July 10, 2006
Howdy friends and Sierra Drifters. Best
fishes to all for this July moon fish report from the Eastern High
Sierra.
Fly fishing conditions have improved greatly in
many areas since our prior report and although the freestone creeks and
tailwaters are currently flowing above average, they are beginning to
recede in flows and greatly improve in clarity. The only exceptions
you may experience with regards to the water conditions are the effects of
moderate to severe T-storms that can rapidly influence flows and clarity
on the moving waters. The peak of the run-off has occurred and you
can anticipate some excellent water conditions the remainder of the summer
and fantastic conditions this fall.
Mosquitoes are going to be an issue in most areas
this summer. Make sure your repellants and sunscreens are not
outdated. I recently saw an unfortunate individual who looked like
he had caught on fire and was put out with track shoes due to the lack of
good insect repellant!
Crowley Lake: Very good
The trout are beginning to concentrate and stack
up in big numbers near the inlets. The algae and floating grass
situation is still a major factor but is improving daily.
The lake level is as full as you will ever see it
and this is attributing to the overall water conditions. Judging by
what is going on currently and the overall poor water conditions at times
due to the algae, you can bank on some EPIC days in the near future here
especially in McGee Bay and Little Hilton. The north arm is also
showing signs of coming on. You must fish the river channel or find
a large hole in the weeds and grass. Water clarity is very good in
the north arm of the lake and the damsel fly nymph migration and
callibaetis mayfly emergence is huge right now.
The kick to McGee from a tube is insane at this
time; I suggest you get a rental boat at the Fish Camp or a guide with a
big white custom “fish magnet” flats boat…Hint, hint!!!
The most consistent stillwater nymphing is
occurring in 8-12 feet depending on how far the algae is pushing into the
shoreline. The new and improved algae resistant gillies #18 and 20 are
spanking them as are our new style crystal emergers in the same sizes.
It is essential to clean your flies every cast and limit your soak times
to less than five minutes if you are in the “goo.”
Those casting and trolling streamer and damsel
patterns, Punk Perch, and blood sucking Vanderleeches, are doing well at
times on the flats. It is not crucial to get your imitations down
deep at this time and I suggest a light to medium sinking tip line.
Two to six feet is the zone for both the damsel fly nymph and the
callibaetis nymph which is also a swimmer. The grabs are ferocious
on these bugs so keep some angle to the fish by inserting your rod tip a
foot or so under the surface while trolling or stripping those streamers.
Long time Sierra Drifters Robert Otanez and Johnny
Karam brought their darlins’ Shannon Black and Angela Frijs up to Crowley
from Irvine, CA to get indoctrinated into the sport of fly fishing for the
first time. This group hit it big in McGee Bay with some large
browns coming to net for the icing on the cake. Great day kids, very
nice browns. Check out “O’s” double smile...
Robert Otanez
Shannon Black
with guide Tom Loe
Johnny Karam with
guide Tom Loe
Angela Frijs...First
Trout on the Fly!...
Bridgeport Reservoir:
Very good
http://www.bridgeportreservoir.com/index.html
If you have never fished Bridgeport Reservoir with
a fly rod, now is the time to go check it out. We have several
guides and boats stationed here currently due to the excellent and
consistent fly fishing. After two seasons of high water the Bridge
is shaping up to again attain status as a blue ribbon stillwater trout
fishery. Buckeye Bay and along the drop-offs near Rainbow Pt. are
the prime locations for fly fishers. The callibaetis emergence when
heavy is providing near epic bites on some days with some large browns in
the mix. Stillwater nymphing with Punk Perch and Vanderleeches in
the #14 and 16 range as well as flashback pt’s, callibaetis nymph
imitations and hares ear patterns are the most consistent right now.
The chironomid hatches are spotty but make sure you have some gillies and
tiger midges in your quiver for sure as this lake can change quickly this
time of year with regards to emergences.
Trolling damsel fly nymphs with a small Punk Perch
or hares ear as a caboose fly will also get you into fish from a tube or
pontoon boat.
Drifters guide Mickey the “turtle” Baron guided
Don Shintaku and Jon Hashimoto from Gardena, CA into some large rainbows
recently while stillwater nymphing from the original “fish magnet”
Check these hogs out by visiting our website. It was so good even
the “turtle” got a slammer!!!
East Walker River: Fair
to good
The flows have backed down a bunch and are
currently running at 550cfs. Still very high but improving.
There is a link to the current water flows above. Experienced fly fishers
and X-treme nymphers will do well in the softer water here. Crystal
midge patterns in the #16-20 range as well as flashback pt’s and birds
nest will get it done. You will still need a bunch of weight to get
those bugs down in most of the runs. Try a caddis emerger #18 fished
in the surface film or along the softer foam lines under a dry if you see
the snouts popping and nothing coming off the water. Look for late
afternoon caddis activity on the surface. Hard core streamer
fisherman will also find some great opportunities to get into those
monster browns this time of year after the sun goes below the canyon walls
and over the Sierra crest. My streamer favorite flies here are the
Spruce-a-bu and Loeberg fished “dip and strip” style with a moderate sink
tip at these flows. You can pick up these patterns at the Bridgeport
Lake Marina. Jeffery may try to switch you over to one of his beloved
“sheep fur” flies but don’t be fooled. Stick to the BU and the
BERG!
West Walker River: Fair
The flows are down considerably and the water
clarity has improved a bunch this week but you will still have difficulty
wading and crossing even in the Pikel Meadows section of the WW. If
there are any T-storms forecast for the period you are planning to fish be
aware that this may really mess up the conditions here. The wild
fish are eager to hit larger dries like stone flies, and #16 caddis.
Look for them along the edges and behind large rocks that break the swift
current.
Rock Creek Lake/ Mammoth
Lakes Basin, June Lake Loop, Lundy lake, Virginia Lakes, Convict Lake:
Very good
We told you last report that Rock Creek Lake was
kicking out some super nice Alpers. Take a look at the hog caught &
released by Veteran Sierra Drifter and now Mammoth local Doug Rodricks.
Doug caught the beast on a Drifters damsel from his kick boat recently.
We have had some great reports from this area. Have a moderate sink
tip or full sinking line to effectively get your streamers down to 10
feet.
"I wanted to
thank you for the fish I netted this evening. Your damsel fly nymph is the
bomb. It slammed it around 7:30, around the boat dock area from my kick
boat. Doug Rodricks"
Another Mammoth local and Sierra Drifter Doug
Eberts caught and released “Troutzilla” on Lake Mary while trolling a bead
head bugger. Doug estimated the Alpers rainbow at well over ten
pounds and a phone call to Tim Alpers revealed that several 12 lb. class
fish had been released recently in the lakes basin. Stay away from
those hot doggers Dougie! (inside joke)
The alpine lakes in the Eastern Sierra overall are
a great alternative to combating high water on the creeks and escaping the
mid-day heat on the desert reservoirs. Tubing is the ultimate way to
fish these stillwaters while trolling and casting streamers.
Hot Creek: Good
Clarity has improved here as well and the overall
fishing is very good at times especially during the caddis hatch in the
afternoon. Mayfly #16-20 and midge #18-22 nymph patterns in the
mornings are a good bet for a start. Try to fish without a strike
indicator to insure those bugs are on the bottom. “Brownzilla” was
fooled by this technique and it is deadly here.
Upper Owens River:
Fair-good
Decent numbers of fish are beginning to work up
from the lake and fly fishers are getting grabs with all methods depending
on the time of day and current water conditions. Below the
confluence of Hot Creek you may find excessive weed at times that can
hamper your efforts below the surface. Caddis activity is strong in
the late afternoons and you can fish the larger pools without the weed
issue influencing your drifts.
Lower Owens: Poor
Wow! Flows are down from over 700cfs to just
a tad over 600 cfs. Go elsewhere. There is a link to the current DWP
flows above.
San Joaquin River:
Fair-good
Sotcher is kicking out some really nice Alpers
trout for tubers and pontoon boats trolling streamers. Blood sucking
Vanderleeches, damsel fly nymphs, and Spruce-a-bu’s whack em’ with a light
to moderate sinking tip line. Stay along the bull rushes. The
SJ is very high and not wading friendly in the faster water sections, but
clarity is very good and the fishing in the Reds Meadow area or along the
slower water near the Minaret Falls campground has been pretty dang good
with a long dry/dropper bead head nymph, dries like a stimulator, Adams,
trudes or caddis #14-18 or a tandem nymph rig with crystal olive zebras or
tiger midges #16-18. Have a pint of your spare blood type if you
forget your repellant!
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 and Buz's Fly Shop Too in Bakersfield. There
are links to these locations above...click on the resources tab. We pride
our Guide Service & Products on Innovation not Imitation!
