October 30, 2007 

Howdy friends and Sierra Drifters.  Best fishes to all for this “trick or trout” fish report from the Eastern High Sierra.  Put on your scariest waders and that smelly, ghoulish fishing vest that looks like it came off a zombie and come join the fun! 

The weather will always play a significant part of your fishing and outdoor adventures this time of year.  We advise you to take a close look at local and NWS forecasts so you can plan and dress appropriately for your trips during the fall season in the Sierra.  We are currently experiencing a continuing series of cold northern storms that are influencing the region every 2-4 days.  As the days get shorter these storms will get become more substantial.  Being prepared for inclement weather can make your trip more enjoyable.   

There have been some spooky changes to inform you of in several of the major fisheries recently.  Flows dumped on the Lower Owens River setting the stage for some epic bites recently.  Crowley Lake saw perhaps the best bite for numbers this year during the short but sweet Indian summer period a short while back.  Other fisheries are suffering from the dismal snow pack of last winter and you may consider avoiding them until conditions improve. There is a link to the DWP flows above.

SQUEAKY WHEELS GET THE OIL!

If you support the year round openings of the Upper Owens River, East Walker River, and Hot Creek which the DFG passed into law last March you should write the DFG Commissioners and voice your support as soon as possible. Click on the DFG tab on the Nav. Bar above for the Commissioners email and regular mail addresses.  The Commission will meet in Sacramento on November first and hopefully cast this much needed improvement to this area into stone.  Please take the time to review my letter to the Commission in support of the new regulations by Clicking Here.

Lower Owens River: EPIC 

This description is not used often here, but during the last week we have seen some of the best fall fishing on the drift boat sections ever.  The flows as of Oct. 25th are back up a bit at 120cfs below PV reservoir and this reduction has put the trout on the Lower “O” on the chew.  We have not had these low releases in several years during mid-October and our forecast of tremendous fishing has proven to be better than expected.   

The wild trout section is also seeing the trout here having some serious MUNCHIES with the highlight of the day being the “trick” of matching the trico hatch around one-ish.  These small mayflies are candy to the wild fish here and you will get a “treat” if you enjoy fishing #20-22 trico patterns as emergers or dries.  The fish will set up directly in the main current.  You can identify this section of the channel by locating the foam or bubble lines on the deeper side of the channel.  Present your imitations 4-6 feet upstream of the rising fish for best results.  There is also a good number of fall caddis around and these light bodied larger rascals #14-16 will get you some aggressive grabs on the surface.  Nymphing is best during the mornings until around noon.  PT’s, tigers and zebras in the #16-20 range all will get looks.  The next couple of weeks will be excellent here as this section has not been fished much due to high flows all summer. 

Veteran Drifter David Kendrick from Irvine, CA hit it right on.  This excellent fly fisher caught and released 70 (seventy) trout by himself on a single float recently using our Spruce-A Bu and Loeberg patterns all day.  Franken-trout made an appearance or two but would not stay around long enough for a picture.  Unreal Dave, what a day!

Dave Kendrick

Hi Tom and Michele, From the bottom of my heart, "Thanks again for an EPIC FISHING DAY !!!!!"As the Germans say, "Mein Gott"!  Who knew the day would turn out as good as it did?  When you said a guy had caught 30 fish a day or two ago, and a Drift Trip might be good, I thought, "OK, here is another fishing story about how I should have been here a couple of days ago when it was hot". But as luck would have it, the fishing and weather conditions lined up just perfectly.  Couple that with the most knowledgeable Fishing Guide in the Eastern Sierras (who unerringly put the boat right on the fish, thank you very much), and there you have it... a 70 fish day! UNBELIEVABLE...Too bad I was off my game and missed the other 20 or 30 fish!  That is a day I will never forget, as long as I live! Thanks for more Lifetime Memories and another fabulous day of fishing with you.  Tom, I have always had a great love of fishing, but over the years, you have actually increased my enjoyment and satisfaction of my favorite past time.  You have not only given me more tools, techniques, knowledge, and understanding on how to catch fish, but you have increased my awareness of my surroundings, conservation, and the environment.  Thanks for the Priceless Gifts you have given me.  "You Da Man"!!!  "Dip and Strip Baby" is my new motto! See you soon, Dave

Marv “the predator” Shappi, from Yorba Linda, CA nailed a colorful fall rainbow while having a great day on a drift trip with Drifters guide Doug-err Rodricks.  Great paint job on this one!

