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Eastern Sierras
Capt. Tom Loe
April 19, 2003
Eastern Sierras - Freshwater Fishing Report
2003 Trout Opener Forecast
April 18, 2003
Howdy friends and Sierra Drifters. We hope this 2003 trout opener forecast finds you all healthy and happy.
The general trout season opens on 4-26-03 here in the Eastern Sierra. Once again we have had a mild winter with snow levels currently around the 9000-foot elevation and snow packs at or below normal. This scenario will lay the foundations of a very good initial part of the trout season. A series of late spring storms have brought much needed moisture to this region, but as of yet will not affect any of the fisheries mentioned in this forecast.
The snow level is high for this time of year and has been so for most of the spring season. The lakes near the 9000-foot elevation may have “rotten” or unstable ice. Crowley Lake and Bridgeport Reservoir have been ice-free since early March and should fish fair to good for the opener dependent on the weather.
In our opinion this season will start out and continue to fish much the same as last year. There is more snow at the upper elevations and this may help out the freestone drainages later in the season if we get some cooler weather during the early summer. Look for the tail water fisheries to have increasing water releases beginning soon, with irrigation and power generation commencing immediately this year.
The backcountry regions will open up a tad later than last season due to normal snow packs in the UPPER elevations. Last years dismal snow pack had most passes opening early. Rumor has it the aerial stocking program of these backcountry lakes and streams will be abolished this year due to lack of funding.
Where would I fish on opening day? The East Walker is a good choice for the first week of the season and will provide some big fish on the fly for those who manage to get a choice bend or pool to themselves. Fish this river in the initial part of the season; it may be “iffy” due to poor conditions later in the summer.
The tributaries of Crowley Lake (Upper Owens, Big Springs, McGee Creek, Hilton Creek, Crooked Creek) will have spawning trout for sure. The spawn has been early again and is currently in full swing. The fish will be down streaming by late May. We have not seen a lot of jumbo brooders as of yet, the average sized Kamloops rainbow is running about 14 inches. The river from the Benton Crossing Bridge to the monument will again be closed to ALL fishing until the Saturday before Memorial Day.
Intake Two in the Bishop Creek drainage was dredged out last year and re-planted with a gross amount of DFG and Alpers rainbows. Get a spot early and you will go bendo here.
Hot Creek will be excellent. Expect stadium crowds.
Crowley Lake may have a record amount of anglers on the opener according to sources. The trout’s only hope here is that floating “stink baits” are proven to be weapons of mass destruction!
We will provide ya’ll with a comprehensive report on most of the areas we guide here in the Eastern Sierra after the opener. Best fishes for the up and coming season.
Lower Owens River: Good
The flows have been doing the yo-yo recently and the fishing has mirrored the changes. As I write this report we have 204 cfs. with very good conditions and the fish going bonkers on streamers and nymphs.
Sources inform us that after this weekend the flows will once again be on the rise as water releases and power generation will begin after a short duration of maintenance on the Pleasant Valley Power House.
The baetis hatch has been minimal and the bugs decreasing to a size #20 b.w.o pattern this week. No surface caddis activity to report this week. You will do best by fishing midge and mayfly nymphs #18-22 under an indicator with a small shot or two in the wild trout section. Wading this section has been gravy this week with the decreasing flows. We have done well drift boating during the low flows with streamers in olive #10. The exception to the good catching has been some “breezy” conditions as the cold fronts come and go. I have gone to a heavy sinking tip line of at least 24 feet and 200 grains.
The James Jones Company from El Monte, CA booked an entire week of fly-fishing with us and Trout Fly Guide Services senior guide Kevin Peterson. Special thanks to Sierra Drifters veteran and “top brass” manager for James Jones Corp, Chuck Palmer and associates for their continued patronage. A good time was had by all with many trout being caught and released on both steamers and nymphs. Client Jim Wunschel fooled a nice brown on a “Loeberg” streamer pattern for best fish honors during the morning of his drift. He backed it up with a hog rainbow the very next pool. Way to be the fly Jimbo! Due to gusty winds on occasion some drifts experienced L.O.F.T that hampered the catching….Inside joke folks.
It is not always about monster fish. Check out the expression of pure “glee” on Amy Ransohoff’s face as she lands her first trout on the fly. Dad, Dr. Kurt from Santa Barbara, CA also makes the report with a fat bow he bested later in the day. This is what fly-fishing is all about folks!
You may visit our website at www.sierradrifters.com and see these pictures and others.
Our guide flies can be purchased at the following fine fly shops:
Stroud’s Tackle in San Diego, Malibu Fish’n Tackle in Thousand Oaks, The Troutfitter in Mammoth Lakes and after the opener at the Crowley Lake Fish Camp store. There are links to all these shops at the bottom of the home page on www.sierradrifters.com
Pleasant Valley Reservoir: Fair-good
If the powerhouse is not generating, you will have conditions conducive to good fishing in the river below the generation facility. If they are making KW’S…. may the force be with you. The reservoir level has been high making it tough to fish this area for sometime, but the level has dropped this week and fishing conditions have improved greatly here. A dry/dropper bead head nymph rig will do well in the slower water section near the inlet. Use a moderate sinking tip with an olive or brown streamer pattern #8-12 in the slower, deeper water or in the reservoir proper near the first dogleg turn past the inlet.
The Gorge: Very good
Reports from the outer limits have this area fishing great. Save for a few days that the winds have been gusting in this region the pockets of water you must walk 30 minutes or so to get to have been kicking out eager smaller sized browns that will take mayfly imitations either in nymph or adult stages #16-20.
You isolationists need to explore this area during the opener if you want to avoid the masses!
Be the fly…
Tom Loe
Sierra Drifters Guide Service
Email [email protected]
www.sierradrifters.com
Phone 760-935-4250
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