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Eastern Sierras
Capt. Tom Loe
April 18, 2004
Eastern Sierras - Freshwater Fishing Report
General Trout Season Opener Forecast 2004
April 18, 2004
Howdy friends and Sierra Drifters. May this fish report find you and yours in good health and fine casting form.
The Eastern Sierra general trout season opening day is on April 24th this year. Taking a look back at fishing and weather conditions this time of year over the last 20 or so seasons I think you will find this one to be about average (this is a good thing) in all respects. What promised to be an exceptionally wet winter early eventually fizzled out into what will be a normal to below normal rainfall year depending on where you are in the Sierras. The northern regions received slightly above average rainfall and the further south you traveled the totals decreased.
What does all this gibberish about precipitation amounts have to do with the fishing forecast you ask? Melting snow pack in the upper elevations eventually provide the water that will fill the freestone creeks, alpine lakes and reservoirs that provide us with the habitat for trout. Heavy, wet winters are great for replenishing ground water aquifers, which are the source for spring creeks and filling alpine lakes to capacity. The run off generated by these wet winters gouge out streambeds and wash away silt and debris that is detrimental to spawning habitat.
Typically wet winters make fishing in the spring to mid-summer difficult due to high water flows and prolonged ice-out on the upper lakes. Late summer and fall during these types of winters are excellent because water flows begin to recede with the shorter days, but are not so low as to cause fish kills and poor habitat. Drought years favor early season angling because conditions are optimum up until mid-summer when water flows drop to the point that become detrimental to the snow pack reliant watersheds. Late summer and fall fishing pretty much sucks during these types of seasons and if severe enough can alter the following season’s conditions immensely.
This season is shaping up to be pretty average with regards to run-off. Look for less than ideal conditions in areas that are prone to snow melt during the peak run-off period that is usually from mid-June through July. Stick to the lakes during this period, they are stable and will be ice free with most of them having ideal conditions for trout. Avoid the freestone creeks and spring creeks in this area as they will be high and off colored until the water begins to recede.
The West Walker and San Joaquin Rivers are very prone to run-off and will fish well early and late in the season, with lousy conditions during the peak snowmelt associated with the mid-summer months.
The tail water fisheries like the Lower Owens River and the East Walker River are starting to increase from the low winter time flows. You can bank on these flows to increase dramatically in the next month or so as the “water lords” begin moving the water and generating hydroelectric power.
The early spring conditions on the East Walker look to be better than they have been the past couple of seasons. Fall here will be better also as there is sufficient snow pack to keep the river above critically low water flows that we have experienced the prior two seasons. Early season reports from Nevada indicate a solid season here.
The Lower Owens River has been literally up and down the last couple of weeks due to fluctuating water flows. This trend will continue until fall when flows begin to recede and the air conditioners and sprinklers go off in So-Cal.
Right now flows are at 200 cfs and fishing is good in the wild trout section using midge patterns under a strike indicator. We are continuing to get some nice ones on our streamer patterns, but due to the higher flow rates getting the fly down to the fish using the dip and strip has been difficult at times especially in the lower sections on the river where the river is larger and deeper. Numbers have been consistently lower this season than in years past. The dry fly fishing has been only fair at best. Due to increased power generation the water temperatures have dropped about 10 degrees this week. This has influenced the caddis hatch dramatically and the baetis hatch is minimal with the duns being late generation #20. 2 p.m. is the peak for the bwo’s.
The NZMS (New Zealand Mud Snail) is taking a toll especially in the wild trout section I fear, the entire bottom is covered with the “rat bastards”. With this amount of the critters competing for food that the indigenous aquatic insects eat, it may be having a detrimental affect on the mayfly and caddis fly population. If you fish here and then move locations please bleach or freeze your waders and boots and inspect them for any “clingons” If you can, designate a pair of wading shoes just for this area, the Upper Owens and Hot Creek. Use another pair for waters that have not been infected. Waders are easier to inspect and clean, boots are tough to sanitize. Buy a pair of oversized inexpensive tennis shoes or fake leather work boots and slip these over your stocking foot waders. These work good enough here and you will not have to worry about infecting other waters you may fish in.
To view the pictures in this email…go to www.sierradrifters.com
Steve “I will not be denied” Shaffer from Van Nuys, CA got his destiny fish with us on a recent drift boat trip on the Lower Owens. Nice paint job on this rainbow buddy!
There is a well established drift boat rivalry going between Mike “Mac” McIntire from Hermosa Beach, CA. and his fly fishing partners Jeff “I am the fly” Ginter and his son known only to us mere mortals as “The Rocket”. Jeff and the Rocket took the drift boat crown this spring with several chunky bows that hit our Loebergs. Mac elevated himself from the ashes the following day by catching this beast on a Spruce-a-bu and wading a tough to access section of the Owens. All hail King Mac!
Crowley Lake will be pretty good this season me thinks, as the DFG reports the planting of additional Coleman strain fingerlings last fall. The water levels should parallel normal rainfall seasons which equates to some significant weed beds come summer. Good conditions for stripping perch fry imitations in the channels along the weed lines. We anticipate heavy crowds here the entire month of May as many other lakes will still have ice or are above snowline. The ice has been off the entire lake since late March at Crowley. Put Crowley down if you are planning a trip to the Eastern Sierra this season. I feel this will be the best location to fish in the entire region come this summer.
