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Eastern Sierras
Capt. Tom Loe
September 22, 2005
Eastern Sierras - Freshwater Fishing Report
Double Haul 2005 Fish Report
September 20, 2005
Howdy friends and Sierra Drifters. Best fishes to all for this Double Haul in the Fall 2005 fish report from the Eastern High Sierra.
Mid through late September is “prime time” for fly fishers in the Eastern High Sierra and this year looks to be a memorable one for sure. The conditions in many fisheries are looking excellent and we are poised for a spectacular fall fishing season for sure.
The weather has been very mild and seasonable with some gusty winds being the only factor in an otherwise pleasant period of nice weather recently. The extended forecast is calling for a cooling trend with an outside chance of snow to fall in the upper elevations this coming Saturday. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst this time of year.
Crowley Lake: Moody…
Fifty fish days when it’s on, tumble weeds and cactus in between. There has been a definite change in the location of the main body of fish recently as the “bigs” are showing up in the North Arm of the lake currently. The lake has been planted early this season and you will see the “dinks” show up in most locations everywhere.
The lake level is high for this time of year but is dropping steadily and the weed beds are very prominent in all the popular areas to fly fish. The trout have no lack of food and you will find a trout buffet if you do a throat pump. Perch fry, damsel fly nymphs and an ever increasing amount of chironomid pupa are showing up in the diet. The fish are obsessive and active during the stable and rising barometer; they are “fasting” when the cold fronts approach or pass through.
All you Double Haul (Saturday, Sept. 24th) contestants will find a challenging situation this week. Location, location, location!!! Will absolutely be the key to hitting scoreable fish as opposed to what method you choose to use during the event. The fish are not “mixing” much and are running in size class pods recently. We have had excellent results casting streamer patterns like the Loeberg and Punk Perch in #10-14. We have also been whacking the hogs while stillwater nymphing with gilled chironomids (gillies) #18-20 and hanging a Punk Perch #14-16 as the upper and using a Drifters Crystal #16-18 Zebra or Tiger Midge or #18-20 gillie as the dropper.
I strongly suggest you have a 4-6 wt. rod set up for both streamer and stillwater nymphing in any event. The fish have been consistently concentrated in the creek and river channels but are beginning to show up on the weed edges at Sandy Pt. and Leighton Springs. Look for Leighton and Alligator Pt. to come on strong this week. McGee Bay has become a desert as of late but I would not be surprised if it bounced back before the smoke clears this weekend.
The Sierra Drifters Guide team will be on hand the afternoon prior to the Haul at the Crowley Lake Fish Camp Store for a seminar and strategy session around 5 pm. There is no charge. Stop by and get the “hot scoop” prior to the event.
For the Crowley Lake Fish Camp… there is a link on the resources page of www.sierradrifters.com
The bigs are on the move and we have had an incredible run of large rainbows recently using the stillwater nymphing method in the subsurface creek channels. Click on www.sierradrifters.com to view the following pictures…
Ken Jackson from Northridge, CA got a beast of a rainbow that measured 24 inches in McGee a while back. This fish don’t need no “lift kit” folks. Check out the hump on this bad boy Kamloops. Nice one Kenny!
Mike Casey from Lakewood, CA spanked numerous big rainbows on a guided 2 day lip ripper with us but the paint job on this fish is screen saver material for sure. Great shot Case!
The team of Chris “ The Peagle” Henrich, Anthony “Possum Face” Vuoso and Jim “Pot Roast Proboscis” Polette, all from the San Pedro area had a 50 fish dream day on Crowley in the north arm recently with the Possum hitting the slammer of the day. Check this heavy duty rainbow out! What a hoot guys, thanks for the show.
Upper Owens River/ Lower McGee Creek: Good
Lots of migrating fish traveling upstream. You will find a mix of both DFG stockers and wild trout hitting streamers like the Loeberg and Spruce-a-bu in the deeper pools and bends especially in the section below the Benton Crossing Bridge. Look for surface activity with baetis imitations #18-20 in the afternoons in the slower water. This area will only be getting better as the fall rolls on. Wet years are traditionally very productive in this area and if I had a moving water to pick for a fall fishery this would be it!
Check out the area below the confluence of Convict Creek on McGee. Have some bwo’s handy for the baetis hatch late morning.
