November 24, 2005
Howdy friends and Sierra Drifters. Best fishes to
all for this Turkey Day 2005 fish report from the Eastern High Sierra.
Hard to believe it is late fall with the current
weather we have been experiencing in this region. The Owens Valley has
been unseasonably mild during the shortening days and there has been no
moisture since our previous report. The inversion layer has been strong
and you will encounter very cold temperatures along the river and low
points in the valley during the mornings with the lows here being down in
the teens. As the sun comes up it will warm rapidly as the morning
progresses. Look for the highs to be well into the upper 60’s throughout
the holiday week with a significant cooling trend forecast for the weekend with
no mention of a major storm front approaching the area. Winds along the valley
floor have been mild recently. This fall had been quite the opposite of
last year’s record parade of storms. It has been warm and dry with the
long range forecasts not looking great for skiers and boarders at this
point. We have even had some “issues” with the bloodsuckers (mosquitoes)
during the afternoons, have some repellant available for sure. We still
suggest that you dress and pack for the worst, and hope for the best if
you are planning a trip to the Eastern Sierra. Conditions change rapidly
this time of year and you must be prepared for some inclement weather and
adverse fly fishing situations during the early winter season. Please
note that the waters of the Lower Owens River, Pleasant Valley Reservoir
and the small but fertile tailwater of the Gorge remain open to fishing
year round. We provide year round guiding of all these locations with the
“flagship” program being our drift boat float trips down the Lower Owens
River.
LOWER OWENS RIVER FLOW
ALERT: Very Good
Yippee! The flows are crashing downward on the
Lower Owens River. They are currently dropping rapidly over this
Thanksgiving weekend and will stabilize at 150cfs by the beginning of next
week. You may find some slower fishing for the next few days as the trout
acclimate to the new levels. Fish will adjust much quicker to lowering
flows than to rising levels and it should be an awesome couple of weeks in
the wild trout section and drift boat areas. We will put out another
comprehensive fish report soon.
Look for colder temperatures next week as a period
of unstable weather is forecast to begin this weekend and continue
throughout next week. There is a chance of snow in the upper elevations
and it may be windy at times in the valley with very cold mornings next
week.
Power generation is also ending at Pleasant Valley
inlet. You will find excellent conditions here for freeze tubing the rez
and nymphing the inlet areas. There may be a lot of mud if the rez level
drops; and there will be very soft and muddy areas along the banks of the
Owens for a couple of weeks as the riverside dries out from a summer of
flooded levels. Hope to fish with you soon.
The “catching” has remained pretty much the same
for us since our previous update and the larger fish are beginning to get
more frisky as the days get shorter. The Edison people are also cashing in on last years snow pack
and are letting out 165cfs on the Bishop Creek. We are doing just dandy from the drift boats! The flows
have been high all year and the clarity is excellent. Heavy sink
tips are a must with presentations cast into the softer transition zones
producing better results for sure. The warm weather has definitely helped
the situation keeping the water temps higher than usual and the fish and
aquatic insects more active for this time of year.
Nymphing with moderately weighted tandem midge and
mayfly rigs will get you into some fish with patience and proper location
on the larger bends and oxbows in the wild trout section. Our crystal
olive zebras and tigers are solid choices here #16-22. The key is to get
your bugs down. 1-2 bb shot will do it. With this much weight it is
difficult to find a strike indicator that will alert you to a grab a AND
be able suspend the rig without the handicap of casting like an entire
“turkey” attached to your leader. We have developed just such an
indicator and it is easily adjusted and can be trimmed to fit your
nymphing requirements. Labeled the “Sunjicator” named affectionately
after one of my favorite engineers and Sierra Drifters…this is the last
strike indicator you will ever need. Check it out, you will agree or your
money back!
The weather has made this fall a total blast while
doing the “dip and strip” and we have had several trips in the shirts off
(gentleman only of course) category! Numbers are also good with the
average drift being in the 30 to net range. The Spruce-A- Bu has been the
hot fly these days with the “Ginger and Mary Ann” patterns doing a number
on some of the larger trout recently. Don Williams from Bakersfield, CA
always knew there were big fish in the Lower Owens and finally got into
one of the rascals while on a drift with us this past week. Don and his
brother Mike got over twenty nice rainbows and browns on a days drift
while tugging Spruce-A-Bu’s and using the dip and strip method.
