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Eastern Sierras
Capt. Tom Loe
August 1, 2005
Eastern Sierras - Freshwater Fishing Report
Fish-Mas 2005 Fish Report
July 31, 2005
Howdy friends and Sierra Drifters. Best fishes to all for this Fishmas 2005 report from the Eastern High Sierra. What is Fishmas you ask? It is a jolly old time of year when the trout stack up like cords of wood in McGee Bay on Crowley Lake and bite the flies into pieces, the weather is absolutely divine and bait fishing is NO LONGER allowed as of August first (Fishmas day). Finished, done, kaput, out of here. Yippee!!!
The California DFG regs are posted at http://www.dfg.ca.gov
More good news for fly fishers at Crowley. The management has purchased the Tube Tenders pontoon boat which is rigged up to transport your tubes to hard to reach locations on the lake. Manager and licensed Captain Lane Garrett will shuttle you out. In addition to the pontoon shuttle boat the Fish Camp purchased 10 brand new flat bottom boats that can easily accommodate three fly fishers. These are heavy duty rigs, complete with casting decks and 4 stroke engines on them. Not quite as nice as our “fish magnet” guide boats but a super alternative to kicking out in the weeds to McGee Bay.
This seasons Crowley Fish Camp group are by far and away the most fly fish friendly employees the lake has ever seen. Some of the shop folks are guides, all are avid fly fishers and will be happy to set you up with the hot rigs for both stillwater and streamer fishing. We of course sell our time tested guide flies and merchandise here and they have all the basics needed for a quality day on the finest stillwater fishery the Eastern Sierra has to offer. Their website is www.crowleylakefishcamp.com and phone number 760-935-4301.
Crowley is red hot right now and we believe it will be a fantastic remainder of the season. Get your caboose up here!
The overall fly fishing picture continues to improve here in the Eastern Sierra with many creeks having high but reducing and very fishable flows. The tailwaters continue to be above average but are not raging at this time.
As forecast the late summer and fall seasons here are going to be excellent. Book your trips ASAP as the word is out. Have plenty of sunscreen, insect repellant and polarized sunglasses. I suggest a week or two at the gym prior to visiting Crowley. Work on your rod arm muscles, you will need it!
Thunderstorms are in the forecast most days this time of year and we are having an above average year for the rascals. The upper elevations are more prone to severe weather but the high valleys have not been spared from their wrath. The weather can change quickly and with little warning. Avoid being caught on open water or open meadows. Get into the thick trees or back to the marinas BEFORE the cells arrive.
Crowley: Epic-very good
Still water nymphing has been awesome this week and we have had some days where the grabs are coming less than a minute apart at times. Do not leave your rod unattended with flies in the water, they are so thick at times in McGee Bay we have had to dive to save rods from getting pulled over while netting fish or taking pictures.
It has been very crowded in McGee this week due to the incredible catching and this being the final days of the “worm.” Conditions on the lake are excellent with water clarity being very good all over. Thick weed lines can be found everywhere out to the 20 foot depth so make sure you scout out the area in front of your cast before setting anchor.
The perch fry are running ¼ to ¾ inch in length and are showing up in throat pumps. The damsel fly migration is peaking around noon and the trout are going bonkers on them. Tubers are having a tough time trolling imitations for these trout snacks because of the number of boats anchored in and along the prime areas. I suggest you stick to the deeper weed lines out around 20 feet if you want grabs on streamer patterns. Use our Punk Perch #12-14, or Loebergs while fishing the 8-12 foot region of the water column.
Gillies rule during the emergence #18-20, Drifters Crystal Emerger’s #18-20- tigers and zebra’s #16-18 as the lower flies. Money baby. Keep them a foot off the bottom with a Sunjicator and you WILL get grabs.
Fifty fish days are common right now, but the T-storms may mess up your day after noon as they are forecast to be around throughout next weekend.
Little Hilton and Whiskey Bays are also kicking out fish in the mornings and late afternoons, but the bite fizzles out mid-day here. North arm has been slow for stillwater fly fishers but there have been some decent scores from streamer tuggers in the deeper water off north landing.
