Late September 2009 Fish'n Conditions
Capt. Tom Loe
September 16, 2009
Eastern Sierras - Freshwater Fishing Report
Howdy friends and Sierra Drifters. Here are the late September Fish'n Conditions from the Eastern High Sierra.
The fall spectacle is well underway. The amazing colors and lighting contrasts that one can encounter this time of year are portrayed everywhere. It is perhaps the most beautiful time of year to visit the Sierra and see how nature transforms itself in preparation for winter.
The weather has become very seasonable with just a few minor disturbances making their presence felt in the area. One should be prepared for near freezing conditions in the mornings, and warm comfortable afternoons this time of year (baring any significant storm fronts that are more than likely to begin tracking this way soon.)
The Fish'n conditions by local area vary quite a bit and I suggest you look at each individually. Some fisheries are peaking, while others are not doing so well due to high or low flows. Fall in the Eastern Sierra can be the highlight of the season in some areas, while it is the last dance for many others. Fill, Two Bug & Doug-R will all be available for guide trips in the Eastern Sierras while I am up north this Fall. Looking forward to fishing with you soon.
Fall Fly Fishing Trip at Eagle Lake, CA Booking Now
Eagle Lake is without any doubt the premier rainbow trout still water in California. The fish average 19 inches and weigh 2-3 pounds. You can expect 23 inch fish on a daily basis with some 25 inch models to add on your trophy photo wall. Eagle is the second largest natural body of water in the state. The Eagle Lake species of trout are indigenous to the lake and have been planted successfully in huge numbers all over California. Eagle has been managed by the Cal DFG as a trophy trout fishery and has special regulations to insure quality fishing during the season. I hold great regard to the conscientious local guides, fisherman, business folk, and agencies that look after this incredible resource.
June of 2009 was an incredible trip at Eagle and our clients averaged 61, yup- I said SIXTY ONE Eagle Lake trophy trout to the net each day! I had a guided trip that logged eighty seven (87) rainbows caught and released in a single day, with the slow trip being 32 ELT's. I logged thirty guide trips here last June and was reluctant to leave. It was surreal, and if you enjoy fly fishing for big bows on one of the most beautiful lakes in the nation, here is your opportunity to get in on the action. Eagle is my favorite still water destination-no question.
This fall looks to be one of the best ever at Eagle and we are going to be here again as we have done so for numerous years. We currently have a few openings for the October trip click on www.sierradrifters.com/EagleLakeCalifornia.htm for the details if you are interested.
Road trip:
Speaker Tom Loe - Sierra Drifters Guide Service
When: Saturday, September 26th
Where: So Cal Fly Fishing
The So-Cal Fly Shop in San Diego 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/
Please click on www.sierradrifters.com/fish.htm for all the great recent pics for this report.
Crowley Lake:
There have been mornings around the boat docks where the Drifters fleet of "fish magnets" are moored that I almost believe we are in the Everglades swamp. I keep waiting for a report of a gator sighting! The algae is as thick as it gets this September and it has really made fishing on Crowley tough at times. Kind of reeks like cow manure. Contrary to common sense and observation… we are told that the couple thousand or so head of cattle grazing and relieving themselves around the lake have little influence on the water quality. Please!!! Hard to believe this is a "drinking water reservoir". It is truly ironic that the algae is a necessary evil and eventually becomes food for the thriving aquatic insect population. Algae is what makes Crowley and Bridgeport such fish growing machines.
Despite the horrid surface conditions most days on Crowley we are still getting into consistent trophy sized fish. The numbers are down for sure this season; this has been the case for the last couple of years and has little to do with water quality, but rather a decrease in the amount of fish being planted the last few seasons.
Streamer fishing has been good around the outskirts of the weed lines in McGee and the Green Banks areas when the "goo" is not thick enough to coat your flies before they sink. Trolling or casting perch fry imitations #10-12, or callibaetis nymphs #12-14 as a trailer or point fly have been working well for the limited amount of tubers I see fishing Crowley these days.
Still water nymphing has been iffy most days and locating clean water is essential if you are a bobber lobber. There are still good emergences of chironomids and callibaetis near the immediate inlet sections. Gillies #18, broke backs #16, tiger midges-all good stuff. If you are fortunate enough to find some clean water you might also hang a #14-16 Punk Perch as an upper fly especially around the weeds. You will locate fish in depths starting around 9 feet and out to 14 feet. The lake has been dropping quickly due to the high release rates on the Lower Owens River. The weed lines are now about ten feet and falling, but you may need to move out another foot or two to find some clean bottom. The lake level remained very high this year well into early September and the Owens Channel and McGee Creek Channels have filled with weed in many areas.
