May 29, 2007 

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Howdy friends and Sierra Drifters.  Best fishes to all and welcome to the beginning of a great summer fly fishing season here in the Eastern High Sierra.  June is upon us and the weather has turned very seasonable and pleasant in most areas.  

I am extremely pleased to announce that we will be hosting the First Annual Sierra Drifters/ Crowley Lake Stillwater Classic on August 11^th, 2007.  This catch and release events primary objective is to provide donations for the fisheries enhancement of Crowley Lake.  In addition, to determine who really excels at Stillwater fly fishing!  The proceeds will be entirely directed towards improving the fisheries of Crowley Lake.  This event will be like no other tourney ever organized in this area.  The sponsors of this event are passionately committed to assist in providing the monies needed to insure that Crowley Lake remains the “Crown Jewel” of the Eastern Sierra.  In addition we wish to spread the importance of proper catch and release fly fishing to insure a quality fishing experience for all who fish Crowley.  This has been in the works for several years and is the brain child of Tom Loe owner of Sierra Drifters Guide Service and respected Crowley Lake manger Lane Garrett.  There are many other sponsors who feel that Crowley needs a larger allotment of fish, with a continued diversity of trout species. Due to financial and political decisions the DFG has dropped the subsidizing of brown trout in the lake and other fisheries across the state and has a tenuous Lahontan Cutthroat program at best. The ever increasing seasonal pressure has also taken its toll on the overall population of catchable trout.  Please take the time to check this event out; it will be a lot of fun with its rules insuring a minimal impact on the fishery and the funds generated guaranteed to enhance this fantastic still water. 

This competition will be based SOLELY on the number of fish brought to hand or net by a team or individual.  The size of the fish is not important for this event, and we do NOT want fish to be taken out of the water at any time during the release process.  No measuring of the catch is required.  A 10 inch trout will score the same as a 24 inch trout.  You will NOT be scored for a fish that is “dry docked” in any way, or improperly handled or released.  This means no removing fish from the water in the net onto the boat to remove the hooks. No putting a fish on your tube apron for release.  Participants witnessed by the judges doing so will not be credited with a point.  Barbless hooks are mandatory and you must adhere to all DFG codes.  Whistles and flags will be issued to contestants to bring attention to solid hook ups and landings.  Soft nylon or rubber lined nets are mandatory.  Monofilament nets are not allowed for the contest.  Touching the leader or bringing a strike indicator within a rod length of the tip, will all score a point.  Numerous judges with binoculars stationed on boats will be positioned in the contest areas to insure credible landings.  These locations and boundaries will be designated just prior to the event to eliminate those who have time to prefish over those just coming up for the event and to insure you will have the best chances of getting into plenty of scores.  We will have individual and team categories.  You must specify during registration which category you are entered.  All safe and legal floating platforms are eligible for the contest.  Boats, tubes and pontoons, kayaks, etc… 

The event will take place on Saturday, August 11^th 2007.  There will be an awards and dedication ceremony combined with a BBQ dinner for all who participate after the contest ends at the Crowley Lake Fish Camp.  The event will be hosted by the friendly staff at the Crowley Lake Fish Camp and the guide team of Sierra Drifters.  Each individual contestant will be required to pay $75.00.  Each team member must pay this fee also.  This fee will get you an entry number and necessary equipment for scoring, a BBQ dinner with beverage and a commemorative shirt for your contribution to the Crowley Lake fisheries enhancement program. 

The Crowley Lake Fish Camp will be discounting rental boats for contestants the entire weekend beginning on the Friday prior to the event and ending on Sunday after the contest.  Sierra Drifters guides will do seminars on still water strategies for both boats and tubes. 

There will be CASH prizes for winners and runners up in both divisions.  First place individual will receive $1500.00.  First place team will get $2000.00.  Runners up will get $500.00 individual and $1000.00 team.  CASH!!!  There will also be raffle prizes issued at the awards dinner with a Honda Outboard and other great prizes given away at that time. 

Licensed guides, employees of affiliated organizations and persons related in any way to the sponsorship or hosting of this event are NOT eligible for prizes.   EVERYONE is welcome to participate in the Still Water Classic event by donating to this worthy and necessary cause whilst fly fishing alongside the Sierras best sticks.  You will however, only receive bragging rights and a thank you at the awards ceremony. NO prizes. 

The Crowley Lake management will be handling all proceeds and donations. You may donate by check or credit card. 

You may register in person at the Crowley Lake Fish Camp or pick up a form at Kittredge Sports in Mammoth Lakes or print out the internet registration form and mail or fax the entry fee and information to the Crowley Lake Fish Camp. 

