Beautiful week and weekend at the Lake. It looks like the run-off peaked over Independence Day Weekend. DingleBerry Creek isn’t putting out quite as much water and the water over the spillway is only about 5” deep rather than the 10” in its heyday, but hey, we’re still spilling! And the wind has made a comeback for the next couple of days – not nearly as bad as last weekend, but a good stiff breeze. Had enough of a breeze last week to have a sailboat go in and tool around the Lake for a few hours.

Fishing is still on the slow side – may be the almost full moon and the pressure changes (which brought the wind), but if you have a bit of patience, you’ll be eating trout for dinner. MiceTails have made it into the list of standards (NightCrawlers and Garlic-scented PowerBait) to try at the Inlets. Trolling flashers (Dave Davis) with a Red/Gold Thomas Buoyant or NightCrawler or just use that worm (don’t forget the swivel) – the fish have gone a bit deeper, so add a couple of split shots or rubbercore sinkers about 2-3 feet up from your lure or NightCrawler. Still lots of dam fisherman which is the easiest place to shore fish right now with the Lake up – try using NightCrawlers, PowerBait, Mice Tails or toss a lure with some red. Department of Fish and Wildlife stocked the Lake last Monday with another awesome load of trout.

Paul Greenwell landed a nice 2-1/2 pound Rainbow with a jig and inflated NightCrawler. The Komora Family – Julie, Dillon, Ryan and Tom – working as a team landed two DFW tagged fish – one 2-1/4 pounder and the other a 2 – 3/4 pounder using NightCrawlers – talk about a fish dinner.

We hadn’t seen the adult Eagles lately, but one made an appearance this morning across for the Lake. Sure is a vision to behold.

The wildflowers are still blooming – have no idea what so ever what some of them are, but I do know the Fireweed – don’t forget the Penstemons, Columbines and FireCrackers. Now some of the trees are blooming like the ElderBerries and we’ve got the Furry Mountain Mahogany.

Rick became ‘Dr.’ Rick for a couple of minutes removing a fishing lure that a girlfriend’s husband was casting and caught her thigh – came out in a flash.

Not sure if you have been out on the Lake and noticed some large stumps and logs floating – many of those came down in an avalanche many years ago and have just gotten hung up on dry land over the last few years. Well, the saw (yup, that’s a four foot bar) you see Josh and Rick holding in the picture is the size needed to plank one of those large stumps – After-Hour Shenanigans at the Lake.

Now I know some of you are wondering why the Café will be closed on Tuesday, August 3 and Wednesday, August 4. It is to give Rick and me a couple of days off to get out to the Ranch and keep our sanity. We’ve been down a couple of employees since mid-June and we just need a bit of a break. Sure would like to thank Bryan and Dwayne for all their hard work and for ‘kicking’ us out of the business for a couple of day.

Looks like we’re in for a bit of a breeze for the next couple of days and then in for some possible record breaking warm temperatures toward the end of the week. Sounds like Lake Sabrina is the place to be this weekend. Temps are expected to be in the low-80s with the lows in the upper-40s. No rain or thunderboomers in the forecast for the week. You can check out the weather forecast according to Howard our local weather ‘guesser’ at www.MammothWeather.com. You can also check out www.weather.gov – enter Aspendell, CA (which is the little community right below Lake Sabrina) in the search field and you’ll get the forecast for at the higher elevation. You may need to scroll down on the webpage to see the temps.

A pet peeve – if you catch a big fish or a limit just to have your picture taken for the webpage and then try and give your fish away – we won’t post your picture, but then again we may post it as ‘WASTER OF A PERFECTLY GOOD FISH TO EAT’! Crimp down your barbs, take a picture on the boat and release it for another day.

If you’re hiking stay safe out there. Remember to leave a note about your destination and approximate return time and a clothing description. And you might want to hike with a buddy.

Skeeter are still causing havoc and being particularly nasty especially in the shade – it’s a good thing to have a bit of a breeze. Heard they were particularly nasty up at the North Lake campground, at the back of the Lake and in the backcountry – Plan accordingly. When using the bug juice, try not to get it on your hands – you’ll transfer it to your bait and the fish just don’t like bug juice or sunscreen or lotion or cologne or perfume. Wash your hands in the stream or Lake to get it off, and then use some fish attractant on your hands. If you’re coming to the Lake, don’t forget sunscreen and dark glasses –the snow and sun makes it pretty bright against the blue sky. DON’T FORGET THAT JACKET.

Fishing etiquette is becoming a bit of a problem at the Lake and we don’t like problems. If you come upon someone fishing, please don’t fish right next to them – take a bit of hike farther down and don’t cast over into their spot. Same at the Inlet, there are so many areas to fish on this Lake go find another ‘soon to be’ favorite spot.