Fall 2008 Fish'n Conditions

Howdy friends and Sierra Drifters.  Best fishes to all for this fall 2008 fish report from the Eastern High Sierra.  Fall colors will come earlier this year due to the previously dry winter.  Many of the trees are stressed and will shed their foliage sooner than normal.  My guess is the peak will be 2-3 weeks earlier than usual depending on altitude.  

The weather this time of year is fickle.  It can be warm and pleasant for extended periods of time, and then change abruptly to look more like winter.  We have experienced some rather windy, dry cold fronts earlier than usual, so be prepared for this trend to continue.  The first freezing temps of the year have occurred just after Labor Day, it is wise to pack layerable clothing and hooded jackets for the remainder of the fall. 

The Fish’n conditions are fair in most areas.  The east slope is suffering from two seasons of low water.  Flows are lower than normal in all of the freestone and spring creeks.  The large reservoirs like Crowley, Bridgeport, and Grant are EXTREMLY low for this time of year.  The tailwater fisheries and lakes will be the most consistent areas to fish as the fall season evolves. hope to see you up here soon! You can also click on "Closer Look" above for more details on some of these locations...

Lower Owens River:  This is a tail water friends… 

Still too much release water for a good time wading.  Flows should decrease soon and this area will go off BIG TIME!   We provide a link to the LADWP real time website at the top of this page.  The drift boat sections will be excellent much earlier than usual this year.  As the air temps cool in the Owens Valley, fishing will get good soon.  This is the up and coming place to fish this fall people.  

Plenty of caddis, PMD’s and midges around this time of year on the “LO”.  I suggest you have a moderate to heavy sinking tip line in addition to your floating rig to focus on some of the larger fish looking to smack a chub or mosquito fish pattern.  Loeberg’s rock this time of year, #10.  We are booking drift trips currently for September and the SD guides are chomping at the bit to get on the first floats here. 

Click this link to view our latest drift boat video clips...http://www.sierradrifters.com/video/video1.htm

Upper Owens:  Spring Creek 

The numbers are excellent here, but very few large fish showing in the net.  This is perhaps the most consistent moving water fishery in the Eastern Sierra currently.  Dry/dropper bead head combo’s with a Stimulator “on-a-top” #14-16, and PT or olive zebra #16-20 as the nymph.  From this point on streamer fishing along the deeper side or undercut banks will only get better.   Spruce-a-Bu’s and Loebergs #8-10.   Use a light to moderate sinking tip line and use the “dip and strip” method to get err’ done! 

SD guide Doug R got the Smith clan into a bunch of scrappy rainbows on a recent trip.  The wet wading has been great this season here.

Chris Smith

Ken Smith

Tyler Smith

East Walker River:  Tailwater 

Leave it be.  Conditions suck for the fish; low oxygen levels, high water temps, and the weeds and goo make it tough to fish the sections below the first bridge.  There will be some opportunities in late Sept/early Oct. if the flows do not go to a trickle. The EW is not shaping up to have a great fall season. 

West Walker River:  Upper sections are freestone 

Low water.  The fish are holding in the larger pools in the canyon sections and under any cover along the banks in the meadows making presentations difficult at times.  As the air temps cool at the upper elevations the water levels will only get lower.  Fish have been planted around the campgrounds and Pikel Meadows sections prior to the Labor Day weekend.  Dry/dropper nymph rigs always work here.  Copper or black crystal tigers #16-18 are best under a large dry for the planters. 

Bridgeport Reservoir: 

Jeffery Wenger (his royal sheepness) at the marina is forecasting an excellent fall season here.  The lake is very low and has had light pressure this year.  Look for the fish to be concentrated from Rainbow Pt. towards the dam along the drop-offs and ledges on both sides of the lake this fall.  This location can be a “sleeper” and if you hit it right big rewards for those willing to tube the north end (near the dam) of the lake in the fall.  Punk Perch, Loebergs, and Blood Sucking Vanderleeches #10-14. 

We miss you Skippy Baker (Big Meadows Lodge)-hope to see casting here you this fall. 

