March 12, 2006
Howdy friends and Sierra Drifters. Best fishes to
all for this St. Patty’s Day fish report from the Eastern High Sierra.
Have a “green” caddis larva nymph or blue winged “olive” pattern handy
that day for sure.
Did we believe winter was over and spring was here
early??? NOT!!! A series of very cold and wet Artic fronts have marched
down from the north and crashed the fly fishing party on several occasions
recently. The trend is expected to continue off and on through this week
with a slow warming trend in the Owens Valley by the middle of the week.
Daytime highs are expected to be below average with some gusty and cool
winds between fronts. Keep that cold weather gear out for at least
another couple of weeks friends.
The good news is the Sierra is getting an above
normal amount of moisture for the second consecutive season. Fisheries
that are historically impacted by low water will be enhanced with
increased and flushing spring/summer flows. The Walker Rivers, Bridgeport
Reservoir and all of the alpine lakes and freestone creeks will all
benefit from the snows of this winter. Look for the following season to
parallel last years cycles in a very similar manner. Last seasons prior
fish reports are available by clicking on the link above. We hope this
valuable information will help you plan your summer fly-fishing excursions
and guided trips.
In an effort to provide you with the most
effective fly patterns and imitations we are introducing some new and
improved bugs this season. We are constantly improving and upgrading our
time tested guide flies to insure consistent and positive results. There
are several new “arrows” you will need to have in your quiver this
season! A deadly light colored Punk Perch pattern that incorporates a
revolutionary new style hook by Tiemco. Some of our crystal tiger and
zebra midges will have a new body material that is more translucent, algae
resistant and durable. The famous “gillie” will also have a new flavor
and body material that will get you more grabs during the chironomid
hatches on Crowley and Bridgeport Reservoirs. Please stop by your
favorite fly shop and check out these new patterns.
Lower Owens River:
Fair-good
Tis’ the time o’ year when the water and power
gods raise the flows and make it dicey for those on the river during the
increases. Flows are currently being released at 150cfs at the Pleasant
Valley Dam and are expected to increase to 300cfs by the beginning of the
week. This is not the blowout discharge that wiped out last seasons
spring fly fishing opportunities, but it will make wading the wild trout
section more difficult during the initial increase and dirty /cool down
the water for a time next week until things stabilize. Crowley Lake is
full to the brim and this flow increase is necessary due to the above
average snow pack.
Fly fishing has been hot and cold during the flow
increases and cold fronts passing. We have had continuing good results
overall for some big fish but the numbers have slowed down with the recent
poor conditions. The dry fly hatches are erratic, but if you get the
right condition they are a hoot this time of year and the fish are eager
to gulp those mayfly and caddis imitations down! The barometer and the
wind have played a large part in this movie and until conditions stabilize
you will experience some peaks and valleys on the river for sure. The
caddis flies #16-18 made a big showing this week with water temps getting
into the upper forties and we had some very nice surface shows on the
warmer/calm days. The baetis (bwo) emergence is still a solid hatch and
is better after 1 pm every day #18. The midges are going nuts and a
Griffith’s Knat #22 is a great cluster imitation that will get takes in
the late afternoon.
If indicator nymphing is your plan of attack; I
suggest a crystal olive zebra or tiger midges in the #18-20 or tungsten
and flashback pt’s #16-18. As the flows increase you must add more weight
and lengthen your leaders (adjust your Sungicator) to insure your bugs are
“tickling” the bottom.
Our guided drift boat trips have seen mixed
results with plenty of big fish along with some slow number days during
the flow increases and inclement weather periods.
The Drifter’s Crystal Leech #10-12 and Punk Perch
#10-12 have been the go to streamer recently with the Spruce-a-bu being a
close second for the big fish. We are using heavy and long sink tips (30’
200 grain) for the “dip and strip” on most days with the higher flows.
Longtime Sierra Drifter’s, Rick and “Flo”
Mintzlaff from Granada Hills, CA are always looking for trophy trout on
the fly. Flo was not to be denied! You gotta see this gorgeous 8 lb 24
inch rainbow she caught and released on a day the flows increased in the
morning. Special fish Flo, you go girl!
Tom Loe and "Flo"
Mintzlaff
Drifters guide “Fill” Therrien put Darrell Tate,
from Salt Lake City Utah on 5 hogs Feb. 18th. Darrell said that they
compared to the huge trout he caught on a trip to Kamchatka Russia. Take
a peek at the paint job on one of the bigs Mister Tate spanked that day.
Darrell Tate
The father and son team of Matt and Ron Conrad
from Coto de Caza, CA have already booked a trip on Crowley Lake with
“Fill” after Matt got this gorilla sized rainbow on a recent drift with
our rookie drift boat guide of the year. High fives Matt, what a fish!
Matt & Ron Conrad
Agoura California’s finest fly fishers were well
represented by the politically balanced team of Bruce Blumenthal and Mark
Oechsli. The two put over 30 browns and rainbows to hand in two days of
drifting under some very tough conditions with “Brucester” getting the big
fish honors in a late afternoon flurry in one of the final bends of the
drift. Mark took the numbers trophy with an excellent strip set. Fun
times guys, thanks a bunch for the laughter and conversation!
Mark Oechsli and
Bruce Blumenthal
Pleasant Valley
Reservoir: Poor-fair
This fishery has been a bummer overall this winter
due to above average water levels. Hard core freeze tubers are getting
into sporadic good fishing at the dam, launch ramp (the stocking area) and
inlet section with streamers like the Loeberg and Punk Perch #8-12 but
overall it has been slow in the inlet/transition section for fly fishers.
The short river section just below the powerhouse has been the most
productive area for nymphers and dry fly enthusiasts. Crystal Tiger and
Zebra Midges #16-18 are best here fished below an indicator or a larger
dry fly used as an indicator.
Power generation is going to commence very soon so
this will further add to the hurdles facing fly fishers in the inlet
section. Maybe better next season? Bring your tube and fish the dam
section in the near future.
The Gorge: Excellent-Good
This is not a fishery for everybody, but if you
are willing to do some moderate hiking and rock hopping it can provide an
opportunity to get into big numbers of smaller wild brown trout on dry
flies. This is the best time of year to fish this area and if you run
into some high water and slow “catching” on the Owens this will be your
sanctuary.
Sierra Drifters Brad McClain guided Ken and Trevor
Beer down into the pit recently and they put over forty browns to hand in
about five hours. Dry-dropper/dry-dry combos did the trick that day.
Nice shooting guys!
The summer season is just around the corner and
with the current wet winter the Eastern Sierra will historically have a
great trout season. Plan a trip or two this way for the summer and fall
season and you can bank on a memorable fly fishing experience for sure.
We look forward to fishing with, or guiding you in the future.
