September 20, 2005
Howdy friends and Sierra Drifters. Best fishes to
all for this Double Haul in the Fall 2005 fish report from the Eastern
High Sierra.
Mid through late September is “prime time” for fly
fishers in the Eastern High Sierra and this year looks to be a memorable
one for sure. The conditions in many fisheries are looking excellent and
we are poised for a spectacular fall fishing season for sure.
The weather has been very mild and seasonable with
some gusty winds being the only factor in an otherwise pleasant period of
nice weather recently. The extended forecast is calling for a cooling
trend with an outside chance of snow to fall in the upper elevations this
coming Saturday. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst this time of
year.
Crowley Lake: Moody…
Fifty fish days when it’s on, tumble weeds and
cactus in between. There has been a definite change in the location of
the main body of fish recently as the “bigs” are showing up in the North
Arm of the lake currently. The lake has been planted early this season
and you will see the “dinks” show up in most locations everywhere.
The lake level is high for this time of year but
is dropping steadily and the weed beds are very prominent in all the
popular areas to fly fish. The trout have no lack of food and you will
find a trout buffet if you do a throat pump. Perch fry, damsel fly nymphs
and an ever increasing amount of chironomid pupa are showing up in the
diet. The fish are obsessive and active during the stable and rising
barometer; they are “fasting” when the cold fronts approach or pass
through.
All you Double Haul (Saturday, Sept. 24th)
contestants will find a challenging situation this week. Location,
location, location!!! Will absolutely be the key to hitting scoreable fish
as opposed to what method you choose to use during the event. The fish
are not “mixing” much and are running in size class pods recently. We
have had excellent results casting streamer patterns like the Loeberg and
Punk Perch in #10-14. We have also been whacking the hogs while
stillwater nymphing with gilled chironomids (gillies) #18-20 and hanging a
Punk Perch #14-16 as the upper and using a Drifters Crystal #16-18 Zebra
or Tiger Midge or #18-20 gillie as the dropper.
I strongly suggest you have a 4-6 wt. rod set up
for both streamer and stillwater nymphing in any event. The fish have
been consistently concentrated in the creek and river channels but are
beginning to show up on the weed edges at Sandy Pt. and Leighton Springs.
Look for Leighton and Alligator Pt. to come on strong this week. McGee
Bay has become a desert as of late but I would not be surprised if it
bounced back before the smoke clears this weekend.
The Sierra Drifters Guide team will be on hand the
afternoon prior to the Haul at the Crowley Lake Fish Camp Store for a
seminar and strategy session around 5 pm. There is no charge. Stop by
and get the “hot scoop” prior to the event. For the Crowley Lake Fish
Camp… there is a link on the resources page above.
The bigs are on the move and we have had an
incredible run of large rainbows recently using the stillwater nymphing
method in the subsurface creek channels. Check out the following pictures…
Ken Jackson
Ken Jackson from Northridge, CA got a beast of a
rainbow that measured 24 inches in McGee a while back. This fish don’t
need no “lift kit” folks. Check out the hump on this bad boy Kamloops.
Nice one Kenny!
Mike Casey
Mike Casey from Lakewood, CA spanked numerous big
rainbows on a guided 2 day lip ripper with us but the paint job on this
fish is screen saver material for sure. Great shot Case!
Anthony Vuoso
The team of Chris “ The Peagle” Henrich, Anthony
“Possum Face” Vuoso and Jim “Pot Roast Proboscis” Polette, all from the San Pedro,
CA
area had a 50 fish dream day on Crowley in the north arm recently with the
Possum hitting the slammer of the day. Check this heavy duty rainbow
out! What a hoot guys, thanks for the show.
Upper Owens River/ Lower
McGee Creek: Good
Lots of migrating fish traveling upstream. You
will find a mix of both DFG stockers and wild trout hitting streamers like
the Loeberg and Spruce-a-bu in the deeper pools and bends especially in
the section below the Benton Crossing Bridge. Look for surface activity
with baetis imitations #18-20 in the afternoons in the slower water. This
area will only be getting better as the fall rolls on. Wet years are
traditionally very productive in this area and if I had a moving water to
pick for a fall fishery this would be it!
Check out the area below the confluence of Convict
Creek on McGee. Have some bwo’s handy for the baetis hatch late morning.
