David S. with his awesome Hot Creek Brown...

November 2009 fish’N conditions in the Eastern High Sierra: Updated 11/18/09... 

Just a couple weeks into October it was looking like we were going to be breaking out the snow shovels, skis, and tire chains early this winter.  The weather has changed significantly for the better and it has been down right nice since.  The stage is set for some awesome fall fishing in the upper valleys and on the Lower Owens River for most of November with a cooling trend forecast mid-month. 

The general trout season ended on November 15^th in the Sierra, but we have a ton of quality water that remains open to year around fishing.  We will be guiding the Upper Owens, Lower Owens, Hot Creek, and the East Walker Rivers all winter as well as Pleasant Valley Reservoir and the Gorge section.   

The flows are crashing on the tailwater fisheries of the East Walker and Lower Owens Rivers with stable conditions on the blue ribbon spring creeks of the Upper Owens and Hot Creek.  Fall spawning migrations of brown and rainbow trout are occurring in most areas and there are some really feisty trout primed to whack your streamer patterns currently.  If the fishing is half as good as it was last winter on the Upper Owens I will be very happy.  We had some incredible days with many large browns and bows moving up out of Crowley.  Some of the best dry fly fishing occurred in late November and late January!  Hope you can make it up this winter friends, it is an uncrowded and super time to fish this region. 

We will be happy to customize a gift certificate for that special angler this holiday season.  Guide trips, custom fly boxes, fly fishing clinics…We can make it very easy to help you give a special fishing gift to your family or friends. 

For a limited time we will be offering a special rate for walk and wade trips this winter.  Six hours during the off season will put you in the “sweet spot” (10am-4pm) most days and get you into some great winter time fishing.  $310.00 for two anglers and we will supply all your fishing gear!  This is a great value for our normally half day rate.  Call for details.   

Lower Owens River: 

 Click here To View Our "Be-The-Fly" Drift Boat Videos!

Scott & Chris "Linkcredible" taking advantage of lowering flows shown landing one of many on a mid-November 2009 drift trip...

Mark R. and

John D... Dip & Strip Bows while on a recent drift trip with T-Loe...

Seleste S.... Keeping the heat on!

The flows are finally receding. There is a link to the DWP flows at the top of this page.  Look for skinny water in this area in December through February unless we get a deluge of snow and rain.  Fishing has picked up nicely since the flows began dropping, and combined with some great weather we have had some fun days drifting the LO recently.  The drift boat sections will explode in short order as the flows continue to drop and I suggest you get in on the initial floats as they historically kick out big numbers.   

The wild trout section has been tough until just recently, but look for this area to get excellent in the next couple of weeks.  You will see some small and medium sized May’s (#16-22) around as well as a few fall caddis (#16) dashing about.  Have a selection of midge and caddis larva and emerger patterns, flash back PT’s or hares ear nymphs for indicator nymphing. 

The browns are getting nasty and we have been doing well with Spruce-A Bu’s fished “dip and strip” style with some heavy sink tips from the drift boats.  As the flows decrease you can get away with a lighter sinking tip (150 grain) and look for the fish to begin holding in the pools and traditional transition areas as opposed to the slack water and large eddies. 

"Mellow" Delo C... Samurai Brown!

Rick "Rock Cod" K... Another One Bites the Dust...

Upper Owens River:

Jana & Lee D. fished the UO with SD Guide, Doug R.  Jana graduated from our summer fly fishing clinic with honors!

After November 15^th, you may only fish upstream from the Benton Bridge. Don’t even think about keeping any fish or using bait or barbed hooks from then on people!  As I said earlier this area will be great until the snow falls enough to shut down easy access. 

We’ve got BWO’s coming off daily including a strong midge hatch during the high barometer periods.  Indicator, or dry/ dropper bead head nymphing is always a good choice here but those who are competent at tossing streamers will find the larger models on the prowl.  Loebergs and my Punk Perch patterns in the #10-12 range work well in conjunction with a light to medium sinking tip line. 

