July 2009 Fish'N Conditions
Capt. Tom Loe
July 11, 2009
Eastern Sierras - Freshwater Fishing Report
July Fish'N Conditions 2009
Howdy friends and Sierra Drifters. I hope you are all having a great summer with plenty of time slated to fish the Eastern High Sierra.
The fishing has been improving in most areas as the summer rolls and the run-off from snowmelt begins to decrease. The weather has moderated and become more seasonal with the abundance of thunderstorms we experienced in June gone for the time being.
Look forward to very warm days and pleasant evenings if you plan on visiting the high country. Make sure you have insect repellant, these blood sucking rascals are out in force in most areas. The Owens Valley and Bridgeport regions can be scorching during the afternoons; you should plan on fishing only the early mornings and late afternoons here.
So-Cal Trip info:
The So-Cal Fly Shop is currently stocked with the hottest Sierra Drifters flies for you to use this summer here in the Sierra. Stop by Peter Piconi's awesome fly fishing store and get the hot scoop for this region, as well as other prime fisheries he caters to. http://www.socalflyfishing.net/
From Peter Piconi at the So Cal Fly Shop in San Diego:
Dear Friends,
Tom Loe's presentation for this weekend will be rescheduled for Saturday, September 26th. This promises to be an informative event, be sure to mark your calenders!
Eastern Sierras - Tom Loe
Speaker Tom Loe - Sierra Drifters Guide Service
When: Saturday, September 26th
Where: So Cal Fly Fishing
(Directions can be found at www.socalflyfishing.net)
More Great News for San Diegans! Rumor has it the "Mighty Osprey" Bill Stroud will re-open Stroud's Tackle in late July 2009. Bill has decided to open on a limited basis initially. Stroud had temporarily closed the shop due to the passing of his beloved wife Eileen recently. The Mighty Osprey had plenty of friendly persuasion from some of his great friends at the San Diego Fly Fishers to re-open Stroud's Tackle on Morena Blvd. You can contact Stroud's at 619-276-4822 and he will get back to you in the meantime.
Please click on www.sierradrifters.com/fish.htm for all the great pics on this report.
Special Summertime Fly Fishing Seminars for Beginners!!!
The guide staff at Sierra Drifters is offering introductory fly fishing classes at a tremendous discount to novice and first time fly fishers. This one, or two day session consists of four hour classes on the fundamentals like knot tying, leader make up, how to rig for dry and wet fly presentations, and basic casting instruction from a certified FFF instructor and our top guides. The second day will be conducted on the water and will include detailed instruction on fishing techniques and presentations, local entomology, and how to read water and holding areas.
Day one will be located on the beautiful private water at the Sierra Drifters headquarters overlooking Crowley Lake on McGee Creek. It will be an outdoor classroom environment overlooking the SD's trophy pond and 15 pound rainbows! We have a casting deck and will limit class sizes to no more than ten students each session.
Day two will be on the water instruction at the legendary Hot Creek fishery, or the blue ribbon waters of the Upper Owens River.
Dates available for these clinics are 7-31/8-1, 8-7/8, 8-14/15, 8-21/22, and 8-28/29. The 8-28/29 date will be dedicated to basics on float tubing and will include on the water tube fishing for day two. We will provide tubes at no cost for this session if you do not have one. You must provide waders for the tube class; you will not need them for the other clinics. You must book two days for the float tube class. You may book a single day for either session on the other dates. Classes will begin at 2 pm on Fridays (day one) and run for about four hours. The streamside clinics will start at 8am on Saturdays and will also be about four hours. Cost will be $125.00 per person each day. This is a $145.00 savings off our 2009 half day singles rate! We encourage you to bring your own gear, but if you do not have any we can provide it. A fishing license is NOT needed for the clinic at Drifters HQ; however you must provide a valid CA fishing license for the streamside clinic.
If you have been considering learning how to fly fish this is a great deal and will provide you with enough basic knowledge to begin your adventures in fly fishing. Please call or email for additional details and booking arrangements.
Crowley Lake:
Who shall be crowned the "lord of the fly" for 2009 at Crowley Lake? Some of the finest fly rods the Eastern Sierra has to offer will be having some friendly competition to raise money for the fisheries enhancement of Crowley Lake. The 3rd Annual Stillwater Classic is slated for Saturday, August 8, 2009. Click on www.sierradrifters.com/fish.htm to print out an entry form and the rules.
