More Great News for San Diegans! Rumor has it the
“Mighty Osprey” Bill Stroud will re-open Stroud’s Tackle in late July
2009. Bill has decided to open on a limited basis initially. Stroud had
temporarily closed the shop due to the passing of his beloved wife Eileen
recently. The Mighty Osprey had plenty of friendly persuasion from some
of his great friends at the San Diego Fly Fishers to re-open Stroud’s
Tackle on Morena Blvd. You can contact Stroud’s at 619-276-4822 and he
will get back to you in the meantime.
Introducing: Special Summertime Fly
Fishing Seminars for Beginners!!!
The guide staff at Sierra Drifters is offering
introductory fly fishing classes at a tremendous discount to novice and
first time fly fishers. This one, or two day session consists of four
hour classes on the fundamentals like knot tying, leader make up, how to
rig for dry and wet fly presentations, and basic casting instruction from
a certified FFF instructor and our top guides. The second day will be
conducted on the water and will include detailed instruction on fishing
techniques and presentations, local entomology, and how to read water and
holding areas.
Day one will be located on the beautiful private
water at the Sierra Drifters headquarters overlooking Crowley Lake on
McGee Creek. It will be an outdoor classroom environment overlooking the
SD’s trophy pond and 15 pound rainbows! We have a casting deck and will
limit class sizes to no more than ten students each session.
Day two will be on the water instruction at the
legendary Hot Creek fishery, or the blue ribbon waters of the Upper Owens
River.
Dates available for these clinics are
7-31/8-1 (booked),
8-7/8, 8-14/15, 8-21/22, and 8-28/29. The 8-28/29 date will be dedicated
to basics on float tubing and will include on the water tube fishing for
day two. We will provide tubes at no cost for this session if you do not
have one. You must provide waders for the tube class; you will not need
them for the other clinics. You must book two days for the float tube
class. You may book a single day for either session on the other dates.
Classes will begin at 2 pm on Fridays (day one) and run for about four
hours. The streamside clinics will start at 8am on Saturdays and will
also be about four hours. Cost will be $125.00 per person each day.
This is a $145.00 savings off our 2009 half day singles rate! We
encourage you to bring your own gear, but if you do not have any we can
provide it. A fishing license is NOT needed for the clinic at Drifters
HQ; however you must provide a valid CA fishing license for the streamside
clinic.
If you have been considering learning how to fly
fish this is a great deal and will provide you with enough basic knowledge
to begin your adventures in fly fishing. Please call or email for
additional details and booking arrangements.
Crowley Lake:
Who shall be crowned the “lord of the fly” for
2009 at Crowley Lake? Some of the finest fly rods the Eastern Sierra
has to offer will be having some friendly competition to raise money for
the fisheries enhancement of Crowley Lake. The
3rd Annual Stillwater Classic is slated for Saturday, August 8, 2009.
Click here for an entry form
and the
rules.
SD Guide, T.Loe &
Olivia O. "Love 'em and Leave 'em!...
There have been some very good and steady snap
periods when the extensive algae bloom clears out of McGee Bay after a
sustained westerly wind; but all in all Crowley is very slow on average
for fly fishers with a very limited amount of quality water open most
days. It is essential that you fish in the weed/algae free creek
channels. The huge weed beds extend well out into 16 feet of water depth
in McGee and the North Arm. Combined with the severe algae bloom it limits
the fishable water to only the defined creek channels in both areas. A
Mammoth local who was tubing told me the other day he had never seen it
this bad. He said his kick out from the launch area to McGee was a
nightmare due to heavy weeds. It has been worse, but this year is
noteworthy.
On a positive note, you can expect the conditions
to improve here in about two-three weeks. The water level needs to recede
and expose the weed beds. The algae will begin to die off within this
period and a larger less confined area will emerge.
The callibaetis hatch is great this year and I
suggest using our flashback PT’s or Killa Baetis patterns while stillwater
nymphing in the creek inlets. Pheasant tail patterns are solid
representations of the swimming still water mayfly nymph and work well
while stillwater nymphing or streamer fishing. A textured or nervous
surface is best for this pattern. The chironomids are coming off and
still on the trout’s dinner plate daily, but not in large hatches due to
the elevated water levels.
There are also a good number of tiny chubs, dink
perch fry, damsel fly and dragon fly nymphs moving about so casting a
small punk perch or damsel nymph pattern will do well along the weed lines
if you can find some clear water without a boat parked on it.
It has become such a small area of fishable water
that a couple of Crowley only guides have been going out early before the
main gate opens at 6am and tossing marker buoys on a couple of the best
spots in the McGee Creek channel to secure positions for themselves.