Marv Shappi (holding fish) and Chuck Ullmann

The East coast was well represented by long time Sierra Drifters Brian Donovan and Warren Buzzell from New Hampshire recently as the two teamed up to catch and release 75 trout while on a single drift with me!  Numerous doubles and lots of air from these feisty goblins made for a memorable day on the Owens.  Nice shooting guys!

Warren Buzzell and Brian Donovan

Crowley Lake: Excellent 

The lake will be open for fishing until November 15th...but the marina and all boat facilities will close as of the end of October...We will still be able to offer wade, float tube & drift boat access to the lake for the first two weeks of November.

If your timing is right and you hit the lake during a warming trend you can easily do 40 fish a rod right now.  Not all of them will take you into the backing, and most of these rascals have only been haunting the midges for a couple of weeks here and are on the small side.  The lake is as low as I can remember and there are numerous “hazards to navigation.”  You will be amazed at how much water was removed this season.  If you are not familiar with these low water hazards I suggest you check in at the Crowley Lake Fish Camp Store before you launch your boat and the friendly staff will point the areas out.  There are some marker buoys set around the larger foul areas north of Pelican Pt. and Big Hilton Bay.  Other hazards include some strange and mysterious creatures lurking in boats at times.  Be on the lookout!  We have provided a picture of one of these monsters...

The hot rig in general is a blood sucking Vanderleech #14-16 with a copper or black tiger midge or Gillie #16-20 as the dropper.  The smaller midge imitations are tricking the larger and holdover fish more consistently in my opinion.  The streamer fishing has also been good at times with Loebergs and the Vanderleeches #10-12 working best.  You will find the most consistent concentrations of fish around Sandy Pt. in 7-10 feet.  The fish are wrapped around from the parking lot near Sometimes Bay all around Sandy to the last of the Six Bays beach.  There are also good reports from the Leighton Springs and Six Bays areas depending on the conditions.  Crowley is perhaps your best choice right now if you are looking for a fish that looks like the “great pumpkin” with a tail! 

I had the pleasure of seeing several of the “chocolate chips” (small browns) planted a short while back from the proceeds of the Still Water Classic.  These scrappy critters are doing great and have acclimated to the lake in short order.  IAG put over a ton of half pounders in.   Check out the net shot...

Dave Lodge from Encino, CA had a great fall trip with “Fill” Therrien on Crowley.  Dave’s big rainbow was attired in a very colorful costume for the picture. 

Dave Lodge

Fill has been busy on Crowley recently and put Merle Bolton on a “Franken bow” near Sandy Pt. along with his mad fishing scientist friend Brent Hough.  Judging by this ones girth it has not missed many hatches this season.

Fill holding fish with Merle Bolton

I an forwarding two photos I took of a 5 lb plus fish my friend Merle Bolton caught on Oct 14^th while fishing on Crowley with Phil Therrien and myself. We fished with Phil for two days and had a great time. He is a great representative for Sierra Drifters and a great guide.

Chuck Ullmann and Marv Shappi 

I wished to thank you for a great experience Marv and I had with Sierra Drifters Guide Service.  Let me begin with guide Doug Rodricks. We were impressed with his ability to monitor both of our strike indicators simultaneously.  His expertise and willingness to share techniques made the trip not only successful, but also educational.  Where else can you go and have your fly casting tuned up by Doug's instruction only to be interrupted by hooking into monster Browns and Rainbows.  It just doesn't get any better than that!  Also, he was very patient with our inevitable struggles, i.e., snags, tangles, etc.  I was also impressed with the top of the line equipment (boat, rods and reels, and specialty flies) provided by Doug. Thanks again for making this a great experience and you can count on us using your guide services again in the future.

Charles A. Ullmann and Marv Shappi

Marv Shappi

Upper Owens River: Very Good 

The section downstream from the Benton Bridge to the monument is now closed until the Saturday preceding Memorial Day of 2008.  You may fish UPSTREAM from the bridge which has special regulations and is currently open all year.  You may also fish downstream from the monument to Crowley with special regulations until November 15th.  All of the open areas are fishing well and the mid-day hatches are a real “treat" if you enjoy surface action.  There are still some lingering hoppers as well as fall caddis and ever increasing hatches of bwo and trico mayflies. 

Streamers will terrorize the trout this time of year using a light to moderate sinking tip line and the “dip and strip” method working the deep side and cut banks of the channel.  Haunting the trout with a streamer is my favorite method this time of year to get a Franken trout to hit your imitation.  Spruce-a-Bu’s, Loebergs, Agent Orange, #8-12. 

Hot Creek: 

Flows are low but thanks to a few small storms that dropped some lower elevation snow and rain recently not too bad considering the dry year we have had.  

