August 2010 Eastern Sierras Report
Capt. Tom Loe
August 4, 2010
Eastern Sierras - Freshwater Fishing Report
Howdy friends and Sierra Drifters. I hope you are having a great summer and have had a few opportunities to get up to the Eastern Sierra by now.
Summer is in full swing and the weather has become seasonal with sustained periods of significant T-storm activity. If you observe "cotton ball" shaped clouds over the tops of the mountain ranges at sun rise, there will be a good chance it will be rumbling in the afternoon, or sooner. The upper valleys are seeing temps get into the eighties most days; the Owens Valley is sweltering with the 100 degree mark common. The run-off is winding down substantially and conditions are improving in all the freestone creeks. They are still running higher than normal, but clarity is good with August and early fall forecast to be a great with regards to water levels for this region.
Crowley Lake:
The algae bloom is decreasing greatly and will be outta here very soon. This will allow catch and release fishers (worms, stink baiters, and barbed hooks are illegal after 7-31 for Crowley) more area to fish the deeper water outside the huge weed beds that have consumed large portions of McGee Bay, the Hiltons, and the North Arm of the lake. We have just started to fish the deeper regions in the 13-15 foot range very recently with good results. There are also a few trophy sized fish showing up in 3-4 feet of water near the inlets. These fish are feeding on callibaetis adults & spinners, damsels, chironomids, and BWO adults/spinners. This is my favorite time of year to fish Crowley. It is a real challenge to hit a 20" plus fish in short water on 5X while sight casting to a rise form or splash. You WILL see your backing in the skinny water my friends. The numbers have been noticeably down in recent years but the hard pulling Crowley fish you do see are worth the effort right now. The icing on the cake is a sprinkling of quality browns hunting the damsels and perch fry seeking shelter along the shoreline and inner weed lines. Stripping a damsel, Drifters Punk Perch, or Loeberg with a slow sink or midge tip here will get you some joint ripping, 1X popping takes. Hit the short water during the gray, or if there is texture or clouds during the afternoon. Get deeper when the sun is out or if it gets glassy.
For still water nymphing it is more location right now and you will need to play "lake chess" to secure a spot in the channels or a clear area next to the weeds. I have found spots from 4-9 feet on the inside in McGee; it is less open until you get out to 14-16 feet. Try a Punk Perch as your upper #14-16 and a chironomid larva or broken back as the dropper below your Under-Cator. Little Hilton is holding, but it can be like the 405 Fwy during rush hour at times. Crooked also has some fish but it will shut down after the shadows come off the water. The North Arm is a big nada unless you fish the 14 plus depths. I will say that if you enjoy bird watching the Grebes are nesting on the thick weed beds by the hundreds. Stand well off and observe with binos please, it is worth seeing. When Crowley begins receding the weed lines will be shallower & things will shape up nicely for fly fishers as we roll into the fall.
Still Water Classic C&R derby is on 8-14. New rules for 2010; check the Crowley Lake Fish Camp website or call them for entry and details please.
Bridgeport Reservoir-the other lake
The numbers continue to be very good here, as well as the conditions. The "other lake" fishes best in wet seasons such as this one. The fish migrate to the cooler waters near inlets in Buckeye and Walker mouths and concentrate in the channels and on the mud flats near the inlets. The fish here are mixed and you will see mostly stocked fish on a day to day basis. The big surprise is the holdover or wild fish that will rip off 100 feet of backing and leave you on your knees and in the "penalty box" re-tying if you are not ready for it! There are some great fish here folks, and I find it a shame that there are not trophy season type regulations in place here as well to enhance this fishery. The Bridge has an abundant amount of aquatic insects and a population of forage fish that feed the larger predators. It once kicked out a brown over 25 lbs! It does not get the respect that Crowley does, however those that fish it on a regular basis know it is every bit as good.
We have fished it often this July and found that callibaetis patterns, punk perch, and broken back midges worked the best while still water nymphing. The weed beds make it difficult to fish streamers near the inlets, however there are sections along the dam (especially in the evenings) & along the eastern shoreline drop-offs that will work for those seeking two foot plus fish.
The "other lake" is a good option if you want to get into numbers and some gorgeous scenery.