We have added some new arrows to our quiver this season in regards to the specific midge patterns we use to fool the trout here. Check out our newest flies and our time tested “go to patterns” at the following excellent fly shops: The San Diego Fly Shop in Solana Beach. We are thrilled to have Peter Piconi as our friend and expert in this new location. The Crowley Lake Fish Camp (new manager Lane Garrett will show you all the hot bugs, and he is the best source for up to date information on Crowley Lake). The Troutfitter in Mammoth Lakes (by far and away the best fly shop in the entire Eastern Sierra, most of the help are all pro guides and you will not get bum dope here). Stroud’s Tackle in San Diego (ask Bill “the osprey” Stroud what he thinks about the browns on Crowley!), and Malibu Fish’n Tackle in Thousand Oaks. Owner, Wayne Caywood is arguably the most versatile and knowledgeable fisherman you will ever meet. There are links to all locations at www.sierradrifters.com
Bridgeport Reservoir is a great option for those wishing to avoid the ridiculous crowds expected at Crowley for the opening time frame. The lake is full and should be fishing well near the channel of the East Walker. The largest brown during opening week will come from this lake I predict, with Lower Twin Lake a close second.
Hot Creek is running at ideal flows and has very good water clarity. It will be excellent as usual. Midges and small mayflies are solid selections here. Try to keep wading at a minimum here please. The NZMS is here and by staying out of the water whenever possible you can prevent further spreading of this dreaded organism which is beginning to affect several other fisheries in the Eastern Sierra adversely.
The tributaries to Crowley are always a good choice in the infancy stages of the season as the spring spawning Kamloops rainbows make their migration up from the lake in huge numbers. The record breaking warm temperatures in early March got the fish working upstream significantly by the ice out and my observations make the fish to be peaking or dropping in numbers by this week. You will have good opportunities to hit these fish which seem to be smaller than normal (about 14 inches on average) early. Lower McGee near the confluence of Convict Creek, Hilton, Big Springs and of course the Upper Owens will have the lion’s share of the silver bullets. The “gauntlet” section (The Benton Crossing Bridge downstream to the fishing monument) of the Upper Owens River is closed to ALL fishers until 5-29-04. San Juan worms, roe patterns and streamers with some red in them are solid picks for these waters.
Rock Creek Lake will be frozen, but the creek will have good numbers of planted fish in the lower sections. The water will be cold so these fish may be more lethargic. Our Drifters crystal tiger and zebra midges work well here at all times. The flows are not high yet and clarity is good. A dry/dropper combo will work in most areas.
The June Lake Loop and Rush Creek, Convict Lake and Twin Lakes Bridgeport will have ice free water and although it will be cold these regions should offer some good opportunities for tubers wishing to escape the opening day crowds, (weather permitting). Use discretion if the weather looks bad. A spill in 40 degree water can be fatal this time of year. I suggest you use full sinking lines and steamer patterns like our Spruce-a-bu, Drifters Crystal Leech or Loeberg. Get those flies down in the alpine lakes that are ice free to the 15- foot level for best results.
Pleasant Valley Reservoir has been fair to good for tubers near the launch ramp and towards the dam since power is being generated during the daytime recently. Look for this condition to increase soon, especially if the weather turns warm again in So-Cal. Use full or moderate type sinking lines and get your streamers down 10-feet here. Our Punk Perch #10-14 rocks the medium browns in this location. Tandem fly rigs appear to out fish single presentations here for the most part. Tie your dropper fly back at least 18 inches.
The Gorge is open year round and will be a haven to those willing to burn the calories necessary to get into the more productive sections of this wild brown trout fishery. Fishing remains very good in the pit with a dry/dropper bead head still konking em’.
The Bishop Creek will be a great area for the first week or so as it is heavily planted with DFG trout. Flows are good here as of this report but can change at any time if the Edison facility decides it needs to make power.
Drifters crystal tiger and zebra midges work well for the small wild browns as well as the hatchery fish. I like #16 patterns fished under a #14 Stimulator about 3 feet.
The lakes above 9000 feet will have rotten ice or will still be frozen for much of May unless we get a record breaking heat wave. These areas include the Mammoth Lakes Basin, South Lake region, Rock Creek Lake and all of the back country creeks and lakes. Barring a series of late winter storms we are told Tioga and Sonora passes will open by Memorial Day weekend.
The road leading down into the Middle fork of the San Joaquin will not be open until mid-June. Expect the San Joaquin to have very high water this season when the run-off starts around late June. It should begin to recede around late July.
I expect this to be a good year overall in the Eastern Sierra. You may notice a drop-off in planted fish in different locations as the state struggles with its budget crisis, but we are told it should be pretty much business as usual THIS season. There are dark clouds looming on the horizon in regards to the financial fate of the Hot Creek and Mt.Whitney hatcheries. The brown and Lahontan Cutthroat programs on Crowley Lake are history at this time. Crowley once held the California state record brown and the cutthroat fishing has been excellent with the fish getting larger every season. This should be reason enough for you to be concerned. Please take the time to read the DFG attachment we have placed as a button on our website. www.sierradrifters.com
The NZMS may or may not become a time bomb. Not enough is known yet as to how this organism will affect each individual fishery it invades. We as fly fishers spend more time wading than other types of anglers and have the potential of spreading this invader from the land of kiwis to other fisheries. Make the effort to sanitize your wading gear after fishing in infected waters.
Quality wild trout fisheries are few and far between as you all know. The NZMS has the potential to destroy the food supply for the aquatic insects the wild fish depend on. It could in a worst case scenario cause severe decreases in wild trout populations, stunting and a catastrophic decrease in indigenous aquatic insects which are the base of the food chain for many species, not only trout. There is no quick remedy and we must make the effort to minimize its contamination of other fisheries until we understand the impact it will have on this and other areas. Click on this link for more information on the NZMS
http://www.flyline.com/NZ_mudsnail.htm
We at Sierra Drifters wish you all best fishes this season and please say hi if we cross paths on the water.
Be the fly…Tom Loe
Sierra Drifters Guide Service
Email [email protected]
www.sierradrifters.com
Phone 760-935-4250
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