May 25, 2005
Memorial Day Weekend
Updates...
Howdy friends and Sierra Drifters. We have some
major changes to report regarding some of the fisheries recently that may
assist you for any Memorial Day fly fishing trips.
Lower Owens River:
We have not been down here the last couple of days
to fish it but the flows have dumped to 225cfs as of this report. This is
down from 605cfs just a few days ago. The weather has been hot in the
afternoons in the Owens Valley and this will get the caddis hatches going
full blast. At the current flows you can anticipate good “catching” while
the decreased release rates continue. No word on how long these lower
flows will last but as long as the heavy run-off continues in the lower
sections of the Eastern Sierra and Rock Creek you can plan on these ideal
conditions in the wild trout section. Wading at 255cfs here is not
difficult but you may need to add more weight to get those nymphs like our
Olive Crystal Zebras #16-20 down to the wild browns in the deeper pools.
Look for afternoon and evening caddis activity on the surface and
traditional patterns like dark brown bodied elk hair patterns #16-18 will
get grabs on a well presented drift. Fish the slack or softer water and
eddies with shaded areas for best results. Take a nap in the afternoon
and hit this area during the low light periods for more consistent and
comfortable fly fishing.
Bring plenty of mosquito sauce and a pint or two
of your blood type, they are thick this year.
Freestone Creeks:
Most of these creeks are raging right now and you
will find poor conditions for fly fishing. Rock Creek (bring a white
water kayak), Big Pine, Independence, McGee (looks like the Mississippi),
Hilton, Mammoth, Convict, Rush, Lee Vining, Robinson, Buckeye, Green, West
Walker (there is currently a flash flood warning from the NWS here), etc.
are all high as the run-off from snow melt has begun.
East Walker River:
Flows went up to 900cfs this week! This flushing
flow removed a lot of debris and silt in many bends on the EW but pretty
much shut down any fishing. The flows are currently at 450cfs and may
continue to drop this week. You may get real time flow data by clicking
the buttons above.
Hot Creek:
Very tough fishing since the flows messed up the
water last week but conditions are improving with regards to clarity and
the fish are adjusting to the lower water temps and higher levels. Use
nymph patterns with flashbacks or crystal flash incorporated into them.
This is also a good time of year to swing soft hackles or streamers with
light sink tips or a floating line and weighted fly. Hit the deeper pools
and larger channels in the weed lines. Keep your flies clean -check them
every cast!
Upper Owens River:
The “Gauntlet section” will open this Saturday but
do not expect good conditions here for anyone. High water with a lot of
weed free drifting especially below the confluence of Hot Creek. The DFG
will stock below the bridge.
Big Springs has some leftovers but the conditions
are not great here also.
Crowley Lake:
The lake level is finally coming up with the
decrease in flows on the Lower Owens and this is good news for fly
fisherman as it will insure good levels for the summer and fall. Water
clarity continues to be excellent and with the amount of water being
“flushed” this year from the lake we should see some excellent chironomid
hatches and better water quality for the trout. Stillwater nymphing has
picked up nicely this week with the coming of summer like weather and it
looks to improve further with the rising water levels. Look for
concentrations of fish to be holding near the deeper drop-offs and
points. Sandy Pt. on both sides 11-15 feet, Hiltons 10-15 feet,
Alligator/Leighton 11-15 feet, McGee has been hot and cold- 13 feet, but
look for it to explode soon. You will encounter some Sacramento perch
from cast to cast and you will also get into some downstream spawners that
are a tad thin and beat up looking as they are just getting back into the
lake from the spring spawn. The browns and cutts are still showing in
above average numbers for this time of year but not as well as last week.
With the warm weather this week the chironomids
came off in clouds and Drifters Crystal Emergers and Gillies #18-20
whacked em during the hatches. Drifters Guide “Fill” Therrien had a super
day (over 40 fish) in deep water after the hatch with a #18-20 Crystal
Zebra off Sandy Pt. Streamer tuggers are not doing so well right now but
this will change soon as the damsel fly nymph migration will begin soon.
The water temps are in the upper 50’s and low 60’s mid-day on the
surface.