They leave their markers unattended in the water and go pick up
clients at the Fish Camp dock expecting to return to these locations.
Leaving a marker buoy is not illegal according to the Mono County
Sheriffs who also operate the patrol boat for the Department of Boating
and Water Ways. They have informed me they have NO exclusive rights to
this water just because they have marked a spot. The spots are open for
all on a first come basis. You may anchor right on top or in close
proximity to the unattended buoy(s) according to the law. The
Sherriff will be speaking to these individuals about this matter so we
won’t have disputes the on the lake pertaining to who has rights to the
water.
SD Guide, Doug R. &
Dave L. with a Chunky Crowley Bow!
Les S. is all smiles
after landing this nice bow with the assist from SD Guide Fill Therrien
Ditto for Dr. Robbin
O. with his Brownie!
Upper Owens River:
Shasta & Dad, Mike
O. High Sticking some Chunky Bows with T-Loe
Pretty good fishing here lately. The flows and
water clarity are excellent. The fish are on the small side with the
average rainbow running about 10 inches, but they are eager to hit the
caddis and may flies that are blanketing the water most days. The
afternoons have been very breezy and I suggest you make an early start
this time of year. Plenty of skeeters here unfortunately, so make sure
you are protected.
As the sun gets higher later in the morning switch
from a dry/dropper bead head or dry fly rig to a tandem, well weighted
nymph set up under a strike indicator. PT’s, tiger midges, Broke Back
midges, are all good choices #16-22. There are some really nice browns
holding in the deeper pools as well so don’t be surprised if you hook into
a larger model while nymphing.
Art T. Fished with
SD Guide Doug R. and landed this Sweet Brown!
Lower Owens River:
It has been scorching down in the valley so we
have been reluctant to drift the river recently. Bishop Creek is raging
so the traditional drift boat sections are running high below the
confluence to the Owens. The outflows from PV remain remarkable low for
this time of year; they recently dropped well below 200cfs. at the
outlet. If you are around the wild trout section it would be a good call
to hit this section in the early mornings and very late afternoons at
these low release rates. Caddis imitations, PMD’s, and hoppers will all
get it done on the top.
Pleasant Valley
Reservoir:
Big surprise here. Two Bug Doug did a tube trip
here recently and spanked them with clients. No lack of stockers around
the launch ramp and inlet sections and the tubing is wide open for these
planted fish. Streamers and still water nymphing are good choices. The
river section is higher than usual due to the run-off from Rock/Pine
Creek. Fish along the weed lines and hit the lower light periods. Punk
Perch, Loebergs, Broke Backs and crystal emergers or PT’s under the
indicator 8-11 feet.
Kevin M stripping
one of many up at PV with SD Guide Two Bug
East Walker River:
I suggest you check out the flows prior to fishing
here for sure. They will fluctuate greatly here this time of year and
have a tendency to trend upward especially if the weather gets hot. At
250cfs and below the EW fishes great. The fish will move out of the large
pools and spread over the flats and riffles. Above 350cfs the EW becomes
a different animal and may not be your cup of tea- although I know several
hard core EW addicts that love the big water and the challenges it
presents.
Caddis, PMD’s, damsels, chubs, perch fry, and
terrestrials especially if the water is on the rise. The rising water
will wash the beetles, crickets, hoppers, ants, etc… off the once dry
brush and you can have some exciting opportunities to fish larger patterns
during rising flows.
The late afternoons will give you a look at what
is holding in the large pools and eddies. There can be some spectacular
dry fly fishing when the shadows drape over the water.
Skeeters down here as well, and one report of a
rattlesnake below the first bridge.
SD Guide Two Bug &
Kevin M with a wide bodied EW Bow...
and Greg J. Full
Bendo on the EW...
West Walker River:
Still on the high side but improving rapidly. The
fishing is good in the Pikel Meadows and Chris Flat areas for stockers and
the WW has been recently flavored with some larger Alpers trout this year
in the planted areas. Streamers in the big pools (I like Loebergs here)
or dry dropper bead head rigs in the softer water and tailouts of the
larger riffles. PT’s, Broke Backs, olive zebras, and dark tigers work
well as nymph’s #16-18.
Hot Creek:
SD Guide, Doug R.
and Dave L. with a Custom HC Paint Job!
Business as usual here. Conditions are excellent
with perfect flows and good water clarity. Mornings are best with may fly
imitations, dry droppers with scuds, small olive caddis emergers or larva
patterns and PT’s as a nymph.
Afternoons can provide you with more open water,
but the wind has been abnormally brutal late in the day this year.
SD Guide, Two Bug
Doug with Carl & Nicholas A. ~ 1st Timers doing just fine!
