"Here is John W. from San Diego, I'm holding his East Walker Brown, which is his personal best fish on a fly. And fishing partner, Chris D. hooked and landed many fish nymphing. Chris also played tug-a-war with two big Rainbows and one big Brown, but unable to get to the net...Two Bug Doug"

East Walker... T-Loe and SteveO...

Sierra Drifters Veterans...the brothers Newman...

Rob N... Triple Brown Whammy!

Jake H...Veteran Sierra Drifters Client...going solo at the EW!

"The attached photos are from our Drift Trip with Phil. The person in the tan hat and shirt is me,  and my fish is an Alpers about 16 inches and is my first fish ever caught on a fly. Thanks Phil. My fishing buddy, Mac M, in the pink shirt, caught a 18 inch Rainbow as measured by Phil. It was a great trip and we plan on doing it again.

Thanks Sierra Drifters, Bob F"

Upper Owens River: 

The section from the fishing monument, downstream to Crowley Lake will be opening on 4-25.  The area around the campground beginning at the Benton Bridge downstream to the monument remains closed until 5-23.  The year around water up from the bridge has special angling regulations and slot limits.  Got it?  That is a bunch of regs for a single piece of water! 

Anyway, it has been very good in the upper sections on the warmer calm days.  Forget this place if the wind is blowing unless you want to “cast and crouch” with streamers, which I might add is perhaps the most efficient way to get into the twenty plus rainbows that are scattered and holding in the deeper pools. 

Numbers have been better the last couple of weeks in the upper sections with some fantastic caddis hatches triggering a hot bite for small to medium sized trout mid-day.  #16-18 dark bodies.  The BWO’s are still coming off, but in smaller numbers #18-20.  They are more prolific on the overcast days. 

James M..."Haus gets a nice one" on the Upper O...

Spawners...We can take you here!

Cased Caddis

Hot Creek: 

It will be interesting to see if it is wall to wall for opening day as in years past, or if the year around change has altered angling behavior here.  HC has been open for two full springs prior to the traditional opener and is fishing very well this spring. 

The Interpretive Site has been taken out to the wood shed and beaten like a bad step child the last couple of weeks, hike into the canyon for the eager fish.  Strong caddis activity as well as BWO’s and PMD’s will get you into surface activity late morn and mid-day.  Dry dropper bead head or emerger rigs are good choices.  Make sure your leaders are at least 9 feet in length.  Fish 6X tippet, you will get more grabs.  Low flows, clean water at the time of this report. 

Jake H... Veteran Sierra Drifters Client...going solo at HC!

West Walker River: 

I am eager to fish this before the run-off blows it out.  Flows are pretty good right now and a hike into the canyons (below and above the Marine Base) will get you away from the pack and into some nice hold over trout.  I suggest dry dropper rigs.  There will be some stone flies, and midges around, as well as first generation BWO’s.  Pikel Meadows is snow free and should have some excellent fishing for stockers.  Use a crystal tiger #16 under a Stimulator 2-3 feet in the softer water here. 

Pleasant Valley Reservoir: 

Fishing remains pretty good overall.  The planted fish here are also on the small side, but there have been some Alpers plants to put a few nice fish in the mix.  Power generation has not been a factor most days and this has made for ideal conditions around the inlet transition area.  Streamers or dry/dropper bead head nymph rigs using crystal tigers or FB PT’s #16-18 are good choices under a Stimulator or sofa pillow #12.  Walk into the riffle water and the heavy brush and fish the pocket water.  You will be surprised at how good and consistent this small section can be.  Fish caddis imitations after the mid-day break #16-18 on the surface. 

The tubing has also been good if you can find an unoccupied area of bank near the launch ramp or around the inlet sections.  Still water nymphing using tigers, zebras, gillies, and crystal emerger’s #16-18 are best.  Ten feet is a good average depth.  Trolling perch fry imitations has also been paying off here along the weed lines on the west side, or in the shadows cast by the canyon walls during the am and pm times. 

The Gorge: 

The caddis hatch has got them on the chew down here and this is a great location to escape the crowds if you are willing to hike a half hour- forty five minutes.  Use a small strike detector or #12-16 dry as the upper to suspend a #16-20 bead head PT, olive caddis emerger or larva pattern. 

Alpine Lakes: 

The lower elevation lakes will be open.  I suggest you check with individual marinas and lodges to see what will be available in these areas.  The weather will determine quite a bit during the opening weeks.  June Lake Loop, Convict, Twin Lakes Bridgeport, open and fishable.  The Mammoth Lakes Basin, Rock Creek Lake, South Lake will have limited, or NO vehicle access and heavy to partial ice on them.  If you need cocktail ice or snow to fill your cooler and keep your beer cold, drive to 8500 feet and have your fill!  Pictures below were taken on April 20th.

