August 21, 2006
Howdy friends and Sierra Drifters. This is an
update to the “Hog-gust 2006” fish report from the Eastern High Sierra.
Crowley Lake:
Fair-very good
The “epic” fly fishing has ended for the time
being but you may still encounter some fantastic days on Crowley as the
conditions remain excellent and the stage is set for the mother of all
falls on this premier stillwater.
There are two very distinct concentrations of
trout that are foraging in different regions in close proximity. The
larger fish are targeting on the perch fry and callibaetis/damsel nymph
migrations and you will see them annihilating the perch fry balls along
the shallows in McGee Bay and the North Arm of the lake near the inlets.
Little Hilton also has a number of predators bushwhacking the perch fry
and larger swimming nymphs. Streamer fisherman using perch fry imitations
can have some fun if you find enough open water to cast and work a channel
edge or weed line in the short or shallow water. The Bataan death kick by
float tube has only a few hardy souls making it to the promised land of
McGee Bay. Hilton or the North end is a better choice if you do not have
a boat. The wind has been a pest most days with the southerlies beginning
around 11 am until around 4 pm the last several days. This condition is
forecast to improve by mid-week as a substantial high pressure builds over
the area.
The second area is the deeper water from 10-15
feet on the mud flats or along the deeper weed edges that are beginning to
protrude the surface in several areas of the lake. The chironomid hatches
have been sporadic and these will dictate what kind of bite you will have
in the deeper water. On the days when there are just a few midges coming
off you will have a tough time getting grabs on the flats. If you are
struggling on the outside get out those sink tips and start working the
streamer patterns in close. In general there are larger concentrations of
fish out deep with a more consistent bite day to day. If the fish go off
inside you want to be there and it is here you will find “Jangles”
terrorizing the perch fry.
We are finding better results going down in hook
size especially when using chironomid imitations recently. Drop down to a
#20 or even a #22 in the short water for more grabs. Back those drags off
a bunch and drop down to 5X or 6X tippet when using #20 or smaller fine
wire hooks. Gillies, crystal emergers, and larva patterns like tigers and
zebras are all working well. Our light and olive Punk Perch, as well as
Loebergs are doing a number on the trout for those of you who want to
troll or cast streamers on Crowley.
Have a great “Hog-gust” on Crowley!
Sierra Drifters “top gun” clients Rich from Canyon
Country and son Richard Rathcke from Acton, CA, with Frank Carlsen from La
Crescenta got into an epic bite of large short water browns recently.
Incredible day guys!
Richard & Rich
Rathcke
Frank Carlsen
Iron woman Chris “Linkcredible” from San Pedro is
once again in the fish report with a monster rainbow. This gal has spooky
big fish MOJO!
Chris Linkletter
David Kendrick from Irvine, CA went outside the
box and stuck with stripping punk perch patterns while his pal Jerry Neve
was ripping one after another still water nymphing. He was rewarded with
a rotund 25” rainbow that was perhaps the most stunningly colored fish I
can remember on Crowley. High fives to you David. That was truly a
special fish.
David Kendrick
Bob McMaster from San Jose, CA is a master of
Stillwater fly fishing. His jumbo rainbow is proof of this. Great fish
see ya soon Bobby.
Bob McMaster
Future fly fishing hall of fame candidate Ryan
Redmond…..spent a day with Drifters guide “Fill” Therrien and his dad,
Greg Redmond from Clayton, CA and came up with his twenty incher. This
shot will make you all smile and is what being a guide is all about folks!
Ryan Redmond with
Guide, Fill Therrien
Bridgeport Reservoir:
Fair-good
The lake level is at last lowering and the weed
beds are taking that “Everglades” look that the lake gets this time of
year. Working the channels with streamer patterns that imitate perch fry,
callibaetis nymphs, and damsel fly nymphs are your best bet. Stillwater
nymphing is still a good option if you can locate a large hole in the
weeds. Buckeye Bay towards Rainbow Pt. and the drop-off have some limited
open water. Fall is going to be great here! Sheep Meister and resort
owner Jefferrrreee Wenger will shuttle you out to the open spots and set
you up with his select private stock of holistic fly patterns…Bring him
some oats and he may give you a discount on our flies! There is a link on
the resources tab above.
“My son, Evan, and I fished with Brad McLain
at Bridgeport Reservoir and I thought you'd like a copy of the attached
picture. Evan caught the fish, a 23", 5.5lb Rainbow. Nary a bite from 8am
until noon but from noon until 3pm I experienced some of the best trout
fishing of my life. Brad was great when things were slow and was even
better when the fish started biting. As the commercial says the time was
"Priceless". Thanks to you and to Brad for a most excellent experience.”
Mike Wright from Bakersfield, CA.
Guide, Brad
McClain with Evan Wright
News from the
Bridgeport Fisheries Enhancement Program:
From:
fishskipper@netzero.net Quick update....we have stocked about
3,000 browns in the 3-4 inch range recently in the rez.
The East Walker will get about 5k in the next two weeks. We
are selecting high water spots with plenty of cover and the little buggers
are eating whatever moves as soon as they hit the water. There are still
several thousand in the bin. The browns are aggressive and showing their
red spots. Bright colored beauties.
Our Virginia Creek Project will be operational by the end of the
weekend and we will have some rainbows for a trial phase in the bin very
soon. This is a spring fed flow-through bin that has even better potential
than Paradise Shores.
Best fishes and hey, keep slayin' em.
