February 2011 Fish'n Conditions
Capt. Tom Loe
February 1, 2011
Eastern Sierras - Freshwater Fishing Report
Howdy friends & Sierra Drifters. Best fishes to all for this February Fish 'N Conditions update from the Eastern High Sierra. Sierra Drifters is now on Facebook & Youtube. We are now posting "on the water" fish reports & video fishing trips of local areas. Check out our new Upper Owens "snow bows" video shot in late January http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMKD1mjX-_Q and
Hot Creek Report: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjCvveGRpwA and
Lower Owens Report: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYupM7BRBoU&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL
The record snowfalls received in November and December has given way to light precipitation in January. Very little moisture has dropped on the slopes of the Sierra and Owens Valley in recent weeks. It has been mild, with pleasant & warm afternoons around Bishop. The extended forecast is indicating a dry/mild trend through the new moon in February. The Upper Owens, Hot Creek & East Walker River basins will remain very cold (freezing to single digits) in the mornings with increasingly warmer daytime highs (forties) as we go forth into the month. The later part of this winter is shaping up to be excellent with regards to the year around fisheries in this area.
Look for releases to be on the rise on the tailwaters. Crowley is filling and should be near full pool around that time. With above average water supply & added allotment of fish last fall, Crowley will fish better than previously for sure. Bridgeport is also full, and with all the water holding in its drainage the "Bridge" will be excellent once again this season. I am very much looking forward to this summer & falls fish'n conditions here!
Please check out the recent pictures of some happy fly fishers and their trophies by visiting our website at http://www.sierradrifters.com/fish.htm
I have a lot of great pictures to share with you this report, please take some time and check them out.
(Pic) Full Moon Sunrise over Rock Creek Canyon. On my way down for a drift trip and was treated to this spectacular scene. T.Loe
(Pic) Eagle Lake is amazingly beautiful & picturesque!
EAGLE LAKE: SPRING TRIP NOW BOOKING!!!
No question the finest rainbow trout still water in California. Please click on the Eagle Lake tab http://www.sierradrifters.com/EagleLakeCalifornia.htm
to get booking and information for the spring trip this June & July. Fill out a trip request form and specify Eagle Lake if you are interested. Doug Rodricks and I will be guiding this incredible fishery from our custom 24 foot Ranger "Fish Magnets" again. If you are into superhard pulling 18-26 inch native rainbows on the fly, this is trout Nirvana!
(Pic) Triples are expected at Eagle!
(Pic) The rainbows average 18 inches!
(Pic) The smiles from fishing here are even larger!
Lower Owens River:
It really has been very good down here this winter. Float trips are kicking out good numbers while streamer fishing the Drifters "dip & strip" method. Spruce-a-Bu's & Punk Perch #8-12 used with a moderate sinking tip work well. The bigs are also on the chew as the pictures will validate. Dry fly action is starting to pick up nicely as well with the first generation BWO hatches triggering a nice afternoon surface flurry. The adults are #16; keep them floating high and in the suds [foam lines] during the emergence. The hatch peaks just after 1pm most days. Flows are perfect (under 100cfs) for wading above the confluence of the Bishop Creek as of this report. The wild trout section has been very popular with the mild weather on weekends, I suggest you scout out the water below & upstream from this area for some less trafficked water. Nymphing with #16-20 bead head midges or may fly imitations will get er' done.
(Pic) Carl N. & SD guide T. Loe with a humungous drift boat bow caught on the Lower Owens. Check out the girth on this hen!
(Pic) If I ever create a "drift boat hall of fame" Scott & Chris Linkletter from San Pedro CA. would be at the top for sure. The fly fishing couple has been affectionately named "the NO DINK LINKS" and may be trout enemy # 1 on the Lower Owens River.
(Pic) Chris with a nice male right off in the morning…
(Pic) Scott raises the bar just before we break for lunch…
(Pic) Another big rainbow bites the dust for Mr. Linkcredible during the baetis hatch…
(Pic) Mrs. "No Dink Link" bangs out the big one (as usual) as the sun gets near the crest. Check out Scott fishing hard as Chris is posing with her jack pot winner! T. Loe's "net stayed wet" with these two!
(Pic) Greg & Steph S. drifted with Fill T. and fooled this colorful rainbow. Steph LANDED a behemoth rainbow that dwarfed this fish and it unfortunately jumped out of the net before a picture. Rumor has it the net was too small!
(Pic) Long time Sierra Drifter & accomplished fly fisher David "the great composer" Vanacore had a great day for numbers this winter including this chunky rainbow while floating with T. Loe.
(Pic) Rick K. "the teacher" schooled this quality bow along with many others recently-T.Loe was on the paddles.
