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Eastern Sierras
Capt. Tom Loe
July 1, 2006
Eastern Sierras - Freshwater Fishing Report
Independence Day 2006 Fish Report
June 30, 2006
Howdy friends and Sierra Drifters. Best fishes to all for this Independence Day 2006 fish report from the Eastern High Sierra.
The run-off continues to be the big news up here in regards to many fisheries. Most of the freestone creeks are running very high and off color with cooler than normal water temperatures due to all the snow melting. In addition the premier tail water fisheries of the East Walker River and the Lower Owens River continue to be very high and difficult to wade and fly fish. The spring creeks are your best bet for moving water and if you are fortunate enough to be on the water during a cool cycle you may have an excellent day on Hot Creek or the Upper Owens River. The word from the hydrologists around here says we still have a ways to go before the run off begins to recede. Overall conditions are beginning to improve and with most of the upper elevation lakes becoming open it will only be short time before we will have optimum fly fishing conditions here in most areas of the Eastern High Sierra. Stick to the stillwaters for the most consistent fly fishing opportunities. The “tailgate” alpine lakes are ice free and warming quickly.
Tioga Pass has opened earlier than expected, as well as the road down into Reds Meadow and the San Joaquin River.
The region has settled into a very normal summer like pattern with afternoon thunderstorms and warm to hot days. A significant warming trend with a drier air mass is forecast this holiday weekend.
The National Weather Service has issued a small stream advisory for many of the drainages around here. If you find yourself fishing or camping around a freestone creek during an extended thunderstorm you need to seek higher ground immediately. These small creeks can rise quickly and become a torrent during major thunderstorms. Duh!!!
Sierra Drifters endorsed custom guide flies and merchandise will no longer be available at the Troutfitter in Mammoth Lakes. We have “broke off” after many years of doing business together. The Fitter is an excellent fly shop with a solid staff and we wish them the best of luck. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.
The ONLY fly shop in Mammoth Lakes to purchase our custom endorsed flies and merchandise is Kittredge Sports in Mammoth Lakes. The super friendly and knowledgeable staff here will set you up with quality gear and current local information.
http://www.kittredge.net
Crowley Lake:
Great green gobs of greasy, grimy, algae guts Batman! The lake is in full turnover and it is not a pretty picture for the lake in general. This is not to say that the fishing has not been very good at times, but is entirely dependant upon which way the wind blows in the area you are fishing. The major inlet areas are the only game in town for fly fishers and these may be a tad crowded at times due to the limited area. The lake level is the highest it’s been in many moons and we are told it shall continue to rise through mid July. This will set the stage for an epic mid summer and fall condition if history holds true.
If you find yourself in the goo, move! The mouth of McGee is a long kick; a boat is the best way for sure. The Crowley Fish Camp rents some great flat bottoms that will get you to the fish. The fly fishing gurus at the shop will set you up with the right bugs and rig.
The Hiltons are pretty slimey most of the time but if the wind comes off the Sierra it will clear these areas out and there are plenty of fish in both bays currently. The North arm near the Owens R inlet is very tannin colored but algae free and although the fish counts are not high here you have a larger area to fish especially if you choose to tug streamer patterns. Punk Perch, blood sucking Vander Leeches, damsel nymph imitations and callibaetis patterns will all get you grabs. Stillwater fly fishers stick to gillies and crystal emergers as the upper, zebras and tigers on the tag end. Clean your flies as well as your Drifters Sungicator (strike detector) every cast if the goo is around and limit your soak times for better results.
We have been informed that there will NOT be a fireworks show this year at the lake.
http://www.crowleylakefishcamp.com
Long Beach Casting Club aces Craig Haines from Lakewood, CA and his pal Tim Constantine from Claremont, CA were guided by Drifters guide Mickey “the turtle” Baron recently and both of these fine fly fishers got into some nice fish. Check out the pics by visiting our website at http://www.sierradrifters.com
The “Linkcredibles” have well earned this nick name and have been legally registered by us at Sierra Drifters as fly fishing fanatics. Scott and Chris Linkletter from San Pedro, CA always manage to get nice trout, everywhere! Check out the browns the couple caught and released a while back on Crowley Lake while on a guided trip with us.
