Years of false starts, mistimed visits, and film-era frustrations finally paid off with this shot—a local strain of rainbow trout caught mid-jump at the Pine Creek Weir near Eagle Lake, CA.
This spot has long been a key site for trout trying to spawn naturally up Pine Creek. While drought and low spring flows have changed management strategies (like switching to electrofishing at Gallatin Marina), there is plenty of flow right not to draw trout up the stream.
Timing was everything. I nearly gave up that day—watching a huge school swirl around for nearly an hour without a single jump. But persistence, a burst-ready digital camera, and a lucky break gave me this frame. It’s more than a photo—it’s a win years in the making.
#RainbowTrout #EagleLakeCA #WildlifeMoments #NaturePhotography #SpawningRun