Fish'n
Conditions - Updated 2/11/10
If you would like to be added to our email list to
have regular Fish Reports delivered to your mailbox,
click here.
For previous reports,
click here.
Owens Valley Flow Reports from the DWP
Click here.
For East Walker flows
click here.
California Department of Fish & Game / Hatchery
News
Click here.
You can now buy your
California DFG
License Online and your
Nevada License Online as well.
If you visit this page often, you may need to refresh your browser
to see the latest version.
Sierra
Drifters advocates "Fishing for Fun"
Catch &
Release!
You can
click on the
Closer Look Tab above for a comprehensive
overview of many of the waters we guide.
The Three Trout-Kateers;
Gore V. with the fish, Dave S. blowing a kiss, Adam C. " Net Man"
"Looking
forward to fishing again with Tom again soon! We had a blast---Dave"
"Thanks Tom: That was a
blast. Hope to do it again real soon. Gore"
Click Here
For Our Guide Trip Request Form
Howdy friends and Sierra Drifters. I hope all
is going well for you in the New Year and you are making plans for
numerous fish’n excursions to the Eastern Sierra and other locations.
Please remember to get your 2010 licenses and the
warden stamp!
The DFG is in dire need of the revenue. Also: As of March 1, 2010
you will no longer need to DISPLAY your valid license. What few
wardens we currently have must now approach and ask you to show your
fishing license, check out all your gear, barbs, etc… This will make you
lose valuable fishing time and disturb your location. I hope the
belly acher’s that changed this law get checked during a great bite! I am
suggesting to our clients that you keep displaying it in an obvious
location and you may not be interrupted as the original law was
intended. You can now buy your
California DFG
License Online
We are well above normal snowpack after a series of
substantial dumps in January with more forecast to be on the way.
The landscape has changed significantly in all areas since the big storms
and we have updated the fish’n conditions in all areas.
The roads leading to all the rivers are pretty much
thrashed and many are impassable except by snow shoes or snow mobile.
The dirt roads that are not fenced along the Lower Owens River are also a
mess and have some nasty “tank traps” in some spots. Please remember
to check it out before you drive in. The roads are typically frozen
in the mornings and driving is not as much an issue at this time.
When they thaw in the afternoon you will have deep, thick mud or slush to
contend with and it ain’t no fun dig’n out or handing over a few bills to
a local towing company. Don’t let this happen to you!
Tom will be guiding the NEVADA section of the
East Walker River for 2010:
I will be guiding the NEVADA section of the East
Walker River for 2010. My Nevada Master Guides license has been
approved and I will be booking trips as soon as the weather moderates and
flow conditions improve. The old Rosachi Ranch is legendary for
numbers, and large trout. It was once a privately operated trout
ranch and has a reputation for monster rainbows. It is currently
managed by the Toiyabe National Forest. Many of you have experienced
the fantastic tail water fishery that the EW in California has to
offer-the Nevada section is even better; and it is far less crowded!
It is located just 8 easy miles from Bridgeport, CA which has great
accommodations for the day, or an extended stay.
Lower in elevation than the Cal section, the
barbless/zero limit C&R section of the EW in Nevada meanders along a
pristine meadow near the beautiful Smith Valley. It is a classic
riffle/pool tail water that contains numerous runs offering incredible dry
fly opportunities at times. We will be fishing seven miles of
gorgeous uncrowded water below the California border. I am very
excited about this and hope you can accompany me this season here.
This is where many CA/NV guides go to get away, and do not openly speak of
it. It really is a wonderful place to fly fish. The spring and
fall months can go ballistic here using May flies, midges, and streamers
with frequent opportunities to hit the caddis action during the summer.
You will need to obtain a Nevada fishing license and
trout stamp. Click here for information on ordering your
license online. We will
be offering half, full or multi-day day guided trips to both the Nevada
and Cal sections. We are talking about 15 miles of blue ribbon water
near Bridgeport! You gotta fish this at least once. It looks a
lot like Montana in my opinion. Please call for bookings and
rates. I believe there will be opportunities to begin fishing here
in early March. I will begin posting info as soon as conditions
warrant.
Road trips: Tom Loe will
be visiting his pal legendary Kern River master guide Guy Jeans and the
friendly folks of the Southern Sierra Fly Fishers in Kernville on March 13th
2010. http://ssffc.com/ Fly Shop
760 376 2040. T. Loe will then do a
show for his best buddy Bill Stroud of Stroud’s Tackle and the wonderful
group of fly casters - the San Diego Fly Fishers on April 5th
2010.
www.sandiegoflyfishers.com
The Power Point assisted presentations are done in an
“off the water guide trip” framework and have a vest full of great
information for fishing the waters of the Sierra and other locations that
hold trout. The general public is welcome to attend.