Skip
East Walker River:
Very Good
Flows are currently being
released at 340 cfs (8-21-06). There is a link to the water flows above. At this
release the average fly fisher can get into fish consistently with
moderately weighted nymph rigs. A bunch of small browns have been planted
this season with no small effort by some quality folks in the area. You
may get into these from time to time. The big fish are what makes the EW
special and at this release rate they are now vulnerable to experienced
fly fishers. PT’s, birds nests and small tigers or olive and black zebras
will get you grabs. The grasshoppers are showing here so have some larger
dry patterns and cast them to eddy’s along the banks. Streamers are also
a good choice at this time during the lower light periods. Cast our
Spruce-a-Bu with a light to moderate sinking tip of 10-15 feet in the big
hole below the dam or some of the other larger pools in the meadow section
and be ready for battle. Have a BIG catch and release net here folks.
West Walker River:
Good
Things are shaping up nicely and even the canyon
section is accessible for those wishing to get away from the crowds around
the campgrounds and bridges. Dry/dry or dry dropper bead head nymph
combos have always been my favorite here. Tigers and PT’s will get you
takes. Elk hair caddis and stimulators are high floating and a very good
choice for surface imitations here this time of year.
Hot Creek: Very Good
This is perhaps the best time of year to fish
dries with the water levels being just about perfect. Keep your leaders
longer than usual and your tippets 6X or less and you will get into fish.
The hoppers are showing here as well, fish these terrestrial patterns
along the banks and undercuts and you may get “Brownzilla” to come out for
a snack!
Upper Owens: Good
You will find a larger average fish in the lower
sections below the Benton Crossing Bridge downstream towards the lake and
more than likely more numbers and better dry fly activity above the
confluence of Hot Creek. Hoppers, mayflies and caddis in the afternoons.
Pt’s and our olive dubbed crystal zebras work well here.
Rock Creek Lake,
Mammoth Lakes Basin, June Lake Loop, Convict Lake, Lundy, Virginia Lake:
Good
This is the peak of the season and all of these
alpine lakes are fishing well. Heavy plantings of both DFG and Alpers
trout will insure you success if you put in the time. Full sinking or
heavy sinking tip lines used in conjunction with flashy streamer patterns
like crystal buggers, Matukas or our Blood Sucking Vanderleeches,
Spruce-a-bu’s and Loebergs will get you STRUCK DOWN! The key in all these
areas is to locate transition zones like drop-offs, inlets of creeks or
springs and underwater structure like tree stumps or submerged logs. Even
hatchery fish will instinctively seek these locations after a while in a
natural environment. Work wind lines or scum lines when trolling from a
tube and you will have results locating fish in these high altitude
stillwaters.
Lower Owens River:
Fair-Poor
8-21-06 Flows are back up to
590 cfs...
8-13-06 We are still a ways from any good news here but it
is getting better, not worse. Flows are currently at 460 cfs and the
valley is still quite uncomfortable after about 9 am. Best bet here is
fishing the late, late afternoon caddis snap when the sun gets over the
Sierra’s crest. There is a link to the water flows above.
San Joaquin River:
Very Good
Conditions are getting pretty juicy here
especially for those who like to get into smaller wild trout on dries.
The raging waters are calming and the riffles are in great shape for
extended drifts. Attractor patterns likes Trudes, Coachman’s, Para
Wolfe’s, and Stimulators #12-16 work well this time of year. May fly
patterns like Adams and PMD’s are also solid choices #14-18. Bring along
copious amounts of repellant! Remember the special regs about driving down
to this area...you can check with the Mammoth Lakes Visitors Bureau
www.visitmammoth.com
Guide Tip: Lower McGee
Creek
Make the effort to trek down to the high water
line and the inlet to Crowley and you will not be disappointed at what you
will find. Many of the larger rainbows are seeking the cooler more
oxygenated water that is currently dumping into the lake at this
location. In addition the small perch fry, callibaetis and damsel nymphs
are migrating into the shallow flats seeking refuge in the dense grass
that was once a meadow. If you are not familiar with this area we have
guides that can help you out with the techniques to get you into these
fish. This is a magical time here and well worth the effort. As “Two Bug
Doug” reports: “Started out at Upper Owens with a short intro to indicator
nymph fishing, and no more than five minutes later , both Tyler and Dustin
have a double hook up......WOW. Dad, Roger and both sons caught 4-5 fish
each on the Upper O. Second half of the day landed us on McGee Creek at
the mouth of Crowley, we arrived around 3:pm to rising fish in just a few
feet of water. After a couple of big fish on but unable to land, they
started to realize the power of these hogs, I coached them as they had a
battle to get these fish to the net. Big fish honors went to Tyler LeBrun
from Camarillo, CA with a 22-23 inch bow.”
Tyler LeBrun
If you are new to the sport of fly fishing or need
a jump start as to some of the hot patterns that work in this area, stop
by and visit our good friends at the following great fly shops and
locations and ask for our “Killer kits” These kits are composed of our
most popular and deadly streamer and midge patterns and have been arranged
in a good quality ripple foam box for your convenience. They make great
starter boxes and perfect gifts for the fly fisher.
You can pick up our Authentic & Improved Sierra
Drifters Guide Flies, Sungicators & Killer Kits only at the
following stand out locations (don’t be fooled by any of the imitations
out there!): Crowley Lake Fish Camp & Crowley Lake General Store/Deli
in Crowley, Kittredge Sports in Mammoth Lakes, Bridgeport Reservoir Marina
in Bridgeport, Malibu Fish’n Tackle in Thousand Oaks, The San Diego Fly
Shop and Stroud’s Tackle in San Diego, The Fishermen’s Spot in Van Nuys,
Bob Marriott’s in Fullerton, Buz's Fly Shop Too in Bakersfield & online at
www.bigfishhappen.com. There
are links to these locations above. We pride our Guide Service & Products
on Innovation not Imitation!