Ben R. fished the UO with SD Guide, Doug R. and was rewarded with this nice bow...

Drifters Guide Dog, Strider keeping T-Loe honest on 21" U.O. Rainbow C&R 11/17/09

Hot Creek: 

Smoke’N!  Sight fishing for staging browns is the ticket right now.  There is a good amount of water for this time of year as well.  Some of you may think it blasphemous to fly fish artificial egg or worm patterns here, but you will get your caboose kicked by the guy fishing next to you using them… 

The fish are also whacking BWO’s and some straggler caddis flies on the top #16-20. 

Dave A. took advantage of our 6hr winter special on Hot Creek with SD Guide DougR 11-13-09 and was rewarded with this quality Brown...

East Walker River: 

The EW has looked like Crowley on the opener a few times this fall and it was due to some very good fishing here for sure.  The miracle mile was fishing very well for those who got a decent piece of water.  The flows have crashed and are currently at winter release rates (19cfs).  This does not mean you won’t catch fish here; limited habitat puts additional stress on them and greatly limits the areas you will be able to fish.  Forty cfs is where we draw the line in the California section.     

I have witnessed numerous winters in the last few decades in which we get warmer central Pacific storms (El Nino events) that allow the flows to increase during the dead of winter.  This can happen quickly as the Bridgeport watershed has many feeds and is at a lower elevation.  The fishing will be awesome and you can bet we will be there and let you know when the EW goes off. 

Pleasant Valley Reservoir: 

Early winter is great here especially when the flows out of the power house drop.  Freeze tubing is very good near the inlet section and you may see a trophy brown or two when it starts getting cold.  Full sinks or heavy sink tips to get you down ten feet quickly.  Loebergs, Punk Perch, and Spruce-A-Bu’s for streamers. 

Nymphing the river section at lower flows will get you big numbers.  Dry dropper rigs with Broke Back tigers and Gillies, zebra midges, flashback PT’s, and olive crystal caddis larva patterns.  Stimulators are great uppers for your dry fly here and do a good job of representing hoppers or large caddis flies.  BWO hatches will get the wild fish coming up during the early winter as well.  You can fish the Stimmy as a point, or marker fly with the smaller BWO pattern 2-3 feet behind it for the target fly.  The Stimmy stands out in most situations and will give you reference where your smaller target fly is. 

The Gorge: 

The heavy foliage is beginning to thin out along the banks and the wild browns are ravenous this time of year here.  Trophy fish are scarce but numbers are plentiful most days.  Dry/dry or dry dropper nymph rigs do a number on them fishing with an upstream casting and approach strategy.  The fish here are not too picky pattern wise, profile any #16-18 dry or nymph and you will get bit. 

Crowley Lake: Closed for the Season... Opens April 24, 2010

For Sale:

One of our "Fish Magnet" bay boats is now for sale. Doug-R has upgraded to a 24' model and is selling his 2006 Ranger Bay Boat. This 20' boat is equipped with a Yamaha 150 4-stroke outboard, Lowrance X-25c fish finder and GPS-2000, Motorguide trolling motor, Standard Horizon VHF radio, Bennett trim tabs, 3 batteries w/ 3-bank charger and voltmeter, Clarion stereo w/ Bose 6" speakers (w/ipod interface), live well,  (2) claw anchors, (3) Willie gunwale mounted fly rod holders, (2) Ranger adjustable swivel seats, console cover and 3 seat covers, Ranger Trail  2 axle trailer and full boat and engine weather cover. It has never been in saltwater, but can fish the southern California bays just as well as Crowley Lake for all you saltwater addicts out there. Contact Doug for more info at: (760) 935-4450 or email fishhead2500@yahoo.com  

You can click on the Closer Look Tab above for a comprehensive overview of many of the waters we guide. 

The 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, The Fishermen’s Spot in Van Nuys, Stroud’s Tackle and the So Cal Fly Shop in San Diego & Buz's Fly Shop Too in Bakersfield.  There are links to these locations at the Resources page button on 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