Bridgeport Reservoir:
Good reports from
Jeffery at the marina here for trollers and bait chuckers, still on the
slow side for fly fishers. Some good sized DFG tagged fish and super
stockers are being brought in. Conditions continue to be awesome on the
lake and we think the fly fishing will pick up here very soon near the
inlets at the airstrip and Buckeye. Best bet for tubers are full sinks
with olive matukas #8-10, Loebergs #10, crystal buggers in purple, black,
and cinnamon #8-12. The areas in front of the marina towards Rainbow Pt.
and then along the east shoreline to the “bathtub” and yellow house are
the most consistent locations. Check with Jeff at the Bridgeport Lake
Marina or Eric and Michele at Paradise Shores for current info. Fly
fishers have a friend at Big Meadows for lodging, ask for Skip. He may
even turn you on to his secret flies and spots!
www.bigmeadowlodge.com
Alpine Lakes:
The June lake Loop or Convict Lake are your best
bet right now as many of the resorts and lakes above 8500 feet are still
icebound or have rotten ice and lots of snow along the shorelines. Silver
is still good for tubers using full sinks with Loebergs, Crystal Leeches,
#10-14. Crystal buggers and matukas will also get you into some of the
stockers here.
Bishop Creek is still not at flood and is fishing
well for stockers. The lakes still have broken/solid ice and plenty of
snow around the edges, no reports from fly fishers here.
May 19, 2005
Howdy friends and Sierra Drifters. Best fishes to
all for this mid-May fish report from the Eastern High Sierra.
We have some changes to tell you about in several
popular areas this report and some of them I am sorry to say are not
good. The run-off has started with a recent wave of warm spring type
storms that brought rain to the 8500 foot elevation. Numerous free stone
creeks are running very high and off color this week and this trend will
continue through the weekend. On a good note many of the lakes that have
been frozen are breaking up and the alpine lakes that thawed late are
warming with the trout feeding aggressively.
The weather has been good on the weekends and
unstable during the mid-weeks and this week looks to be following the same
pattern with a warm spell the beginning of next week. I suggest you bring
layered type clothing and have a hooded waterproof shell… (Skis and a
snowboard are a great option as well) This freakin’ winter will just not
end it appears!
Crowley Lake: Good-fair
The unstable weather periods have made us play a
little chess on the lake depending on the wind conditions but overall
Crowley has been your best bet to get into some numbers and quality fish
with a fly rod recently. The lake level is very low as the LADWP claims
it needs to lower the level to prepare for the melt. This is moving the
trout into different areas this time of year historically speaking and you
may have to move around to get into any concentrations. A boat is a big
plus and if you are tubing and driving near the shoreline here stay a good
50 feet off the waterline as you will toss about 300 bones for a tow as
the mud is still very sticky and deep. Pressure has been heavy even
during mid-weeks as this is the best game in town.
Solid chironomid hatches have been coming off
during the good weather periods and we have had excellent results using
Drifters Crystal Tigers and Zebras #16-20, Emergers and Gillies #18-20
during the hatches. The hot ticket if you are not sure what is going on
with the bugs is to hang a #14-16 Drifters Crystal Leech or Punk Perch on
top and a Tiger or Zebra as the lower. If you see the grabs coming on the
upper leech or perch; rig a dual leech or “gang of punks” under your
Drifters SUNJICATOR tm.
The fish are scattered and you will find fish in
as little as 7 feet in McGee Bay and some nice cutts and browns pulling
you down in the deeps, 11-13 feet on the drop-offs at Sandy Pt, Hiltons
and Alligator Pt.
All over the Sierra the browns are going down the
proverbial “smoke stack” and Crowley is no exception as I would have to
say this has been the best early brown showing I have seen in years.
Check out the double brownies father and son team Wendell and Jim Nagao
from Orange, CA caught and released recently. Saaa-wheet guys!
Wendell (left) &
Jim Nagao
Vince DiMeglio Jr. from Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
showed that youth and skill will overcome old age and treachery on a
guided trip with us and his dad Vince, Uncle Chris Henrich, and friend
Anthony Vuoso even though every one of the “Fab Four” got into big fish.
JR got the big brownie for the day but we all had plenty of laughs thanks
to Uncle Chris!
Vince DeMeglio,
Jr.
East Walker River: Fair
The numbers continue to be on the low side but the
quality of fish you will get into is outstanding. The flows have
increased a few days ago to 565cfs. This is not good for wading and this
flow increase will most likely continue as the run-off intensifies.
Streamers like our Loebergs and Spruce-a-bu’s #8-10 in the larger pools;
nymph patterns like olive RS-2’s, Drifters Crystal Zebras #18-22, and PT’s
#18-20 are all good choices. If you plan on fishing here use patterns
that have high visibility and some flash built in. The EW has not seen
flows like this for a long time and it will be ugly here for a while.
Pressure is heavy in the section below the dam, but you will find better
numbers and less crowds the further you work downstream. David Kendrick
from Irvine, CA had some Kodak moments with the legendary browns here
recently (before the flow increase) while nymphing.