The best scenario currently is to have a strong westerly wind blow for six-twelve hours prior to fishing the North Arm, or McGee Bay. If there is a steady south or east wind- check out Layton Springs or Crooked Creek for cleaner water. We will need to see the water temps drop before we see a significant change in the conditions.
Upper Owens River:
The flows have gone up a tad and this is surely a good thing. Water clarity has also improved as the irrigation ditches that flood the pastures are being shut down.
Some Crowley trout that are sick of the algae are beginning to move up into the river and we are seeing some quality fish in the larger pools. Nymphing with flashback PT's, and crystal tigers #16-20 are working very well under a strike detector. The numbers have been very good for the "schoolies" the last couple of trips compared to those in August. You can bank on the streamer fishing to improve as the air gets cooler also. Keep those #6-12 streamer patterns near the undercut banks, or swing them into the slow/deep sections at the tail outs of the larger pools.
Fair action on the surface with caddis or hopper patterns on the less breezy afternoons, can get good if you have some overcast to dampen the shadows. The fish are larger overall around the monument, but more numerous above the confluence of Hot Creek.
Lower Owens River:
Raging. Down a little but still running at 530cfs below the dam and right at 650 below Bishop Creek. Wading sucks at this release rate, so you may want to shine the wild trout section off until it goes down. The fish adjust relatively quickly to the increase in water, but you will need a chunk of battleship chain to get those nymphs down near the holds. If you must fish here, I suggest hitting the "Olympic sized pools" and low light times of the day when you observe fish rising in the eddies and soft water. Use caddis patterns or midge clusters on the surface. You can click on www.sierradrifters.com/fish.htm for a link to the LADWP flow rates.
Drifting is another issue and we can have good action using larger streamer patterns with heavy sinking tip lines as long as the water temps remain warm and the fish stay active. The "dip and strip" method was designed for challenging conditions and presentations on the Lower Owens and works well at high flows in the fall. We are currently booking fall drift trips.
East Walker River:
Flows got bumped to 180 cfs recently; they have been bouncing around give or take 50 all season. Still good for numbers with most of the fish being browns. Nymphing under an indicator is best with a tandem fly rig. Sierra Drifters Doug R and Two Bug Doug D entered the Bridgeport Fisheries Enhancement Tourney again this year and Doug R got big fish honors on the river with a 23 inch brown. The picture is posted at www.sierradrifters.com/fish.htm. He used a pattern created by Two Bug, damn thing looks like a Boa Constrictor! Two Bug swears by it as the upper fly. Kind of like a San Juan Worm on steroids. Broken back midges work great here as well as flashback and standard issue PT's #14-20. Proper weighting is the key to the EW, as well as a drag free drift. Let's hope the water lords keep those flows above 100 into November. It will be special for sure!
Bridgeport Reservoir:
Sierra Drifters graduates Marge and Denny Kamens cleaned house for the BFEF tourney. Biggest and most, impressive. They even caught trout to win! (The Still Water Classic at Crowley first and second place individual was won by perch) Water levels are dropping and as the temps cool you could see some great fall tubing around the dam and launch ramp areas. Perch fry patterns, leeches, and damsel fly nymphs used with sinking tip, or medium rate full sinks.
Hot Creek:
Less water to fish due to the protruding weeds but still mighty fine most days. Dual dries, dry droppers, or parachute mayfly patterns #16-22. #22 gillies, or midge pupa patterns in this miniscule size get grabs here tied on 6X. Stretch those leaders out every cast and keep them 10 feet or more.
San Joaquin:
You can currently drive in with your own vehicle but will still have to pay the Ranger man (or lady) at the gate. Flows are getting skinny and it has become more difficult to fool the fish in the shallow riffles. The pocket water is limited and you will see the fish begin to move into the larger pools as the air begins to cool and flows continue to drop. Dry dropper bead head rigs make sense for this kind of condition. Do NOT leave any thing that even resembles food in your car while you are away, the bears are on the prowl everywhere.
Adobe Pond:
The fall bite here is the best as the wild browns get very aggressive prior to spawning. We also get lower sun angles and this will increase the "sweet spot" time of day as fall rolls on. We got the keys to the gate baby! This is private water and one of my favorite places to fish. We guide this from our drift boats and sight fish on a spring creek fed still water in a secluded canyon. It is open until November 15th. http://www.sierradrifters.com/AdobeRanch.html
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 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: Bridgeport Reservoir Marina, 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, Stroud's Tackle and the So Cal Fly Shop in San Diego & 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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