October 23, 2004
Howdy friends and Sierra Drifters. Best
fishes to all for this Halloween 2004 fish report from the Eastern Sierra.
The surprisingly potent winter storms that
deposited much needed rain to the entire west coast also brought along copious
amounts of snow to elevations above 8000 feet. Mammoth Mountain Ski resort has
opened as early as I can remember and they are reporting a four-foot base. The
storms have had a dramatic effect on many fisheries, most of it negative. If
you have planned a late fall trip to any lakes, or resorts above 8000 feet you
may find some closed or impassible roads and winter conditions.
The forecast is calling for a continuing
string of cold core storms to continue their trek over the High Sierra through
next week. Bring along winter clothing and tire chains.
Crowley Lake: Fair
The severe weather has turned the lake over
and pushed the fish into deeper water. Stillwater nymphing has become tough
lately as the chironomid hatch has all but diminished this week. We suggest you
stick to larva patterns like our crystal tiger and zebra midges and use them in
tandem with a perch fry or leech pattern #12-16 above. Streamers will be your
best bet if you plan on tubing the lake. There are some nice browns stacking up
off Six Bays and along the south side towards Green Banks in water deeper than
10 feet. Use our Loebergs, punk perch, or crystal leech patterns #10-14 with a
full sink, or heavy sinking tip line to effectively get down to the fish.
The fish will take a while to adjust to the
dramatic water temperature drop so get those perch fry and leech imitations down
to ten feet minimum and look to cast or troll along the drop-offs where there is
deeper water nearby, and a more stable habitat for the fish. The channel
between Alligator Pt. and Six Bays is a good area when the fish go deep. Look
off Sandy Pt. Towards X-mas Bay also. The Hiltons have been slow but it should
pick up, (weather permitting) before the gate closes on 10-31-04.
The lake will be open until Nov.15th,
but the Crowley Lake Fish Camp will close on 10-31. The roads leading down to
the lake may be very muddy and will have some ice and snow from time to time
this week.
Just prior to the recent winter storms we
had incredible fishing with the average guided trip netting 50 or more a day.
Mike Rippee and the duo of Don and Lynn Morton repeated their performance of
last seasons 100 plus fish day with a netted total of 104 recently! Check out
the 23-inch cutt Mike caught and released, and Don’s hog rainbow to put the
icing on a rather large cake…
Mike Rippee (left) with Tom holding
fish
Don Morton
Lower
Owens River: Very good
In a perfect world we would love to see
some semblance of a more consistent flow below the dam at Pleasant Valley
Reservoir. The flows have dropped this week from 250cfs to 80 cfs on 10-24 and
will remain here for an extended period. This is as low as you will see the
flows on this tail water. Wading is very easy and you will not need more than a
#4 shot to get those nymphs down on the deeper pools. This time of year you can
use a plethora of imitations including midges, mayflies, and caddis flies when
it warms up above 65 degrees. Look for a strong trico hatch if you like to fish
tiny dry flies. Dry/dropper combos with our crystal olive zebras or tigers
#18-22 as your nymphs will get you into plenty of fish at these flows, and these
rigs are fun to cast and fish. 2-3 feet of 6X tippet for your dropper is best.
The wild trout section of the Lower Owens
IS a must stop if you are planning to fly-fish this area soon.
Please remember that this section of river
is NZMS positive and rotten with the critters. Walk and wade in the streambed
as little as possible, do your moving on dry ground. For more information on the
snail go to
http://www.flyline.com/environmental/nzms/
The drift boat sections are not fishing as
well. The fluctuating water levels have the fish moving. This is typical for
the lower and larger sections of the Owens. It takes longer for the water to
stabilize the further downstream you get from the dam. The lowering flows will
eventually set the stage for some excellent fishing this winter.
Upper Owens River:
Good
The “gauntlet” section below the Benton
Crossing Bridge is now closed for the remainder of the season. Please go to
http://www.dfg.ca.gov for complete information on the current DFG
regulations.
