March 10, 2008 

Howdy friends and Sierra Drifters.  Best fishes to all for this March 2008 fish report from the Eastern High Sierra. 

The weather pattern has once again become more stable after another series of cold storms dumped more snow and rain into the region.  The last group of storms deposited a few inches of snow in the upper valleys and conditions have not changed much around Hot Creek, the Upper Owens R., and the East Walker R.  With the longer days the snow will begin to melt off at a faster pace than before and conditions will improve greatly on the EW, but will not alter much with regards to road conditions in the Hot Creek/Upper Owens areas.  The morning temps remain very cold with low teens registering on Crowley Lake and Bridgeport Reservoir.  It has been a very cold winter here and the ice and snow remain very thick in this area currently. 

If it gets warm for an extended period of time in April and early May look for moderate to heavy early run-off on the moving waters due to the substantial low elevation snowpack this season.  The issue this season especially in the Crowley area is the above average amount of wind blown snow drifts that have accumulated in the valley.  If the trend of cold weather continues you may see some areas that are historically accessible for the opener not easy to reach around here.  Crowley and Bridgeport will thaw very late this year and may not have a wide open start due to the late ice.  It will be a solid year on Crowley and Bridgeport overall with a good summer and fall to look forward to. 

Speaking of Crowley Lake this summer…The Second Annual Crowley Lake Still Water Classic is on the books for August 9^th which is the second Saturday in the month of August.  We will release the details and structure of the Classic, the 2008 rules, and how to register in future reports.  For all of you who participated in the First Annual Still Water Classic the format will be pretty much the same.  There is however, going to be some surprises and additional great prizes for this season’s fisheries enhancement tournament.   

The premise of the Still Water Classic is a catch and release fly fishing tournament open to boats, and float tubes that has been created to provide funding for the fisheries benefit of Crowley Lake.  Last seasons event raised $10,000.00 that went directly into the purchase of brown trout from the locally based Inland Aquaculture Group.  Those 2400 hundred fish were planted last fall and are going to provide some great opportunities this season and in the future. 

If you fish or cherish Crowley like we do, or are affiliated with a club or organization, or if you own a business that benefits from this resource please consider participating or donating in the Classic this year and help maintain the five star fisheries rating that Crowley has earned over the years.  Feel free to contact us by email if you have questions after we post the rules and registration links. 

The rainbows are beginning to migrate and the populations of mature fish will increase greatly in the next couple of weeks in the tributaries of Crowley.  The year around waters like Hot Creek and the Upper Owens R. will remain difficult to access in March and April. Sticking the peak of the spring fishing in some areas will require you to put forth the effort and hike to your favorite bend or pool in the Long Valley region this season as these fisheries will probably be washed out in late April/early May.

This report just in from Two Bug Doug: Here is an updated fish report for the Upper Owens. Paul Schackman, and Mark Tanabe of Santa Monica did very well landing many fish nymphing, lots of fish on dries and a few on streamers'. Snow still covers the banks but is very packed and easy to walk and hike from Benton bridge up river. Fish are very active and eager to eat any nymphs we threw at them. The BWO hatch has been like clockwork mid day with rising fish throughout the river making them easy targets for some very productive dry fly fishing. During mid week, crowds are not bad, but the word is out on the BWO hatch so your weekends can get busy. I would suggest clients to book trips on the Upper Owens if weather is sunny, and  also to book mid week to avoid the traffic.

The East Walker is currently fishing good and should fish even better as soon as it warms up and the flows get bumped up.  This will spread the fish out more and make for more diverse water to cover.   Nymphing with PT’s, Silver Streaks, WD-40’s and zebra midges in the #18-20 range will work in the deeper pools and runs.  As I said before this area is at a lower elevation and will see the influence of spring sooner than HC and the UO. 

I expect conditions to be pretty much normal in the alpine regions unless the Sierra gets hammered by some late storms.  A very strong inversion layer has been the factor in keeping it cold in the valleys this winter. 

The Lower Owens River was fishing horrible due to an unexpected flow increase that put 200cfs below the dam at Pleasant Valley for about four days.  The inevitable silt and colder water associated with rising flows put the fish down big time.  The baetis hatch was also disrupted and coupled with the colder weather made for some really tough conditions. 

The flows have once again dropped to around 100cfs and should remain here for a couple of weeks I have been informed.  The last few drifts have been much improved and I expect things to really pick up in the near future.  The weather has been great in the Owens Valley recently and looks to hold for sometime. The river access roads are beginning to dry out once again after a major soaking in late February.   

