December 26, 2004
Howdy friends and Sierra Drifters.
Happy holidays and best fishes to all for this X-mas 2004 fish report from the
Eastern High Sierra.
The weather pattern is expected to change
dramatically this week with an extended period of unsettled and potentially wet
conditions expected to arrive Monday. Look for cloudy and breezy
conditions all week with limited sunshine and snow flurries on and off
especially in the upper elevations. The Owens Valley is forecast to have a
chance of rain with gusty southerly winds throughout most of next week. There
are weather links at the resources tab above.
Up until this point the weather has been
dry with cold mornings and plenty of sunshine. The bite has been very good
in the afternoons after the gravel beds warm the upper 30 degree water
temperatures a few clicks. The big fish are showing on a regular basis and
we have had some memorable days last week with a flurry of large rainbows
hitting streamers while using our dip and strip from the drift boat.
A reminder to all fisher folk… You
will need to obtain a new sport fishing license after 12-31-04. They are
currently available at all locations. There is NO grace period for an
expired license! Please go to
http://www.dfg.ca.gov for complete information on the current DFG
regulations.
Many folks like to combine a ski/snowboard
trip with a winter fishing trip this time of year….give as a call or email to
check our availability and then check out Mammoth Mountain Ski Area at
www.mammothmountain.com
Lower Owens River:
Excellent
Winter is the ideal time to fish this river
and the “catching” recently has been indicative of stable water flows and
aggressive trout. You will not experience mega hatches as seen here in the
fall, spring and summer, but you will experience solid midge activity with
periodic baetis emergences on the warmer, cloudy days. The wild trout
section is fishing well in the afternoons after the water warms up. Look
for the fish to be holding in the deeper pools, with a fair amount of the more
exuberant fish moving towards the tailouts of these pools as the afternoon sun
gets them more active and looking to feed. Small mayfly and midge
imitations #18-24 will get it done here fished with a dry/dropper combo or under
a small strike indicator. With the flows holding around 105 cfs you will
not find it necessary to use battleship chain to get down where the trout are
holding. Redundant dead drifts along the seams on the “softer” side of the
current lines will get results while nymphing. Look for gentle takes this
time of year. Any suspicious movement of your indicator should warrant a
set with your rod motion DOWNSTREAM then upwards. You will hook more grabs
using this setting motion.
When the water temps start to fall below 40
degrees the aquatic insects that abound here are not as active in their hatch
cycles. This is the time of year when we rock the larger rainbows using
our “dip and strip” technique with heavy sinking tip lines and our time tested
streamers developed for the waters of the Eastern Sierra. My
favorite streamer (developed specifically for the dip and strip from a drift
boat) nicknamed the “Kelley Bundy” or light Spruce-a-bu has been deadly this
week and proved irresistible to numerous large rainbows caught by veteran Sierra
Drifters who know winter is the time for a “hog hunt” on the Lower Owens.
Drifter’s crystal leech #12 also whacked a fair amount of fish recently when
David Clemson of Yorba Linda, CA could not talk “Kelley” into wiggling right for
the trout. Santa gave David a handful of large rainbows on his way to a 40
fish day solo! Check out the choppers on David’s big male...
David Clemson
Radio icon “Let’s Talk Hook Up” Mighty 1090
AM personality and host Pete Gray with friend Lolly Thard spent a day with us
this week and Pete once again nailed a trophy sized rainbow on the fly.
Best fishes and hurry up and get back on the water to co-host and friend Marty
Milner who is recovering from heart surgery.
www.hookup1090.com
Lolly Thard and Pete
Gray
X-mas came early for Don Klahs from
Valencia, CA and friend Gary Gilbride also from Valencia, in the package of
numerous huge rainbows on a bright sunny day recently. Don and Gary both
got into a slug of winter trout while tugging our Spruce-a-bu’s. Word has
it the trout are lobbying to make the “Klahs pause” illegal Don!
Don Klahs (left) and
Gary Gilbride (right)
Don Klahs (left) and
Gary Gilbride (right)
Please remember that this area is NZMS
positive and rotten with the critters. Walk and wade in the streambed as
little as possible, do your moving on dry ground. For more information on the
snail go to
http://www.flyline.com/environmental/nzms
Pleasant Valley
Reservoir: Good
The trout are consistently being found near
the transition water by the inlet. Both nymphing with our crystal tiger
and zebra midges #16-18 and stripping streamers with a trail fly or solo are
providing plenty of “bendo” for those working this section.
“Freeze tubing” the launch ramp and inlet
areas will also get you into some nice winter time trout. A sinking line
that will get you down 5-10 feet is sufficient this time of year.
Loebergs, Punk Perch, Crystal Leeches, are all good choices here #10-14.
Be cautious of the frozen mud during the
mornings around the inlet section. It is nasty and if not considered will
land you on your caboose!
The Gorge: Fair
You may find the wild trout section a tad
too crowded this holiday week and if you want to get away from it all a hike
into the “pit” will get you some solitude. It will be cold here until the
very late mornings and there is no need to do the dawn patrol here this time of
year. Stick to midge and smaller mayfly imitations #18-20 with a
dry/dropper rig. Snow levels are forecast to drop down to the 5000 foot
level by the beginning of the week, if this occurs it may not be wise to hike
into this area as the footing will become dangerous.
The fly fishing community lost a tremendous
friend and wonderful person recently with the passing of Bob Camp from San
Diego. I had the honor of guiding and being with Bobby and his dear friend
Paul Williams for his last casts while doing a drift boat trip in Sept. of 02.
Bobby has been a role model for me and many
others as long as I have known him and his wisdom, humor and kindness will never
be erased from our memories. In my heart and mind Bobby is the patron
saint of fly fishing and will hold a special place in my heart. We send
our sincere condolences to family and friends.
Paul Williams (left)
with Bob Camp (right)
You can pick up our guide flies at the
following stand out locations:
The San Diego Fly Shop, The
Troutfitter/Trout Fly in Mammoth Lakes, Stroud’s Tackle in San Diego, Malibu
Fish’N Tackle in Thousand Oaks. There are links to these locations at the
resources tab above.
Be the fly…Tom Loe
Sierra Drifters Guide Service