Hot Creek:
Caddis and hoppers. The catching has definitely got tougher here as the fish have become more educated and are gorged by the abundant amount of food the numerous hatches & terrestrials provide each day. The flows are dropping and in some sections the weeds are protruding enough to make extended drifts on the far shoreline difficult. For those of you who can turn a 10-11 foot leader over and make some delicate "mends" it is still fishing very well. Caddis & midge emergers #18-22 fished in the film will get grabs all day in the softer riffles and slower water. Hit the deeper pocket water and far shoreline cuts with weighted nymphs #18 or smaller under a hopper, or Stimulator #14-12. Caddis adults #18-16 are the top adult pattern currently.
Upper Owens River:
Numbers are great in most sections. Seems to be a fair to above average amount of 8-10 inch stockers from the monument beat all the way up into Long Years. The flows are great and clarity is good currently. Scrappy and opportunistic, they are fun to catch although they are planted smaller this year here. There are some scattered 16-20 inch fish, but they are pretty scarce right now in the public access areas. Look for the deeper pools 3-4 feet, they hold larger concentrations. Flashback PT's, our broken back midges, tiger midges, and olive zebras will all get you grabs under a strike indicator or larger caddis/Stimulator. The skeeters are nasty at times here, lather up!
Lower Owens River:
The early mornings and late afternoons are bearable in the Owens Valley and those who like to fish dries can have some fun during these lower light periods when the fish are feeding on top. Heavily weighted tandem nymph rigs using olive zebras, flashback PT's & tiger midges will also do well in the accessible areas closer to, and in the wild trout section. Flows continue to be around 400cfs making most wadeable sections not possible to safely reach or cross. We are not doing drift trips currently but will begin floating the river in September as the conditions improve.
Adobe Pond:
The afternoons have been better after the wind picks up. Morning trips start off good, and then seem to fizzle out as the beautiful wild browns seek cover under the banks or move into the creek channel for cooler water. This is a special place to fish and we guide it from a drift boat often sight fishing to rise forms on this private fishery. I love to fish the late afternoons here as the sun sets. Call for booking info please. Or click on the Adobe Ranch tab.
East Walker River: TwoBug Doug's take
Thanks to a great snowpack Bridgeport Reservoir water capacity is in good condition and should remain this way well into the fall which will provide some good conditions for spawning of the wild brown trout population.
Fishing on the E.W. has been great! Flows have been slowly coming down and fish are on the chew in the early morning. Releases are hovering around the 275 cfs range which is getting safer for those anglers that want to get out of the Miracle Mile and wade into some less pressured water downstream.
Look for fish holding close to the shore in shallow water, don't walk into knee high water and start nymphing the deep water first, make some up stream presentations first and you may be rewarded with some good grabs. You should have two nymphing rods set up to target fish in the shallow water (1-2 feet) using lightly weighted imitations; and a heavy nymphing rig for the faster deeper seems for getting your flies down to the fish. This method will increase your chances for catching fish. If the fishing slows down around noon on the Mile, drive down the river and try other spots. The water is more oxygenated and the fish will be more active in the riffle water this time of day and should be less crowded with people as well. There has been very little wind around the Bridgeport area in the afternoon hours followed with some thunder storm activity producing heavy downpours of rain at times. Folks, this is a good time to be on the river if your lucky enough and don't mind getting wet. We have been seeing a good Caddis hatch in these conditions and fish are looking up at anything getting pelted to the surface from the rain. Patterns that have been producing good numbers and larger fish are blood midge patterns, Broke Back midges, larger PT's, olive emergers and worm patterns. Think about using punk perch and streamer patterns for the high probability of getting your fly line stripped out of your hand by a larger fish.....Guide Tip, last hour of day light.
See you on the water.....TwoBug.
Hot Alpine Lakes:
I hear South Lake is stupid good due to a surplus of fish that were planted because North Lake had issues with the Willow Fly Catcher that have since been resolved. "The cookie cutters were every cast" and about every thirty or so you'd get a 2-3 pound IAG rainbow in the mix says a reliable source. Silver is also overstocked now that it has the "proverbial green light" from the DFG to get planted. Streamers with sinking lines near the inlets and drop-offs. The Virginia Lakes are also fishing well after a slow start. Streamers and still water nymphing near the inlet work well. The T-storms can be very much an issue in these locations so check the forecast before you plan your days outing.
San Joaquin River:
Conditions are good as long as there is not an extended period of T-storms. You will need to get away from the campgrounds this time of year; tis' the season as you well know. I like twin dries spaced 2-3 feet apart using a #16-14 Stimmie as the upper-tie another dry of your choice #14-18 as the point. The fish are not picky this time of year, nor are the mosquitoes.
Be the fly…Tom Loe, Sierra Drifters Guide Service
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