This will be a fun filled event that has been ideally slated for one of the optimum periods of Crowley’s special regulation season.  We hope you can join us this summer, thanks for your time.

Click Here to download your entry form (adobe pdf file) and mail or fax back to CLFC.

Sierra Drifters News: 

The Sierra Drifters Guide Team welcomes its newest member with this June fish report.  Doug (Doug-Errr) Rodricks will be joining the year round full time staff of guides on the SD team.  Doug-Errr was a former client that we all fought to book with.  He was very low maintenance, casts like a pro and out fished us more than we like to admit on these trips!  Doug-Errr’s exceptional boating skills gave him instant credibility on his Crowley Lake Ranger flats boat and Willie Drift boat.  He has also been on the trout’s hit list on all of the moving waters of the Eastern Sierra for sometime now.  Doug resides year round in Mammoth Lakes.  We are happy to have stolen him from the motion picture industry as a stand in for fly fishing movies (the gals have said he is tall, dark and handsome).  Check out Doug-Errr’s full biography by clicking on the guide’s button above.

Crowley Lake: Excellent-good 

The north arm of the lake lit up big time recently and although I won’t call it epic, it was close.  We had several hours each day this last week were the Sungicators were taking a dive about every 1-5 minutes!  The afternoon winds are as usual the culprit that ends the steady snap.  Sandy Pt. and Alligator Pt. have been spotty as well as the Six Bays area, but you will still find great “catching” here under the right conditions.  The lake is beginning to turn over and is looking like split pea soup in the middle sections.  The water remains very clean, with minimal weed and insignificant algae drifts in the North Arm and McGee Bay or Hilton Bays (keep a close eye out here).   

Go deep people! Seek them rascals out in 14-17 feet and ye shall prosper.  Tougher on the tubers due to the long length of the leaders.  Us boat folks are doing just dandy and if you do not have a flat bottom or flats boat you can rent one at the Crowley Lake Camp and fish in comfort. www.crowleylakefishcamp.com 

Our gilled chironomids (gillies) and crystal emergers-dark heads seem better lately #18, 20 as the upper.  Use a #16, 18 tiger or zebra as the lower.  Some damsel nymph activity observed the last few days and we have witnessed some savage splashes during the mornings.  Have some olive Punk Perch or Agent Oranges #12, 14 as well as our damsel fly nymphs handy if you wish to tug streamers.  Still water nymphing is rocking after 8 am so troll the larger flies until then and you will get grabs. 

“Fill” Therrien guided Jerry & Cathy Johnson from Castaic, CA to some great fishing recently and these couple-O-hot sticks came up with a special brown caught while using the still water nymphing method.

"Fill" Therrien & Cathy Johnson

Ed Williams from San Diego, CA had his best day ever on Crowley with us and he claimed after the guide trip he may need medical attention or the skills of a masseuse due to a sore wrist!  Check out EW’s pretty rainbow...

Ed Williams 

Lower Owens River: Fair-good 

The Lower O had a few off days before Memorial Day due to a substantial flow increase.  The release is currently holding at 300cfs and we are told the water lords have no immediate plans of going up in the near future.  Tougher wading but not too bad for this time of year and if the flows continue to hold for a couple of weeks you could see some great early morning and late afternoon action.  Caddis imitations in both nymphs and adults #16-18 are best with a PMD hatch late morning.  It is getting very warm down in the valley so you may want to hit this area in the cooler parts of the day for increased feeding activity.   

The drift boat sections took a hit with the flow increase for several days but have since improved and will continue to do so as the fish adjust to the new levels.  Streamer fishing remains best in the lower sections of the river with the mid-day period being on the slow side due to the high sun angle.  Loebergs and light Punk Perch and Agent Orange #10, #12 are very good.  We suggest half day drift trips this time of year if you choose to be guided.  This fall promises to be one of the best ever and we are thinking that by mid-late September conditions will be perfect for fall drift trips as opposed to last seasons blow out flows that did not recede until January.   

East Walker River: Good 

The conditions here have been very good and have been for a lengthy duration of time.  The word is out amongst fly fishers and the only down side is the high angling pressure found in the upper section known as the “miracle mile”  Look further downstream towards the Nevada border (7 more river miles) and you will still encounter some “enlightened” individuals but will have more water to yourself most days.  This section of the river has quality fish also and a more diverse array of water scenarios to challenge you for sure.  Caddis hatches are strong as well as strong midge activity.  WD-40’s # 18-22, flashback Pt’s #16-20, our crystal tigers and olive zebras #16-22 The damsel nymphs are also on the move and this could be the key to enticing the brown of a lifetime out from under the cut bank late in the afternoon as the shadows blanket the EW’s deeper pools. 

