I usually wait until fall to hike up there, no weeds. The brookies hang out by the shoreline by the spring since there is no creek. Best eating fish I've ever had.
Brookies are great eating. I might try it early November before the season ends. See what the snow is like. Yeah, the hydrilla wasn't out of control but there was enough of it to scare me away from shore fishing.
@@wildernesswithamani1027 it's definitely worth the hike. I've never kept a cutthroat from there but the brookies have about 1/2" of belly fat when you filet them. I was told years ago that fish in Kirman die from obesity rather than old age because of all the freshwater shrimp in the lake.
It is really soon after you turn onto the 108 off of the 395. If I remember correctly, there is a large sign there and room to park. Not the usual trailhead signs but a structure of some sort. I haven't been there in a while so I can't remember exactly. If you flip a U-turn at soon after you are on the 108 at the first obvious spot you see once you walk up to the sign I think there is fishing information. There is also a small ladder set up so that you can climb over the bobbed wire fence. It's more of a dirt road than a trail. If I remember correctly you will also see a dirt road with a locked gate a little closer to the 395 than the public parking spot is but I can't remember exactly. Sorry I can't be more precise. This was a while ago and I've hiked a lot of trails since. Hope my clues help you land in the right spot.
Thanks buddy! I see on the map where it is now. Gunna hike in this weekend with the float hopefully it’s still good. Haven’t seen any recent activity but should be a retreat from 4th crowds . Thanks again!
@@wildernesswithamani1027 just don’t wait till too late in the season. When we went the fish were by the shore and guys were snagging them. Also when we hiked back all our gear was frozen. It wasn’t a well planned trip. Spur of the moment trip while we were up in mammoth.
@@wildernesswithamani1027 I caught a 3 pounder there this summer before the fires. Unfortunately I don't know if access is allowed at this time, but definitely put it on your list. I wish I could send you the photo! I couldn't believe the size of the brookie in such a small lake lol
I was it besides some people who had keys and drove in through the locked gate. They were going somewhere else. Not sure why they close the other lake to fishing. Maybe it's breading stock or something. I need to go back when it's colder and I'm more prepared.
I appreciate this video because I've heard about this lake and those trout years ago and I've been meaning to check it out, wondering how the road and shoreline was. So thank you
Right on. Yeah, I wasn't sure what to bring but I have a better idea for next time I hike up there. I got some other good brookie action on my backcountry fishing playlist but nothing like what I've heard is possible here. I've heard there were a lot of Lahontan Cutthroats in there these days and fewer brookies but it still warrants a trip back out there some day.
The thought of large brookies was a main driver for me going out there to check it out. I read another reason the big brookie population diminished was they stopped stocking them and began putting more Lahontan Cutthroats in there. Whatever the reason, you are right it's sad.
@@wildernesswithamani1027 Just like Walker Lake in the June Lake Loop. They use raise Brown Trout in that lake in the 70s. Now all those Big Browns we use to catch from there are all gone. There are a few nice ones in there but majority are small 😥
Even your fishless videos are helpful. Is there a way to contact you? I have a spare float tube I would be happy to give you. Nothing fancy but in very good shape.
I'm not on any social media platform. Thanks you for the offer. It would be accurate to say only a handful of people know how to contact me. For the past couple of years, work and create content on my days off is all I do. In regards to my Kirman Lake clip, I figured I might as well show the places I don't catch fish at. A lot of times, I can be like a probe NASA sends to a planet or moon to see what's there! Thanks again for the kind offer and for tuning into my channel.
The drought to 2012-16 killed that place. They’ve tried to repopulate brookies from silver creek but it just doesn’t seem to be working. They use to have some of biggest brookies in State.
I was reading that the DFW doesn't raise brookies anymore or something like that. Not really sure. There are a few articles about it online. I hope there is at least one biting when I go back!
