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Eastern Sierras
Capt. Tom Loe
July 14, 2005
Eastern Sierras - Freshwater Fishing Report
July Moon Fish Report 2005
July 13, 2005
Howdy friends and Sierra Drifters. Best fishes to all for this July moon fish report from the Eastern High Sierra.
Summer has finally arrived here in the Eastern Sierra and with the warm to hot air temperatures the snow pack is melting in a big way. The freestone creeks and tailwaters are running very high with some at dangerous and unfishable levels. Exercise caution when wading above your knees in rivers like the San Joaquin, West Walker, East Walker, Rush Creek and Lee Vining Creek.
GUIDE TIP: If you do lose your balance while wading in fast moving water; immediately flip over on your back and do your best to get your feet pointing downstream and your head up. Keep your arms out wide and use a backstroke to gain control. You should have about a minute of good floatation provided by the air trapped in your waders. Try to work yourself across and downstream at an angle to slower water and the easiest and safest bank; do not waste a lot of energy in fast water attempting to swim upstream. By all means wear a tightly cinched wading belt especially if you are wearing Gortex or breathable type waders. Water will fill these type waders and not drain out making it virtually impossible to move or swim.
I suggest you practice your Brad Pitt “River runs through it” fish chase in a calm area or swimming pool for your first couple of times.
Look for the runoff to begin receding by August and the conditions should be excellent by Labor Day.
The Cogdill Inland Fisheries Bill (AB 7) has passed another hurdle by making it through the Senate uncontested. It is looking good for the continuation of the hatcheries fiscal budget and wild trout funding by mandating one third of fishing license revenue to these sections of the DFG.
Click these links for DFG news and how to help out the Hot Creek Hatchery Foundation.
http://www.sierradrifters.com
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/
www.FriendsofCaliforniaHatcheries.org
Crowley Lake: Pretty much sucks for fly fishing…
Let us expound on what’s up with the premier fly fishery in this region.
The near record amount of water dumped by fertile winter storms that seemingly never ended this season have presented problems for the people who move water (LADWP) The lake was lowered immensely this spring prior to the runoff by increasing the outlet flows on the Lower Owens River. This messed up the fishing on the “O” in late March and April as you recall. This untimely lowering of the lake level killed off tremendous amounts of aquatic insects like midges, which live in the mud in the shallow edges of the lake. They never had a chance to hatch as the lake was lowered so early on in the cycle. The creeks located further south in the water shed, Big Pine, Rock, Independence, Bishop, etc… began to swell with the melting snow. The outlet flows on the Lower Owens at Pleasant Valley are reduced greatly at that time. The L.A. aqueduct can only accommodate so much water so Crowley begins to fill quickly. The rising water level covers the now lifeless bottom as one will see few insects hatching currently. The trout must feed and they migrate to deeper water where there is plenty of daphnia (fresh water fleas) and leeches present. Add the heavy weed beds out to almost 20 feet and this spells disaster for fly fishers lately. The lake is currently turning over (later than normal) to boot, this translates to the water temperatures being warmer in the surface levels than down in the 12-15 foot range. Thick algae mats cover the entire surface and the large “rafts” of the green goo migrate with the winds on a daily basis depending on direction.
Alas grasshoppers, do not despair! Things will improve in the not too distant future. The water level will drop this is certain, as L.A. SUCKS the water out for power and lawns and nature’s cycle will once again return to the promised land.
You streamer tuggers should be licking your chops for sure. The first wave of Sacramento Perch fry will be showing up along the weed lines in deep water soon and this larger source of protein will be greedily received by the larger trout that have been snacking on the daphnia all summer.
The lack of pressure on the lake will also add to a promising fall season, one which is still at this point protected by special angling regulations.
Keep the faith all ye Crowley fly rodders, better times are sure to come.