There have been some very good and steady snap periods when the extensive algae bloom clears out of McGee Bay after a sustained westerly wind; but all in all Crowley is very slow on average for fly fishers with a very limited amount of quality water open most days. It is essential that you fish in the weed/algae free creek channels. The huge weed beds extend well out into 16 feet of water depth in McGee and the North Arm. Combined with the severe algae bloom it limits the fishable water to only the defined creek channels in both areas. A Mammoth local who was tubing told me the other day he had never seen it this bad. He said his kick out from the launch area to McGee was a nightmare due to heavy weeds. It has been worse, but this year is noteworthy.
On a positive note, you can expect the conditions to improve here in about two-three weeks. The water level needs to recede and expose the weed beds. The algae will begin to die off within this period and a larger less confined area will emerge.
The callibaetis hatch is great this year and I suggest using our flashback PT's or Killa Baetis patterns while stillwater nymphing in the creek inlets. Pheasant tail patterns are solid representations of the swimming still water mayfly nymph and work well while stillwater nymphing or streamer fishing. A textured or nervous surface is best for this pattern. The chironomids are coming off and still on the trout's dinner plate daily, but not in large hatches due to the elevated water levels.
There are also a good number of tiny chubs, dink perch fry, damsel fly and dragon fly nymphs moving about so casting a small punk perch or damsel nymph pattern will do well along the weed lines if you can find some clear water without a boat parked on it.
It has become such a small area of fishable water that a couple of Crowley only guides have been going out early before the main gate opens at 6am and tossing marker buoys on a couple of the best spots in the McGee Creek channel to secure positions for themselves. They leave their markers unattended in the water and go pick up clients at the Fish Camp dock expecting to return to these locations. Leaving a marker buoy is not illegal according to the Mono County Sheriffs who also operate the patrol boat for the Department of Boating and Water Ways. They have informed me they have NO exclusive rights to this water just because they have marked a spot. The spots are open for all on a first come basis. You may anchor right on top or in close proximity to the unattended buoy(s) according to the law. The Sherriff will be speaking to these individuals about this matter so we won't have disputes the on the lake pertaining to who has rights to the water.
Upper Owens River:
Pretty good fishing here lately. The flows and water clarity are excellent. The fish are on the small side with the average rainbow running about 10 inches, but they are eager to hit the caddis and may flies that are blanketing the water most days. The afternoons have been very breezy and I suggest you make an early start this time of year. Plenty of skeeters here unfortunately, so make sure you are protected.
As the sun gets higher later in the morning switch from a dry/dropper bead head or dry fly rig to a tandem, well weighted nymph set up under a strike indicator. PT's, tiger midges, Broke Back midges, are all good choices #16-22. There are some really nice browns holding in the deeper pools as well so don't be surprised if you hook into a larger model while nymphing.
Lower Owens River:
It has been scorching down in the valley so we have been reluctant to drift the river recently. Bishop Creek is raging so the traditional drift boat sections are running high below the confluence to the Owens. The outflows from PV remain remarkable low for this time of year; they recently dropped well below 200cfs. at the outlet. If you are around the wild trout section it would be a good call to hit this section in the early mornings and very late afternoons at these low release rates. Caddis imitations, PMD's, and hoppers will all get it done on the top.
Pleasant Valley Reservoir:
Big surprise here. Two Bug Doug did a tube trip here recently and spanked them with clients. No lack of stockers around the launch ramp and inlet sections and the tubing is wide open for these planted fish. Streamers and still water nymphing are good choices. The river section is higher than usual due to the run-off from Rock/Pine Creek. Fish along the weed lines and hit the lower light periods. Punk Perch, Loebergs, Broke Backs and crystal emergers or PT's under the indicator 8-11 feet.
East Walker River:
I suggest you check out the flows prior to fishing here for sure. They will fluctuate greatly here this time of year and have a tendency to trend upward especially if the weather gets hot. At 250cfs and below the EW fishes great. The fish will move out of the large pools and spread over the flats and riffles. Above 350cfs the EW becomes a different animal and may not be your cup of tea- although I know several hard core EW addicts that love the big water and the challenges it presents.
Caddis, PMD's, damsels, chubs, perch fry, and terrestrials especially if the water is on the rise. The rising water will wash the beetles, crickets, hoppers, ants, etc… off the once dry brush and you can have some exciting opportunities to fish larger patterns during rising flows.