Hot Creek: Good
The dry fly action has been excellent for those who can cast or “high stick” a long leader and maintain a longer drift. 6X and 7X tippet here for sure. You will see the weed beds protruding the surface and you must concentrate on hitting the channels and deeper pools. Mayfly imitations #20 or smaller will work best for surface action. Olive zebra midges #18-22 are best when used under an indicator or larger dry fly.
San Joaquin River: Great
Super conditions here for both dry fly and subsurface action. The flows are ideal for smaller wild trout that whack most dry fly patterns in the #16-18 range. This is a great time of year to fish here as the crowds of summer thin out. You may now drive your own vehicle in.
Mammoth Lakes Basin: Good
The lakes basin has been very good for those trolling streamers on the calmer days this week thanks to the heavy plantings from the Labor Day million dollar “trout stock”. You will not get rich when fishing here but fly casters trolling a Spruce-a-bu or Loeberg #8-10 and a full or heavy sink tip line will get into some 1-4lb. Alpers along the tree stumps and drop-offs in the basin lakes. Rumor has it that a couple of 15 lb. plus Alpers “Troutzillas” were planted recently in the basin lakes also. I would concentrate on Mary…
Lower Owens River: Poor
Flows remain at over 600cfs and will stay here for a while. Despite the great time of year and the potential for some excellent dry fly action these high flows will make wading tough if not unpleasant. We will begin running guided drift boat trips around mid-October as the flows will have been stable long enough for the fish to adjust. Look for the flows to be much higher than normal this fall and winter due to the high level at Crowley Lake. There are links to the DWP water flows at www.sierradrifters.com
Bridgeport Reservoir: Fair
Good levels of water here this time of year for a change. The few fly fishers working this area are hitting some nice fish between Rainbow Pt. and Buckeye Bay. There is a prominent drop-off and it is an ideal place to work full or heavy sink tips with our Punk Perch or Loebergs. Stillwater nymphing has slowed down but you will still get into some fish working this edge at depths of 10-15 feet. Use larva patterns like tigers and zebras in conjunction with a Crystal Leech or Punk Perch #14-16. Jeffery at the marina will be happy to assist you or shuttle you out with your tube.
There are links on the resources tab of www.sierradrifters.com or click on
http://www.bridgeportreservoir.com
The Bridgeport trout enhancement program is up and running at the Paradise Shores RV Park thanks to the efforts of many concerned individuals and especially those of the parks owners Eric and Michelle Gehrung and Skip Baker owner of Big Meadows Resort. These folks could use any help you can come up with to keep the “fish machine” operating. Go check out the Alpers trout (donated by Tim Alpers) here and say hi.
East Walker River: Fair
The conditions are improving here every week and the flows are down to 240 recently. The river is still a tad on the green side. Fall is a great time to fish this river and I can think of no better moving water in this region to hit a large brown. Streamers are a solid choice used with a moderate sink tip line. Try the “dip and strip” in the big bends and larger pools. No less than 3X baby!
West Walker River: Very Good
Ideal flows in all areas. Most dry fly imitations in the #14-18 range will get you looks in the canyons both above and below the meadow. The Pikel Meadow and campground areas have good numbers of planted and holdover fish that will whack a dry dropper rig also. Use a #16 Drifters Black or Olive Crystal Tiger or Zebra here as the nymph below a Stimulator.
Rock Creek area: Good
The creek directly below the outlet is one of my favorite locations to get into some eager wild fish. They will not shatter your 4 wt rod but are a hoot on a dry fly and can be found in most of the pocket water and flats in this location. Hopper and a dropper, or a dry/dry rig with an elk caddis and olive crystal zebra’s #18-20.
The lake is fishing well for trollers in tubes during the late afternoons if it is not blowing a gale. Full sinks or heavy sink tips with Crystal Leeches, Loebergs or Spruce-a-bu’s #8-12. Work the bay on the east side next to the outlet, or launch by the inlet and work the drop-off about 75 feet offshore.
June Lake Loop: Good
Rush Creek is in excellent shape and the area between Grant and Silver has a reputation of being one of the best fall brown trout fisheries in this area. Streamers will get you larger fish. All the lakes here are well stocked and tubers are enjoying some excellent action on planted fish during the afternoon snap.
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 and the Fishermen’s Spot in Van Nuys. There are links to these locations at www.sierradrifters.com
Looking forward to fishing with you soon…
Be the fly…Tom Loe
Sierra Drifters Guide Service
760-935-4250
[email protected]
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