Fall is the time to think small.  The highlight of the dry fly season is the trico hatch.  These tiny mayflies get the wild trout here stupid under the right conditions.  #20-24 and 7X tippets are needed to fool the fish during the afternoon emergence.  You will also see caddis and some larger baetis mayflies appearing.  Dry dropper combos can be very deadly in the larger pools and runs. 

Pleasant Valley Reservoir: 

With the flows dumped to nothing the river into the rez is also fishing very well with a combination of nymphs and dries.  I like dry dropper bead head rigs with our crystal tigers as the nymph #18-16.  You will also get into some fine streamer fishing near the inlet section while tubing.  Most streamers will get you into fish if you get those imitations down 6-10 feet.   

The Gorge: 

Nice time of year to hike into the more secluded sections.  The flows stay constant here and there are caddis and may fly hatches daily.  Still a lot of thick brush along the banks but it is cooler and is a good option if the weather turns ghoulish in the upper elevations. #14-18 patterns are good size profiles for the nymphs and dries this time of year.  Dry dropper rigs are my first choice. 

San Joaquin:  Very low flows

USFS Re-opens Reds Meadow Road - October 22nd : The Reds Meadow Road has been re-opened due to predicted good weather and higher temperatures.  The USFS would like to remind visitors that no overnight camping is allowed in the valley.  There will also be no services or water in the valley.  No employees will be available at the vista, so there is no entrance fee.  Please contact the Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center at 760-924-5500 for additional information.

West Walker River:  Winter like flows here also.

Alpine Lakes: 

This is the optimum time of year to raise “Brownzilla” from the depths.  I like Grant, Silver, the Twins in Bridgeport, and here is a special little treat for you…Parker Lake.  It is near the June Lake Loop.  You need to hike in a short ways and bring a tube.  Check out this plump Parker brown caught by Drifter guide Doug-err a while back. 

East Walker: Good (report courtesy of Doug-err)

The Bridgeport trout tournament turned out a few fish on the river for the anglers competing last weekend.  It took a little while for the fish to get on the bite in the morning, as the temperatures were down right freezing, but fish were starting to show as it warmed up.  Flows are currently holding at 39 cfs as of this report, and fishing has been pretty steady. There is a link to the stream flows on the top of this page. Streamers fished under a sink tip line are a good choice in the deeper holes and runs, and midges, hare's ears, wd-50's, and pheasant tails should all get you into fish. If the water is a little off color, go with a flashback pattern on either or both of your flies. A Sierra Drifters Punk Perch/nymph combo fished under an indicator can also be a hit.

Bridgeport Reservoir: Slow (with room for improvement) Report courtesy of Doug-err

Well, the Bridgeport Trout Tourney saw more fishing than catching unfortunately, with only one qualifying fish coming to the net. Mr. Jeff Wenger was out doing some scouting recently and had some encouraging news as of late.  The algae bloom that has been lingering has cleared, and a few anglers have been hooking fish from the west shore side. Concentrate your efforts on the middle of the lake between the public launch ramp and the dam. Pull full sink lines with streamers as the majority of the fish have been metered at 14-18'.  Jeff will have the marina open until November 4th, and you may fish the lake until Nov 15th, so don't write this one off yet. 

And From Skip Baker… the results of the recent tournament are as follows:

The Bridgeport Trout Tournament held on October 7^th

We had 17 flyfishers on the East Walker and 13 on the lake. There were about 55 at the dinner. With entry fees, raffles, extra dinners $15 (16oz Prime Rib, salad, pasta, veggies, smoked trout, cake) we made $4500. We will end up with about $3800 going to the Program. We gave away $8200 in prizes including an Outcast pontoon boat, $1000 Sage combo, a good number of quality fly rods and reels, vests, gear as well as vacation packages, etc. We have planted over 1000 pounds of 1-2 pound browns this past week and will plant another 1000+ pounds in the next week. We are using our newly constructed stocking trailer and it works great! Eric Gehrung and Jimmy Little built it.

Mundo Robles (Ray's son) won the 1st place overall with 42.5 points fishing on the East Walker. Ist place in the EW division was Chris Mohawk of Long Beach with 17.5 points. Second was a tie broke by card draw between Doug Rodricks of Mammoth and Tom Savedra of Bridgeport, both with 16 points.

The Lake division was won by Don Goodyear of I think Sacramento with a 18 3/4 inch brown. That was the only qualifier on the reservoir. 

Skip Baker

Fish going in at Bridgeport Res.

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, 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