The list is long for picture fish taken on Crowley as of late. Please check out the standout fish these lucky folks caught and released while on guided trips with us recently.
Mike Shade and friends from Brea, CA booked Sierra Drifters ace Crowley guide Mickey Baron and had an epic day with lots of big rainbows while stillwater nymphing in McGee Bay. High fives all around to you guys!
Mel Abert from Manhattan Beach, CA is a long time Sierra Drifter and gifted fly fisher. He always seems to get the “money fish”. Mac-Man see it and weep!
First time fly fisher and “X” worm drowner Chris Hoffman from Palmdale, CA got into plenty of nice rainbows with us in McGee Bay while stillwater nymphing. Way to put the wood to em Chris! She is a candidate for rookie fly fisher of the year award.
Bill Amans from Lakewood, CA is back in the report again. After spanking the fish on Bridgeport Reservoir the week before Bill got this awesome brown on Crowley and a drenching from an afternoon T-storm! Nice shooting Willy even without “Big Red” (inside joke).
You may get a look at these lucky folks and their gorgeous fish by visiting our website fish report at http://www.sierradrifters.com
Bridgeport Reservoir: Very good
You can escape the crowds on Crowley and get more open water and some great stillwater and streamer fishing here. The awakened sleeping giant is continuing to provide very good fly fishing opportunities especially in the late afternoons in Buckeye Bay. Conditions continue to be great here near the inlet areas and you will find less competition for sure if you bring a fly rod and stillwater or streamer gear along. Our chironomid patterns like the Gillies #18-20, Tigers and Zebras #16-18 are a sure bet while setting up near a weed line or in the creek channel. Streamer tuggers have more room to move here than Crowley and a Loeberg #10, Punk Perch #10-12, or Drifters Crystal Leech will get you “bendo” using a medium sinking tip line in Buckeye Bay. This lake is very much like Crowley and has an identical aquatic insect base with perhaps more callibaetis mayflies. The damsel fly migration is awesome during the late mornings and this is the pinnacle of steamer fishing in my opinion as the grabs are off the charts.
The Bridgeport Lake Marina carries all the Drifters fly patterns you will need to fish the lake. The fly fish friendly and worldly staff will be happy to shuttle your tubes out and set you up with the hot rigs. Just say Baaahhh, when you see Jeffery at the shop. 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
East Walker River: Fair
The flows are almost double of average for this time of year and are currently over 400cfs. Tough levels for crossing and wading. The water temps are also very high so please take extra care when releasing and reviving your fish as they will be under a lot of stress at these temps. Nymphing with a couple of bb shot will get you down to the larger fish in the softer pools. Use nymph patterns with flashbacks or crystal tails-yup we make them. Our Tiger and Zebra Midges or Gillies #16-22 are a sure thing here. Late afternoons can provide some dry fly opportunities using caddis dries in the transition water and big bends. Wait for the shadows to cover the river for this.
West Walker River: Improving
Clarity is much better here this week but this freestone drainage is still running very high and difficult to fly fish in the canyon section. Pikel Meadows by the Marine base is your best bet for fly fishing as there is plenty of slower water and oxbows to fish during the high water. You will also find several species of trout in and around the riffle sections and pocket water. Your takes will be quick and aggressive if presented correctly. Be ready for an instant take. Have some stonefly and caddis imitations for a dry/dropper rig. Tiger and Zebra Midges as well as flashback PT’s and hares ear patterns will be your bugs for nymphing.
Lower Owens River: Good
You need to hit the morning hatch of mayflies and be off the water and sipping a cold one by say…eleven. It has been wicked hot down here in the afternoons. Be back for the late afternoon caddis snap when the sun gets over the crest. The flows are still holding around 360cfs and although this is high for the river it is not horrible and the fish have had ample time to adjust to this level. This is in the wild trout section just below the dam. The lower sections are much higher in levels and are not fishing well. Have your bloodsucker shields up before you get out of the car, you will need it. There is a link to the DWP water flows at www.sierradrifters.com
San Joaquin River/ Sotcher Lake: Good
The hot weather earlier this month melted off the snow pack rapidly and conditions have improved greatly here this week. The river is high but totally fishable and the DFG has planted the campgrounds this season so you will find better overall fishing this season in this area. You will find a plethora of aquatic insects that thrive here and this is a wonderful spot to take smaller sized wild fish on a dry this time of year. Pocket waters and transition strips are key to your success. Keep an eye on the T-storm activity. This area is prone to rapid rises in water flows during a dump. Bring along plenty of bug spray or your blood type if you forget!