San Joaquin River:  Freestone fishery 

The wild fish are concentrated in the deepest pools and under the overhanging brush along the banks.  It can be tough fishing here under these conditions.  Accurate 25-30 foot upstream presentations are needed to fool most of the fish.  They are always on the small side here, but this year they appear even smaller???  Recent trips have elk caddis dries, mayfly patterns like a Para-Adams, and Stimulators getting grabs #16. The campgrounds have scrappy planted rainbows that are eager to hit patterns with some flash or red built in.  The stockers will vanish here soon.  Dry droppers with crystal zebras and tigers #16-18 will work if you can find a deep enough pool.  As the air cools in the upper snow fields the water will only get lower.  Forget this area in October.  Sotcher Lake is worth a shot if you want fish from a tube. 

Randy Alleman had to make long accurate upstream casts to get his fish on the SJ.  Randy got a bunch of grabs for his fine efforts.

Randy Alleman

Alpine Lakes:  Mammoth Lakes Basin, June Lake Loop, Sabrina/South Lake, Virginia Lakes, Twin Lakes, Rock Creek Lake, Convict Lake 

Look for a decrease in the amount of weekly plantings here this month.  The majority of the “drive to” alpine lakes in this region are managed as “put and take” fisheries.  If you are fortunate enough to fish an area that has been recently stocked, you can have a great time.  If you get on the water at the tail end of a planting cycle you will have a great time fishing, but not much catching…Streamer fishing works best for these opportunistic trout.  Use patterns that contrast best for your current conditions.  Bright day-bright color/dark day dark colors.  We designed a fly called the Agent Orange that is absolute poison for these hatchery fish.  Cast it with a full or heavy sink tip in these areas and be prepared to get bent! 

Hot Creek: Spring Creek with a twist… 

Hot Creek has a confluence in the upper reaches of its origin just below the hatchery. Mammoth Creek’s confluence with Hot Creek adds flow and cooler water and is basically freestone in nature.  MC is very low in flow currently.  The public section of Hot Creek is tough right now and has limited “gravy” water.  The protruding weed beds make the majority of the water tough to fish.  Conditions will not improve here this fall. If you are fortunate enough to get on a larger pool or clear channel along the weed lines you can have a great time here using caddis #18-20, Stimulators #16, and according to Drifters guide Two Bug Doug Dolan “Fat Albert’s” in the larger sizes like 8’s and 10’s. Look for increasing baetis (BWO) activity especially if the weather gets quickly cooler #18-20.  Midge nymph patterns always work here, and if I had one nymph to fish in this area it would be an olive latex or dubbed body crystal zebra midge pattern #18-20.

Pleasant Valley Reservoir: 

You begrudgingly pay the newly added parking fee to tube Crowley around Green Banks.  It is cold and blowing as you start the kick out.  What the #$$% am I doing here you think to yourself!  PV can be a good alternative in the fall people.  The still water nymphing and streamer fishing near the inlet can be excellent here especially when the flows recede at the powerhouse.  The fall can be a great time to hit some quality browns here especially if the weather turns sour in the upper valleys.  The inlet section just down from the powerhouse is also a great place to fish dry/dry, dry/dropper nymph combos.  It is a very small piece of water but fishes, and looks very much like the EW with flows around 125cfs. 

The Gorge:  Miniature Tailwater  

This area is stuffed with wild browns.  They tend to be on the small side for size, but large on the fight/attitude size.  The flows are very stable here and when the weather begins to cool in the fall/warm in the spring- this is a great place to visit if you do not mind some moderate to heavy rock hopping and hiking.  Dry/dry, dry dropper bead head nymphs like Stimmies, PT’s, zebras, caddis, and Adams #14-18 all work well.  More brush to deal with in the early fall along the banks but still a fun place to find some secluded water with totally wild trout. 

Adobe Pond: 

This is a special place; I believe you will enjoy it immensely.  We have the exclusive rights to guide this unique body of water and it is becoming my favorite place to fish in this region.  You will not see trophy sized fish here but the numbers and amount of surface takes make this location a must.  We limit the amount days we guide here to insure a quality experience.  Call for booking availability please. Click on the Adobe link at the top of this page for more info...

Robert Newman and Randy Wrage spanked fifty wild browns at Adobe.  Fun day guys, thanks!