The golden stones are beginning to hatch and you will see some exuberant splashy surface grabs around lunch.  A yellow bodied Stimulator #16 will get the job done.  Tie a #16-18 blue winged olive pattern thirty inches below the Stimmy and you have a deadly dry/dry combo for the mid-day hatch.  Nymphing with PT’s, birds nest, WD-40’s, crystal tiger midges and olive zebra midges in the #16-20 range will get you into fish under an indicator as well. 

Richard Lorenzi would argue that his guided drift with Two Bug Doug recently was just fine and his chunky rainbow was the icing on the cake.  Nice fish Rich, way to make it happen!

Richard Lorenzi

Bryan Laws experienced a fine blue winged olive hatch on his Drifters float recently and hammered double digit numbers on the dries including this pretty rainbow that was no match for Bry’s excellent casting skills.  Way to be the fly Bry!

Just wanted to give you an update from my drift yesterday with Phil.  We had a great time, great weather, great fishing and I truly enjoyed my first "Presidential" drift boat trip.  Phil was a great guide.  He's a consummate professional and I truly benefited from his experience.  We even caught some fish on "Phils's Flies"!  Not sure how many fish we caught but I'm enclosing a few pics that we took along the way.  We certainly took advantage of the noon hatch. 
The wading picture I would say is one of probably 6-9 fish I took from the same spot during the hatch.  Next time, could you time the hatch for after lunch?  I couldn't stand to finish my sandwich while the fish were rising so I grabbed my rod, marched out into the river and left the sandwich on my seat!  :)
I look forward to many more drifts with Phil and Sierra Drifters with friends and family.
Sincerely,
Bryan Laws
 

Long time Sierra Drifters Lynner and Dirky Westfall always seem to get big fish.  Despite rising and off colored water Dirky stuck a really nice brood rainbow on our blood sucking Vanderleech pattern #10.   See ya at Pyramid soon Dirky!

Dirk & Linda Westfall 

The San Diego Fly Fishers were well represented by the duo of Bobby Miller and JackO Bentley.  The first days float saw only a few fish to net and some horrible water conditions.  The following day the flows began to recede, the weather was warm, the catching improved a bunch, and JackO got to shake “fins” with a gorgeous rainbow that hit our light Punk Perch pattern #10 that shall be from this point forward called the “Golden Retriever” thanks to the nick name created by Bobby.  Thanks Bob!

Jack Bentley & Tom Loe  

Spring is a great time to drift the Owens River around Bishop and we have guides available to put you on the fish in one of our large, comfortable drift boats.  

PYRAMID LAKE NEVADA GUIDED FLY FISHING TRIPS BOOKING NOW ~ A FEW DAYS LEFT ON THE CALENDAR!!! 

I am very pleased to announce that I will once again be guiding Pyramid Lake NV this spring and fall for the GIGANTIC cutts that thrive in this huge lake.  I obtained permission and permits from the Piute Tribe to once again guide Pyramid from the “Fish Magnet” and shoreline.  

Pyramid Lake is arguably the best large trout fishery in the contiguous USA and those who fished it with me last season have the pictures to prove it!  We will be booking trips in March, April, May, and October of 2008.  I am stoked to be guiding this area from my flats boat, and when you check out the pictures of the gargantuan cutts we caught last season you will see why.  Click on the Pyramid Lake tab above for available dates, rates, and some awesome pictures.  

We are also pleased to announce that our Sierra Drifters Guide Flies & Sungicators are now available at Crosby Lodge at Pyramid Lake, Nevada… www.crosbylodge.com.  Crosby's is your one stop for everything you need to fish Pyramid.  They also have cabins for rent, as well as some great food, and super friendly help.  Stop by, have a beer at the bar and pick up our time tested guide flies we use to nail the big cutts on this incredible lake.

EAGLE LAKE CALIFORNIA GUIDED FLY FISHING PACKAGE: BOOKING NOW ~ A FEW DAYS LEFT ON THE CALENDAR...

This is my favorite place to fish a still water in California.  The rainbows average twenty inches.  AVERAGE TWENTY INCHES!!!  This gorgeous lake is located in Northern CA. near Susanville and Mt. Lassen.  Michele and I have been hosting and guiding groups here for five spring and fall seasons and we are booking trips for May/June 2008. 

If you enjoy fly fishing for huge rainbows and being pampered in a custom lake front house, this is your dream trip.  Click on the Eagle Lake tab above for dates, rates and some awesome pictures please.  

The Sierra Drifters Guide Team will be at the ready to assist you for any of your guiding needs in the Eastern Sierra while T Loe is away from his home waters.   

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