November 25, 2007 

Howdy friends and Sierra Drifters.  Best fishes to all for this “Fish-Giving” 2007 fish report from the Eastern High Sierra. 

We have been experiencing a very mild fall weather pattern so far. It has been super nice down in the Owens Valley. The trend is for cooling of the air temps by mid week according to the NWS forecast.  The upper valleys and passes remain open with no travel restrictions. 

The general trout season was over on November 15th in Mono and Inyo Counties.  The catch and release fisheries of the Upper Owens River above the Benton Bridge to Big Springs, the East Walker River below Bridgeport Reservoir, and Hot Creek, will remain open year around beginning this year. The mild weather we are having this fall should provide some special opportunities for the more “rugged” anglers.  These fisheries are ZERO limits, NO BAIT of any kind, BARBLESS hooks only. 

There are private properties well marked with signs and fences on all of these fisheries and the rights of these owners should be respected.  We have a great opportunity to fish some fantastic waters year around.  It should go without saying, but we are obliged not to abuse these resources in any way. Demonstrating common sense with regards to the weather and specific water conditions of each of these fisheries will insure they will remain open for us to enjoy in the future.  Use them, but please don’t abuse them! 

ROAD TRIP!!! 

Put Saturday December 8^th down on your calendar.  I had such a great time visiting the gang at the Fisherman’s Spot in Van Nuys last year we decided to do it again this year.  We have a bunch of friends and great clients in this area and I would be honored if you could take the time to stop by and say howdy.  I will be doing a Power Point presentation on the fisheries here in the Eastern Sierra as well as a dialog on the new regulations and changes this region has experienced.  Several popular industry pros along with John Sherman from Outdoor Specialties will be here as well displaying some new cutting edge products they endorse.  Door prizes, Victoria Secret models in Simms waders, (my vision) with lots of laughs and fishing tales galore.  Hope to see you at the Spot! There is a link to the shop on the resources tab above.

Lower Owens River:  Most excellent dudes and dudettes! 

This has been the best fall season for numbers I have seen in a decade.  Our drift boat trips have been exceptional and the pace has picked up since the last report.  Streamers, nymphing, dries, take your pick; it is all good now.  Flows remain at 100cfs below PV rez give or take at times with excellent water clarity and temps in the fifties.  Daily may fly hatches in the #18 range, and late afternoon fall caddis in #16 are worth switching to dries for if you like it on top.  Flashback PT’s and crystal tigers or zebra midges in olive #16-18 are money for those who enjoy fishing under an indicator or high stick nymphing.  Streamers like Loebergs or Punk Perch #10-12 will spank em’! 

Check out this picture of some mosquito fish in some slack water on the LO.  There is a method to our madness…The much replicated, but as of yet never improved Punk Perch is a great imitation of this species of forage fish.  

Veteran Sierra Drifters Steve and Robert Newman get the crown for the biggest day so far this season.  These dead eyes combined for over ONE HUNDRED rainbows and browns to the net or hand on a single days guided drift.  The bro’s used a combination of streamers and nymphs to rip a whole bunch of lips!  Bravo guys, see ya soon. 

Steve Newman                                            Robert Newman

Yet another trophy to mention.  The “most experienced” angler ever to grace one of our drift boats, youngster Dave Wertzberger shown with son David, took a drift with me at NINETY FIVE (95) years young!  He landed numerous trout using spinners he hand crafted by himself.  Standing ovation for Davey please! 

David & Dave Wertzberger

Frank Carlsen also a seasoned SD veteran banged out over fifty SOLO.  FrankO opted to refine his nymphing and dry fly skills on his drift.  He looked pretty sharp to me!  Nice shooting big guy. 

Andy Burnett and Jan Huzarski came down from Sparks Nevada to give the LO a try for the first time.  Just shy of seventy for their first drift ain’t too shabby Abby!  Dr. Andy hit a rather rotund rainbow also.  These guys dipped and stripped streamers all day.

Andy Burnett                                             Jan Huzarski

Craig Camp and Clint Gearheart are So-Cal guys and took a drift with Doug-err recently landing a bunch of trout with a special brown and rainbow having custom paint jobs just for the occasion. 

Doug-err with Clint Gearheart

Steve Clark of Moreno Valley & the Deep Creek Fly fishers went drifting the Lower Owens with Two Bug recently. After only about 1/2 way down river and lunch time, Steve says " okay, I'm done for the day, catching so many fish has tired me out".   Steve ended up with 27 fish to the net and many others giving a friendly L.D.R.

It goes on and on…Jake “the beef” Brower and Daryl “heavy D” Anthony slapped nearly EIGHTY in single float.  Jim Scanlon and Doug Simons over FIFTY-Jim “JC” Plank and Richard “Rick the quick” Wood over SIXTY, Veteran SD heavyweights Don Klahs and Gary Gilbride just shy of SEVENTY.  It’s going off people, get into this bite.  We have drift boat guides open if you need help. 