Bridgeport Reservoir: Very Good
Ok, here it is. The second fish report back to back with a favorable report from this “sleeping giant”. Unlike its big brother Crowley this lake has been full all spring and the aquatic insects here are flourishing. Check out the pics on our website by clicking on www.sierradrifters.com of the huge chironomid hatch and callibaetis mayflies that are dependably hatching on a daily basis. This place is for real folks; get up here if you are Jones-ing for a stillwater lip ripping session!
Stillwater nymphing in the late mornings using our #18-20 Gillies and Drifters Crystal Emergers will get you plenty of grabs in Buckeye Bay near the inlet. Tigers and Zebras #16-18 as the lower bug for the off hatch periods. The fish are holding in 6-13 feet along the weed lines that are not difficult to fish around. The damsel fly migration is also going ballistic and you tubers making the effort to get into the flats around the creek mouth will be rewarded with some “super sonic” grabs and runs from the 12-23 inch rainbows we have caught and released the last couple of weeks. Jeffery Wenger at the Marina will provide or arrange a shuttle for a minimal fee. The kick out to Buckeye is a long one and you will become a “downwing or spinner” by the time you get there. Get a boat or use this shuttle if you are tubing for sure.
The stillwater nymphing bite is better in the afternoon when the breeze gets the Drifters “Sunjicators” bouncing but you will still find enough action in the morning to get you out early. There will be some slow periods from time to time but hang in there- the bite picks up everyday late morning.
There are also some larger fish showing up near the Walker inlet, but not the numbers found in Buckeye. Locate the channel and fish the edges of the weed lines. The lake is clear with very little algae in the south end, but it is beginning to bloom on the north end and off Rainbow Pt.
Talk about a great honeymoon! Newlyweds Denny and Jennifer Smithgall from Trabuco Canyon spent a day with us and friends Steve and Delia Pyle on the “Bridge” and the wedding party got into plenty of eager rainbows including a 20” plus hook jawed rainbow that walked them down the isle (boat rail) before coming to the net for a photo.
Bobby Beluomini and his darlin’ Joanne from Minden, NV had a great day stillwater nymphing with us on Bridgeport recently with Bobby getting the “hog-O-the-day” award on a #20 gillie during the hatch. Fun time kids, thanks.
Sierra Drifters newest guide sensation “Fill” Therrien is shown making it happen with hot shot junior fly fisher Shane Skelton from Shadow Hills, CA shown going full bendo on a nice rainbow the other day. The entire fleet of big white fish magnets are all on Bridgeport these days, come on up and say hi.
Check out all the pics by clicking on www.sierradrifters.com
We are pleased to announce the addition of the Bridgeport Lake Marina as a new location to purchase our time tested guide flies and merchandise. Stop by the marina and talk to the super friendly staff here headed by “fearless leader” Jeffery Wenger. You can get the accurate scoop on the lake and East Walker by speaking with the folks here. Click on http://www.bridgeportreservoir.com for their contact numbers.
If you need a place to stay there are some excellent choices and some real nice folk’s to help you out here. Click on one of these links for info. All of these businesses are involved in the fisheries enhancement program for the lake and the EW.
www.bigmeadowlodge.com
www.calparadise.com
The air temps on the lake are warmer than Crowley as it is situated at a lower elevation (6480’). Bring plenty of fluids and warm weather clothes. Jeeesh, I never thought I would say this after the winter we had! Check this place out; we are having a blast here.
East Walker River: High
Flows are between 600-700cfs. Tough to koo-koo wading at these releases. Hit the big slow pools if you must fish here. Streamers on a moderate sink tip and nymphing with a semi-truck tire rim for weight will get you down.
Lower Owens River: Good
The catching has been good in the wild trout section with the release rates being unseasonably low-250cfs this week. This will change in the near future and the flows will be up well into fall I dare say. There is a noticeable lack of caddis here and this may be attributed to the high populations of NZMS. The midges and smaller mayflies are still present and these will be your go to patterns. The weather is very hot in the afternoons here and you can plan on several offensive assaults from the blood suckers so put the deet on thick if you are wet wading.
