Fish'n Conditions Troutmas 2009 Report
Capt. Tom Loe
December 6, 2009
Eastern Sierras - Freshwater Fishing Report
Happy holidays and best fishes to all in 2010 from the guide staff at Sierra Drifters. We would like to express a very sincere thank you to those who fished with us in 2009 and look forward to memorable fishing adventures in 2010.
Other than one significant storm in late November we have had an extremely mild fall/early winter transition. I had mid fifties at lunch time on a December 2nd guide trip on the Upper Owens! Banana belt baby. The pattern is set to become more seasonable with promises of significant snowfall for the first half of December. Cloud good Bwana, we catch big fish for you!
The general trout season ended on November 15th in the Sierra, but we have a ton of quality water that remains open to year around fishing. We will be guiding the Upper Owens, Lower Owens, Hot Creek, and the East Walker Rivers all winter as well as Pleasant Valley Reservoir and the Gorge section. You can click on the Closer Look Tab for a comprehensive overview of many of the waters we guide. http://www.sierradrifters.com/closer_look.htm
Please click on www.sierradrifters.com/fish.htm to view all the great photos for this report.
The 2009 season will go down as mixed. The East Walker River fished extremely well all year due to a massive planting of brown trout by the DFG in the fall of 2008. Hot Creek was another highlight in the spring and fall and continues to fish very well. Water conditions were excellent for most of the spring and summer in these locations. The Upper and Lower Owens River were excellent last fall and winter due to a "jettison" of catchable sized rainbows planted by the embattled DFG Hot Creek facility. These areas will unfortunately not enjoy the same enhancement as last season. All of these fisheries remain open year around and should continue to fish well dependant upon seasonable weather changes.
Several areas fished below average due to a substantial decrease in the allotments of stocked fish. Crowley Lake and most of the regional drive to lakes and freestone creeks suffered from reductions in total fish planted. Do not confuse the term "full allotment" with what should be described as "historical averages". Numbers of fish being planted are way down the last few years from their historical averages. The fish are smaller and the plantings less frequent by the DFG.
The bastard water level cycle was also a key factor for the adverse way in which Crowley fished this season. The spring and fall algae blooms were prolonged and blanketed the entire lake with a thick green mat that never seemed to dissipate. Extensive aquatic weed beds grew well out to the 18 foot depth and filled in the submerged creek channels. This over extended the poor fishing conditions and limited the prime water to very miniscule areas during the peak fly fishing periods.
Bridgeport Reservoir had an overall great year due to good water levels for a change. Couple this with an aggressive localized enhancement program (that looks to expand next season) and you have the ingredients that make for a solid season. We had some great trips here last summer and enjoyed quality fishing with uncrowded water.
A "state of the art" privatized fisheries enhancement facility I.A.G. (abbreviation for Inland Aquaculture Group) leased from Mono County and located at the Conway Ranch near Lee Vining is currently providing quality catchable sized rainbows with plans to grow brown and cutthroat trout in the immediate future. Expansion is continuing here in anticipation of continuing decreases in DFG enhancement. Funding for these quality, but pricey fish will come from a variety of local and private sources-not your fishing licenses at this point in time. I.A.G has sold fish to the Crowley Still Water Classic and F.A.T.I.T tournaments. These are local events that promote fishery enhancement through direct participation and donation.
The Genesis for how the state hatchery system will operate in the future will be unveiled in January of 2010. The DFG has been mandated to comply with a state Supreme Court decision describing how planted fish affect native or threatened species. The DFG has stopped planting many sensitive regions already, and must prove that currently stocked fisheries have not adversely altered a specific habitat, or would do so in the future.
There are several alternative formats the DFG has prepared for the court. They are complicated and will no doubt change the landscape greatly with regards to plantings in some areas. Don't be surprised if we get a sucker punch or two - the popular opinion is that the Eastern Sierra will be managed pretty much the same, but may see further decreases in "allotments" as the states hatchery system faces fiscal headwinds as a whole.
Invasive species and parasites like the New Zealand Mud Snail, the Quagga Mussel and whirling disease have caused major implications in our state's enhancement programs. The Hot Creek facility was once deemed the "Big Kahuna" of trout hatcheries in California. It was designated NZMS positive and is no longer able to supply fish to NZMS negative waters. In addition the natural disaster that claimed the Mt. Whitney facility a while back put the kibosh on a substantial source for brood stock trout on the eastside. No plans for bringing this facility back on line in the near future.
You can bank on significant changes as to how you access a particular fishery, either by boat, tube, or wading in this state and others in the not too distant future. We have already seen inspections for boats on many of our state's reservoirs. Look for increased scrutiny and regulation in other areas as well.
Special Deals:
Back by popular demand for the 2010 season "The Square Deal Guide Package" Pre-pay for 4, two person full day trips during the 2010 calendar year and you save $180.00 off our regular rates. $350.00 bones for a full day guided trip and we supply all your gear! There are some restrictions for special trips so call or write us for details please.
We will be happy to customize a gift certificate for that special angler this holiday season. Guide trips, custom fly boxes, fly fishing clinics…We can make it very easy to help you give a special fishing gift to your family or friends. Please call or email.
For a limited time we will be offering a special rate for walk and wade trips this winter. Six hours during the off season will put you in the "sweet spot" (10am-4pm) most days and get you into some great winter time fishing. $310.00 for two anglers and we will supply all your fishing gear! This is a great value for our normally half day rate. Please call or email for details.