Fill Guided Dr. Bob
to this gorgeous HC Bow!
Adobe Pond:
Recent afternoon sessions here have been very
windy and this has brought the fish counts down for sure. If you get a
light afternoon wind here, or sundown glass off this place erupts! It
remains perhaps my favorite place to fish in this area currently and the
wild browns are incredibly beautiful and love to jump. Adobe Canyon is
gorgeous this time of year and the summer sunset sessions we do are
memorable. Give us a call if you are interested, we got the keys to the
gate baby! You can click on the Adobe Ranch Tab at the top of the page for
more info.
Scott & Alex S.
having fun at "Doe-B"
Jim & Dan J.... Jim
hanging on to a Brown... Dan hanging on to his Dad's Hat!
Turbo Charged Adobe
Brown...
San Joaquin River:
The SJ is still on the high water side but is
improving. You need to focus on the softer water areas and meadow
sections. The pocket water is just too turbulent and will be for a couple
more weeks unless it gets very cool. Fish larger dries in the #12-16
range and keep them riding high with dry shake. You can also fish a
tandem nymph rig under a strike detector. Flashback PT’s, crystal zebras
or tigers work pretty well here.
Sotcher Lake will no longer be planted due to the
Pac Rivers/Bio Diversity issue with the DFG.
Bridgeport Reservoir:
The conditions are great here this year and we are
happy to see a “full pool” for a change. Reports here are mixed, but
overall the fishing is way better currently than at the same time last
year for sure. Fish the drop-off near Rainbow Pt. working the weed lines
into Buckeye Bay and the Robinson Creek Channel. The Walker Channel is
harder to locate but is also producing at times. Callibaetis and damsel
flies are king right now and stripping a streamer is out fishing the still
water nymph gang from what I hear. Some nice rainbows are showing in the
channel. It has been getting very warm at the Bridge and early mornings
are best. Take the heat of the day off- and if it is not blowing a gale
head towards Buckeye when the west breeze picks up and hang those nymphs
under an indicator in the channel. Drifters Killa baetis, PT’s, broke
backs, and damsels are all good choices right now.
June Lake Loop,
Mammoth Lakes Basin
These alpine lakes are getting a good jag of
Alpers trout to subsidize the lack of DFG fish. They are suckers for
brightly colored, flashy streamers #8-12 fished with a full sink or heavy
sinking tip line. The weather has become very nice with the exception of
some stiff afternoon winds so layer up and get out early.
Rock Creek area:
Flows are coming down on Rock Creek. The pocket
water is still tough to fish, however the meadow sections and big pools
have good numbers of small stockers, Alpers rainbows, and some feisty wild
browns that are nailing dry dropper rigs (use a #18-20 olive crystal
caddis larva) and dries in the shadows. The mosquitoes are savage down
here for sure, keep covered in this area. The lake is also fishing well
near the inlet and along the south shoreline drop-off from a tube. Pick
up some Spruce-A-Bu’s and Loebergs and troll them around the ten foot
level in these areas. If you get bit, take note where you are by using
structure on the shoreline and remain in this area. School fish have a
tendency to hold in certain areas for extended periods of time until the
conditions change. Don’t leave fish to find fish!
You can click on the
Closer Look Tab for a comprehensive overview of many of the waters we
guide.
http://www.sierradrifters.com/closer_look.htm
We have finally got SD guide Chris Basso’s new
“Broke Back” articulated midge patterns to most of the great fly shops
that carry our time tested guide flies. They are listed below and have
been updated. The Pac Fly people have been working overtime to keep up
with the orders! These patterns are truly superior to most midge
imitations and really spank the trout when you have a small chop, or
nervous surface condition.
2009 Sierra Drifters Flies are
available at the following great fly shops and stores: Bridgeport
Reservoir Marina, Crowley Lake Fish Camp
at Crowley Lake, Crowley Lake
General Store & Deli in Crowley, Kittredge Sports in Mammoth Lakes,
Bob Marriott's Flyfishing Store in Fullerton, Malibu Fish’n
Tackle in Thousand Oaks, So Cal Fly Fishing San Diego, Stroud's Tackle in
San Diego, The Fishermen’s
Spot in Van Nuys, & Buz's Fly Shop Too in Bakersfield. There are
links to these locations at the resources button on the top of this page. You
can also now order online by clicking the Online Fly Sales button at the
top of this page.
Be
the fly friends…Tom Loe
Sierra Drifters Guide Service
760-935-4250
Driftfish@qnet.com
and Michele Loe
Michele@MammothLakes.com
Eastern Sierra Real Estate….
http://www.mammothlakes.com/mlRE/Agent_Michele.html
®™