The drift boat sections are not fairing as well as they are for the most part downstream of numerous springs and the confluence of the Bishop Creek which is flowing high. Late fall will be the time to begin the “dip and strip” here.
Upper Owens River: Fair
There are still a few lake holdovers hanging around in the Long Years section which has better conditions and much less water than the area below the Benton Crossing Bridge and the confluence of Hot Creek. Nymphing dry/dropper style here with Crystal Olive Zebra’s #18-20 below a stimulator as the indicator is a solid rig here. You will find no lack of weed as the flows are high in both areas making clean presentations difficult. The section downstream of the bridge is well planted with DFG and Alpers fish and reports are good from the streamer fishers here. Loebergs and Spruce-a-bus will get em’.
Hot Creek: Fair-good
The creek is running high as the flows from Mammoth Creek are adding a lot of water these days. Clarity is not bad however and I had a local “high line” angler and turbo tube troller (Two Bug Doug) show me a self portrait of a 23 inch rainbow he took while nymphing. The thing was a beast and he took several other large fish that day during the high flows. The fish counts are down here for everybody, but you can expect better quality for sure this season.
Make certain you have some sort of attractor pattern as the upper fly on a tandem rig. San Juan Worms, flashback hares ears or PT’s, stick to crystal zebras as the lower #18-22. There are some stone flies around so if you have the opportunity to use a dry/dropper rig keep this in mind.
The Alpine Lakes-June Lake Loop and Mammoth Lakes Basin, Lundy, Convict, Virginia Lakes, South Lake and Bishop Creek:
Good
These areas are sanctuary from the high water and heat of summer. Have a full or heavy sinking line to get those Drifters Crystal Leeches, Loebergs and Spruce-a-bu’s down to 10-15 feet. The planting has been heavy this year with both DFG and Alpers rainbows so you should have no problem getting into some nice hatchery fish while tubing near the inlets. Bishop Creek is high but clear and well planted. Intake 2 is kicking out mixed stockers of Alpers and DFG’s. I hear North Lake is good for tubers trolling buggers and leeches with some flash down around 10 feet. The weather has been better this week here.
Rock Creek: Very Good
Flows are way high for this area but the water is clear and you will find plenty of eager wild and DFG fish near the campgrounds. Check out the ponds below the lake after a short hike or hit Tuff campground east of Tom’s Place Resort for a good time with the stockers and an occasional wild brown or brookie. Drifters Crystal Tigers whack em’ in this area #16-18. Use the copper heads in the sun, switch to the dark bead heads in the shadows and lower light periods.
The lake continues to be very good for stockers around the inlet and cove south of the outlet. We do well with Crystal Leeches and Loebergs here #10-12 used with a full or heavy sinking tip line.
West Walker: Bring a white water raft or kayak. Leave the fly rod behind for a while.
San Joaquin: Very High
Be cautious when wading. This place is ripping. The campgrounds will be planted this season by the DFG we are told so this may spare some wild fish for sure. It will be a while before the flows subside and make wading possible in other than the flats.
The hot ticket down here is tubing Sotcher and Starkweather Lakes. The Alpers truck has dumped some fatties here as well as a double shot of DFG rainbows. Most streamer patterns will take these fish with a moderate full sinking or sinking tip line. Keep moving until you locate the “herd” These fish have a tendency to pod up and school together. Hatchery fish have “softer mouths” try to strip set when you get a grab by pulling your line until you load the rod. Keep your tip slightly under the water for better feel to the fly.
You can pick up our guide flies at the following stand out locations: The Bridgeport Lake Marina in Bridgeport, The Crowley Lake Fish Camp and the Crowley Lake General Store and Deli in Crowley, The Troutfitter/Trout Fly in Mammoth Lakes, Malibu Fish’N Tackle in Thousand Oaks, The San Diego Fly Shop and Stroud’s Tackle in San Diego. There are links to these locations at www.sierradrifters.com
Be the fly…Tom Loe
Sierra Drifters Guide Service
760-935-4250
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