 |
Eastern Sierras
Capt. Tom Loe
March 12, 2006
Eastern Sierras - Freshwater Fishing Report
St. Patty's Day Fish Report 2006
March 12, 2006
Howdy friends and Sierra Drifters. Best fishes to all for this St. Patty’s Day fish report from the Eastern High Sierra. Have a “green” caddis larva nymph or blue winged “olive” pattern handy that day for sure.
Did we believe winter was over and spring was here early??? NOT!!! A series of very cold and wet Artic fronts have marched down from the north and crashed the fly fishing party on several occasions recently. The trend is expected to continue off and on through this week with a slow warming trend in the Owens Valley by the middle of the week. Daytime highs are expected to be below average with some gusty and cool winds between fronts. Keep that cold weather gear out for at least another couple of weeks friends.
The good news is the Sierra is getting an above normal amount of moisture for the second consecutive season. Fisheries that are historically impacted by low water will be enhanced with increased and flushing spring/summer flows. The Walker Rivers, Bridgeport Reservoir and all of the alpine lakes and freestone creeks will all benefit from the snows of this winter. Look for the following season to parallel last years cycles in a very similar manner. Last seasons prior fish reports are available by visiting our website at http://www.sierradrifters.com We hope this valuable information will help you plan your summer fly-fishing excursions and guided trips.
In an effort to provide you with the most effective fly patterns and imitations we are introducing some new and improved bugs this season. We are constantly improving and upgrading our time tested guide flies to insure consistent and positive results. There are several new “arrows” you will need to have in your quiver this season! A deadly light colored Punk Perch pattern that incorporates a revolutionary new style hook by Tiemco. Some of our crystal tiger and zebra midges will have a new body material that is more translucent, algae resistant and durable. The famous “gillie” will also have a new flavor and body material that will get you more grabs during the chironomid hatches on Crowley and Bridgeport Reservoirs. Please stop by your favorite fly shop and check out these new patterns.
Lower Owens River: Fair-good
Tis’ the time o’ year when the water and power gods raise the flows and make it dicey for those on the river during the increases. Flows are currently being released at 150cfs at the Pleasant Valley Dam and are expected to increase to 300cfs by the beginning of the week. This is not the blowout discharge that wiped out last seasons spring fly fishing opportunities, but it will make wading the wild trout section more difficult during the initial increase and dirty /cool down the water for a time next week until things stabilize. Crowley Lake is full to the brim and this flow increase is necessary due to the above average snow pack.
Fly fishing has been hot and cold during the flow increases and cold fronts passing. We have had continuing good results overall for some big fish but the numbers have slowed down with the recent poor conditions. The dry fly hatches are erratic, but if you get the right condition they are a hoot this time of year and the fish are eager to gulp those mayfly and caddis imitations down! The barometer and the wind have played a large part in this movie and until conditions stabilize you will experience some peaks and valleys on the river for sure. The caddis flies #16-18 made a big showing this week with water temps getting into the upper forties and we had some very nice surface shows on the warmer/calm days. The baetis (bwo) emergence is still a solid hatch and is better after 1 pm every day #18. The midges are going nuts and a Griffith’s Knat #22 is a great cluster imitation that will get takes in the late afternoon.
If indicator nymphing is your plan of attack; I suggest a crystal olive zebra or tiger midges in the #18-20 or tungsten and flashback pt’s #16-18. As the flows increase you must add more weight and lengthen your leaders (adjust your Sungicator) to insure your bugs are “tickling” the bottom.
Our guided drift boat trips have seen mixed results with plenty of big fish along with some slow number days during the flow increases and inclement weather periods.
The Drifter’s Crystal Leech #10-12 and Punk Perch #10-12 have been the go to streamer recently with the Spruce-a-bu being a close second for the big fish. We are using heavy and long sink tips (30’ 200 grain) for the “dip and strip” on most days with the higher flows.
