August 6th Fish'n Conditions
Capt. Tom Loe
August 9, 2013
Eastern Sierras - Freshwater Fishing Report
Fly fishing in the Mammoth and Bishop area continues to be very good in many locations.
The peak of the summer season is upon us and conditions continue to be mixed throughout the Eastern Sierra. Back to back dry winters are taking their toll in some locations, while a few others are fishing well due to the lower water levels. Most affected are the lakes, streams, and rivers that are fed exclusively by snow melt. Locations that have spring fed, or get additional water from "feeder" lakes or reservoirs are doing fine. This condition will unfortunately persist and become more prevalent as the summer turns to fall. The fire season has already influenced this area significantly, and Mammoth Lakes has been under siege from a fire on the western slope for over two weeks with heavy smoke laying in town and settling in Long Valley during the afternoons and mornings. Containment is in sight with a huge improvement in air quality just recently. Put some positive vibes in for an early and wet winter friends!
Crowley Lake
Perhaps the most consistent fishery in the area currently. Although the lake is extremely low, the launch ramp is functional for large boats, and fly fishing is fair to excellent most days. Water clarity is fine with no significant blue algae blooms present. Established weed beds begin in 9 feet and extend out to 12 feet in the north arm. The lake is dropping quickly due to a major increase in release rates on the Middle & Lower Owens River recently. Don't bother looking for creek channels, they are weeded in for the most part, or non-existent. There are substantial balls of perch fry in McGee Bay, Crooked Creek, & along what is left of Green Banks and North landing. The bigs are crashing through these "meat balls" like school tuna on chovies! The chironomid hatches continue to be huge, and you will observe tall spires of midges on the bluffs and over the rabbit brush along the lakes shoreline during mid-mornings. Solid damsel fly activity as well. Absent this season are the callibaetis mayflies-this is indicative of a dry year. I suggest you have a streamer rig as well as a still water nymphing rig if you fish Crowley. The behemoth browns that live here ain't eating midges! Tie on a 4-6 inch rainbow trout pattern and pull it as fast as you can at daybreak or after the sun sets in the north arm & McGee. Unfortunately you will not be able to get through the gate to the boat landing before 7am for the remainder of the season. Tubing is better for streamer fishing anyway, and access is good to McGee and the north end. My go to patterns have been gillies, crystal emergers & pupa, copper tiger midges, assassins, and punk perch light & dark. Streamers-Loebergs, punk perch 6-12. The Crowley Lake Deli & General Store, (Shell gas station near the lake off ramp) has a full selection of all these patterns along with our Under-cator strike indicator. Good eats too!
Middle Owens River
Flows are back up to 300cfs. Still not a blow out for August and I have been told this may well be the peak this year. There are minimal places to wade and cross in the wild trout section at this release; however it is still very fishable especially for dry fly enthusiasts who enjoy a gulpy take on a hopper or caddis in the afternoon. We will give it another week before we begin drifting again due to the amount of debris coming down as the water levels stabilize. Been a fun summer and fly fishing with streamers has been good during the extended period of lower flows. Do not hesitate to book a trip in September or October for drifting, it will be very good with darn near perfect weather. Loebergs, punk perch, & spruce-a-bu's are good choices for streamers currently.
Upper Owens River
Still pretty good for numbers of planted rainbows with a few nice browns showing out of the deeper pools. Caddis and hopper activity is good on the calmer days. Nymphing a tandem rig with flashback PT's or birds nest assassin's are a good choice. Try a FB PT or an Assassin as your upper-attach a broken back midge as the dropper or point fly in the deeper pools for a shot at one of those elusive jumbo browns. Skeeters have been around since the pastures have been irrigated. Flows are nice with clean water above the bridge. The cattle can really mess up a beat if they wade in Little Hot Creek or one of the ditches so you may see some weeds and turbid water from time to time especially below the Benton Crossing Bridge.
East Walker River
The EW is one of the victim's of the drought year. It is currently flowing at 70cfs. (this is a very low summertime flow) and is off color with substantial weeds and goo in the channels and pools. We have opted not to guide here for the time being. If you do fish here I suggest you go downstream from the first bridge, as dissolved oxygen levels are nearly twice that in the miracle mile. With Bridgeport Reservoir being so low don't expect conditions to improve much until it cools down this fall.
Hot Creek
Another location off its game due to low water. The weeds protruding above the surface in many of the "spots" on HC are making life difficult for most. Dry fly fishing is the best way to get looks using small trico mayfly patterns or hoppers and caddis in the afternoons. There is very limited water to nymph in at this time- scuds, midges, crystal olive caddis larva, and birds nest patterns are good choices if you get a pocket or hole.
West Walker River
The West Walker is also low; however there remains some decent runs and pools in the Pikel Meadow section. Dry dropper combos work well here. Use a Stimulator and a broken back tiger or zebra and you will get grabs in the deeper pools and runs. The fish are concentrated in these locations due to low flows. Walk into the canyon up or down from Pikel and cast to wild fish with #16-18 mayflies or caddis imitations. I like a para post BWO or Adams, hi-vis caddis, or PMD's are also good choices for dries here. Fish upstream when possible, the fish spook easily.
Bridgeport Reservoir
The "catching" has been picking up according to Jeffery at the marina. He is observing strong midge hatches and fish rolling after damsel and perch fry. He still has rental boats available- although the water is very low. The fish can get lethargic, worried more about survival than feeding when water temps heat up, however when it cools down the fish get very active and will make up for lost time. A significant cooling trend will get them back on the bite consistently, tubing here this fall could be epic as the fish will be concentrated in a small area.
San Joaquin River
Flows here resemble late September, not early August. All sections are very accessible and if you are willing to hike away from the campgrounds the dry fly fishing is very good using small mayfly or caddis imitations. Wade along the banks always casting upstream and focusing on the fish closer to you at the back of a pool. The pocket water and riffles are tough, just not deep enough in many of the normal locations.
Alpine Lakes
Getting off the beaten trail can be productive this time of year. Most of the day hike alpine lakes are in fair to good shape with some eager fish. Parker, Kirman, McCloud, Laurel, Steelhead, etc… Callibaetis, damsel, scuds, and midges are always present in these locations. Terrestrial patterns like ants, hoppers, beetles, and FROG-ooop's did I say frog? Tastes like chicken…haha. Anyway, bring both a sinking and floating line as you will have opportunities to fish both at most locations. The drive to locations are being planted on a regular basis, ya just need to get there within a few days of the dump to get into them. Streamers like Loebergs, Agent Orange, & Spruc-a-bu's work well with a full or heavy sinking tip line. The low light periods will have a fair showing of fish sipping midges and crippled callibaetis at times. Dry dropper combos fished on a long, greased leader can be very productive. A few locations are suffering from very low water levels and the boat docks and launch ramps are high and dry. I suggest you call your destination before making the trek up.
We hope you are all having a fun summer with plenty of time on the water. Thanks for reading my report.
Be the fly…Tom Loe
Sierra Drifters Guide Service
www.sierradrifters.com
760-935-4250
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