April 30, 2007
Howdy friends and Sierra Drifters. Best fishes to
all for the 2007 general trout season in the Eastern High Sierra.
You would have to look a long ways back to find a
better weather and condition friendly opening week than was recently
experienced by thousands for this opener. The below average snow pack and
high snow line had many campgrounds and fisheries that are typically
“iffy” for the opening week in fine shape, with conditions that seemed
more like the month of June than April. The record warm air especially in
the upper elevations has also started some early run-off that has swelled
some of the freestone creeks the last few days. The extended forecast is
calling for a significant cooling trend with a chance of rain and snow
later this week and this should slow down the run off for the next week.
This season will be almost the exact opposite of
last year with regards to fishing conditions. Look for the run off to be
short and pretty much over by late June. The road into Reds Meadow and
the San Joaquin will open by Memorial Day unless conditions change. The
flows will be fishable here at first then get iffy until they drop in late
June or early July. Tioga Pass is staged to open by mid May. The Mammoth
Lakes Basin should be ready to go by mid May with most of the lakes ice
free and fishable. The June Lake Loop is rock’n, as are the twins in the
Bridgeport area.
Alpine lakes above the 9000 foot elevation are
still mostly frozen (Rock Creek Lake, Virginia Lakes, Tioga, North Lake,
Hilton Lake, Parker Lake, etc…) with significant broken ice and snow lined
banks. Conditions will improve quickly by mid to late May if it continues
to stay warm.
The fall season will graph low flows on creeks and
non regulated rivers beginning in mid August and early September. The
Sierra’s larger reservoirs like Crowley and Bridgeport will drop steadily
all summer. This is in sharp contrast to last season’s constant
fluctuations that at times put a negative influence on the fishing.
Crowley and Bridgeport will fish well this year and be hot right out of
the gates with predictable aquatic insect hatches and spawns of forage
fish. We will see normal migrations of trout throughout the summer and
into fall as the levels drop. Next season the piper will have to be
compensated so to speak.
The DFG has informed all that the NZMS infestation
at the Hot Creek Hatchery will not affect the 2007 trout stocking programs
for the Eastern Sierra. This is great news; we most certainly hope it is
valid.
Crowley Lake: You will
not be alone…
The opening days at Crowley were extremely crowded
and near record amounts of anglers took advantage of the mild weather and
ideal conditions. We found fish in some of the less frequented areas but
due to the abnormal amount of folks on the lake I can not give you an
accurate assessment of the prime areas we would target under less
pressured circumstances.
The fish we did locate were plugged with
chironomids and very thick for this time of year. Crowley had a very mild
winter with only about 45 days of sheet ice. Drifters crystal tigers
#16-18, blood sucking Vanderleeches #14, 16, and gilled chironomids #18
(Gillies) got the opening day trio of Tim Huckaby, Bill Scripps, and Jim
Schnieders a Crowley “grand slam.” Rainbows, Browns, Cutthroat, and the
lethargic but numerous Sacramento Perch. Big Hilton, Sandy Pt. and McGee
Bay all have fish…and boats. The fish are a little shallower than
expected for this time of year and you should concentrate your efforts
around the ten foot range give or take a foot if you choose the Stillwater
technique as your arrow.
Jim Schnieders
Tim Huckaby
Bridgeport Reservoir: Good
His “royal sheepness” Jeffery Wenger reports good
numbers of rainbows with some super thick browns and great weather for
opening week. The lake level is perfect as well as water conditions. Fly
casters trolling or casting streamers like Loebergs and Punk Perch
patterns #10 and 12 near the dam are doing well in the mornings and
evenings with stillwater nymphing better during the late mornings in
depths or 9-12 feet along the drop off towards Buckeye Bay and in front of
the marina. Gillies, tigers, zebras #16 and 18 will get you grabs. The
boat dock area at the marina is undergoing a major overhaul this season
(he installed a special ramp to accommodate his little hoofs for quicker
more efficient service) and you will find less angler pressure here than
Crowley for the initial part of the season. Drop by or call Jeffery and
wish him a speedy recovery from his recent visit to the local emergency
clinic. Don’t have your ear too close to the phone, nor have any children
present after speaking to him about this!
East Walker River: Great
What a shock! The early season opening of several
waters including the EW in March of this year did not kill all the trout
before the regular opener. It is this way with all the catch and release
fisheries recently opened to year round fishing and we can dispose of any
arguments that the early opening did any damage financially or habitat
wise with regards to these fisheries this season.
The flows are currently at 150 cfs but should
begin to creep up soon as irrigation needs increase. Nymphing under an
indicator is proving to be the most effective means of getting grabs with
midge patterns, PT’s, and WD 40’s being popular with the trout. Fish a
tandem rig with the lower fly being at least one size smaller than its
upper counter part.
Steve and Elsbeth Roach from Apple Valley, CA went
a wading the EW with guide “Two Bug” Doug Dolan. The couple landed
numerous chunky browns and rainbows while spending a day nymphing the
famed tailwater.
Elsbeth Roach
with Doug Dolan
Steve Roach with
Doug Dolan
West Walker: Fair
The water is off colored and higher than normal
for this time frame as the warm weather has got the snow melting early
here. The campground areas are fishable and well stocked but with the
cold water you may have slower action in the canyon and meadow were you
will find some wild fish. Try a streamer in the larger pools and you
should have no problem getting into the stockers. Fish a dry/dropper
nymph combo in the slower water with a #16-18 tiger as the assassin!