David Kendrick
Bridgeport Reservoir:
Fair-good
Good reports from streamer tuggers tubing from the
marina/air strip section towards the “bath tub” area recently. The lake
has a solid population of Sacramento perch and perhaps a superior to
Crowley chironomid and damsel fly concentration under current conditions.
Use a moderate sink tip or type 4 full sink with a Loeberg #10 or Crystal
Buggers #8-12 and a 10 foot/3X leader. The trout are not as concentrated
here and you must move if you are not getting grabs. The lake has
excellent conditions right now and if you wish to avoid the crowd’s of
Crowley this is an excellent alternative.
Twin Lakes Bridgeport:
Awesome!
Lower Twin has been kicking out the largest browns
the Eastern Sierra has seen in years. An accomplished “conventional
tackle” brown bagger got a 16 lber. recently while trolling. If you want
a shot at the brown of a lifetime this is the place. Full sinks type 5
with a shot of anchor chain to get down, you can’t use a big enough fly
here and if you have some light colored salt water patterns bring them
along. Our Spruce-a-bu Blonde has whacked a few nice browns here in the
past #8.
Crowley tributaries: Poor
With the exception of Lower Convict Creek most of
these are high and muddy and not fishing well. If it freezes up high the
water will clear and the flows drop in the near future. Lots of fish up
for the spawn.
Upper Owens: Poor
Lots of free weed and high, dirty water in the
Long Years section and especially below the confluence of Hot Creek this
week. This may change after a few days if the flows in Big Springs
abate.
Hot Creek: Poor-but will
improve
As of this report the flows from Mammoth Creek
have messed up the clarity and levels here. Give it a few days to mellow
out and I have found high water here to actually be a blessing after the
fish adjust. Go outside the box here and try a streamer or soft hackle.
Blasphemy, lunatic! Not on Hot Creek… Yes, I said
a streamer dang it! A light sink tip or a floating line can get the job
done here especially during the higher and off colored water periods. Tie
on one of our Punk Perch #10-14, or a Loeberg #10 and you may even need to
wash those spider webs off that Hot Creek net when “Troutzilla’ smacks
your streamer pattern. Look for the larger channels in the weeds and the
big pools for best presentations with a wet fly.
Lower Owens River: Pretty
much sucks
Flows are at 555cfs. Rumor has it they will be
running large beer carrying tankers up the Owens River to Bishop for Mule
Days at current flow rates. Please, please remember to write the LADWP
and give them some grief for not managing the recent burn (suspicious in
origin) areas properly. You can click on the flow rates above. Call the
LADWP at 760-387-2400 to report violations or the Inyo FD 760-873-5485 and
Inyo Sheriff’s 760-873-7887. Click on the contacts button for the LADWP
here…http://wsoweb.ladwp.com/Aqueduct/default.htm
June Lake Loop: Good
Heavy plantings from the DFG and Alpers crews have
these areas well seeded for fly casters trolling streamer patterns with a
full or heavy sinking tip line. I like Silver the best for numbers near
the inlet from Rush Creek, but Grant will kick out a toad brown this year
for sure as the water levels are coming up fast and this spot is due for a
toad. Gull can be a hoot during the late afternoons for stillwater
nymphers as the surface temps begin to climb. Use a callibaetis dry and a
zebra midge #18-22 two to four feet beneath the dry.
Mammoth Lakes Basin: Stay
off the ice!
Convict Lake: Good
The creek and the lake have been heavily planted
last week and the creek is still not at flood. This may change soon.
Troll Loebergs #10, Drifters Crystal Leeches #10-12 and Spruce-a-bu’s in
dark or blonde depending on the light. Use a full or heavy sinking tip
line around the inlet area and drop-offs in the lake. I like a
dry/dropper bead head nymph rig with a crystal tiger or zebra #16-18 in
the creek.
Rock Creek:
The creek is well stocked with planters and Tuff
campground is open. The creek is beginning to rise but not making the
conditions poor yet. You will find substantial snow above 8500 and the
lake is open at the inlets but still frozen with snow in places.
Bishop Creek: Good
Heavy plantings here from Alpers and DFG because
the lakes are iced and the Lower Owens is flooded. Flows are beginning to
increase but are fine as of this report. The lakes are breaking up and
have solid to rotten ice on them, check with the resorts and use caution
and common sense around frozen lakes and shorelines.
You can pick up our guide flies at the
following stand out locations: The San Diego Fly Shop, The Troutfitter/Trout Fly
in Mammoth Lakes, Stroud’s Tackle in San Diego, Malibu Fish’N Tackle in Thousand
Oaks. There are links to these locations at the resources tab above.
Looking forward to fishing with you soon.
Be the fly…Tom Loe
Sierra Drifters Guide Service
