Well, among other things it gets you a tale without pictures.
 
Besides the opportunity to catch fish, the current river conditions are great for those wanting to 'learn to read the waters'.  The flows are low, water is very clear, and fish are highly visible.  Fish in the water are typically larger than they appear to be.  A couple of days ago when I saw an extremely large fish, I was puzzled since it was not exhibiting typical trout behavior.  As with many things, I forgot it (especially when I got back on the water with Olive Bugger).
 
Erik has a four 10-hour day work schedule and picked Monday as the off day.  We try to get out together when schedules allow.  The fishing day started before 7 am and we covered a lot of water within walking distance.  I was feeling a little brain dead by 4pm, but it was hard to stop.  The nymphing was successful, but the rising trout were not enticed by various offering.  I switched a an unused nymph and had some more results.  I gave Erik a copy and he headed across the river to fish the same area from the other bank.  His nymph rig was used with a 6X Tippet and the size 20 midge.  After a few minutes, a fish was on.
 
The fish was not fighting like a trout.  Neither, was it fighting like a sucker.  Erik had been holding tension on the rod for 5-6 minutes and the fish had only moved 2 or 3 times and simply stayed there.  Erik's determination not to break the tip was as strong as his desire to find out what he caught.
 
We bantered about the possibilities - sucker, carp, catfish, but none seemed right.  After another 5-6 minutes, Erik decided to work the fish (very gently) to the bank.  Slow progress was made and Erik was finally on the bank.  The fish got closer and Erik got part of the fish into the net and the rest was hanging out in two directions.  The fish straightened out and out of the net it went.  I could finally see it for myself.  
 
After looking at a yardstick at home, the best guess was that the fish was a pikeminnow in the 27-28 inch range.  Erik commented that he never caught a fish that large or one that looked as scary.  A larger net is also needed.
 
I can't wait until we get out again.  

Wow a Loch Kern Monster! That's an awesome fish for such light tippet and tiny fly.

That's quite a feat, Ants.  Thanks for the telling. At one time, I tied and used lots of  midges; now that I spend more time in warmwater and the salt, the patience and touch  to land fish on gossamer stuff  is hard to re-educate myself to. Congrats on a good show of skill.  
 
Charlie

Another great fish tale from you Ants.

Quote from Ants on Jun 20^th, 2012, 1:22pm:

 
That sounds like a grand slam to me. Always fun to catch a variety of fish.

My apologies for the big picture.  I forgot to make it smaller before posting it!  The fish was 21 inches long and took a Kern candy if anyone is wondering.
 
Jeremy

I have read several stories about large pike minnows on the Kern.

Quote from fishinXJ on Jul 11^th, 2012, 9:13pm:

 
A few years back these things were hammering whatever I threw in the water.  A (so said) local I met on the river told me to just kill it and not release it.  After 10 or so on a relatively small stretch, there was no way I was gonna kill one or any subsequent ones, unless I wanted to spend my day beheading fish.  I was told they were not native and that they were just killing all the rest of the fish (funny, that's what they said about some fish on the American River).  Thanks for the background on these guys.  Honestly, as a fisherman it was still fun catching these guys.