“Two Bug” Doug Dolan guided Greg Moon from Las Vegas, NV to an “extended cab” rainbow with a deluxe paint job on the EW recently.  That ain’t no holiday family photo at the in laws kind of smile on that face baby!

Greg Moon 

Upper Owens River: Good 

The river is currently open in all sections (including the campground area near the Benton Bridge) with some still having special angling and gear restrictions.  The lower sections near the inlet are producing better results and overall larger fish than the Long Years or upper public area.  Caddis and most may fly imitations #14-18 are getting takes while nymphing, caddis dries #18 on the calmer afternoons are best for surface activity.  Streamer fishing here can be very productive in the deeper runs and pools when the free floating weed is not prevalent.  This situation is more likely to pose a negative impact here in the next several weeks as the run-off will swell the river a little making presentation more difficult. 

Bridgeport Reservoir: “Challenging”

www.bridgeportreservoir.com 

The lake is on the verge of turning over and the fish are still scattered and have not begun the migration towards the cooler more oxygenated waters of Buckeye Bay and the EW inlet area.  Look for crashing fish in front of the marina and along the east shoreline more towards the launch ramp and dam during the early mornings and late afternoons if the wind is not causing whitecaps from the west.  The damsel and callibaetis nymph migration has already begun here and streamer fishers will do better during this period of time.  Punk Perch and Drifters Damsel nymphs #12-16 do a great job of imitating these “swimmers”.  Troll or tug these flies faster and more aggressively than usual in the upper reaches of the water column (6 feet or less) and along scum or algae lines and channels in the weeds.  Still water nymphers are getting into fish by hanging Gillies and tigers #16-18 in deeper water along the drop-off towards Rainbow Pt.  You must fish 14-17 feet to get consistent grabs and move after 15 minutes without a take if you are not familiar with the bottom contour. 

Hot Creek: Very Good 

Caddis all over the place.  Conditions are great here currently and dry dropper nymph rigs are fooling the fish most of the day.  Weekdays will give you plenty of water to fish with weekends being on the “tailgate party side” of things.  Mammoth Creek’s flows are currently rising and putting more water on top of the weed beds.  Good things can result here during slow rising conditions such as we are experiencing this season. 

Best selling mystery author T. Jefferson Parker from Fallbrook, CA will have some new information to write about as his recent assault on Hot Creek put a new arrow in his quiver with the addition of “Ninja nymphing.”  Fishing nymphs without a strike detector is an art and will get you into fish when other methods fail.  Check out Jeff’s hefty bow fooled on a #22 WD-40...

T. Jefferson Parker

San Joaquin: Very Good 

The road into Reds Meadow is open but the campgrounds remain closed right now.  The river is in excellent shape and not flowing at flood by any means.  Stone flies and larger may fly adults will get wickedly aggressive takes here in the first week or so of the season, look for most types of attractor patterns like coachman’s and trudes to work well #14-18.  Dry dropper tiger or zebra midge rigs are deadly here all the time in the deeper pools and runs as well. 

Alpine Lakes: Good 

The lakes are ice free and the summer planting from the DFG and Alpers programs are in full swing.  Streamers like the Spruce-A-Bu and Loeberg are mainstays in these high altitude lakes and will work with all opportunistic planted fish. 

West Walker River: Fair  

It is getting tougher as the flows continue to go up here but if you can get into a slower section of the river you will find eager fish willing to hit dry dropper combos.  Larger patterns seem to work better here I have found and I would not use smaller than #16 nymphs or dries.  You can also get into some good numbers around the campground areas scattered along HWY 395 and the road into the Sonora Pass by casting streamers with a medium sinking tip line.  Tie on a Loeberg or Punk Perch in one of the larger pools in these areas and you will be surprised at how aggressive the fish will smack these streamers. 

We are going to be introducing some great new fly patterns that will be sure to get you into fish this summer.  Keep on the look out for my killer callibaetis, and some new and improved perch patterns.  Theses flies will only be available at the following great fly shops and stores (don’t be fooled by any of the imitations out there!): Crowley Lake Fish Camp at Crowley Lake, Crowley Lake General Store in Crowley,  Kittredge Sports in Mammoth Lakes, Malibu Fish’n Tackle in Thousand Oaks, Stroud’s Tackle 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