The late afternoons will give you a look at what is holding in the large pools and eddies. There can be some spectacular dry fly fishing when the shadows drape over the water.
Skeeters down here as well, and one report of a rattlesnake below the first bridge.
West Walker River:
Still on the high side but improving rapidly. The fishing is good in the Pikel Meadows and Chris Flat areas for stockers and the WW has been recently flavored with some larger Alpers trout this year in the planted areas. Streamers in the big pools (I like Loebergs here) or dry dropper bead head rigs in the softer water and tailouts of the larger riffles. PT's, Broke Backs, olive zebras, and dark tigers work well as nymph's #16-18.
Hot Creek:
Business as usual here. Conditions are excellent with perfect flows and good water clarity. Mornings are best with may fly imitations, dry droppers with scuds, small olive caddis emergers or larva patterns and PT's as a nymph.
Afternoons can provide you with more open water, but the wind has been abnormally brutal late in the day this year.
Adobe Pond:
Recent afternoon sessions here have been very windy and this has brought the fish counts down for sure. If you get a light afternoon wind here, or sundown glass off this place erupts! It remains perhaps my favorite place to fish in this area currently and the wild browns are incredibly beautiful and love to jump. Adobe Canyon is gorgeous this time of year and the summer sunset sessions we do are memorable. Give us a call if you are interested, we got the keys to the gate baby!
http://www.sierradrifters.com/AdobeRanch.html
San Joaquin River:
The SJ is still on the high water side but is improving. You need to focus on the softer water areas and meadow sections. The pocket water is just too turbulent and will be for a couple more weeks unless it gets very cool. Fish larger dries in the #12-16 range and keep them riding high with dry shake. You can also fish a tandem nymph rig under a strike detector. Flashback PT's, crystal zebras or tigers work pretty well here.
Sotcher Lake will no longer be planted due to the Pac Rivers/Bio Diversity issue with the DFG.
Bridgeport Reservoir:
The conditions are great here this year and we are happy to see a "full pool" for a change. Reports here are mixed, but overall the fishing is way better currently than at the same time last year for sure. Fish the drop-off near Rainbow Pt. working the weed lines into Buckeye Bay and the Robinson Creek Channel. The Walker Channel is harder to locate but is also producing at times. Callibaetis and damsel flies are king right now and stripping a streamer is out fishing the still water nymph gang from what I hear. Some nice rainbows are showing in the channel. It has been getting very warm at the Bridge and early mornings are best. Take the heat of the day off- and if it is not blowing a gale head towards Buckeye when the west breeze picks up and hang those nymphs under an indicator in the channel. Drifters Killa baetis, PT's, broke backs, and damsels are all good choices right now.
June Lake Loop, Mammoth Lakes Basin
These alpine lakes are getting a good jag of Alpers trout to subsidize the lack of DFG fish. They are suckers for brightly colored, flashy streamers #8-12 fished with a full sink or heavy sinking tip line. The weather has become very nice with the exception of some stiff afternoon winds so layer up and get out early.
Rock Creek area:
Flows are coming down on Rock Creek. The pocket water is still tough to fish, however the meadow sections and big pools have good numbers of small stockers, Alpers rainbows, and some feisty wild browns that are nailing dry dropper rigs (use a #18-20 olive crystal caddis larva) and dries in the shadows. The mosquitoes are savage down here for sure, keep covered in this area. The lake is also fishing well near the inlet and along the south shoreline drop-off from a tube. Pick up some Spruce-A-Bu's and Loebergs and troll them around the ten foot level in these areas. If you get bit, take note where you are by using structure on the shoreline and remain in this area. School fish have a tendency to hold in certain areas for extended periods of time until the conditions change. Don't leave fish to find fish!
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
We have finally got SD guide Chris Basso's new "Broke Back" articulated midge patterns to most of the great fly shops that carry our time tested guide flies. They are listed below and have been updated. The Pac Fly people have been working overtime to keep up with the orders! These patterns are truly superior to most midge imitations and really spank the trout when you have a small chop, or nervous surface condition. 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: Crowley Lake Fish Camp at Crowley Lake, Crowley Lake General Store & Deli in Crowley, Kittredge Sports in Mammoth Lakes, Bob Marriott's Flyfishing Store in Fullerton, Malibu Fish'n Tackle in Thousand Oaks, The Fishermen's Spot in Van Nuys, & Buz's Fly Shop Too in Bakersfield. 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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