Bridgeport Reservoir:
It has been hit and miss here for fly fishers depending on the weather and run-off into Buckeye Bay. They got water again this year baby, this is a good thang! It is a great place to fish with incredible panoramas and far less crowds than Crowley. When the lake is on you can easily get into a thirty fish day, when it blows you will struggle and the catching will become more challenging. Tubers are fairing better overall trolling and stripping streamers covering more area when the fish are scattered. When they stack up near the inlet the stillwater rigs will spank them using tandem rigs with chironomids and callibaetis nymphs. Jeffery and his pleasant “sheepish smile” at the marina will set you up with the hot flies sold at the shop and give you the locations to target.
http://www.bridgeportreservoir.com
Hot Creek
High water can at times be a good thing here and if you hit a caddis or mayfly emergence the surface activity can be excellent. Hot Creek is predominantly a spring creek with a single tributary, that being Mammoth Creek. It can clear quickly if you get a day or so of cooler weather. Try a streamer here during these high water conditions; you will be pleasantly surprised at the results. Nymphing with patterns that incorporate plenty of flash or red in them will help you get more grabs. Our tiger and olive crystal zebras are killer here #16-22. Add enough weight to get those bugs down. Just because you got fish last fall in one pool rigged with just a single #4 shot does not mean it will fish the same currently.
San Joaquin River:
The road into Reds Meadow opened June 27th and although the river is raging and not great for wading there are plenty of meadow sections that have quiet water and plenty of eager wild fish. Sotcher and Starkweather Lakes have been recently planted and should fish well if you troll and strip streamers from a tube.
Rock Creek Lake:
Great reports from this area when the thunderstorm activity is mild. Jim at the Rock Creek Lake Resort reports big scores of recently planted HUGE Alpers trout. Tubers pick up some Loebergs or Spruce-a-bu’s at one of the Sierra Drifters endorsed shops and you will a good shot at one of these famous hard fighting acrobatic rainbow trout. The inlet section is best just off the drop-off, also the small bay on the southeast side near the outlet are prime areas for these rascals. Keep your flies down 10-15 feet.
Lower Owens River:
Go elsewhere. Flows are over 700cfs! Fall will be great, but now is not the time for this area. There is a link to the current flows at www.sierradrifters.com
East Walker River:
This is one river that can fish well at high water. There is a link to the current flows at www.sierradrifters.com
It is not for everyone, especially beginning fly fisherman not accustomed to wading in heavy water and tossing heavily weighted nymph rigs. Streamers are an excellent option in the larger pools. Dip and strip during the lower light periods. The EW is famous for its sundown snaps of large predacious browns. Most of the locals fish the last hour of light exclusively. 2X and 3X here folks. You will be donating to the Drifters fly fund if you toss that Loeberg or Spruce-a-bu with a lighter tippet!
EXTREME nymphing is the game right now and 3 bb shot would not be sufficient in some pools. Lots of flash in your pattern is a must. Look for the fish to smack the caddis in the late afternoons and on the cloudy days a decent mayfly emergence. Scout out the quiet water and camp out. Patience grasshoppers - is the key to getting a trophy fish on the EW. Make sure you have a large enough catch and release net for this river. The nightmare stories of huge fish lost at the net here are numerous.
Alpine Lakes: June Lake Loop, Mammoth Lakes Basin
The stocking programs are in full swing in all the lakes and you will find an abundance of DFG and Alpers trout with a good number of holdover fish on the bite in these areas. Trolling streamers at the 10-15 foot level will get you the bulk of your grabs. Most streamer imitations will work here in the #8-12 range; the key is locating the pods of fish. If you get a take or a fish, try to mark your spot on the water and present your fly into this area again.
Alpers Trout are suckers for tree stumps, the DFG fish gravitate towards any kind of flow like an inlet. Look for transition areas in these lakes. Drop-offs, inlets, weed lines, bottom changes, shade lines from the trees will often get you that afternoon grab.
You can pick up our guide flies at the following stand out locations: Crowley Lake Fish Camp & Crowley Lake General Store/Deli in Crowley, Kittredge Sports in Mammoth Lakes, Bridgeport Reservoir Marina in Bridgeport, Malibu Fish’n Tackle in Thousand Oaks, The San Diego Fly Shop and Stroud’s Tackle in San Diego, The Fishermen’s Spot in Van Nuys, Bob Marriott’s in Fullerton and Buz's Fly Shop Too in Bakersfield. There are links to these locations at www.sierradrifters.com
FYI…CALIFORNIA'S SECRET WITNESS PROGRAM TO HELP STOP POACHING AND POLLUTING 1-888-DFG-CALTIP
(1-888-334-2258) http://www.dfg.ca.gov
California Dept. of Fish & Game Regs… http://www.fgc.ca.gov
Or you can also call the Mono County Sheriffs Dept.
760-932-7549 / 760-935-4066
Be the fly my friends,
Tom Loe
Sierra Drifters Guide Service
760-935-4250
[email protected]
www.sierradrifters.com
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