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Eastern Sierras
Capt. Tom Loe
July 28, 2003
Eastern Sierras - Freshwater Fishing Report
Monsoon Fish Report July 2003
July 27, 2003
Howdy friends and Sierra Drifters. Best fishes to all of you for this “monsoon” fish report from the Eastern Sierra.
We have been in the midst of a monsoon type weather pattern that is bringing copious amounts of afternoon and evening moisture here along the eastern slopes and valleys of the Sierra Nevada’s. Some of the thunderstorms have been severe and have caused minor flooding to some of the freestone creeks. You may find high off colored water in the mornings and with it tougher conditions for fly-fishing. You need to be cautious especially in open areas during these T-storms. Do not camp along creek beds or open meadows.
The probability of T-storms is decreasing this week according to the National Weather Service.
The fishing has been great in many regions not directly affected by the T-storms. The high clouds and warm morning air temperatures have made ideal conditions for aquatic insect hatches and the trout less reluctant to seek cover as the sun climbs higher in the sky.
Crowley Lake: Good-EPIC!!!
It has been a long time in coming, but we finally had several days on Crowley last week that I would classify as Epic. The algae condition that plagues this lake has abated and the water clarity is very good in all areas of the reservoir. The lake level is dropping steadily and the weed lines are very defined and beginning to protrude above the surface in McGee Bay and the North Arm of the lake. This makes identifying the channels easier. The trout concentrate along the weed lines as they seek protection and food. The perch fry and damselflies hide along the weed beds and the trout use the channels as passageways to ambush their prey. Find a defined weed line and position yourself to fish along its edge, you will get grabs!
The chironomid hatch remains strong this week, with emergences peaking in the morning. The afternoons have been slower, this mainly attributed to the severity of the T-storms in this region.
Break out those perch fry imitations sizes 10-14 right now if you wish to troll or strip with a sinking line. There is also a fair damselfly nymph migration continuing, but not as prolific as in the last several weeks. We have several killer patterns we use that imitate perch fry. The “Loeberg” and the “punk perch” are 2 excellent choices if you wish to tug streamers on Crowley.
Stick to emerging type chironomid patterns in the mornings if you are planning a trip soon. Our gray gilled chironomids, known as “gillies” locally and the copper and black emergers size 18-20 have been hot in the mornings for stillwater nymphing. Crystal tiger and zebra midges have been best in the late mornings and afternoons #16-20. Keep the flies close to the bottom in the afternoons if it is not cloudy. We are metering the highest concentrations of trout in 11-14 feet of water.
McGee Bay has been on fire since last week, the run-off affected fishing for a day or so as the muddy water displaced the trout. We also found fish along Green Banks and Leighton Springs.
Numbers have been excellent this week, but more impressive are the amount of 18-inch plus fish being caught and released by those in the right place, at the right time, with the right pattern. Things are looking up for a solid mid-summer bite after the regular season ends mercifully on 7-31-03. No more bait, no more barbed hooks and a reduced 2 fish limit over 18 inches IN POSSESSION!!!
The family trio of Richard Rathcke, son Rich and Daughter Carolyn Steinbacher hit a magical day in McGee Bay as the winds were calm, the clouds solid all day and the trout on a feeding rampage! Far too many 18-inch plus fish to show pictures of, but almost a dozen big browns fell to the mighty midges as did some large cutthroats and rainbows. The group accomplished a rare “triple” of 18 inch and over trout with all the fish released to fight again. We had a blast with well over 100 trout hooked up and over 60 released at the net. Fun times kids, good job!
You may see pictures of these fish and others by visiting our website at http://www.sierradrifters.com
San Joaquin River: Very good-excellent
Ideal water flows and warm temperatures have the Joaquin cranking out big numbers of smaller sized fish with a “troutzilla” or two here and there. The dry fly action here is very dependable on almost any imitation #14-20 presented with a drag free drift. Yellow-bodied stimulators are my favorite fished in conjunction with a #16 crystal tiger midge or a mayfly pattern like an Adams.
The wading is gravy. With the exception of thunderstorm run-off the river is clear and easy to navigate. It is warm enough to “wet wade” but the mosquitoes are a factor so I use breathable type waders with light nylon shorts to stay comfortable.
Every once in a while we get a surprise on the middle fork of the San Joaquin and Kurt Ransohoff was the recipient. Check out this hog of a rainbow that fell to the Drifters crystal tiger midge after a well-executed drift by Kurt.
Lower Owens River: Fair
Pretty warm down in the Owens Valley this time of year and the trout are not real eager during the majority of the daylight hours. Fish the “gray” light periods of the day here for best results and comfort.
