April 2010 Fish'n Conditions Opener Preview
Capt. Tom Loe
April 18, 2010
Eastern Sierras - Freshwater Fishing Report
Howdy friends and Sierra Drifters. Best fishes to all for the 2010 general trout season which opens on 4-24.
I look back many seasons ago while I was still very much engaged in commercial fishing for broadbill swordfish to the excitement I felt this time of year. Not only was I anticipating installing the sword plank and harpoon gear for the upcoming season on the Pacific, I was preparing for the annual migration to the Sierra on opening day of trout season. It had become a tradition to arrive the day prior to opener and scout out several pieces of water that I would potentially fish as soon as it became light.
Over hydrating with the scouting team the evening prior to opener could sometimes lead to a delayed and severely disorganized start, or complications with our eyesight (being cross eyed at 4 am is not conducive for tying on miniscule midge patterns!)
I would go through the motions each and every year pragmatically applying my professional fishing knowledge and science factoring in all the observations discovered during my recon mission. Inevitably, I would always end up in the same section of the Upper Owens River (if I told you, I'd have to kill ya) that I had fished for many years. There is no doubt; we are truly creatures of habit my friends.
Arriving hours before daybreak with my rods rigged and fly boxes full of the winter's latest and greatest visions made from stolen clippings of my grandmothers fur coat, hair from my golden retrievers stern feathers, and high quality silk (from a source that I will take the fifth amendment on at this time thank you.) I would await the gray of daybreak impatiently freezing my ass off and neurotically preparing by repeatedly moving my strike indicator up or down a few inches, or changing a streamer pattern several times before the first casts of the new season.
Although distant memories, those days are etched deeply in my mind and the excitement of the first casts to untouched water is always the biggest rush for any fisherman. I hope you all have the opportunity to experience the opening days of the 2010 trout season. Be the fly friends.
East Walker River: open year around with special regulations
We have had some great days here recently. Flows are trending upward but remain very good considering the amount of snow in this drainage. There is a link to the EW flows at the top of www.sierradrifters.com/fish.htm
The hot ticket here is a large red or brown larva pattern #10-16 or San Juan Worm as an upper fly with a bead head flashback PT, hares ear, or broken back zebra as your dropper #18-20. Streamers have also been fooling some fish in the deeper pools. The miracle mile has been very crowded for spring break but seems to be holding up well for the pressure it has received. With the increase in flows I suggest you work the sections below the first bridge. Although fish counts are lower here you will have more open water and should end up with a better overall score due to the lack of pressure. Check our website for the pics of some awesome fish caught here recently. www.sierradrifters.com/fish.htm
Hot Creek: open year around with special regulations
You can drive to the seasonal gate above the ranch as of 4-14. This may change if it snows significantly. The crick has been consistently very good and the flows have been near perfect allowing extended drifts in the weed channels. Nymphing with PT's in the #18-20 range, midges #20-22. The baetis hatch is still the main attraction mid-day. #18 BWO patterns fished with a 10 foot 5-6X leader work well enough.
Upper Owens River: open year around with special regulations and area restrictions.
Numbers here continue to be disappointing. The spring rainbow migration is running very late due to the extended amount of sheet ice on Crowley Lake, and cooler than normal water temps. This is also the case in all of Crowley's tribs this spring. The good news is that they are for the most part size large, and we should have a great May if the UO does not flood early on. Hit the soft water and larger pools while nymphing or running a streamer through them. Midge patterns and flashback PT's #16-20 are good as the lower fly in a tandem rig. Use a San Juan Worm, larger PT, hares ear, or #16 broken back midges as the upper.
THE SECTION FROM THE BENTON BRIDGE DOWNSTREAM TO THE FISHING MONUMENT WILL CONTINUE TO BE CLOSED UNTIL 5-29. YOU MAY FISH DOWNSTREAM FROM THE MONUMENT TO CROWLEY BEGINNING 4-24.
Lower Owens River:
At flows above 300 cfs this time of year wading around the wild trout section sucks. Flows are still high and as of 4-14 are a little over 400cfs. Drift boat trips have been poor due to high flows and a lack of planted fish this spring. There is link to the DWP flows at the top of www.sierradrifters.com/fish.htm
PV Reservoir:
Get here early to fish the river section near the inlet; it can be very good before power generation occurs. Dry/dropper bead head combos are killer. It has been starting up around 9-9:30am recently, but don't bank on this please. Bring your tube along and after the freak'n water starts rising go to the rez proper and fish the transition with streamers. The fish migrate towards the flow and you can have some fun fishing the scum lines along both shores.
The Gorge:
This is my favorite time of year to fish here. The brush is still on the skinny side and the fish are pretty much ravenous if you get into the more secluded sections. Fifty fish days are obtainable if you can accurately cast 30 feet using a dry dropper bead head rig. You will also have excellent opportunities to fish mayfly and caddis adults #16-18 during the afternoon here. Upstream presentations are necessary for consistent results. Suck em' up short-move or cast progressively towards the pools head every other cast.
Adobe Pond:
We will be here for opener and this place will be awesome this spring. Get your dates early. May will be excellent. We sight fish from a drift boat and have exclusive rights to guide this famous wild brown trout fishery. Click on www.sierradrifters.com then the Adobe Ranch tab at the top of the site for more info.
OPENER PREVIEW:
NWS forecasters are saying that we will have a cooler and unstable weather pattern remaining through most of April this season. We are a few weeks behind with regards to conditions as I see it. It will be a "contracted" opener due to the extended winter and low snow levels.
You will have moderate snow and ice in locations above 7500 feet, with locations above 8,000 feet having heavy snow and thick ice that will remain well into May and early June this season. Lower elevation freestone creeks will be in great shape early on but will get blown out as soon as we get a sustained warming. The Lower Owens is high however look for it to back off substantially in May/June, the East Walker will be good through opener I am told. West Walker is great currently and if it remains cool will be a good choice early on this season. Lower Rock Creek will be in good shape as will Bishop Creek.
Crowley tribs are sparse of spawners as of 4-12. McGee Creek runs 20 feet from my kitchen window and spawning activity has been minimal up to now. It will ERUPT very soon and when we get a sustained warming trend you will see a major migration of rainbows and cutts after the opener.
Crowley has substantial sheet ice in the middle of the lake and dam area as of 4-14-boat docks have been put in; Bridgeport Rez is ice free and is nearly full docks are floating (Jeffery is not!). Several lower elevation alpine locations have ice as of 4-14 but may open up at the buzzer so call your destination before you drive up. Have a great season.
Be the fly…Tom Loe, Sierra Drifters Guide service
760-935-4250
[email protected]
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