Mother Nature is having some fun – a few thunderboomers, lightning and sprinkles on Wednesday, then Thursday a few more, and a bit more on Saturday – trees got a good washing and a bit of a drink. Little smoke in from the fires with which every way the wind blows. Thanks to all those on the front lines fighting those fires.

Fishing this week is about the same as last week – been pretty good for some and not so for others. If you’re not sure, come on into the Store and we’ll give you some pointers. Fishing the Inlets with PowerBait, NightCrawlers, Jigs and MiceTails. If you’re trolling you need to get down deep with those Flashers and a NightCrawler or NeedleFish or Thomas Buoyant or just a NightCrawler (now don’t forget that swivel) - Just add a bit of weight about three feet up from the item you’re pulling. Drifting the rock piles or getting in close to shore with MiceTails or NightCrawlers. Shore fishing with PowerBait, MiceTails, NightCrawlers or tossing Lures with some red on them. DFW loaded the Lake with another great stocking on Wednesday.

Philip Leyva used a Rapala to catch a beaut of a 4-pounder. With the crew he had with him he needed that big of a fish for dinner – Rick Chavez, Kylee, Theresa, Casey, Jaden and Austin Leyva – Good Eats! Sandra Nakagawa used an artificial white egg to land her 2-3/4 Rainbow. Dad Chad and Mom Lynne are teaching their kids Cole (8) and Brooke (7) the finer things in life and they learned quickly – both catching their first fish and a few more for good measure and dinner.

Had one of our local photographers, Bert Dennison, take some awful pretty pictures last week – I’ve included one of the full Lake taken on the trail to Sabrina Basin.

Now I know some of you are wondering why the Café will be closed on Tuesday, August 2 thru Thursday, 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.

People, sure would be nice if y’all would pick up your trash when you leave. It’s really not that hard. Just sayin! If you need something to put it in, come into the store and we’ll give you a bag.

Looks like we’re keeping the ThunderBoomers in the forecast until Friday. By Saturday, the threat departs (but remember you are in the Sierra). Temps are cooling down a bit to the upper 70s for highs and the lower 50s for lows. Pretty nice weather. 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.

They’re still here, the skeeters that is - heard they were still particularly nasty up at the North Lake campground, at the back of the Lake and in the backcountry – might want to make sure you bring your bug juice - 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.