Lower Owens River: Very Good
Flows continue to be released at 205 cfs and we
have been told that they are going to hold for a while longer. The real
time data has not been updated for a while on the LADWP website as of this
report. This is the first time in several years we have had the
opportunity to fish stable water in May and the fishing reflects the ideal
flows. All sections have been fishing well and you will see afternoon
caddis, morning mayflies for the icing on the cake. Nymphing with midge
and PT patterns are solid choices in the wadeable sections.
Phil and Russ Green from Covina, CA took a drift
with drift boat guide “Fill” Therrien recently and Phil Green got to buy
dinner for catch and releasing the big one for the day. Green nailed his
fish on a Loeberg while using the dip and strip from Fills rig.
Phil and Russ
Green
The drift boating has been great and coupled with
the warm weather and stable flows we are excited to be doing float trips
this time of year. Book a trip now before the flows go up and you’ll have
to wait until fall to float the Lower “O”
Upper Owens River,
Crowley Tributaries Hilton, McGee, Convict: Fair-Good
Good reports from the monument to the lake. It
remains slow in the year round sections and has not changed much since the
early opening in March. I like a San Juan worm and an olive zebra #18 in
the deep pools this time of year in the section below the monument.
Streamers are a good choice if there is not significant weed snagging up
on your Spruce-a-Bu or Loeberg. Have a medium rate sink tip available for
fishing the streamer of your choice here. Please make sure you do not
fish upstream of the monument to the Benton Crossing Bridge. This section
remains closed to ALL fishing until the Saturday before Memorial Day.
The other tribs are not nearly as productive or
concentrated with spring spawn rainbows as they were last season. This is
perhaps attributed to the low water flows and brutal cold we had early
this spring. You will still find some large fish hanging near the inlets
but I suggest you spend more time fishing the Upper Owens mouth for
numbers.
Hot Creek: Good
I have seen plenty of happy faces here since the
early opener. Check out this monster rainbow Ross Boucher from Cardiff,
CA got while nymphing on Hot Creek. This one is special! Ross got this
one all on his own, except for the netting and photo done by yours truly.
Great fish Ross, we bow to you pal!
Ross Boucher
Mammoth Creek has come up a bit this week (its
confluence is into Hot Creek just downstream of the hatchery) and will
strongly influence Hot Creeks condition as the warming weather gets the
snow melting. The flows remain pretty much seasonal right now. Look for
mayfly mornings and caddis sundowns. Dry dropper rigs with bead heads and
emergers as the target fly and a larger caddis or Stimulator #14-16 as the
upper are a better choice than whacking the water with an indicator.
Small olive zebras, PT’s, WD 40’s #18-22 will get you bendo!
Pleasant Valley
Reservoir: Very Good
Tubing the launch ramp towards the inlet will get
you into fish. The streamer fishing has been great with gobs of hatchery
fish and a solid showing of browns in the mix. Fish the mornings and
shadows of the canyon walls in the afternoons for more consistent action.
The inlet section is also fishing very well right now with dry dropper
combos getting it done.
The Gorge: Very Good
It has been very warm down here recently and you
will see a summer like pattern of feeding with the am’s and late
afternoons being a better time to target this area. Caddis or mayfly
dries #16-20, or a dry dropper bead head with an olive zebra or small PT
as the nymph #16-20.
Alpine Lakes: Fair to
good
The June Lake Loop’s Silver Lake would be my first
choice for numbers with a close second going to the Twins lower lake up in
Bridgeport if you are looking for a trophy brown. Convict is jugged with
stockers and has the warmest water. Lundy is open but has really low
water. Look for other alpine fisheries to be improving very soon.
Mammoth Lakes
Condominiums:
Many don’t know of the incredible deals you can
get on fully equipped condos in Mammoth during the “shoulder” seasons…
Spring bargain rates are in effect now through mid June and range from $80
(slps 2) to $185 (slps 8-10). Tired of sleeping on the cold wet ground?
Hard to justify the fuel cost and hassle of towing or driving your RV up
for a couple of days or long weekend? Have we got a deal for you! Mention
Sierra Drifters and get the booking fee waived (a $40.00 discount) on a
condominium in Mammoth Lakes by contacting the friendly staff at Central
Reservations...1-800-321-3261! Spend your precious time fishing and
enjoying the alpine atmosphere of Mammoth Lakes instead of setting up
camp. This is a limited time offer so get on it baby!
And from Michele… Mammoth Mtn. received over a
foot of snow March 27th making for what we hear to be great
spring skiing conditions…there are great deals to be had out there for
condo rentals through April… It’s a great time of year to combine skiing
and fishing! Check out the lodging page of
www.mammothlakes.com and also here for some great Mammoth Lakes Real
Estate Listings…
http://www.mammothlakes.com/mlRE/Agent_Michele.html
FISH ON BABY!!! Now that I have your undivided
attention we need you all to write the Cal DFG Commissioners and express
your approval of the new regulations opening sections of the Upper Owens
River, Hot Creek and the tailwater section of the East Walker River to
year round fishing beginning on March 1st 2007. We have
included a link to the new regulations and as usual you can click on the
button providing important DFG news by visiting our website at
www.sierradrifters.com. DFG commission info at
http://www.fgc.ca.gov/
We at Sierra Drifters Guide Service support the
new regulations and feel the additional year round water will benefit all
catch and release fisherman with little impact on the fisheries,
enforcement or search and rescue organizations. Get the word out friends
we need to make our opinions heard.
Be the fly friends…
Tom Loe
Sierra Drifters Guide Service
760-935-4250
Driftfish@qnet.com
