Fish'n Conditions

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The Three Trout-Kateers; Gore V. with the fish, Dave S. blowing a kiss, Adam C. " Net Man"

"Looking forward to fishing again with Tom again soon! We had a blast---Dave"

"Thanks Tom: That was a blast. Hope to do it again real soon. Gore"

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Howdy friends and Sierra Drifters.  I hope all is going well for you in the New Year and you are making plans for numerous fish’n excursions to the Eastern Sierra and other locations.  Please remember to get your 2010 licenses and the warden stamp!  The DFG is in dire need of the revenue.  Also: As of March 1, 2010 you will no longer need to DISPLAY your valid license.  What few wardens we currently have must now approach and ask you to show your fishing license, check out all your gear, barbs, etc…   This will make you lose valuable fishing time and disturb your location.  I hope the belly acher’s that changed this law get checked during a great bite! I am suggesting to our clients that you keep displaying it in an obvious location and you may not be interrupted as the original law was intended. 

We are well above normal snowpack after a series of substantial dumps in January with more forecast to be on the way.  The landscape has changed significantly in all areas since the big storms and we have updated the fish’n conditions in all areas. 

The roads leading to all the rivers are pretty much thrashed and many are impassable except by snow shoes or snow mobile.  The dirt roads that are not fenced along the Lower Owens River are also a mess and have some nasty “tank traps” in some spots.  Please remember to check it out before you drive in.  The roads are typically frozen in the mornings and driving is not as much an issue at this time.  When they thaw in the afternoon you will have deep, thick mud or slush to contend with and it ain’t no fun dig’n out or handing over a few bills to a local towing company.  Don’t let this happen to you!

Tom will be guiding the NEVADA section of the East Walker River for 2010:

I will be guiding the NEVADA section of the East Walker River for 2010.  My Nevada Master Guides license has been approved and I will be booking trips as soon as the weather moderates and flow conditions improve.  The old Rosachi Ranch is legendary for numbers, and large trout.  It was once a privately operated trout ranch and has a reputation for monster rainbows.  It is currently managed by the Toiyabe National Forest.  Many of you have experienced the fantastic tail water fishery that the EW in California has to offer-the Nevada section is even better; and it is far less crowded!  It is located just 8 easy miles from Bridgeport, CA which has great accommodations for the day, or an extended stay. 

Lower in elevation than the Cal section, the barbless/zero limit C&R section of the EW in Nevada meanders along a pristine meadow near the beautiful Smith Valley.  It is a classic riffle/pool tail water that contains numerous runs offering incredible dry fly opportunities at times.  We will be fishing seven miles of gorgeous uncrowded water below the California border.  I am very excited about this and hope you can accompany me this season here.  This is where many CA/NV guides go to get away, and do not openly speak of it.  It really is a wonderful place to fly fish.  The spring and fall months can go ballistic here using May flies, midges, and streamers with frequent opportunities to hit the caddis action during the summer. 

You will need to obtain a Nevada fishing license and trout stamp.  We will be offering half, full or multi-day day guided trips to both the Nevada and Cal sections.  We are talking about 15 miles of blue ribbon water near Bridgeport!  You gotta fish this at least once.  It looks a lot like Montana in my opinion.    Please call for bookings and rates.  I believe there will be opportunities to begin fishing here in early March.  I will begin posting info as soon as conditions warrant.

Road trips:  Tom Loe will be visiting his pal legendary Kern River master guide Guy Jeans and the friendly folks of the Southern Sierra Fly Fishers in Kernville on March 13^th  2010.  http://ssffc.com/ Fly Shop 760 376 2040. T. Loe will then do a show for his best buddy Bill Stroud of Stroud’s Tackle and the wonderful group of fly casters - the San Diego Fly Fishers on April 5^th 2010. www.sandiegoflyfishers.com 

The Power Point assisted presentations are done in an “off the water guide trip” framework and have a vest full of great information for fishing the waters of the Sierra and other locations that hold trout.  The general public is welcome to attend. 

Eagle Lake Spring Trips: 

The conditions will be excellent this spring for sure.  Eagle is getting a good snowpack and the lake will be in top shape for the 2010 season.  I will be booking trips from 6-3-2010 through 6-30-2010.  Depending on conditions we may be doing some trips in July as well.  I will post those dates at a later time.   

