Fish'N Conditions 2009 Season Opener
Capt. Tom Loe
April 22, 2009
Eastern Sierras - Freshwater Fishing Report
Howdy friends and Sierra Drifters. The staff at Sierra Drifters Guide Service wishes all of you a memorable and enjoyable 2009 fishing season.
Conditions for the opener are very good in most areas thanks to a high snow line this spring. Creeks and tailwaters are flowing below historical averages at this time. The weather has been warm and mild recently, however the forecast is calling for a cooling trend during opening weekend.
Most of the alpine lakes remain frozen and vehicle access is limited. There is still plenty of snow and ice above 8500 feet.
Crowley and Bridgeport Reservoirs have been totally ice free for 6 weeks and should be off to a fast start weather permitting. Both locations are filling slowly and will have better overall water levels this season, although they will be well below full pool at best.
East Walker River:
The EW has been awesome. We have been doing very well on big numbers of catchable size browns thanks to over one hundred thousand DFG planters last fall. A large jag of sub-catchable cutts has also been planted recently by the DFG below the first bridge.
Nymphing and streamers are putting huge smiles on many faces here. Check out the fish pics of recent Drifters clients by visiting our website at www.sierradrifters.com/fish.htm. Drifters Guide Doug R made the cover of WON weekly newspaper with client Jake "the beef" Brower and his trophy brown. Look for an article in the new Sierra Fisherman Magazine this spring that I did on the EW. Lots of good tips and info here and its free! There are many other interesting and informative articles written by top industry pros in this publication. It is well worth your time to pick up a copy at a local business location or online at http://sierrafisherman.com/
Dry dropper rigs using bead head flashback Pt's and tiger midges #18-20 as the droppers, Stimulators #12-14 as the dry, are deadly with these low flows. You will also see a good showing of BWO's for a couple hours each afternoon. The dry fly action has been spectacular, with the fish keying on this emergence. They will move out of the deeper pools and into the riffle water or tailouts to take advantage of the hatch. #18 baetis patterns work well.
Those of you who like to toss streamers will find some great opportunities to hit the larger predators in the big pools. Choose the low light periods or overcast days to fish perch fry or chub imitations up to #4. Light and dark Punk Perch patterns #10, Spruce-A-Bu's #8 and Loebergs #10 will work well with a light to moderate sinking tip lines. Nothing less than 3X tippet if you want to see them!
Lower Owens River:
We got a mixed bag down here. The good news is we are seeing or hooking 18-22 inch fish most days in the drift boat areas while using the "dip and strip" method of fishing streamers. In addition the caddis hatches are really getting the fish looking up to dries. Flows have remained low and steady for this time of year and are currently at 150cfs. It has been quite a while since we have seen stable release rates here past mid-April. Get it while it's hot!
The down side as of late is we are seeing far too many 5-8 inch dink rainbows thanks to the dysfunctional stocking program the DFG has slated for this area and PV Reservoir. Hopefully they will live long enough to become future "troutzillas"!
I wrote an article on the Lower Owens in Sierra Fisherman Magazine that was out in March. It contains a lot of information and some seldom printed guide tips for those of you who like to fish the LO. It is available in local shops and is free of charge or online at http://sierrafisherman.com
The mild weather in the Owens Valley has greatly attributed to the excellent fishing we are experiencing in the wadeable upper sections of the LO. Dry dropper bead head rigs using FB PT's #16-20, #16-18 crystal tigers and zebra midges, #18 caddis emergers, and around lunch a switch to caddis dries #16-18, or BWO, and PMD (pale morning dun) adults is a good choice. We have had some incredible days on numbers in the wild trout section while nymphing and fishing dries. I have had several conversations with some Owens addicts stating that the wild browns are larger on average this year for sure, I concur. The LO is definitely worth a look while the flows remain at this level.
Upper Owens River:
The section from the fishing monument, downstream to Crowley Lake will be opening on 4-25. The area around the campground beginning at the Benton Bridge downstream to the monument remains closed until 5-23. The year around water up from the bridge has special angling regulations and slot limits. Got it? That is a bunch of regs for a single piece of water!
Anyway, it has been very good in the upper sections on the warmer calm days. Forget this place if the wind is blowing unless you want to "cast and crouch" with streamers, which I might add is perhaps the most efficient way to get into the twenty plus rainbows that are scattered and holding in the deeper pools.
Numbers have been better the last couple of weeks in the upper sections with some fantastic caddis hatches triggering a hot bite for small to medium sized trout mid-day. #16-18 dark bodies. The BWO's are still coming off, but in smaller numbers #18-20. They are more prolific on the overcast days.