Daryl Anthony and Jake Brower

"Many thanks for another EPIC day of fishing and as important is the time spent with friends which you have become to us. Best to you, Michele and Strider and we hope to see you soon and often.  Thanks again. Jake"

Upper Owens River: Fair-very good 

Eighty percent of the fish will hold in twenty percent of the water here.  There are good numbers of larger migrating browns and fall spawn rainbows in the upper, open sections.  You need to explore an above average amount of water to locate fish here.  I prefer casting streamers like our Spruce-a-bu and Loebergs using a medium sinking tip line and using the dip and strip technique along the deeper cuts this time of year for these seasonal fatties.  Nymphing the larger pools with PT’s, hares ear, and midges in the #16-20 range will also get you into fish consistently under a strike indicator.  The overcast days will reveal an ever increasing amount of baetis may flies hatching in #18-20.  The wild fish here respond eagerly to this hatch and although you may not get a shot at “Brownzilla” using dries, it is still a hoot to get them on top!   

The UOR will hold good numbers of larger fish well into early December.  After that I suggest other fisheries.  The UOR will begin to get frisky around late February dependant upon the weather we experience this winter.  The early spring trout migration can be something to behold here.  I have witnessed incredible migrations of Eagle Lake and Kamloops strain rainbows, as well as a solid population of Lahontan Cutthroats migrating upstream from Crowley in March. You can bank us guiding this area, and you having some great fishing during this time frame. 

Hot Creek: Very Good 

Although the flows are very low for this time of year the “catching” has been very good for those who are skilled at spring creek presentations.  Longer leaders, accurate casts with precise mends, and of course…getting the more preferable water will provide fun times here this fall and winter.  Small may flies and midges are the key to success currently.  There are substantial numbers of lingering dark caddis around and the warmer late afternoons will reveal them.  We are breaking new ground here with the year around opening.  Weather permitting we will continue to give you updates as we fish the new opener. 

East Walker River: Slow 

We accompanied Cal DFG biologists in a three day survey recently on the EW to provide valuable fisheries data on this fishery.  There are WAY more trout in this river currently than I anticipated!  Check out this lunker of a brown Rey “Mundo” Robles a passionate local Bridgeport guide who also assisted with the survey displays before putting it safely into the “live cart” for measuring.  Get Mundo’s take on the EW by visiting www.staybentfishing.com 

The flows are very low right now (21cfs).  Water temps and dissolved oxygen levels have become more favorable this week for those wishing to hit the larger pools and runs.  High stick nymphing will be best right now using PT’s and midges in the #16-20 range.  The upper sections of the EW have less slime and growth on the bottom which will make your day easier for cleaning your flies, however there are better numbers in the lower reaches of the river.  We surveyed big fish in ALL sections. 

FYI, the EW has been open year around in the Nevada section for many years and historically it fizzles out under these low water conditions as the water becomes colder.  If we get a wet, warmer type winter with increasing flows, the bite will improve.  Look for great opportunities here beginning next February and into the spring. 

Pleasant Valley Reservoir: Very Good 

Tubers fishing the inlet are spanking good numbers of good looking DFG stockers using a variety of streamer patterns.  Loebergs and Spruce-a-Bu’s are our preference, but if you get those “personal secret” imitations down 7-12 feet with a moderate or full sink line you will get takes on most anything #10-14.  Have some red or flash in your pattern, it will pay off.  Dry dropper nymph combos are also proving to be deadly in the short but sweet transition and river section above the reservoir proper.  A #14-16 Stimulator tied 2-4 feet above a #16-18 tiger or zebra midge is money with a decent drift! 

The Gorge: Very Good 

Perhaps the best piece of water to get trout on a dry fly right now.  The mild fall has set the stage for very consistent hatches of May flies and fall caddis.  Dry/dry combos are great for those who are “visibility challenged” Put a larger #14 Stimulator above your #18 BWO pattern and life will become easier to see the grab on the smaller pattern.  Dry dropper bead head nymph rigs are also excellent choices in the deeper pools. 

The wild browns here are arguably the prettiest and most aggressive trout on the planet, although they are not the largest fish the Sierra has to offer.   

The gorge is not for everyone, and it requires some moderate hiking and preparation to fish it for a day. Click on "Closer Look" above for more info on this area.

Sierra Drifters flies and “Sungicator” strike indicators are only 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 Lake Crowley, Crowley Lake General Store in Crowley, Kittredge Sports in Mammoth Lakes, Bridgeport Reservoir Marina in Bridgeport, Malibu Fish’n Tackle in Thousand Oaks, Stroud’s Tackle in San Diego, The San Diego Fly Shop 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

Driftfish@qnet.com 

and Michele Loe Michele@MammothLakes.com