(Pic) Paul P was at the other end of the camera for a change (he's a big time pro cinematographer) & got this sweet brownie while float'N with T.Loe and his pal Ryan.
(Pic) BIG AIR- for ten year old Cole K. while Grandpa Mel looks on as he battles this spunky rainbow. Very impressive numbers for the young fly fisher, eh Mel?
Upper Owens River:
When asked where I/we fish on off days recently. No doubt, the UO. Check out the new video on Youtube. Link is at top of this page. We are doing a combination of nymphing and streamer fishing here. Midges, PT's, San Juan Worms, egg patterns, Punk Perch, Loebergs, Matukas. It is your location more than the imitation straight up. Hard to beat a flashback PT or broken back #16-20 with the right drifts. On the warmer days (temps above 40) there is a solid midge and BWO hatch. You will NOT get these humongous rainbows on the dries. They are just too nasty. It takes some effort and/or horsepower to get into the fish, we can guide you to these trophies & I will say it is not for everyone & you better have your "A" game ready. A 15 fish day with Alaska grade rainbows is possible right now. It will go into March this season. No vehicle access to this area yet.
(Pic) Devon P. all smiles. Doug R. took him to the holding water.
(Pic) Mark K. and another gorgeous Upper Owens River "snow bow" Doug R. was his gillie.
(Pic) My best this winter-although I have been given the proverbial fin by larger!
(Pic) Two Bug Doug & Strider with a standard issue Upper Owens River Snow Bow.
(Pic) Fill T. alias "Nanuck of the North" holding another UO slammer. A four bend chase in snow shoes for this one!
Hot Creek:
It has been spotty here this winter and slower overall than last year thus far. Access is better than the UO, but you need to choose the right day before making the trek into the canyon. The trail is hard packed in the morning but can be very slushy in the afternoon, or if it is above freezing at sun up. The cold cap temperature inversion this winter has been a major factor here.
The BWO hatch is building like a Juggernaut & will ultimately be the main attraction in mid/late February through March for sure. If you enjoy epic dry fly fishing/ or wish to experience and learn how to catch trout on a dry, this is the prime time for sure at Hot Creek. May flies are "sitting ducks" and easy targets for the trout. They do not have the erratic behavior displayed by caddis flies & are much larger than the ever present midges. The late winter and spring conditions will be much better than the early summer here for sure. There will be high flows as soon as the snow begins to melt & due to lower snow lines this season it may be earlier than usual.
East Walker River:
As forecast; the flows are above average for this time of year [55cfs currently]. They will continue to increase as we roll into spring this season. Fishing is picking up as the weather improves. Access is very good and you will not have issues with snow currently. Stay around the miracle mile section located within sight of the dam. The deeper pools are pretty much "it" right now. Nymphing with midges, SJ worms, smaller PT's, WD40's, broke backs, #16-20. 5X tippet will get you bit more. The blue winged olive emergences are truly the main event this time of year. The trout will begin to focus almost entirely on this hatch by mid-February. Adults #16-18.
GUIDE TIP: Water is like a magnifying lens. It enlarges objects. I suggest you choose a pattern that is ONE size smaller than the naturals to best imitate a natural profile. This holds true for nymphs & adults. Use monofilament tippet for dry fly fishing. It floats better, is generally more limber, and has more stretch.
Pleasant Valley Reservoir:
The level is very low on average this winter as work is being done on the hydroelectric facility. Fishing has been good around the inlet/river section using dry-dropper bead head rigs, or para midges & #18 BWO adults at noon. The fish are very active on the warmer days and you will see "pods" sipping midges in the film in the slower water sections. The issue currently is the mud that can be frozen in the morning and in the shadows. After thawing it is really treacherous and hard to walk or stand on in many locations along around the inlet section. I have witnessed wading boots get lost in the muck as the suction pulls them off when you try to get out. The "freeze tubing" has improved but you need to fish at the dam, or around the launch ramp on the far side. Until power generation begins the fish will spread out in the deeper water this time of year. Full sinks and streamers fished 10 or more feet work best.
The Gorge:
Conditions are excellent here. Middle to lower is ice free. Surface action is picking up and most may fly patterns in the #14-18 range will get looks. I still like a tandem rig with a bead head as the dropper. The two pronged attack allows you to fish the deeper pools where larger fish hold.
Thank you for taking the time to read our report.
Be the Fly friends…
Tom Loe, Doug-R, Fill T. and Two Bug Doug D.
Sierra Drifters Guide Service
760-935-4250
Cell 760-937-2015
Email [email protected]
www.sierradrifters.com
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