Look at Big Springs, and the Long Years
sections of the river for the larger fish, which have migrated upstream from
Crowley Lake. The open section of the river downstream from the fishing
monument has good numbers of mostly smaller fish (recent lake planters) that
have decided to move into the moving and warmer waters of this spring fed
river.
We have our best results on the larger fish
this time of year using streamer patterns like our spruce-a-bu #8 and Loebergs
#10, fishing them under and along the cuts in the banks with a medium sinking
tip line, and implementing the “dip and strip” method. You may also encounter a
solid BWO hatch mid-day, especially during the overcast periods.
Approaches to streamside are perhaps the
most overlooked and improperly performed fundamentals in fly-fishing
presentations. It is ESSENTIAL that you do not spook your fish prior to casting
in this river. Step back and formulate a game plan before you make your first
cast on a juicy piece of water here. You will see positive results.
The Gorge: Very
good
With the current weather patterns this is
perhaps the best place for consistent dry fly action in the Eastern Sierra. If
you do not mind a strenuous hike and some moderate bush whacking, this is your
huckleberry! Most dry/dry-dry/dropper combos will work fine here #14-18.
Although you can get into a few 14 inch plus fish here in the larger pools, most
of these rascals tend to be in the 6-9 inch range. A 1-3 wt. rod is perfect
down here.
Pleasant Valley
Reservoir: Fair
The powerhouse will stop generating this
week and this will keep a stable flow on the river section leading into the
reservoir. Dry/dropper combos with a crystal tiger, or olive zebras #16-18 are
deadly here. Get those flies under the brush and in the pocket water for some
nice browns holding here.
Tubers trolling the inlet and launch ramp
sections will do best using perch fry imitations #10-14, or leech patterns in
brown or black. Get those flies down 8-10 feet and fish the drop-offs on the
south side for best results.
West Walker River:
Fair
With the recent rain and snow the flows
have come up some and you may even find some off colored water if it gets warm
before the seasons end. This is a freestone river and its complexion can change
quickly after a rain or snow melt. Your best bet here is around the
campgrounds, which received a good shot of planted fish last week. The fish are
stacked in the deepest pools and you may have to do some walking to locate the
“pods”. Look for the best wild trout fishing in the canyon section located
upstream from Hwy. 395 and the intersection of the Sonora Pass turnoff. Small
strike indicators or a dry fly and bead head nymph #14-18 fished about 2-3 feet
below are an effective rig here, especially during low water flows.
East Walker River:
Fair
There were a fair amount of good sized
catchable trout planted for a fishing event held here over a week ago and you
have a good chance to get into some of these fish in the sections located just
below the dam. Look for a more aggressive demeanor from the larger resident
browns here as the fall spawn triggers this behavior.
The water flows are still very low and this
will make fishing streamers difficult in all but the largest pools. Nymphing
with tiger midges, hares ear or pheasant tails #16-22 will get you grabs.
Upper Alpine Lakes
and creeks: Snow-icy and closed roads and passes…
The recent and forecasted storms have, and
could shut down some of these areas and I suggest you check your destination
before planning a trip. Many of the roads and passes will not be plowed and
some will close for the winter. Bring tire chains and keep informed of the
weather if you are going to be camping above 8000 feet this week.You can pick up
our guide flies at the following stand out locations:
The Crowley Lake Fish Camp, The San Diego
Fly Shop, The Troutfitter/Trout Fly in Mammoth Lakes, Stroud’s Tackle in San
Diego, Malibu Fish’N Tackle in Thousand Oaks and the Crowley Lake Store and
Deli. There are links to these locations at the resources tab above. The Crowley
Lake General Store can be reached at 760-935-4666.
Be the fly…Tom Loe
Sierra
Drifters Guide Service
If you visit these links be sure to tell them
Sierra Drifters sent you…
Mammoth Lakes Real Estate:
http://www.prestigepropertiesmammoth.com/
Mammoth Lakes
Lodging:
http://www.mammothlakes.com/ml2/Lodgingx.html