Hot Creek:
It will be interesting to see if it is wall to wall for opening day as in years past, or if the year around change has altered angling behavior here. HC has been open for two full springs prior to the traditional opener and is fishing very well this spring.
The Interpretive Site has been taken out to the wood shed and beaten like a bad step child the last couple of weeks, hike into the canyon for the eager fish. Strong caddis activity as well as BWO's and PMD's will get you into surface activity late morn and mid-day. Dry dropper bead head or emerger rigs are good choices. Make sure your leaders are at least 9 feet in length. Fish 6X tippet, you will get more grabs. Low flows, clean water at the time of this report.
West Walker River:
I am eager to fish this before the run-off blows it out. Flows are pretty good right now and a hike into the canyons (below and above the Marine Base) will get you away from the pack and into some nice hold over trout. I suggest dry dropper rigs. There will be some stone flies, and midges around, as well as first generation BWO's. Pikel Meadows is snow free and should have some excellent fishing for stockers. Use a crystal tiger #16 under a Stimulator 2-3 feet in the softer water here.
Pleasant Valley Reservoir:
Fishing remains pretty good overall. The planted fish here are also on the small side, but there have been some Alpers plants to put a few nice fish in the mix. Power generation has not been a factor most days and this has made for ideal conditions around the inlet transition area. Streamers or dry/dropper bead head nymph rigs using crystal tigers or FB PT's #16-18 are good choices under a Stimulator or sofa pillow #12. Walk into the riffle water and the heavy brush and fish the pocket water. You will be surprised at how good and consistent this small section can be. Fish caddis imitations after the mid-day break #16-18 on the surface.
The tubing has also been good if you can find an unoccupied area of bank near the launch ramp or around the inlet sections. Still water nymphing using tigers, zebras, gillies, and crystal emerger's #16-18 are best. Ten feet is a good average depth. Trolling perch fry imitations has also been paying off here along the weed lines on the west side, or in the shadows cast by the canyon walls during the am and pm times.
The Gorge:
The caddis hatch has got them on the chew down here and this is a great location to escape the crowds if you are willing to hike a half hour- forty five minutes. Use a small strike detector or #12-16 dry as the upper to suspend a #16-20 bead head PT, olive caddis emerger or larva pattern.
Alpine Lakes:
The lower elevation lakes will be open. I suggest you check with individual marinas and lodges to see what will be available in these areas. The weather will determine quite a bit during the opening weeks. June Lake Loop, Convict, Twin Lakes Bridgeport, open and fishable. The Mammoth Lakes Basin, Rock Creek Lake, South Lake will have limited, or NO vehicle access and heavy to partial ice on them. If you need cocktail ice or snow to fill your cooler and keep your beer cold, drive to 8500 feet and have your fill! I have a pic of Rock Creek Lake taken on 4/20 on the web at www.sierradrifters.com/fish.htm
Crowley Tributaries: McGee, Hilton, Convict
Skinny. I will save those of you who planned on getting up at O dark thirty to hike down to your favorite spot a bunch of time. There are only scattered large fish holding (mostly cutts) and other than the blow out high water years I do not remember seeing as little a number of fish in the tribs as this.
McGee Creek is literally 20 feet from my kitchen window and I have been observing rainbows in full spawn for over a month. The large, alpha bows are pretty much done for this spring and have returned to the lake, or never made it up.
Why? Crowley was very, very, very low last season and continues to be below normal for this time of year. It has filled slowly this year. The flows from the tribs have been low also due to a high snowpack and cool, dry spring. The ice has been off Crowley far earlier than normal this season and this phenomenon had the fish staging to go up the creeks early. The extremely low lake water level combined with a very shallow channel prohibited a strong migration of fish upstream into the creeks that early. Low water years suck. Check out the pics on my web at www.sierradrifters.com/fish.htm
Freestone Creeks:
Most are in great shape and the flows are more winter like. The lower elevation creeks will be good choices, Rock Creek, Bishop Creek, Convict Creek (near the lake) Robinson Creek, etc…The water will be cool, but I witnessed fish rising to midges on Rock Creek which is a good sign for early season fishers. Bright, flashy bead head patterns in the #14-18 range will get grabs from these opportunistic fish. Elk caddis patterns and Adams #14-16 are also good choices for these freestone rascals.