Fly Fishing Clinics for beginners and intermediates:
If you or someone you know wants to learn the basics of fly casting, knot tying, and the fundamentals of wet and dry fly fishing from full time fly fishing professionals, here is a great opportunity!
We will be conducting casting and knot tying clinics located at Sierra Drifters beautiful private trophy pond overlooking Crowley Lake at McGee Creek for next season. You may enroll for an on the water instructional seminar in addition to the pond session for the second day.
These clinics were a big hit last year and we had high marks from those who attended the classes. We are adding additional dates for next season and have greatly reduced the cost thanks to last years demand. The four hour clinics cost $100.00 per person/day. You may choose a single day if you wish, and we will limit the classes to five students per guide to insure you get excellent personal instruction. These classes are a great way to learn the basics of fly fishing by pros at a very affordable cost. 2010 dates available are: May 21&22, June 4&5, 18&19, July 2&3, 16&17, 30&31, August 13&14, 27&28, September 3&4. Please contact us by phone or email for more details and enrollment; we can customize family or group clinics to suit your needs.
Upper Owens:
Sensational for big fish. Check out the beasts taken on recent guide trips here. Numbers are a tad down from last year but should improve as Crowley gets iced over. There is a fair showing of midge sippers feeding on top during the late mornings in the eddies and soft water. Nuke the deeper pools with flashback PT's, crystal tigers or zebras, egg patterns and broken backs fished under an indicator as tandem nymph rigs. Cover the water with streamers from an upstream position and do a lot of walking. Hit a section with three casts and if you don't get bit…move on! Loebergs, Spruce-a-bu's, Vanderleeches #8-10. Keep your shadows off the water!
Lower Owens:
Flows are bouncing around from 85cfs to 130cfs. PV reservoir is really high and when they get done lowering it to around 4384-83' level I expect it to settle around 100cfs for a period of time unless the winter from hell arrives. Please click on www.sierradrifters.com/fish.htm for a link to the DWP flows.
The wild fish are on the chew and it has been good for aerobatic wild browns recently. The substantial decrease in planted rainbows in this area has lowered the fish counts overall this fall. We are still seeing about twenty each drift on average with a great day being forty. The bigs are really camera shy so far this year, however we have had several come up and give us the fin before throwing the hook recently! The weather has been spectacular for the most part in the Owens Valley and this has made for some pleasant days drifting the LO this winter. Daryl B your drift trip in the hurricane does not count, but you still did over thirty!
There is a trico (mini mayfly) hatch each day as well as the last generations of BWO's- blue wings showing around lunchtime. The midges are doing their thing as well on the sunny days. #16-20 fb PT's, beaded hares ear, olive zebras, WD-40's are all good choices for nymphing.
Hot Creek:
Access continues to be excellent and this is a great time to fish here for love struck browns! Take your time and scout out the open runs and channels in the weeds. The low sun angle this time of year gives you more latitude for sight fishing the staged up brownies. Any significant snowfall this time of year will make the canyon section a pain in the caboose to hike into so get it while you can. Work scud, egg, or dubbed nymph patterns with red or orange built in.
Pleasant Valley Reservoir:
Freeze tubing has been fair at times but as mentioned before not as good as in seasons past due to a decrease in stocked fish. The level is really high and this has made the inlet section difficult to fish. It will be a while before the level drops making access and presentations easier. SD guide Chris Basso fished here recently and saw a few decent browns while averaging fifteen fish a day using a combination of still water nymphing and streamers.
The Gorge:
Quite a few people hanging off the rocks (climbers) but almost vacant with fisherman. The foliage has thinned out along the banks and this makes it quite a bit easier to fish this small tailwater. Dry/dropper bead head nymph combos are best for most sections here. Make your presentations facing upstream beginning from the tailouts casting-working progressively further towards the pools head. They can be spooky here, keep on their tails and you will catch more.
For Sale:
One of our "Fish Magnet" bay boats is now for sale. Doug-R has upgraded to a 24' model and is selling his 2006 Ranger Bay Boat. This 20' boat is equipped with a Yamaha 150 4-stroke outboard, Lowrance X-25c fish finder and GPS-2000, Motorguide trolling motor, Standard Horizon VHF radio, Bennett trim tabs, 3 batteries w/ 3-bank charger and voltmeter, Clarion stereo w/ Bose 6" speakers (w/ipod interface), live well, (2) claw anchors, (3) Willie gunwale mounted fly rod holders, (2) Ranger adjustable swivel seats, console cover and 3 seat covers, Ranger Trail 2 axle trailer and full boat and engine weather cover. It has never been in saltwater, but can fish the southern California bays just as well as Crowley Lake for all you saltwater addicts out there. Contact Doug for more info at: (760) 935-4450 or email [email protected]
We are also selling flies online this season for your convenience. http://www.sierradrifters.com/Fly%20Sales.htm. The 2009 Sierra Drifters Flies are available at the following great fly shops and stores this winter: Bob Marriott's Flyfishing Store in Fullerton, Malibu Fish'n Tackle in Thousand Oaks, The Fishermen's Spot in Van Nuys, Stroud's Tackle and the So Cal Fly Shop in San Diego. 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.mammothrealestateonline.com/Nav.aspx/Page=/About/Default.aspx
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