If you are going to go there that is the way to go for sure. I guess they stopped stocking those brookies that get big some time ago. I read it's all about the Lahontan Cutthroats now. I guess there are some big Brookies left over. Maybe they started stocking them again. Not entirely sure. In any event, good luck when you go!
I suspect you know this but a bit to the west of that are lakes that begin with the letters "L" and "R" the situation there is similar but a bit less accessible than Kirman. I caught and released 3 fish over 4 lbs the last time I was there. I also camped one time on the ridges above there while deer hunting and could hear taps and reveille from the Marine base across the highway.
@@wildernesswithamani1027 There are some pics at Ken's showing fish from there. Also, (I think) some pics at the Walker lake place. (I'm a little fuzzy on that cuz it's been uhhhhh...a few years)
My brother, Thanks for showing me the way to that lake! I was up there years ago fishing another "stream" and I could see Kierman on the map but didn't feel like a 3 mile/ 6 RT. Hike + fishing.. Also, no tube... No I know what I'm up against... BTW, Reason #27 for avoiding walking around those types of lakes!! MUD n DEEP MUD!! you get out around the reeds and you'll be stuck up to your waist in an instant!! Remember you're by yourself and 3 miles from anyone.. That said, I hear the fishing is really good... Take care, Kev-
If I had to rank that place among dangerous situations where I'm alone, it wouldn't make the top 20! I've been stuck in muck in reeds at the back of lakes while exploring plenty of times. That's why I always wear such high waterproof hunting boots. I always seem to end up trudging through marshy areas looking for fishing spots. Yeah, I'm thinking I could hike a float tube in there pretty easy in cooler weather. I'm going to see if I can hit towards the end of the season.
@@wildernesswithamani1027 Whoa!! You're a Braaaave fisherman my brother. I hear what ur saying but I look at it as a "live to fish another day" philosophy. A float tube would be ideal as you can use it to keep above the MUCK!! I'll be looking for ya up around October, I'm headed up to Truckee n then the ranch... Take care..
@@SDPBALLCOACH Rattlesnake infested, remote river canyons and remote areas known for dope growing are my top 2 scariest things. I've come face to face with rattlers climbing up rocks and I've walked into recently abandoned grow camps. A little sooner and they probably would have wanted to bury me with the secret of their illegal activity! There are some remote areas, especially around harvest season, where I wear my gun almost the whole time I'm out there. Donnell's reservoir East of Sonora is the next time I'll really be risking my neck. Got scared away by growing activity last time I tried to climb into there with my buddy years ago. I'm going back as soon as they fix the dirt road in. Climbing in at the dam this time! I have to!
@@wildernesswithamani1027 New, name: CRAY,CRAY, WILDERNESS ADVENTURES WITH AMANI!! Those Pot camps are DANGEROUS!! I'm to old n grouchy for messing with all that.. See ya soon..
I've been curious about this lake based on the reports of huge brookies. I'm definitely interested to see how you do on a return trip with a float tube! About how long did it take you to hike in there?
Not that long. It's 3 miles but there isn't a ton of uphill so you are pretty mush powering in on a basic dirt road. I hope to get back out there before the season ends.
Where's your favorite place in the Truckee-Tahoe area to fish this time of year? Your videos are some of the most informative on RU-vid. Keep up the good work!
If the Forest is open, the five mile hike to Dick's Lake in Desolation Wilderness is worth it. I got some nice brookies in there. I have a couple of clips for it on my backcountry lakes playlist. I'm waiting until the temps drop. That's when there is great fishing. All of the stuff on my lakes and reservoir playlist is when the lows are below freezing or during the period close to when the snow melts in the Spring when the lakes and streams are full of ice cold run off. This time of year I do a lot of fishing and hiking in the backcountry.
Yeah, basically I hiked there to confirm everything I read about fishing from shore was true and that I needed a float tube! Check out the clip I just out up. I stopped at the West Walker River on the way home.
I think I might power in there with a float tube when it starts getting real cold at night consecutively for a while. I guess the hay day of the big brookies is fading there from what I read but I think they're still in there.