Eagle Lake Spring
Trips:
The conditions will be excellent this spring for
sure. Eagle is getting a good snowpack and the lake will be in top
shape for the 2010 season. We will be booking trips from 6-3-2010
through 6-30-2010. Doug R will be guiding Eagle with me this season
on his new 24 foot Ranger "fish magnet" and can easily accommodate three
anglers. AS OF 2-11-10 WE HAVE FILLED 80% OF THE DATES IN JUNE.
PLEASE GET YOUR TRIPS BOOKED TO THIS INCREDIBLE FISHERY SOON OR YOU WILL
MISS OUT ON AN EPIC SPRING!!!
Depending on conditions we may be doing some trips in
July as well. I will post those dates at a later time.
Eagle is hands down, without a doubt the best rainbow
trout still water in the State. If you like big numbers of 19
inch
average Eagle Lake Trout that weigh 2-3 lbs on the fly, this is
your huckleberry! Big fish here go 27 inches and weigh 6-7 lbs.
It is a gorgeous alpine lake bordered by huge pines and is California’s
second largest natural inland body of water.
Click on the
Eagle Lake tab at the top of this
page for additional info.
Fly Fishing
Clinics for beginners and intermediates:
If you or someone you know
wants to learn the basics of fly casting, knot tying, and the fundamentals
of wet and dry fly fishing from full time fly fishing professionals, here
is a great opportunity!
We will be conducting casting and knot tying clinics
located at Sierra Drifters beautiful private trophy
pond overlooking Crowley Lake at McGee Creek for next season.
You may enroll for an on the water instructional seminar in
addition to the pond session for the second day.
These clinics were a big hit last year and we had
high marks from those who attended the classes. We are adding
additional dates for next season and have greatly reduced the cost thanks
to last years demand. The four hour clinics cost $100.00 per
person/day.
Day one will focus on rigging your fly rod and
essential knot tying, emphasis for day one clinics will be hands on
instruction of several basic casts. It is intended for entry level
fly fishers, but the instructors can tailor your individual needs.
You will not need a license at the Drifter's trophy pond. Bring your
4-6wt fly rod and reel with a floating line and we supply the rest!
Day two will take place on the water and covers basic
rigging methods, how to read water and "entomology made easy" so you can
figure out what flies to use and when. Instruction on how to
properly fight and safely release a fish will also be covered. Emphasis
will be on presentations and location along a stream or river. A
license is required for this class and is not covered in the cost.
You will also need a fly rod and reel, a vest with some basic tools,
strike indicators and leader material, we supply the flies. We can
supply all you need for both classes for an additional minimal fee.
You may choose a single day if you wish, and we will
limit the classes to five students per guide to insure you get excellent
personal instruction. These classes are a great way to learn the
basics of fly fishing by pros at a very affordable cost. 2010 dates
available are: May 21&22, June 4&5, 18&19, July 2&3, 16&17, 30&31, August
13&14, 27&28, September 3&4. Please contact us by phone or email for more
details and enrollment; we can customize family or group clinics to suit
your needs.
Online fly sales…New Lower Prices for 2010. And new for
2010…the broken back “Black and Blue Midge” #18 and the broken back
Dark Zebra Midge #18. These smaller sized versions of our time
tested and deadly broken back #16 patterns are a must for still waters as
well as moving waters that hold trophy trout. The new colors give
you additional options for the ever changing water and light
conditions. Click on the Online Fly Sales Tab at the top of this page.
SD “Two Bug
Doug’s” Under-Cator (patents pending) is currently available online and to
wholesalers.
Two Bug’s vision has led us to come up with the
ultimate strike indicator/bobber. It is now available online, and in
stores February of 2010. This versatile strike indicator comes in
two popular sizes and can be used by fly fishers or spin casters. It
is high riding and easy to see - never needs floatant or drying, adjusts
quickly and easily without slipping, and casts beautiful. Unlike others it
needs NO tools or torque wrenches to install on leaders or lines from
25lb.-7X. It won’t slip, kink, or damage your line like others.
A user friendly custom thumb screw (patents pending) locks the
Under-Cator onto your leader or line securely and easily!
This strike indicator/bobber has gone through
extensive guide testing and trials on both still waters and rivers for
over a year. It is the most innovative and versatile of its kind
available.
Upper Owens River:
"Upper Owens
Rocks... These are awesome! Already got them on the facebook...I'll
let you know when people start to drool over them.
Thanks again... Brant"
"Klondike" Brant W.
& his Trophy "Snow-Bows"
The fish are there -
ya just gotta know where to find em!
The “catching” here remains excellent for gorgeous
trophy sized rainbows. 90% of the fish are holding in less than 1%
of the water and this is no exaggeration. The numbers are bleak
considering what has been wintering over here the last few seasons.
The UO will continue to improve as the sun remains longer with each
passing day. Many anglers struggle here this time of year because
there are specific pools that these winter time behemoths hold in
exclusively. We dun knows ware day R a hiding and will be
happy to take you to these spots!
