the breeze in the trees are so relaxing that the passing of four or five hours can seem like four or five minutes.  

That's my rod and line drifting a marabou streamer downstream into what appears to be likely trout cover.