Eagle is hands down, without a doubt the best rainbow trout still water in the State.  If you like big numbers of 19 inch average Eagle Lake Trout that weigh 2-3 lbs on the fly, this is your huckleberry!  Big fish here go 27 inches and weigh 6-7 lbs.  It is a gorgeous alpine lake bordered by huge pines and is California’s second largest natural inland body of water.  We will be guiding it on our 24 foot fish magnets and can take groups of three per boat easily. 

I will have additional boats here this season as demand for this trip has grown over the years.  Dates will go quickly, so please do not delay.  You may call or email us for bookings.  Click on the Eagle Lake tab at the top of this page for additional info.

Fly Fishing Clinics for beginners and intermediates: 

If you or someone you know wants to learn the basics of fly casting, knot tying, and the fundamentals of wet and dry fly fishing from full time fly fishing professionals, here is a great opportunity! 

We will be conducting casting and knot tying clinics located at Sierra Drifters beautiful private trophy pond overlooking Crowley Lake at McGee Creek for next season.  You may enroll for an on the water instructional seminar in addition to the pond session for the second day.  

These clinics were a big hit last year and we had high marks from those who attended the classes.  We are adding additional dates for next season and have greatly reduced the cost thanks to last years demand.  The four hour clinics cost $100.00 per person/day.  You may choose a single day if you wish, and we will limit the classes to five students per guide to insure you get excellent personal instruction.  These classes are a great way to learn the basics of fly fishing by pros at a very affordable cost. 2010 dates available are:  May 21&22, June 4&5, 18&19, July 2&3, 16&17, 30&31, August 13&14, 27&28, September 3&4. Please contact us by phone or email for more details and enrollment; we can customize family or group clinics to suit your needs. 

Online fly sales…New Lower Prices for 2010. And new for 2010…the broken back “Black and Blue Midge” #18 and the broken back Dark Zebra Midge #18.  These smaller sized versions of our time tested and deadly broken back #16 patterns are a must for still waters as well as moving waters that hold trophy trout.  The new colors give you additional options for the ever changing water and light conditions. Click on the Online Fly Sales Tab at the top of this page.

SD “Two Bug Doug’s” Under-Cator (patents pending) is currently available online and to wholesalers.

Two Bug’s vision has led us to come up with the ultimate strike indicator/bobber.  It is now available online, and in stores February of 2010.  This versatile strike indicator comes in two popular sizes and can be used by fly fishers or spin casters.  It is high riding and easy to see - never needs floatant or drying, adjusts quickly and easily without slipping, and casts beautiful. Unlike others it needs NO tools or torque wrenches to install on leaders or lines from 25lb.-7X.  It won’t slip, kink, or damage your line like others.  A user friendly custom thumb screw (patents pending) locks the Under-Cator onto your leader or line securely and easily!  

This strike indicator/bobber has gone through extensive guide testing and trials on both still waters and rivers for over a year. It is the most innovative and versatile of its kind available. 

Upper Owens River: 

"Upper Owens Rocks... These are awesome!  Already got them on the facebook...I'll let you know when people start to drool over them.
Thanks again... Brant"

"Klondike" Brant W. & his Trophy "Snow-Bows"

The fish are there - ya just gotta know where to find em!

The “catching” here remains excellent for gorgeous trophy sized rainbows.  90% of the fish are holding in less than 1% of the water and this is no exaggeration.  The numbers are bleak considering what has been wintering over here the last few seasons.  The UO will continue to improve as the sun remains longer with each passing day.  Many anglers struggle here this time of year because there are specific pools that these winter time behemoths hold in exclusively.  We dun knows ware day R a hiding and will be happy to take you to these spots! 

Nymphing with PT’s #16-20; absolutely have some broken back midges as a lower on a tandem fly rig.  You will also see a good emergence of baetis adults (bwo) may flies #16-18 on the warmer cloudy days around 1:30-2:00pm. 

It is tough going to get in here and is not for everybody.  The roads suck and you will need to hoof it through some deep snow to get near the river.  I dig it this time of year and hope the snow stays deep into March.