Longtime Sierra Drifter’s, Rick and “Flo” Mintzlaff from Granada Hills, CA are always looking for trophy trout on the fly. Flo was not to be denied! You gotta see this gorgeous 8 lb 24 inch rainbow she caught and released on a day the flows increased in the morning. Special fish Flo, you go girl! Click on www.sierradrifters.com to view all the pictures…
Drifters guide “Fill” Therrien put Darrell Tate, from Salt Lake City Utah on 5 hogs Feb. 18th. Darrell said that they compared to the huge trout he caught on a trip to Kamchatka Russia. Take a peek at the paint job on one of the bigs Mister Tate spanked that day.
The father and son team of Matt and Ron Conrad from Coto de Caza, CA have already booked a trip on Crowley Lake with “Fill” after Matt got this gorilla sized rainbow on a recent drift with our rookie drift boat guide of the year. High fives Matt, what a fish!
Agoura California’s finest fly fishers were well represented by the politically balanced team of Bruce Blumenthal and Mark Oechsli. The two put over 30 browns and rainbows to hand in two days of drifting under some very tough conditions with “Brucester” getting the big fish honors in a late afternoon flurry in one of the final bends of the drift. Mark took the numbers trophy with an excellent strip set. Fun times guys, thanks a bunch for the laughter and conversation!
Pleasant Valley Reservoir: Poor-fair
This fishery has been a bummer overall this winter due to above average water levels. Hard core freeze tubers are getting into sporadic good fishing at the dam, launch ramp (the stocking area) and inlet section with streamers like the Loeberg and Punk Perch #8-12 but overall it has been slow in the inlet/transition section for fly fishers. The short river section just below the powerhouse has been the most productive area for nymphers and dry fly enthusiasts. Crystal Tiger and Zebra Midges #16-18 are best here fished below an indicator or a larger dry fly used as an indicator.
Power generation is going to commence very soon so this will further add to the hurdles facing fly fishers in the inlet section. Maybe better next season? Bring your tube and fish the dam section in the near future.
The Gorge: Excellent-Good
This is not a fishery for everybody, but if you are willing to do some moderate hiking and rock hopping it can provide an opportunity to get into big numbers of smaller wild brown trout on dry flies. This is the best time of year to fish this area and if you run into some high water and slow “catching” on the Owens this will be your sanctuary.
Sierra Drifters Brad McClain guided Ken and Trevor Beer down into the pit recently and they put over forty browns to hand in about five hours. Dry-dropper/dry-dry combos did the trick that day. Nice shooting guys!
The summer season is just around the corner and with the current wet winter the Eastern Sierra will historically have a great trout season. Plan a trip or two this way for the summer and fall season and you can bank on a memorable fly fishing experience for sure. We look forward to fishing with, or guiding you in the future.
ROAD TRIP!!! Sierra Drifters guide, Tom Loe will be doing a seminar and slide show for the combined groups of the Las Vegas FFF, TU Vegas Chapter and the Las Vegas/Henderson Fly Fishers at 6:30 pm on April 18th 2006 at the incredible Bass Pro Shop facility in Las Vegas. http://www.basspro.com
The show will include Stillwater nymphing tactics from a boat or float tube, as well as instruction on the “dip and strip” method of fishing streamers from a boat or pontoon. Areas focused on will be the Eastern Sierra’s Crowley Lake and the Lower Owens River near Bishop California. The public and friends are invited to attend at no charge. Donations however, would be greatly appreciated to the above mentioned clubs. This will be an informative, really fun show and we are looking forward to a large turnout of friends and clients from all over. Come to Vegas and say hi!
www.lasvegasflyfishingclub.com Gil Bourdon [email protected]
You can pick up our guide flies this time of year at the following stand out locations: 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
Be the fly my friends,
Tom Loe
Sierra Drifters Guide Service
760-935-4250
[email protected]
www.sierradrifters.com
More Fishing Reports:
|
|
|
|