Bridgeport Reservoir:
I would like to see more water here for this time of year but it is what it is. The Bridge has been ice free for a long time and I have seen plenty of fish rolling near the dam and along the eastern shoreline as I come back form guiding the EW. I would suggest trolling perch fry patterns from a tube around, or near the marina area working towards the Walker inlet. My crystal ball shows more than one HUGE brown getting spanked from here before mid-May. There are sporadic chironomid hatches during the high pressure- warm days and historically still water nymphing the drop-off near Rainbow Pt. will get you into fish during the early season. Stay in 12 feet or more of water.
Jeffery has had a long, hard winter at the Bridgeport marina and may be a tad more "sheepish" than usual, so cut him some slack. He has the hot flies and last minute scoop so go say baaah for me. http://www.bridgeportreservoir.com/
Adobe Pond:
We are looking forward to another great season here and have secured the exclusive rights to guide this beautiful brown trout filled honey hole once again. We have trips booked for the early season and will post the results in future reports. If you enjoy private water, gorgeous surroundings and sight fishing to wild browns this is a must in 2009 for you. You can check it out online at http://www.sierradrifters.com/AdobeRanch.html
Last but not least…Crowley Lake
Unlike last year the gem of the Sierra will have a fast start. The chironomids are showing in force recently and with the ice free condition the lake has seen this spring we should have a good early start. Water temps are way above average for this time of year and the fish will be holding in shorter water for the beginning of the season. Fly fishers should focus on the 10-12 foot range around Sandy Pt. moving towards Alligator and into the North Arm. The Hiltons will also have concentrations of trout. The rainbows will be smaller than usual on average. This is due to last falls DFG plantings, but the numbers will make up for size this spring I am sure.
If you are planning on bringing your own boat be prepared for increased inspections with tighter restrictions. The blah, blah about the Quagga Mussel is continuing and will be a factor we are told by the ever environmentally sensitive LADWP.
If you are interested in learning the fundamentals of still water nymphing and the dynamics of Crowley Lake and some other trophy still water fisheries I guide; I suggest you pick up the April copy of Western Outdoors Magazine. This is the periodical fishing publication distributed by the fine folks at Western Outdoor News. I did a comprehensive article on Crowley and still water nymphing entitled; Be the fly: the midging method.
REVOLUTIONARY NEW FLY PATTERN FOR STILLWATER NYMPHING!!!
INTRODUCING THE "BROKE BACK MIDGE"
Sierra Drifters Crowley Lake Guide Chris Basso has established himself as an innovative and "break from the pack" still water expert. Bass began experimenting with an articulated midge pattern he created for still water nymphing on Crowley and other local fisheries. The results have proved to be incredible. Bass has embarrassed a number of guides fishing alongside them the last couple of years fishing this pattern. I must humbly attest to being one of them. Chris and I are exited to announce several chironomid patterns that will insure you great success on Crowley and other locations.
The broke back midge is truly a new concept in still water nymphing and will out fish side by side any of the conventional patterns especially when there is chop, or a nervous surface that provides movement for this imitation. The grabs you get on these patterns are more like takes on a streamer. You can hear your indicator go down they are so aggressive! You can check them out on our website click on http://www.sierradrifters.com/Fly%20Sales.htm. They will ONLY be available online, and at the fly shops we endorse. These shops and stores are listed at the end of this report and on our resource page http://www.sierradrifters.com/resources.htm. Innovators, not imitators. That's the SD credo. Any other person or business claiming to sell our innovative original flies or products is misleading you. I have a limited number available online immediately and the shops will have them in stock soon.
Sierra Drifters Flies are available at the following great fly shops and stores: Crowley Lake General Store in Crowley, Kittredge Sports in Mammoth Lakes, Malibu Fish'n Tackle in Thousand Oaks, Stroud's Tackle in San Diego, The Fishermen's Spot in Van Nuys, Bob Marriott's in Fullerton, Buz's Fly Shop Too in Bakersfield, & Crosby Lodge at Pyramid Lake, Nevada. There are links to these locations at www.sierradrifters.com/resources.htm.
Be the fly friends…
Tom Loe
Sierra Drifters Guide Service
760-935-4250
[email protected]
and Michele Loe, Sales Associate Prestige Properties of Mammoth [email protected]
Eastern Sierra Real Estate…. http://www.mammothlakes.com/mlRE/Agent_Michele.html
The Sierra Drifters Website & Email content is copyright © by Sierra Drifters Guide Service. No part of this site or page may be
Reproduced or redistributed in any way without written permission. All rights reserved.
© 1998-2009 Sierra Drifters Guide Service (Trademarked) all rights reserved
More Fishing Reports:
