July 18, 2004
Howdy friends and Sierra Drifters. Best fishes to
all of you who may be heading to the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada
Mountains soon.
The “catching” has greatly improved in several
locations since last week and the weather has been the key factor in the
fisheries that have been on the bite. Look for similar weather throughout
the next few days with an increasing chance of afternoon T-storms
developing especially over the high country. There will be gusty winds in
the valleys and alpine regions developing over the Sierra crest late
mornings/early afternoons. The Owens Valley will continue to sizzle in
the afternoons and late mornings so plan on fishing during low light
periods.
This is the time of year you can “wet wade” many
areas. Be sure you have mosquito repellant on any extremities out of the
water.
We will cover a few locations this report that
have improved significantly. Most other locations have not changed much
since our previous report.
Crowley Lake: Very Good
The dreaded algae that has plagued the lake for an
extended period of time this season has finally abated and the trout have
concentrated in McGee bay the last several days in big numbers. The cutts
and browns are showing up in the 10-15 foot zone and those tubers who wish
to troll during the damsel nymph migration and along the weed lines for
the initial perch fry slaughter are picking up photo ops on 20 plus inch
fish on a regular basis. Use our punk perch #12-14, Loebergs #10 and the
Drifters Damsels #12. A medium sink tip will get you in the zone.
The chironomid hatch has been heavy and the mixed
bag-o-rainbows are scarfing the pupa down in 7-13 feet of water. Our
Drifters crystal emergers and gilled chironomids (“gillies”) #18-20 are
spanking ‘em during the hatch. Hang a crystal tiger or zebra midge #16-18
as your lower fly and you will get into some nice fish in McGee Bay.
Hilton Bays have been spotty but worth the look in the mornings if you are
tubing and not into kicking the ¾ mile to get into McGee Bay. North Arm
is choked with weed and the fish are moving in and out here with no
pattern I can read. Look for this area to “gel” soon as the weed lines
recede and the perch fry look for a hiding spot in the thick cover the
weeds provide.
Smith Pipe and Supply has historically proven to
be excellent in their field. President Gary Smith booked a multi-day “rip
lipping extravaganza” using the services of Sierra Drifters and the
quality guides of the Troutfitter to assist them in their mission of
“catching” trout on the fly. Mission accomplished! Check out the pics of
the trophy trout key employee’s Keith Beley and David Hay caught and
released while on Crowley and Drifters trophy trout pond.
Keith Beley
Keith Beley
David Hay
The Conejo Valley Fly Fishers “top guns” have a
reputation of spanking big fish on Crowley Lake. Trout master Jimmy Toy,
the tamer of “TroutZilla” broke his curse on Crowley with some huge
rainbows recently while Larry “Garf” Garfinkel got into a big brown in the
morning. Photo missing; (you must trust us on this one as it’s a long
story) and a large rainbow in the afternoon session. Ray Shoemake batted
100% in the afternoon (a noteworthy occurrence) while stillwater nymphing
and got into some nice rainbows.
Jimmy Toy
Larry Garfinkel
Ray Shoemake
Hot Creek: Very Good
Consistent caddis activity especially when the
wind is not honking is providing those who can dead drift a longer leader
and a #18-22 dark bodied caddis adult or emerger plenty of opportunities
to swing at the small to medium browns and rainbows that are feeding on
top or in the surface film. Look for the channels in the weeds and don’t
forget to fish the “close water” before you step up to the edge.
Lower Owens River: Very
Good
The low flows (150) cfs for this time of year has
provided some rare opportunities to those willing to brave the heat of the
valley and fish the wild trout section. The late afternoon caddis hatch
has been awesome and if you want to get a brown on a dry this is the place
right now. The key here is to wait until the sun gets behind the Sierra
crest in the late afternoon. Nymphing will produce during the day right
now with midges; caddis and mayfly patterns but you will not enjoy the
valleys heat. Early mornings with #18-22 PMD patterns and then tie on
caddis adult’s #18-20 for the afternoon snap on the top. This will not
last much longer, check it out!
Convict Lake: Very Good
You will not get many wild trout here but if you
are just looking for some “bendo” and a cool place to spend the late
mornings in a tube this is the hot ticket right now. I am told the
seagulls are having a feast picking up the unsuspecting hatchery rainbows
that circulate around the lakes edge. The birds will tell you where the
school is located. Find the “green wave” and stay within casting range
with just about any streamer #8-14 and you will have some fun with these
stockers. Our Loebergs #10 and crystal leeches #10-14 whack the
greenbacks here while using a moderate to light sinking tip. Thanks to
Sierra Drifters veteran Joe Mallinger for the tip here.
East Walker River: Very
Good
Flows are very low once again for this time of
year and it is making wading access to the big holes and bends easy. The
larger fish are getting less active as there is plenty of food this time
of year and they have just about seen everything thrown at them. You will
have a good time with the smaller browns and bows during the mornings and
early evenings. Stick to smaller caddis and midge patterns #18-22 while
nymphing. Our crystal tigers and zebras are deadly here while being
fished under an indicator. The “EW” has a history of being a great end of
the day location to skip and flip caddis dries during the last hour of
light. Don’t get yourself burned out too early and miss the magic hour
here. Anchor yourself up at a big pool or bend and kick back for a while
late in the day and watch what happens!
Upper Owens: Fair-Good
You will find free floating and heavy weed in the
water below the confluence of Hot Creek. Conditions are better in the
Long Years section. Caddis activity is solid here as well and you may get
a shot at one of the big resident browns that live under the deep cuts in
the bank if you fish a hopper or stimulator during the afternoons,
especially when the wind comes up and puts a ripple on the surface.
San Joaquin: Fair-good
Plan on doing some walking if you want to catch
here. Due to budget cuts the D.F.G. has not planted the middle fork this
season and has no plans of doing so this season. Alpers is stocking
Sotcher and Starkweather Lakes and the DFG is planting Sotcher only.
There are plenty of smaller wild fish but you will have to get away from
the campgrounds for any consistent action. Caddis and parachute mayfly
patterns with a #16-18 bead head dropper in the deeper runs will get you
grabs in the slower sections and fishable pocket water. The river is
still on the high side but definitely wadeable this week. The blood
suckers are prevalent here, have the repellant handy.
West Walker: Good
Clarity and flows have improved a lot here and
this is a good choice for those wishing to fly fish a freestone creek this
week. Caddis, stone flies, hoppers and larger mayfly imitations will get
you attention on the top. Our crystal copper and black tiger midges are
deadly here if you are nymphing. Pikel Meadows both up and downstream are
fishing well. The late mornings and early afternoons can get pretty
breezy here; best to hit this location early.
Pleasant Valley Reservoir
and the Gorge:
These areas will fish better after mid-September
when it begins to cool down.
Rock Creek: Good
Take a hike below Rock Creek Lake down to the
“ponds” and you will get away from 90% of the people and have an
opportunity to get into several species of smaller wild fish that are
eager to hit a dry dropper combo with a caddis or stimulator as the upper
and a Drifters crystal olive zebra #18-20 as the nymph. The meadow
section just below the outlet can be a lot of fun and quite challenging
for the small wild browns that cruise the flats here. The weather has
been great at the lake this week and tubers fishing the inlet have had a
good time fishing streamers like our crystal leech, punk perch and
Loebergs #10-12 with a full or heavy sinking tip line.
Mammoth Lakes Basin: Good
Very good reports coming from Lake Mamie from
those trolling with a full sinking line using a streamer and a bead head
midge or hares ear as a trail fly. If you want to get into some of the
big Alpers trout that are planted on a regular basis in the lakes basin
area, locate the submerged trees stumps along the shorelines and inlets
and concentrate here.
June Lake/Rush Creek:
Good
Do some walking with your polarized glasses and
locate the “pods” of stockers that have held over from the heavy plantings
over the 4th weekend and you can have some fun with these
planters on Rush. Silver and Gull continue to be the best for tubers
using full sink lines and a tandem rig with a streamer and dropper nymph
at least 2 sizes down from the point fly.
South Lake/Bishop Creek:
Very Good
Conditions have been very good this week as the
weather has been excellent and the hatchery fish plentiful in most
sections of this area. Dry/dropper combos in the creek with steamers
fished down to 10-15 feet getting the best results for those trolling from
tubes in the lakes.
Kirman Lake: Good
The weed and algae are becoming a factor and the
fish get “attitudes” after mid-morning but stillwater nymphers using scud
patterns #18-20 and hares ear imitations #18-20 are fooling some nice
cutts and chunky brookies along the tulles during the low light periods
and cloudy days. You will have company on the weekends here.
You can pick up all the above mentioned flies and
information at the following fine fly shops: Crowley Lake Fish Camp,
Troutfitter in Mammoth Lakes, San Diego Fly Shop, Stroud’s Tackle in San
Diego, and Malibu Fish’N Tackle in Thousand Oaks. There are links to all
shops at the resources tab above.
Be the fly…Tom Loe
