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Eastern Sierras
Capt. Tom Loe
April 3, 2003
Eastern Sierras - Freshwater Fishing Report
April Fools Fish Report 2003
April 1, 2003
Howdy friends and Sierra Drifters. Best fishes to you all for this current fish report from the Eastern Sierra.
Fishing has been horrid due to the evaporation and draining of the Lower Owens River. The drought has taken its toll on this area and the river has dried up with all the trout looking like sticks of beef jerky. The only fish able to live in the river are carp and catfish; bring up those cane poles and bobbers if you want to catch anything.
APRIL FOOLS!!!
We have a below average snow pack in the Eastern Sierra as of this report, however fly fishing has been very good in most areas with fantastic weather and favorable flow rates attributing to the consistent success we have been having recently. The big news is the RISING water levels on the Lower Owens. The flows have been increased to 200 cfs. as of this report but at this level you will not see a significant change in the behavioral patterns of the trout.
The weather forecast is calling for the “mother of all storms” to hit the western pacific coast by Tuesday evening and bring copious amounts of moisture to this region. Rainmakers please do your thing! We need this storm badly to insure plenty of water for the upcoming summer. The wet, cooler cycle is forecast to stretch into the weekend.
For those of you looking at potential opportunities for the upcoming general trout opener on April 26th it looks real good. The ice disappeared from Crowley Lake last week and the trout are already in full spawning mode in most of the tributaries to the lake. The ice has been off in the June Lake loop for a while and most watersheds below the 8000-foot elevation will be fishing great in our opinion; unless a drastic weather change occurs. The Walker Rivers and Bridgeport Reservoir will fish good early and then fade as the water temps and flows will mime last years low water pattern unless a substantial amount of moisture hits the Eastern Sierra this April. Hot Creek will be excellent early on and become more technical spotty as the summer progresses. The San Joaquin will fish well through August and become low for the fall if current snowfall totals remain unchanged. We will update these areas as the season unfolds.
Lower Owens River: Good-very good
The flows have been bumped up to 200 cfs. This flow rate will make you add a little shot to your nymph rigs and pay more attention to those “drop-offs” while wading the wild trout section, but all in all you will see little change in the overall fishing conditions here. Sources tell us the flows will remain here for a substantial period of time, relative to the current weather changes………………………………..???
The weather has been fabulous this March with many days in the mid 70’s. Dry fly action has slowed considerably due to the sunny, bright days. You can expect to find rising trout during the evenings and cloudy days. Have some B.W.O. imitations #18-20, elk hair caddis #18, a cigar or brown colored body is best.
Be on the river early with black and olive midge or caddis larva patterns #18-22. Have some baetis emergers handy like RS-2’s #20 for the late mornings. It has been exceptionally crowded on weekends and holidays.
Streamers have been the best for us while drift boating most of the time while employing the “dip and strip” method incorporating the use of a moderate sinking tip line. The mosquito fish imitation we have developed called the Loeberg #10, has been the best pattern. You can cover more water stripping streamers if presented properly and no doubt hang larger trout!
“MAC” McIntire, from Hermosa Beach, CA accompanied by Jeff Ginter and his son the “Rocket” had a big day while tugging streamers on the Lower “O”. Mac got big fish honors with a nice bow he fooled late in the float. Honorable mention to the “Rocket” for spanking the old guys in the most caught and released category!
Jamie Davenport and fish’n buddy Norman Miers booked a float with us recently with Jamie catch and releasing the biggest rainbow on a Loeberg and a nice brown, which hit a caddis fly during the afternoon hatch. Way to mix it up Jamie!
Mike Casey and Mark Wisch did the “sip, dip and strip” with Mike sticking a nice bow fooled by a Loeberg in the afternoon. The duo landed over 50 trout using this technique while drifting with us recently. Nice!!! Do not use any goat hair in your fly patterns Mikey…Inside joke folks.
You can see these photos and others by visiting our website at www.sierradrifters.com
Our time tested fly patterns are available at the following fine fly shops. Stroud’s Tackle in San Diego, Malibu Fish’n Tackle in Thousand Oaks, The Troutfitter in Mammoth Lakes.
Pleasant Valley Reservoir: Good
The reservoir level is dropping currently and fishing is very good in the inlet area as of this report. Some big holdover rainbows and planted “Alpers” trout have been migrating into the river section adding to the steady action being found by fly fishers using a dry/dropper bead head nymph combo and streamers #6-10 in this section of the reservoir. Float tubers using full sink or heavy sinking tip lines near or around the launch ramp or dam area have also done well with streamer patterns or fly “chains” #8-10 in olive, black or brown with some flash in the patterns.
The water temps are above average for this time of year, hitting the lower 50’s some days and this is getting the browns here to become very aggressive. A good presentation is needed in the river section to fool these rascals as “stink baits”, worms and lures constantly bombard them. A dead drifted dry/dropper will do the trick during an emergence of midges or mayflies in this area. I like an olive streamer pattern fished at the 10-foot level around the launch ramp or towards the inlet this time of year on the west or opposite side of the paved access road of the reservoir.
The Gorge: Good
Find a piece of water that has not been fished within an hour or so and if you do not alert the browns as to your presence, Bang! Fish on. It is perhaps the best time of year to venture into this region. You will find trout eagerly feeding on mayflies and caddis imitations #16-20.
Access is limited here and you will need to hike at least 30 minutes on loose shale with a moderately steep slope to get to the prime locations. The small river is heavily lined with willows, nettle and wild rose, which will instantly compromise the watertight integrity of your expensive Gortex waders. This is an excellent location to get off and have some water to yourself. It will require some effort, but will be worth it after fooling some of the wild browns that inhabit this stretch of the Owens.
Be the fly… Tom Loe
Sierra Drifters Guide Service
Email- [email protected]
www.sierradrifters.com
Phone: 760-935-4250
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