February 7, 2008 

Howdy friends and Sierra Drifters.  Best fishes to all for this February 2008 fish report from Siberia… I mean the Eastern High Sierra. 

A seemingly never ending string of artic storms has been stomping across this area for the last two weeks making the fishing in the newly opened year around waters foolish, and vehicular transit in the high country iffy during the storms.  Even the Owens Valley has been getting a fifty five gallon drum of winter poured all over it this week.  It has been a long time since Hwy 395 has closed so often to travel in this region. A good phone number to keep with you when you come to the Sierras is the Cal Trans road reports...you can reach that by dialing 511 or 800-427-ROAD & keying in the highway number.  The forecast predicts a much milder weather cycle to begin next week, with significant warming by the following weekend.  All the recent snow is great news for the coming summer and fall season.  This is what I keep telling myself after each five hour snow shoveling session! 

Lower Owens River: Good 

The flows are currently at 91 cfs give or take and if history repeats itself on winters such as this you can anticipate significant flow increases earlier than normal on the Lower Owens this spring. 

We have had a mix of weather down in the Owens Valley equatorial tropics (banana belt this winter) with the holes between the storm fronts being pleasant and mild.  The roads along the river will be challenging as there was six inches of snow on the valley floor recently.  Check it out before you drive off the improved dirt roads lest you find yourself mud wrestling with your vehicle! 

Recent drift boat trips that have not cancelled due to weather and road closures have proved to be well worth the effort.  The big fish are on the chew and the baetis hatch is providing some excellent dry fly opportunities each afternoon.  Look for some excellent reports in the near future as the weather pattern warms next week.  I expect some awesome fishing soon, and if you are into trophy sized rainbows the next few weeks will be your best chance. 

The midges are blooming in full force and they have been so thick at times that a cluster pattern like a Griffith’s  Knat #22 will get takes on top late in the afternoon.   Nymphing is best with PT’s, WD 40’s, birds nest in natural and brown, and of course the ever deadly crystal zebra and tiger midges.  Look for the BWO’s #16/18 around 1:30/3:30 pm.  If you had only two hours to fish, this should be your huckleberry. 

The dip and strip method of fishing streamers has been the downfall of many large fish this week on the Lower Owens and Pleasant Valley Reservoir.  The fly de’jour is the Spruce-A-Bu.  Use the light “Kelley Bundy” version if it is bright, change to the dark hackled “Mary Ann” model when the sun is low, or if it gets cloudy.   

GUIDE TIP:  Bright day bright fly color-dark day dark fly color.  Huhhh???  You will achieve better contrast using this science making your imitations stand out due to the nature of the way the visible light spectrum penetrates the water column. 

The incredible Linkcredibles are once again at the top of our fish report, and as some you that follow this report regularly may have already guessed, Chris Linkletter from San Pedro CA has the largest fish this season for one of our guided drift boat trips.  “Iron Chris” put the wood (I should say Sage graphite), to an exceptional 25 inch rainbow recently.  We needed the drift boats heater going in the morning to keep Chris from becoming hypothermic!  Her hubby Scott got big fish honors with a 23 inch rainbow caught on a Spruce-A-Bu at Pleasant Valley Reservoir fishing solo!  Check out the pic of this beast...

Chris with her 25" Bow & Scott Linkletter...

Veteran Sierra Drifter Jeff Menius had a score to settle with a certain fish (and other Drifter fisherman).  Hoist the flag for another two footer for a drift boat trip!  Jeff’s day was made very early on in the morning, with the icing on the cake coming later in the afternoon for him and first time fly fisher Mike Young, the duo landing over twenty more chunky rainbows and browns.

Jeff Menius & his 2 footer!

Mike Young & his first fish on the fly...

 We have guides open for drift trips in February and March.  Come and get em’!!! 

Pleasant Valley Reservoir: Very Good 

The Rez is fishing as well as I have seen it in several years.  A good dose of DFG tagged brood stock, garnished with a truck load of Alpers, leave out a bunch of angling pressure, sprinkle in some warm weather and you have the makings for a Troutzilla stew!  It has been really good down in the canyon and the fish are stacked up near the inlet transition and up into the riffle water. 

Freeze tubers are few and far between, but those willing to put forth the effort are being greatly rewarded with excellent fishing near the launch ramp and inlet. 

Streamers have been the hot ticket for the larger fish, with steady action in the pocket and shorter water sections coming on dry/dropper bead head combo rigs.  Tigers and olive zebras #16-18 rock.  The holdover fish here are gorgeous and pull as hard as Crowley Lake trout.  Check out the picture of one of these averaged sized rascals I caught recently and what the transition between the lake and the river look like.  

There has been snow here off and on all winter and you may find some very slippery conditions along the bank.  I suggest studded soles here to prevent a landing on your caboose! 

The Gorge: Good 

Snow has been keeping this area seldom fished in the upper and middle sections.  These areas will be ripe within the next few weeks and some incredible dry fly action will be found for the next two months.  Dry/dry tandems in the softer water with at least one of the flies being a BWO or may fly imitation, and dry dropper nymph or emerger combos for the pocket water or deeper runs will get err’ done. 

Upper Owens R, Hot Creek, East Walker R: 1-3 weeks and they will rock! 

The best way to describe it goes like this.  The “catching” is very good, the “fishing” sucks!”  The fish are there, they are eager to play, when the weather warms up you gonna have some great days. 

Sierra Drifters original guide flies will be discounted for the 2008 fishing season.  Please stop by your favorite fly shop and stock up on these time tested Eastern Sierra patterns.  

This time of year, Sierra Drifters flies & Sungicators are only available at the following great fly shops and stores (don’t be fooled by any of the imitations out there!): 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 and online at www.bigfishhappen.com. 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