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Fish'N Conditions March 11th 2013
Capt. Tom Loe
March 14, 2013
Eastern Sierras - Freshwater Fishing Report
The High Sierra got some much needed snow recently, about two feet in the upper elevations. Spring is just around the corner and by the looks of the weather forecast it has already arrived. The Owens Valley will see temps climb to near 80 this week, while the Upper Owens/Long Valley area could see daytime highs in the mid-60′s! The Bridgeport region and East Walker River will also see some pleasant weather settle in this week. There was no significant precipitation recorded anywhere but at higher elevations and access to to the popular year around fisheries is good and improving.
Spring time in the Sierra historically translates into fluctuating flows and variable water conditions. This year will be no exception and we are already seeing flows come up significantly on the East Walker & Lower Owens River. The Upper Owens has actually dropped to a very low rate of 63 cfs, and I am told by a reliable source that the aquifers that nurture the Hot Creek Fish Hatchery are at very low discharges that have not been seen for a long time. Hot Creek emanates from several ground sources before its confluence with Mammoth Creek.
If you enjoy dry fly fishing, March & April can be very consistent for surface action with stable water conditions. The cold water mayfly called the Blue Winged Olive, or BWO is the star of the show and emerges after noon in most of the year around waters in the Sierra. The first generation adults are good sized; #16-18, olive to gray bodies, twin tails, & twin upright gray wings, are good profiles for these high riding aquatic insects. Pheasant tails, bird's nest, & hares ear patterns are all solid choices for the nymphs. We will also see the first hatches of a spring caddis fly. As is always the case with the first generations they are good sized and can have profiles in the #14-16 range. These light colored delta winged insects are like prime rib to the wild trout. Near blanket hatches can be seen when water temps hit the upper 50′s and low 60′s on the Lower Owens River. The caddis larva is a bright green worm with a dark head, no tail. It does molt and morph into a pupal stage. I use a strand of crystal flash in my larva patterns to imitate the shuck of a molting caddis, or midge larva. Caddis pupa drift above the bottom with profiles that display a bug having a bad hair day! They are very disheveled looking, with light olives, browns-and even some red tints mixed into a rather fuzzy profile in the #14-16 range this time of year. Fishing caddis pupa just below the surface under a dry fly is a very effective method of fooling trout during this emergence. And last, but not least we need to mention the Stone flies that can be seen during the spring on all the fisheries of the Sierra. The species that is most prevalent on the Lower Owens (little golden stone) is small for a stone fly, but large relative to other aquatic cousins. #12-16 Stimulators, Sofa Pilllows, and even large elk hair caddis adult patterns profile the adults well. The nymphs look pre-historic and are heavily armored with thick stout legs, and a pitch fork looking tail. They are dark brown- #12-14 are close enough to match their profiles.
With many areas having fluctuating water flows during the spring it is vital to keep your nymphs properly weighted with sufficient leader lengths to keep those bugs near the bottom. Adults should be well dressed with desiccant to keep them riding high during emergences.
Upper Owens River
Flows have been yo-yoing all winter moving from a high of 160cfs at one point, then dropping to a current rate of 63 cfs. This recent drop has really moved the fish out of the shorter water and into the deepest holes. If numbers are your goal, the UO is not for you right now. Not many small fish here-most have moved back into Crowley Lake which is totally ice free now. If it is a trophy rainbow you seek on your quest-this is the spot. You will not get many opportunities, but the fish you do set on will be impressive and worth the effort. Stick to attractor patterns and mayfly profiles for nymphs. There is good BWO activity most days after 1:30 here. The roads leading into the UO are still a mess in some places; however overall conditions have improved. Write this location off in a stiff north or west wind. If you observe the wind sock at the Mammoth Airport stretched out, keep trucking south and fish the Lower Owens. 90% of the fish are holding in 5% of the water here. Guerrilla trout fishing is what I call it now. Hit a spot, then keep moving to locate another deep hole.
Middle Owens River (MOR)
I will begin calling the river around the Bishop/Big Pine area the "Middle Owens" as requested by the LADWP. We are holding our breath for the big bump in flows here. So far, so good. 150cfs below the dam at Pleasant Valley is sweet for wading and drifting. Solid BWO and some caddis showing in the afternoons. I have even seen some big ole brown drakes on the warmer days. It is going to get very nice in the OV this month. We will see some gusty winds when the cold fronts pass through; however the valley typically does not get any moisture from these spring type storms. I suggest switching to a heavier sinking tip line when flows go over the 200cfs mark while streamer fishing. Small punk perch and my Spruce-a-Bu are doing great while "dip & stripping" from the drift boats. The epic bite we had a couple weeks ago has slowed down recently, an average drift is kicking out about twenty rainbows and browns on average. Wade fishing the wild trout area remains steady at these flows with some nice dry fly action after lunch most days.
Hot Creek
I must say spring on Hot Creek is my favorite time to fish this area. Crowds are generally far less than in the summer and fall, the fish are eager to hit the consistent blue winged olive hatch, and the scenery is second to none. As the weather warms at elevation look for a significant bump in flows here due to the snow melting into Mammoth Creek. This will bring water levels up here and make conditions very good in the near future. Attractors are good choices in the spring for rising water fished in conjunction with small pheasant tails and crystal midge larva. Midge adults are also deadly at times, they are not easy to fish for those with poor eyesight. Use a larger high vis pattern 3 feet up from your smaller target fly to help you locate and assist in mending the tiny point fly. ***Sierra Drifters Tom Loe is under permit to guide here from the INFS.
East Walker River
The ranchers in Nevada will begin using more water to irrigate and this will begin the increase in flows on this tail water. Flows are back down to a very nice 80 cfs after a little flushing out recently. Many EW addicts have been eagerly waiting for this increase as it spreads the fish out and improves conditions greatly. Look for strong BWO and chironomid hatches. Attractors are a good call during rising water, have some flash in your nymph patterns and keep those bugs on the bottom.
Pleasant Valley Reservoir/Gorge
It has slowed down here a little as well; however conditions remain very good in the rez proper and the river section below the power house. If you are not entered in the trout derby on the weekend of 3-16-13 here, you may want to avoid this area. It will be very crowded for a few days. The good news is the CDFW will be stocking the be jeepers outta this place and what is left over should make this a great place to fish the next couple of weeks. The Gorge in the lower and middle sections will not have this pressure and is a good alternative when this, or other areas are crowded. Dry/dry combos, or dry dropper bead rigs in the Gorge and the small river or transition area are good choices. Use mayfly and midge patterns #16-18. Tubers will also benefit from the residual planting here. Full sinks and most any streamer pattern in the #8-12 range will get grabs. Try still water nymphing Crowley style along the drop-offs after the warm weather this week. PV can be as good as it gets during the spring from a tube.
Eagle Lake
You gotta check out the great video Doug Rodricks made of Eagle Lake. Makes me want to be there right now! We still have some dates available this June. Click on trips & programs-waters we fish-Eagle Lake at the top of the www.sierradrifters.com page to see the video and get dates and info. If you just want to see what Eagle is all about, click on the Youtube icon on any page of my website.
Thanks for reading my report friends.
Be the fly…Tom Loe
Sierra Drifters Guide Service
www.sierradrifters.com
760-935-4250
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