Basso & T-Loe...Having a Fishy meeting with our associates of the Owens!

Lower Owens River: 

Adam C. ~ Taming the beast...

"Casper... the Friendly Trout"

Walt G. with his Drift boat Bow...

Ricky K. had over twenty this day!

I have had some epic (I almost forgot how to spell that word it has been so long) periods of time in the upper sections closer to the PV dam recently.  The wild browns are ravenous and if you concentrate on the slower-deeper pools you will find these 8-14 inch rascals consistently.  The prime bite occurs mid-day and the fish are focusing on the BWO emergence.  There is ample time to fish the adults each day, but the nymphing has been so good that you may not want to waste time changing over. 

Midges in the am and Pt’s as the sun gets higher will do the trick.  #16-20 is fine.  I suggest 5 X tippets, and 6X will get even more attention as the water is clear.  The flows have been doing the yo-yo but seem to be averaging about 100cfs.  They will be going higher this year; I can assure you of this.  When is anyone’s guess, I suggest you get a whack at wading this area soon.  The weather has been cool in the am’s, however quite pleasant by late morning recently. 

The sections of river that are planted have been very slow.  The cold weather has chilled the water down in the thirties some days making the holdover and wild fish lethargic.  Several seasons of small allotments are taking a toll in the planted sections and fishing has been very poor relative to what is going on in the wild trout section.  Budget shortfalls, winter stocking programs scrapped, hatchery closures/quarantines, invasive species issues, and the trout are making life miserable for the willow fly catchers and hard headed minnow??? Blah, blah, blah.   Get accustomed to the new stocking landscape; it is going to be different in all areas of the golden state.   

Canada David C. (all the way from Otawa, Canada) Epic Nymph Fishing in late January

David C.'s Under-Cator was down more than it was up!

David C. "Dip n' Strip" Drifting

PV Reservoir: 

The Rez level remains too high for good access near the inlet.  The small creek section is fishing pretty well with a dry dropper combo on the warmer days but you can cover the water here in a few hours.  Some bwo’s coming off here also.  The freeze tubers are feeling the pinch of no stocking here as well.  The DFG put in some brood fish a couple weeks ago (the river got a sprinkling of brooders also) so there may be a trophy fish hanging around the inlet or launch ramp areas.  Best bet is to fish a full sink on the far shoreline trolling or casting streamer patterns #8-12.  Spruce-a-Bu’s, Loebergs, leeches will get grabs. 

Hot Creek: 

Still very consistent as long as we do not have a sub-zero morning in Long Valley.  Stick to the usual midges and bwo patterns.  HC fish are scholars and as a rule go a size or two down from what you may normally fish.  Add a couple feet to your leaders, and go down a notch for your tippets as well.  The hike down is tricky, as well as the hike in.  Small crowds as you might expect, but worth the effort.

Two Bug Doug doing his thing on the crick!

East Walker: 

Ice Station Zebra.  Needs to get warm for a week before it picks up. 

The Gorge: 

There is a good deal of snow and ice especially on the west side of the canyon.  The fish are on the chew for sure and you can have a good time with dry/dry or dry/dropper bead head combos here.  #14-18 patterns are fine.  Make sure you have large studs on your boots for all areas that have snow and ice.  Felt soles suck in the winter, get rubber wading boots they are far superior.  This applies to all winter time fisheries. 

We are selling flies online this season for your convenience.  The 2010 Sierra Drifters Flies are available at the following great fly shops and stores this winter: Bob Marriott’s Flyfishing Store in Fullerton, Malibu Fish’n Tackle in Thousand Oaks, The Fishermen’s Spot in Van Nuys, Stroud’s Tackle and the So Cal Fly Shop in San Diego. There are links to these locations at the resources tab above.

Thank you for taking the time to read my report. 

Be the fly friends…

Tom Loe

Sierra Drifters Guide Service    

and Michele Loe, Sales Associate Prestige Properties of Mammoth Michele@MammothLakes.com

Eastern Sierra Real Estate…. http://www.mammothrealestateonline.com/Nav.aspx/Page=/About/Default.aspx

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