Sotcher Lake has a solid damsel fly population and the holdover fish will eagerly grab a Damsel Nymph or Punk Perch imitation #12-14 fished with a medium sink tip line from a tube. Fish along the tulle beds and use a fast strip with lots of jerks and short pauses. Keep your fly moving. This is a great place to spend a warm summer afternoon tubing. You will see plenty of folks on the banks but will have ample open water to work your streamers here. Check out the pictures of both these areas on the web at http://www.sierradrifters.com
There is a mandatory shuttle requirement 7am-5pm and always a $7 per person entry fee in to this area. You can drive your own vehicle if it is before or after the above hours.
Hot Creek: Good
The creek is at a nice level right now. Fish counts are down this year but the ones you get into are larger for sure this season. Morning mayflies and afternoon caddis, nothing new here. The weed beds are still below the surface making longer drifts possible. Water clarity is excellent and if you can get a juicy section during a cloudy afternoon, yah man! Pressure is heavy during the mornings and weekends. Try a sundowner here for a change if the wind is light.
June Lake Loop: Very Good
Silver has been hot in the mornings and late afternoons. Loebergs and Spruce-a-bus have fooled plenty of fish using a full or heavy sinking tip line. The T-storms have wrecked a few days this week but ride them out on the banks. The barometer rise after the cell passes is always a great time to be on the water especially if the clouds are masking the sun. Rush Creek continues to be high but tubing the channel above Grant has been on lately.
Rock Creek area: Fair
Fishing has slowed here a little, lots of pressure. I still prefer the creek immediately below the lake. The campground areas are well planted and if you get into a larger pool or slow section should have no problem getting hookups while nymphing. The dry dropper rig is deadly here using our Olive Crystal Zebra. Tubers fishing the inlet are doing well if they do not get hit by a chunk of lead and a gob of stink bait. Give the shore fishers some room while trolling the drop-offs in a tube. Spruce-a-bus, Crystal Leeches, Loebergs, MONEY!
Virginia Lakes: Good
Stillwater nymphing or trolling a streamer pattern from a tube, you will get into fish. The weather has played a factor at times here so keep abreast of the forecast in the afternoons. Twin tigers fished below an indicator have worked well for several groups recently near the drop-offs. Hang the bugs 7-10 feet. Some nice Alpers fish are being fooled on streamers fished with a full or heavy sinking tip line at the 10-15 foot depth.
Mammoth Lakes Basin: Good
Heavy plantings weekly help keep the “catching” good in this area. You will find a lot of shore pressure in all the basin lakes as this is a pleasant and popular spot to fish during the warm summer days. Hop into your tube and get those sinking lines down to the 10-15 foot level with a Spruce-a-bu or Loeberg. Short aggressive strips while trolling in your tube will fool a big Alpers or DFG trophy trout in one of the basin lakes. I like to fish the “stumps” in Mary, and the inlet at Mamie.
Kirman Lake: Fair
Had a report of just fair fishing up here with several good sized brookies in a half day of fly fishing. Conditions are good for this time of year and I expect this place to be very good this fall for the spawn. The brook trout up here are very chunky and resemble a football with a tail! A local biologist tells us these fish die from clogged arteries and obesity due to the rich concentration of scuds. Tubes are necessary to hit the best areas here adjacent to the thick tulle stands, and you can get some fine brookies and a very large cutthroat from time to time. Scud patterns are best for stillwater nymphing #14-18. Have some damsel fly imitations this time of year if you are using a streamer setup. Check with Ken’s Sporting in Bridgeport for current information here.
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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