Jackson Meadows #4 2015

Jackson Meadows Reservoir

It’s the end of August, and I spent 3 days camping at Jackson Meadows, again.  This time I had the entire camp loop to myself.  Just me and Ben this time since Biggs had stitches that did not need to get in the dirt.  I caught 6 trout, kept the big one, a heavy 16 incher.  Beautiful weather, Ben and I swam together and he also swam along next to me while I kayaked.

We hiked up the south end of the lake, which is a big meadow, now dry, exposing foundations of old buildings that had been covered up when the reservoir was created.  Apparently the reservoir has gone thru many changes over the years.  It started as a Log Crib Dam in the 1850s to deliver water to the hydraulic gold mines via 80 miles of flumes and ditches.  About 1875 the dam was raised to form a reservoir 2.5 miles by .5 mile wide.  Then in 1883 the dam was again being strengthened and raised when it either collapsed or was dynamited with the resulting flood took six lives and  caused tremendous damage along the Yuba River Canyon and Sacramento Valley.  Then in 1965 the dam  was reconstructed to the state its in now.

Sierra Buttes
My fishing kayak
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Posted by: Geoff on August 28, 2015
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5 Comments so far:

  1. Kate says:
    August 28, 2015 at 3:38 pm

    My favorite is the wheat among the little flowers. Very pretty.

  2. Brother George Panek says:
    August 28, 2015 at 4:57 pm

    Hi Geoff
    Sounds like you & Ben had a fantastic few days at Jackson Meadows & the lake. All of your photos are all so very crystal clear & the surrounding area that you photographed are neat subjects, Alot of neat stuff in your photos around the lake. Man the air up there is sparkling clear, no smoke, haze or smog, just very clean air. Your one big 16″ trout was a good one. Have you ever caught such a big fish & what kind of bait did you use to catch that fish? Geoff, what was in the place of the lake from 1883 (the dam was taken down) until 1965 when you say the Jackson Meadows dam was reconstructed like the dam in today? Was there just a running river during all the years. Thanks for nice story of this trip plus all your usual wonderful photos. Your lucky to be living in such a pristine area of northern Calif.
    Take care, your Bro Geo.

    • Geoff says:
      August 29, 2015 at 6:37 am

      hey Geo…. I have caught a 20″ trout once. I got this one on a worm. I go out at 7:30 am, keep Ben in the RV with some treats, then fish for about two hours. I was coming back, and had an old tired worm on (trolling behind a dodger=flasher) and just wanted some fish to finish off the worm before I landed. Anyway, this big boy hit it hard, i almost thought I was snagged. It was incredibly heavy reeling it in and once i got it netted and on board he was too big to hold with one hand to take the hook out. So I bonked him on the head to put him out of his misery. I then found he had someone elses hook, a treble hook, already inside of him. As far as the lake before 1965, I dunno, probably just the middle fork of the yuba river, or maybe a smaller dam. I do always feel so blessed to live here, so near the mountains and have the time to enjoy them. I will probably camp all the way into the first part of November. At Jackson Meadows they leave one of the campgrounds open all year. No water or bathrooms in the winter but as long as the roads arent covered with snow I can get in. so we will have to see if the weather is permitting this year.

  3. M Harms says:
    August 30, 2015 at 8:43 pm

    Hi Geoff,

    I enjoyed your narrative on the reservoir, and your photos are stunning especially those of the
    beautiful sky shots. You make the most of such beautiful country.
    Love, Mom