February 2009 Fish'n Conditions:

Howdy friends and Sierra Drifters.  Hot off the press- the February 2009 Fish’N conditions for the Eastern High Sierra. 

The weather has been very mild with spring like days even in the Long Valley region.  Plenty of sunshine with very little snow on the valley floor.  The Owens Valley has been unseasonably warm and dry.  A change in the weather pattern is forecast for the beginning of the month and hopefully it will bring additional snow to the Sierra. 

Make sure to purchase a 2009 fishing license.  The DFG needs all the help it can get!   

Sincere thank you’s go out to the friendly fly fishers and administrations of Diablo Valley, San Jose, Deep Creek, and Orange County for attending and organizing my seminars recently.  The hospitality and large turnouts were greatly appreciated.   It was a pleasure meeting your clubs and I look forward to seeing many of you on the water in the future.  Be the fly! 

Sportsmen’s Expo: Bakersfield ~ February 6-8: Stop by the Mono County booth and say hi to the friendly Sierra Drifters staff & get the latest fishing scoop from the Eastern Sierra.

Lower Owens River: 

"Wild... Taming the Beast!"

Chris scores a trophy for the Wildmans

We had some tough days in mid-January when the flows got bumped up to 200cfs.  Flow increases that time of year are uncommon and adversely affect the fishing.  The release rates are dropping once again and where they will end up is the million dollar question.  Currently they are perfect for both wading and drifting.  Fish counts improved after the river cleared up. There is a link to the LADWP flows above.

The fishing has been very good with the bigs on the prowl.  We are hooking a few trophies almost every float; some just do not want their picture taken if you get my drift! 

The baetis hatch is improving everyday and the trout are eagerly responding to the larger early generation bwo’s #16.  The best days for bwo’s are always cloudy.  Have a selection of PT’s in the #16-18 range, midge larva and emerger patterns #16-22 for nymphing.  Look for the noses to begin sipping the Mays around 1 pm.

Water temps are way above normal for the LO this year and the fish are quite active in the mornings with respect to this trend.  My Spruce-a-bu #10 or larger Punk Perch have been reliable patterns for “dip and stripping” with streamers for the larger trout. 

"The Gnome" - Loving - then leaving his Trophy Rainbow"

Brian A. all smiles...

"I'm sending photos from our trip yesterday with Fil. We had a great day and I caught this brute just before lunch. Fil is going to have to get a bigger net. It was fun to learn a different way to fish the river. My wife and I both fish and we are going to have to come back and try this again. Best Fishes Brian"

Upper Owens River: 

Joyia L... "Holy Jumping Rainbows Joy!"

Bruce L...."Bent Baby!"

I can only recall a few January’s as pleasant as this one in the forty years I have been visiting the Upper Owens.  High fives to the DFG Commissioners and biologists.  The verdict is a good one on allowing year around fishing here and Hot Creek.   

There is very little snow on the ground, especially along the banks.  You will potentially encounter poor two track dirt road conditions after the ground thaws in the afternoons leading to the river.  The walk along the river upstream from the Benton Bridge is easy and beautiful, and way more fun than digging out your vehicle to save thirty minutes!   

Fishing has been very good most days and there is an above average amount of fish stacked in most of the larger pools.  Fish streamers in the mornings, late afternoons, or when it becomes cloudy or windy for trophy sized rainbows.  Loebergs and Punk Perch used with a moderate sinking tip will get you into the big bows. 

Dry dropper combos with a #12/14 Stimulator three feet above a #18-20 crystal pupa or emerger have been deadly in the eddies and soft water on the larger pools.  Small tiger midges #18-22 have also been hot patterns.  The bwo’s are just beginning to show and are not consistently emerging.    

Crowds have been moderate to heavy on the warm weekends, but it is almost lonely during the mid-weeks.  The winds are light this time of year between disturbances as we do not experience the diurnal conditions of spring and summer.   

Gary W... Keeping a low profile...

And it Pays Off!

Brent W with his 1st trophy on the Punk Perch...

Encore! The next pool!

"Gary and I had a great time on the river as expected.
Tom's a great guy, a joy to fish with and a first class guide.
Thanks again and talk with you soon,
Brent"
 

Hot Creek: 

A new tradition is being established.  Ski in the morning, fish HC in the afternoon.  The conditions are perfect for this “play plan”  You will see a good jag of SUV’s with boards, skis, and fly rods at the interpretive site most weekend afternoons.  Hike into the canyon to get some open water.   

With the mild winter it is pretty much business as usual on HC.  The flows are good for this time of year and although the weeds can still be an issue on some runs they are not so much of the equation as in the late fall, or when it gets really cold.  Midge and mayfly imitations for surface and nymphing.  I enjoy casting midge cluster patterns #22 to the rising trout here after the frost melts in the morning.  

Pleasant Valley Reservoir: 

Pretty fun.  Hard to call it “freeze tubing” this January.  Not a bunch of large fish but the numbers are good from the launch ramp to the inlet.  Get your streamers down 10 feet.  Still water nymphing has also been a good way to get bent especially on the warm high pressure days.  Gillies, crystal tigers, crystal pupa’s #16-18.  Work the drop-off on the west side closer to the inlet. 

The river above the rez is also fishing well and I prefer to fish here when possible.  You will be hard pressed to find a better combo that a #12-14 Stimulator suspending a #16-18 crystal tiger midge or olive zebra in this section. 

The Gorge: 

Great conditions for this time of year.  The fish are very active after the frost comes off and the ice no longer lingers in your rods guides.  Pack in your 1-3 weight and some #18 mayfly imitations.  Hang a #18-20 zebra or PT under a larger dry two feet in the deeper pools.   This place is deserted other than those hanging from the cliff walls! 

East Walker: 

Not enough water being released for my liking.  It should improve by March. 

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