Alpine Lake access is limited...

Rock Creek Lake... "Froze Up"

Crowley Tributaries:  McGee, Hilton, Convict 

Skinny.  I will save those of you who planned on getting up at O dark thirty to hike down to your favorite spot a bunch of time.  There are only scattered large fish holding (mostly cutts) and other than the blow out high water years I do not remember seeing as little a number of fish in the tribs as this.   

McGee Creek is literally 20 feet from my kitchen window and I have been observing rainbows in full spawn for over a month.  The large, alpha bows are pretty much done for this spring and have returned to the lake, or never made it up. 

Why?  Crowley was very, very, very low last season and continues to be below normal for this time of year.  It has filled slowly this year.  The flows from the tribs have been low also due to a high snowpack and cool, dry spring.  The ice has been off Crowley far earlier than normal this season and this phenomenon had the fish staging to go up the creeks early.  The extremely low lake water level combined with a very shallow channel prohibited a strong migration of fish upstream into the creeks that early.  Low water years suck.  Check out the pics:  

This fence was totally underwater 3 seasons ago...

Freestone Creeks: 

Most are in great shape and the flows are more winter like.  The lower elevation creeks will be good choices, Rock Creek, Bishop Creek, Convict Creek (near the lake) Robinson Creek, etc…The water will be cool, but I witnessed fish rising to midges on Rock Creek which is a good sign for early season fishers.  Bright, flashy bead head patterns in the #14-18 range will get grabs from these opportunistic fish.  Elk caddis patterns and Adams #14-16 are also good choices for these freestone rascals. 

Bridgeport Reservoir: 

I would like to see more water here for this time of year but it is what it is.  The Bridge has been ice free for a long time and I have seen plenty of fish rolling near the dam and along the eastern shoreline as I come back form guiding the EW.  I would suggest trolling perch fry patterns from a tube around, or near the marina area working towards the Walker inlet.  My crystal ball shows more than one HUGE brown getting spanked from here before mid-May.  There are sporadic chironomid hatches during the high pressure- warm days and historically still water nymphing the drop-off near Rainbow Pt. will get you into fish during the early season.  Stay in 12 feet or more of water. 

Jeffery has had a long, hard winter at the Bridgeport marina and may be a tad more “sheepish” than usual, so cut him some slack.  He has the hot flies and last minute scoop so go say baaah for me. http://www.bridgeportreservoir.com/ 

Adobe Pond: 

We are looking forward to another great season here and have secured the exclusive rights to guide this beautiful brown trout filled honey hole once again. We have trips booked for the early season and will post the results in future reports.  If you enjoy private water, gorgeous surroundings and sight fishing to wild browns this is a must in 2009 for you. You can check it out online at the Adobe Ranch button on the top of this page. 

Last but not least…Crowley Lake 

Unlike last year the gem of the Sierra will have a fast start.  The chironomids are showing in force recently and with the ice free condition the lake has seen this spring we should have a good early start.  Water temps are way above average for this time of year and the fish will be holding in shorter water for the beginning of the season.  Fly fishers should focus on the 10-12 foot range around Sandy Pt. moving towards Alligator and into the North Arm.  The Hiltons will also have concentrations of trout.  The rainbows will be smaller than usual on average. This is due to last falls DFG plantings, but the numbers will make up for size this spring I am sure. 

If you are planning on bringing your own boat be prepared for increased inspections with tighter restrictions.  The blah, blah about the Quagga Mussel is continuing and will be a factor we are told by the ever environmentally sensitive LADWP. 

If you are interested in learning the fundamentals of still water nymphing and the dynamics of Crowley Lake and some other trophy still water fisheries I guide; I suggest you pick up the April copy of Western Outdoors Magazine.  This is the periodical fishing publication distributed by the fine folks at Western Outdoor News.  I did a comprehensive article on Crowley and still water nymphing entitled;  Be the fly: the midging method. 

Sierra Drifters Flies are available at the following great fly shops and stores: Crowley Lake Fish Camp & The Crowley Lake General Store in Crowley, Bridgeport Marina at Bridgeport Reservoir, Kittredge Sports in Mammoth Lakes, Malibu Fish’n Tackle in Thousand Oaks, Stroud’s Tackle in San Diego, The San Diego Fly Shop in San Diego,  The Fishermen’s Spot in Van Nuys, Bob Marriott’s in Fullerton, Buz's Fly Shop Too in Bakersfield, & Crosby Lodge at Pyramid Lake, Nevada.  There are links to these locations at the resources tab above. We pride our Guide Service & Products on Innovation not Imitation! 

Be the fly friends…Tom Loe

Sierra Drifters Guide Service    

760-935-4250

Driftfish@qnet.com 

and Michele Loe Michele@MammothLakes.com