Flows are high, around 450 cfs. but clarity is not real bad in the wild trout section. Avoid the lower sections of the river it has been very slow. Nymphing with caddis larva and midge patterns are always a good choice here. You will need a couple of bb-sized shots on the average pool to get your bugs down to the trout. There is a fair amount of surface activity late in the day with caddis flies being the bug de jour. #18 dark bodied elk hairs are a solid choice on the surface.
Upper Owens River: Fair-good
There is still a fair amount of free drifting weed causing presentation problems below the confluence of Hot Creek down to the inlet at Crowley. The calm evening and morning conditions are making for significant hatches of caddis and PMD’s, #16-20. The wild browns are active during these time frames in all the sections of public water here.
You can do a number on the trout around the Benton Crossing Bridge area with streamers during periods of time in which there is not a lot of weed drifting down to foul your fly. Use our “dip and strip” method, fishing the undercuts and large pools from the head, or top of the run.
East Walker River: Slow
Small fish here and some pretty “yucky” water coming from the reservoir are making for some tough conditions for fly fishers. Flows continue to be low for this time of year, about 140 cfs. Nice to wade in but so is a wading pool. You may find the fishing to be about the same in both I am sorry to say.
Bridgeport Reservoir: Slow
Fly fishers struggle here due to the thick weeds and algae in the lake with limited open areas to fish this time of year. We are looking forward to a potentially good fall here when more open water becomes available. The lake level is the highest it has been in several years as of now. The fish are in this lake, just tough to get to with a fly rod.
West Walker River: Very good
This area is fishing great with the exception being the aftermath of a significant T-storm. Flows are perfect and you will find plenty of eager wild and hatchery trout around the campgrounds and Pikel Meadow sections. A hopper and a dropper combo are killer here and both the wild and hatchery fish are pushovers for crystal tiger midges #16.
If it has been raining heavily the afternoon prior to your fishing here I suggest you call one of the local shops in this area to get a condition report prior to making the drive. This river is a true freestone creek that floods and gets off-colored quickly.
Rock Creek area: Good
Crowds have been heavy here and the T-storms are serious deterrents to tubing the lake, but if you can get near the inlet and outlet areas trolling olive streamers #10-12 down to at least 15 feet, you will get plenty of grabs.
The creek has been fishing well for both planted and smaller sized browns. Dry/dry, or dry/dropper bead head nymph rigs work well here as in many areas of the Eastern Sierra.
The creek has not been severely affected by the recent storms.
Mammoth Lakes Basin: Fair-good
The best reports are coming from Upper Twin, just below the falls for fly-casters using streamers and #20 zebra midges fished under indicators or as trail flies from the streamer. Once again the afternoon T-storms have put the kybosh on some fine fishing, as this is the prime time for fishing this area. The other lakes are best fished with full sinking lines and streamers. Get the flies down to the 15-foot level this time of year if you are tubing. We have a crystal leech pattern that spanks hatchery and Alpers trout, #10.
June Lake Loop: Fair-good
Gull has had some consistent action for stillwater nymphers using crystal zebras and tiger midges in the late afternoons and early mornings. Silver has been best for trolling streamers with a full or heavy sinking tip line.
Rush Creek has heavy traffic this time of year but will still provide some good action for the wild browns on the surface during the evening hatches. Have some #18 parachute Adams or 18 olive bodied elk caddis in your fly box for here.
Hot Creek: Fair-good
Action has slowed a tad as the water levels are dropping and the weeds are making longer drifts more difficult. It is the time of year also when fishing pressure is taking its toll on the trout and they become more selective on the imitations and conditions they decide to feed on. Use smaller nymphs and dries here for best results #20-24. Patterns larger than 18’s most of the time will get few looks. The exception being surface imitations like stimulators and hopper patterns which work well this time of year. 6X and 7X tippets are a must this time of year and a long leader of 10 or more feet will out fish its shorter counterpart.
Crowds have been lighter than normal for some reason this season and you have a good chance of fishing several untouched stretches during mid-week days. Weekends are still cozy.
The following fine fly shops are selling our guide flies:
The Trout Fly and The Troutfitter in Mammoth Lakes, Stroud’s Tackle in San Diego, Malibu Fish’n Tackle in Thousand Oaks, and the Crowley Lake Fish Camp. There are links to all shops at www.sierradrifters.com
Be the fly…Tom Loe, Sierra Drifters Guide Service
Email [email protected]
www.sierradrifters.com
Phone 760-935-4250
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