Don Williams
(holding fish) and Mike Williams
Veteran Sierra Drifters Rob Newman and Evan
Aldrich from Santa Clarita, CA whacked over seventy to the net in a two
day rip lipper with Rob getting big fish honors for the second straight
year. Rob made the report last year with an exceptional rainbow caught in
the fall. His “alien” ability to keep the rod tip underwater is the key
to his success in my humble opinion. Nice “dipp’n” big guy, see you in
the spring.
Robert Newman
(holding fish) and Evan Aldrich
Dave Hale, from Valencia, CA likes and catches
browns. He made the fish report on Crowley with a nice one and here he is
again with a pretty Lower Owens model caught on a Loeberg while on a
recent drift boat trip with us. The browns are on the spawn and we are
getting good numbers of the critters while tugging our streamer patterns
along the softer water edges this week.
Dave Hale
(holding fish) and Steve Shaffer
The Lower Owens is open year round and 2005-06
will be a memorable season here when the flows inevitably recede here in
Dec. Get your arms in shape folks!
Pleasant Valley
Reservoir: Good
This area will improve greatly when the power
generator gets shut down in Dec. The reports from fly fishers who have
hit this area in the few times when the “thing” was not turning have had
excellent results in the inlet area to the rez. Tubers have had mixed
results along the dam and inlet sections with the most consistent catching
being near the inlet while the flow was moving water into the rez near the
“big bend”. Punk Perch and Loebergs are always great flies here while
trolling and stripping. Heavy sinking tips or full sinkers are best from
the tubes. I like a dry dropper combo of a Stimulator #14-16 and a
Drifters Crystal Tiger midge #18-16 or olive zebra in the transition area
or river section above the rez.
This area is the best kept fly fishing secret in
the Eastern Sierra and if you enjoy nymphing and streamer fishing in an
inlet area this is your huckleberry. We guide this region year round and
spend more than a few of our days off fishing here. Guide tip here
folks.
The Gorge: Very Good
The fall and early spring months are the optimum
time to fish this small tailwater fishery. You will find good numbers of
eager wild brown trout willing to engulf most dry fly patterns in the
#16-20 range. The dry/dropper bead head nymph enthusiast will get the
lion share of grabs in most areas here especially in the deeper runs and
pools.
The foliage along the banks is less dense during
the fall and spring periods making access easier. You must still look out
for the “evil stinging nettle” this time of year as it will put a damper
on the whole day if you should happen to place a hand or forearm into its
reach.
The hike into the gorge requires some work and is
not for everyone. This is not a “tailgate” kind of spot and that is why
the numbers of fish here are far better than most fly fishing areas in
this region. Bring in your drinking water and a 2-4wt. rod with floating
line and 5-6X tippet.
Mild winters equate to great fly fishing in this
area and if the skiing and boarding is not up to snuff, give a guided
drift boat or wade trip along the Owens a try this winter.
Sierra Drifters Guide Service is a full service outfitter…we can arrange
for your real estate needs, lodging accommodations, etc, anything to
make your stay here, either temporary or permanent more enjoyable. Michele
Loe, Sales Associate – Prestige Properties of Mammoth,
Michele@qnet.com or (760) 937-5666. She’ll be happy to assist you.
There is also a link on the resources tab above.
Starting your Holiday
Shopping? We offer gift certificates for your favorite angler...just call
or email to order...
You can pick up our guide flies at the following
stand out locations: The Crowley Lake General Store and Deli in Crowley,
The Troutfitter/Trout Fly in Mammoth Lakes, Malibu Fish’N Tackle in
Thousand Oaks, The San Diego Fly Shop and Stroud’s Tackle in San Diego and
the Fishermen’s Spot in Van Nuys. There are links to these locations at
the resources tab above.