Robert Newman

Randy Wrage

Ian Campbell saw numerous gorgeous browns, as well as some fantastic fall weather at Adobe.  Best paint jobs in the Eastern Sierra! 

Ian Campbell

Brownzilla, Jr.

Crowley tributaries: McGee, Convict, Hilton, Crooked Creek, Upper Owens R. 

I get a bunch of questions regarding the fall fishing in these areas.  “Is the fall spawn as good as the spring migrations?”  NO.  The vast majority of trout in Crowley are spring spawners.  Browns and Coleman/Whitney strain rainbows are the only fish to migrate in the fall.  You must also take into account that the water flows in the tribs are very low for the most part in the fall.  This makes for a less than ideal habitat for fall spawn trout.  The exception in this area is the Upper Owens R. which has far more water than its counterparts and is the base for most of the Long Valley drainages wild trout.  The CDFG has documented in prior surveys that the hardiest wild trout in this region are fall spawn rainbows and browns.  They comprise a small fraction of the total biomass of trout in this drainage and are very resilient and beautiful.  With the year around openings of the UO (some sections are closed, check the current regs) the angling public will get the opportunity to see some of these special fish in the cooler fall months. 

Crowley Lake: 

Crowley has been like the stock market.  Up and going big one day, crashing the next few.  Arguably the best fly fishery around this area, but not consistent by any means.  Bring a bottle of water and pour it in the lake as a symbolic gesture to show the LADWP that Crowley needs more water.  There are navigation hazards (shoals) in the middle of the lake north and east of the Hiltons.  They have less than a foot of water in some spots.  At current releases you will see an island on Crowley in the middle of the lake by October or sooner.  The Crowley management has these areas crudely marked so use extra caution when crossing from the CLFC to McGee Bay.  Ask them for information if you are not familiar with the lakes navigation hazards.  Launching your boat at the ramp is getting tricky due to the close proximity of the docks, and the deteriorated shape the ramp is in.  If you have a 4X4 engage it before you pull the boat up the ramp.  It will really help. 

McGee Bay 6-10 feet and the Green Banks area are the best locations.  The fish are spread with a bunch of 12 inchers around this fall.  The deeper water is more consistent over the course of an entire day.  We are seeing a fair amount of 18- 20 inch fish, but it has not been a great year for larger holdover fish.  There is a substantial algae bloom that will shut you down in McGee if the wind holds from the east or south early in the day.  SD guides have had some excellent days in the north arm all to themselves recently.  No algae issues here. 

There have been some sporadic signs that the streamer fishing is picking up but on a day to day basis the still water nymphers will out fish the tuggers 7-1 for sure.  Loebergs, Punk Perch, Vanderleeches, Agent Orange #10-14. 

Stillwater nymphers will have best results using black tigers and zebras #16-18 as the lower fly.  Gillies, pupa, or crystal emergers during the hatch.  A great rig this time of year is a Punk Perch as the upper, with a tiger or zebra for the dropper.  You will get a few fish on the PP, but it is a great attractor fly and will bring the fish in from a greater distance.  Use a #4 shot above the PP 4-6 inches to get it down quicker.  If you get a little breeze or chop on the water try this rig out. 

Please take a few minutes to check out the pics from some of the recent trips we have had with our special clients.  One of my favorite people in the whole universe, The “Mighty Osprey” Bill Stroud owner of Stroud’s Tackle in San Diego spent three fantastic days with me on Crowley accompanied by one of the nicest guys, and one helluva fly fisherman I know, Jim Reeg.  These two San Diego Fly Fishers put smiles on people’s faces, and frowns on the faces of the fish everywhere they go!  Special times kids, thanks again.

Bill Stroud, The Mighty Osprey...

Jim Reeg

Larry and Ken Jackson with two really nice fish on their annual father and son trip.  They got the Crowley slam in the North Arm.  Fun day, see ya next year!

Ken Jackson

Larry Jackson

Two Bug Doug shown with clients Andrew and Dakota Hirsch.  Way to “be the fly” gang!

Andrew Hirsch

Dakota Hirsch

This time of year, Sierra Drifters flies & Sungicators are only available at the following great fly shops and stores (don’t be fooled by any of the imitations out there!): 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