Nymphing with PT’s #16-20; absolutely have some
broken back midges as a lower on a tandem fly rig. You will also see
a good emergence of baetis adults (bwo) may flies #16-18 on the warmer
cloudy days around 1:30-2:00pm.
It is tough going to get in here and is not for
everybody. The roads suck and you will need to hoof it through some
deep snow to get near the river. I dig it this time of year and hope
the snow stays deep into March.
Basso &
T-Loe...Having a Fishy meeting with our associates of the Owens!
Lower Owens River:
Adam C. ~ Taming the
beast...
"Casper... the
Friendly Trout"
Walt G. with his
Drift boat Bow...
Ricky K. had over
twenty this day!
I have had some epic (I almost forgot
how to spell that word it has been so long) periods of time in the
upper sections closer to the PV dam recently. The wild browns are
ravenous and if you concentrate on the slower-deeper pools you will find
these 8-14 inch rascals consistently. The prime bite occurs mid-day
and the fish are focusing on the BWO emergence. There is ample time
to fish the adults each day, but the nymphing has been so good that you
may not want to waste time changing over.
Midges in the am and Pt’s as the sun gets higher will
do the trick. #16-20 is fine. I suggest 5 X tippets, and 6X
will get even more attention as the water is clear. The flows have
been doing the yo-yo but seem to be averaging about 100cfs. They
will be going higher this year; I can assure you of this. When is
anyone’s guess, I suggest you get a whack at wading this area soon.
The weather has been cool in the am’s, however quite pleasant by late
morning recently.
The sections of river that are planted have been very
slow most of this winter. There is hope on the horizon however
thanks to a change in distribution by the DFG and when Inyo County will
allocate funding for its stocking programs. Please read the good
news from the Bishop Chamber below.
Canada David C. (all
the way from Ottawa, Canada) Epic Nymph Fishing in late January
David C.'s
Under-Cator was down more than it was up!
David C. "Dip n'
Strip" Drifting
"I am walking around with
that s**t-eating grin that i had on my face when we were catching all
those trout. It was an amazing adventure and I hope to get out there
again for round two with you. You did a spectacular job providing
encouragement, advice, humor and skills. You know your stuff and after
13 years still see the excitement and passion in fly fishing - that
isn't common in any profession!
Regards, David"
Click
here To View Our "Be-The-Fly" Drift Boat Videos!
PV Reservoir:
The Rez level remains too high for good access near
the inlet. The small creek section is fishing pretty well with a dry
dropper combo on the warmer days but you can cover the water here in a few
hours. Some bwo’s coming off here also. The freeze tubers are
feeling the pinch of no stocking here as well. The DFG put in some
brood fish a couple weeks ago (the river got a sprinkling of brooders
also) so there may be a trophy fish hanging around the inlet or launch
ramp areas. PV Rez will also benefit from the timely allocation of
both DFG and IAG planters in the near future. Best bet is to
fish a full sink on the far shoreline trolling or casting streamer
patterns #8-12. Spruce-a-Bu’s, Loebergs, leeches will get grabs.
Hot Creek:
Still very consistent as long as we do not have a
sub-zero morning in Long Valley. Stick to the usual midges and bwo
patterns. HC fish are scholars and as a rule go a size or two down
from what you may normally fish. Add a couple feet to your leaders,
and go down a notch for your tippets as well. The hike down is
tricky, as well as the hike in. Small crowds as you might expect,
but worth the effort.
Two Bug Doug doing his thing on the crick!
East Walker:
Ice Station Zebra. Needs to get warm for a week
before it picks up.
The Gorge:
There is a good deal of snow and ice especially on
the west side of the canyon. The fish are on the chew for sure and
you can have a good time with dry/dry or dry/dropper bead head combos
here. #14-18 patterns are fine. Make sure you have large studs
on your boots for all areas that have snow and ice. Felt soles suck
in the winter, get rubber wading boots they are far superior. This
applies to all winter time fisheries.
We are selling flies
online
this season for your convenience.
The 2010 Sierra Drifters Flies are available at
the following great fly shops and stores this winter: Bob Marriott’s
Flyfishing Store in Fullerton, Malibu Fish’n Tackle in Thousand Oaks, The
Fishermen’s Spot in Van Nuys, Stroud’s Tackle and the So Cal Fly Shop in
San Diego. There are links to these locations at the
resources tab above.
Thank you for taking the time to read my report.
Be the fly friends…
Tom Loe
Sierra Drifters Guide
Service
and Michele Loe, Sales
Associate Prestige Properties of Mammoth
Michele@MammothLakes.com
Eastern Sierra Real
Estate….
http://www.mammothrealestateonline.com/Nav.aspx/Page=/About/Default.aspx
For
many years, the Bishop Chamber has sponsored a winter fish stocking
program. The project has worked well to attract fishermen,
especially in the traditionally slower months of February through
April. Pleasant Valley Reservoir and the Owens River remain
open year-round and the chamber's stocking program helped assure
that Western Outdoor News and other publications continued to
print positive fishing reports for our area.
®™