Hot Creek: Good
The dry fly action has been excellent for those
who can cast or “high stick” a long leader and maintain a longer drift. 6X
and 7X tippet here for sure. You will see the weed beds protruding the
surface and you must concentrate on hitting the channels and deeper
pools. Mayfly imitations #20 or smaller will work best for surface
action. Olive zebra midges #18-22 are best when used under an indicator
or larger dry fly.
San Joaquin River: Great
Super conditions here for both dry fly and
subsurface action. The flows are ideal for smaller wild trout that whack
most dry fly patterns in the #16-18 range. This is a great time of year
to fish here as the crowds of summer thin out. You may now drive your own
vehicle in.
Mammoth Lakes Basin: Good
The lakes basin has been very good for those
trolling streamers on the calmer days this week thanks to the heavy
plantings from the Labor Day million dollar “trout stock”. You will not
get rich when fishing here but fly casters trolling a Spruce-a-bu or
Loeberg #8-10 and a full or heavy sink tip line will get into some 1-4lb.
Alpers along the tree stumps and drop-offs in the basin lakes. Rumor has
it that a couple of 15 lb. plus Alpers “Troutzillas” were planted recently
in the basin lakes also. I would concentrate on Mary…
Lower Owens River: Poor
Flows remain at over 600cfs and will stay here for
a while. Despite the great time of year and the potential for some
excellent dry fly action these high flows will make wading tough if not
unpleasant. We will begin running guided drift boat trips around
mid-October as the flows will have been stable long enough for the fish to
adjust. Look for the flows to be much higher than normal this fall and
winter due to the high level at Crowley Lake. There are links to the DWP
water flows above.
Bridgeport Reservoir:
Fair
Good levels of water here this time of year for a
change. The few fly fishers working this area are hitting some nice fish
between Rainbow Pt. and Buckeye Bay. There is a prominent drop-off and it
is an ideal place to work full or heavy sink tips with our Punk Perch or
Loebergs. Stillwater nymphing has slowed down but you will still get into
some fish working this edge at depths of 10-15 feet. Use larva patterns
like tigers and zebras in conjunction with a Crystal Leech or Punk Perch
#14-16. Jeffery at the marina will be happy to assist you or shuttle you
out with your tube.There are links on the resources tab above or click on
http://www.bridgeportreservoir.com/photogallery.htm
The Bridgeport trout enhancement program is up and
running at the Paradise Shores RV Park thanks to the efforts of many
concerned individuals and especially those of the parks owners Eric and
Michelle Gehrung and Skip Baker owner of Big Meadows Resort. These folks
could use any help you can come up with to keep the “fish machine”
operating. Go check out the Alpers trout (donated by Tim Alpers) here and
say hi.
East Walker River: Fair
The conditions are improving here every week and
the flows are down to 240 recently. The river is still a tad on the green
side. Fall is a great time to fish this river and I can think of no
better moving water in this region to hit a large brown. Streamers are a
solid choice used with a moderate sink tip line. Try the “dip and strip”
in the big bends and larger pools. No less than 3X baby!
West Walker River: Very
Good
Ideal flows in all areas. Most dry fly imitations
in the #14-18 range will get you looks in the canyons both above and below
the meadow. The Pikel Meadow and campground areas have good numbers of
planted and holdover fish that will whack a dry dropper rig also. Use a
#16 Drifters Black or Olive Crystal Tiger or Zebra here as the nymph below
a Stimulator.
Rock Creek area: Good
The creek directly below the outlet is one of my
favorite locations to get into some eager wild fish. They will not
shatter your 4 wt rod but are a hoot on a dry fly and can be found in most
of the pocket water and flats in this location. Hopper and a dropper, or
a dry/dry rig with an elk caddis and olive crystal zebra’s #18-20.
The lake is fishing well for trollers in tubes
during the late afternoons if it is not blowing a gale. Full sinks or
heavy sink tips with Crystal Leeches, Loebergs or Spruce-a-bu’s #8-12.
Work the bay on the east side next to the outlet, or launch by the inlet
and work the drop-off about 75 feet offshore.
June Lake Loop: Good
Rush Creek is in excellent shape and the area
between Grant and Silver has a reputation of being one of the best fall
brown trout fisheries in this area. Streamers will get you larger fish.
All the lakes here are well stocked and tubers are enjoying some excellent
action on planted fish during the afternoon snap.
You can pick up our guide flies at the following
stand out locations: The Bridgeport Lake Marina in Bridgeport, The Crowley
Lake Fish Camp and 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 on the
resources tab above.
