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Fish'n Conditions December 9th 2013

Capt. Tom Loe
December 12, 2013
Eastern Sierras - Freshwater Fishing Report

A series of storms pushed by polar air has altered the fishing conditions in all the year around trout fisheries in the Sierra. Sub zero morning temps have "shocked" the water and made the fish very lethargic. This dramatic change is forecast to continue for another week. With any luck some additional snow is forecast to hit the upper elevations with a dusting on the valley floors. If you plan on coming up make sure you have adequate protection for sub-zero weather. It can be dangerous at theses temps, and frostbite is a very real occurrence if you are exposed for any duration. Trust me on this one-lost my whiskers to it last winter!

Upper Owens River (12-8-13)

You will find some ice and frozen ground here, but access remains good at this time. It is wicked cold here currently with no immediate warming for about a week. You will be greeted with sub-zero air temps (minus 15) in the morning along the river bank. The last couple of days there are "icebergs" forming on the surface here making it unfishable until well afternoon. Highs are forecast to be in the teens and low twenties. Getting the fish to move is difficult, (getting your guide to move can also be difficult) under these temps. Redundant drifts using attractor patterns like SJ worms, glow bugs or roe imitations, flashback PT's, Agent Orange, & crystal leeches are good choices. Keep those rigs right on the mat and do not expect aggressive takes. Please be extra careful during the release procedure as gills can freeze instantly during sub-zero weather. Keep the fish completely submerged at all times if you land one in extreme weather.

Middle Owens River (12-8-13)

The polar cold fronts have really diminished the hatches and have caused the fish to seek the shelter of deeper water making them very lethargic and unwilling to move very far for a fly. Trout are cold blooded. This dramatic change in water temps has slowed metabolisms & will make them go off the bite until conditions stabilize. The good news is that the flows have been raised over 90 cfs. below the dam at Pleasant Valley. This will really help out the fish during this prolonged period of cold. Numbers are down on recent drift trips; however we are still getting into double digits using larger streamers like Spruce-A-Bu's and #10-6 punk perch, agent orange, & leeches. A moderate sinking tip is adequate to get down to the fish with these flow rates.

*The Lower Owens River is now being designated as the "Middle Owens" due to some re-watering of the section below Tinemaha Reservoir down to the Owens dry lake several years ago. This has been deemed the LORP, or Lower Owens River Project. The mid-Owens is around Bishop Ca.

Just before I splashed the drift boat on the Middle Owens it was MINUS ONE at 7 am today (12-6-13). That my friends, is cold for the OV this time of year. It got to 38 for a high on the river, slow fishing considering the talent I had. Scott "Linkcredible" could guide he has done this trip so often. He did manage to hook a couple nice ones and land this colorful hen. We struggled to get 10 to net today. Nothing coming off, water temps are mid-thirties. More winter a coming this weekend, I'll be chasing snow-bows in the morn after an extended session in my hot tub at zero dark thirty!

Pleasant Valley Reservoir/The Gorge 12-8-13

This is the only year around still water open in Inyo or Mono Counties. The transition area is choked with heavy weed beds-more than I have ever seen. The level is very high and you will find only limited access near the inlet section. It pretty much sucks here right now in this section. The short creek section is fishing so-so in the deeper pools. Midge patterns and smaller mayflies are good choices for nymphing or dry/dropper combos in both areas. FREEZE tubing has been the most consistent currently. The cold weather has really slowed all sections down and no hatches to focus on. Still water nymphing can be productive along the drop-offs on the west side in 9-12 feet. Tiger midges, gillies, crystal pupa and emergers are hard to beat here fished below an Under-cator. If the wind picks up use a broken back tiger as the lower. Small Assassin birds nest work well for imitating the mayfly nymphs, use these under a stimulator or hi-vis para Bwo as your indicator. Streamer tuggers have a full sinking or heavy sink tip line. Loebergs, Agent Orange, & Spruce-A-Bu's will get you grabs near the inlet and launch ramp areas.

The Gorge has been bumped up to 50cfs. below middle powerhouse. There is still a bunch of major work being done on the hydroelectric facility and flows are being bypassed through the Gorge. Dry/dry, or dry dropper bead head rigs using small mayfly and crystal olive caddis nymphs are good choices. The brush has really thinned out making it just difficult in some places to cast. This is not a place to practice false casting friends!

Hot Creek (12-8-13)

Too cold, too low for the time being. Just a trace of snow and ice on the ground.

East Walker River (12-8-13)

Double digit below zero air temps this week. Not much snow-not much flow. Keep'n our fingers crossed for a wet winter!

We can customize holiday gift certificates for that special fisherman or friend. Guided fishing trips, flies, & personal instruction from one of our pros can all be arranged easily. Just click on the contact us link at the top of the page and we will set up something memorable for you and yours. Happy holidays, hope to fish with you soon.

Thanks for reading my report.
be the fly….Tom Loe
Sierra Drifters Guide Service
760-935-4250
www.sierradrifters.com

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