March 2008 Fish Report
Capt. Tom Loe
March 26, 2008
Eastern Sierras - Freshwater Fishing Report
March 26, 2008
Howdy friends and Sierra Drifters. Best fishes to all for this March 2008 fish report from the Eastern High Sierra.
The weather pattern has once again become more stable after another series of cold storms dumped more snow and rain into the region. The last group of storms deposited a few inches of snow in the upper valleys and conditions have not changed much around Hot Creek, the Upper Owens R., and the East Walker R. With the longer days the snow will begin to melt off at a faster pace than before and conditions will improve greatly on the EW, but will not alter much with regards to road conditions in the Hot Creek/Upper Owens areas. The morning temps remain very cold with low teens registering on Crowley Lake and Bridgeport Reservoir. It has been a very cold winter here and the ice and snow remain very thick in this area currently.
If it gets warm for an extended period of time in April and early May look for moderate to heavy early run-off on the moving waters due to the substantial low elevation snowpack this season. The issue this season especially in the Crowley area is the above average amount of wind blown snow drifts that have accumulated in the valley. If the trend of cold weather continues you may see some areas that are historically accessible for the opener not easy to reach around here. Crowley and Bridgeport will thaw very late this year and may not have a wide open start due to the late ice. It will be a solid year on Crowley and Bridgeport overall with a good summer and fall to look forward to.
Speaking of Crowley Lake this summer…The Second Annual Crowley Lake Still Water Classic is on the books for August 9th which is the second Saturday in the month of August. We will release the details and structure of the Classic, the 2008 rules, and how to register in future reports. For all of you who participated in the First Annual Still Water Classic the format will be pretty much the same. There is however, going to be some surprises and additional great prizes for this season's fisheries enhancement tournament.
The premise of the Still Water Classic is a catch and release fly fishing tournament open to boats, and float tubes that has been created to provide funding for the fisheries benefit of Crowley Lake. Last seasons event raised $10,000.00 that went directly into the purchase of brown trout from the locally based Inland Aquaculture Group. Those 2400 hundred fish were planted last fall and are going to provide some great opportunities this season and in the future.
If you fish or cherish Crowley like we do, or are affiliated with a club or organization, or if you own a business that benefits from this resource please consider participating or donating in the Classic this year and help maintain the five star fisheries rating that Crowley has earned over the years. Feel free to contact us by email if you have questions after we post the rules and registration links.
The rainbows are beginning to migrate and the populations of mature fish will increase greatly in the next couple of weeks in the tributaries of Crowley. The year around waters like Hot Creek and the Upper Owens R. will remain difficult to access in March and April. Sticking the peak of the spring fishing in some areas will require you to put forth the effort and hike to your favorite bend or pool in the Long Valley region this season as these fisheries will probably be washed out in late April/early May.
This report just in from Two Bug Doug: Here is an updated fish report for the Upper Owens. Paul Schackman, and Mark Tanabe of Santa Monica did very well on their recent trip with me landing many fish nymphing, lots of fish on dries and a few on streamers. Snow still covers the banks but is very packed and easy to walk and hike from Benton bridge up river. Fish are very active and eager to eat any nymphs we threw at them. The BWO hatch has been like clockwork mid day with rising fish throughout the river making them easy targets for some very productive dry fly fishing. During mid week, crowds are not bad, but the word is out on the BWO hatch so your weekends can get busy. I would suggest clients to book trips on the Upper Owens if weather is sunny, and also to book mid week to avoid the traffic.
The East Walker is currently fishing good and should fish even better as soon as it warms up and the flows get bumped up. This will spread the fish out more and make for more diverse water to cover. Nymphing with PT's, Silver Streaks, WD-40's and zebra midges in the #18-20 range will work in the deeper pools and runs. As I said before this area is at a lower elevation and will see the influence of spring sooner than HC and the UO.
East Walker March 17, 2008
I expect conditions to be pretty much normal in the alpine regions unless the Sierra gets hammered by some late storms. A very strong inversion layer has been the factor in keeping it cold in the valleys this winter.
The Lower Owens River: March 17th
I have some sad news to report regarding a fire that has burned about 1200 acres along Chalk Bluff Road on the river. Most of the wild trout section has burned. The fire started Sunday March 16th around noon and is still smoldering this afternoon. The pictures below (long distance) show where the fire started. It spared the campground and the footbridge. It emanated about 1/2 mile downstream from the footbridge. Sources tell me that it was contained upstream from the cement plant.
fire still smoldering on March 17th...
Inyo Register http://www.inyoregister.com/content/view/90875/
Fire burns 1,200 acres near bluffs
Wednesday, 19 March 2008
Inyo Sheriffs are now reporting the people that started the blaze have turned themselves in. The fire was started from a camp stove that tipped over during heavy winds. It is illegal to have a campfire or a camp stove on any section of the river. This is the fourth fire in three weeks on the river in the Bishop area. All have been from man made causes. We are bummed to say the least. The drift boat sections have only one section that has burned and are in great shape and fishing well for those concerned about booked trips this spring.
Prevention a hot topic after recent river fires
Wednesday, 12 March 2008
By Ken Koerner
InyoRegister Staff
"One fire policy specific to the Owens Valley has not changed. "These last three vegetation fires along the river were not caused by lightning or some other natural cause and they were all on land owned by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power," Thompson said. "And the rules that govern the public's access and use of those lands has always prohibited overnight camping and all sources of fire, whether that be a campfire or even a camp stove. If people paid proper attention to that fact, we'd have far fewer firefighters being put in harms way – and we'd be saving the taxpayers a lot of money, too."
According to the U.S. Forest Service, within the Inyo National Forest fires are allowed with certain regulations being followed. Campfire permits are required year-round and that includes the use of charcoal barbeques and gas stoves "outside of developed recreation areas." Persons with a campfire permit that has not expired must check for any current restrictions that may be in place at the time of their visit to Inyo National Forest. Smokers are reminded to "grind out cigarettes, cigars and pipe tobacco in the dirt – never on a stump or log."
"Most importantly," Kong said, "always follow the recommended campfire process of ‘Drown, Stir and Feel' the fire to ensure that it's dead-out."
Campfire permits and additional information on fire prevention can be obtained at any U.S. Forest Service visitor center."
Recent Drift Boat Trips:
Two Bug also reports a great day on a recent Drift trip with Father, Kurt Popke and 9yr old daughter Catalina ( Cat ) of Wilton Ca. On this drift trip, Cat got the fish, 8 rainbows to the net dipping and stripping, but more impressive was this Brown that she fooled on the dry, BWO. Kurt managed to land many fish as well with this nice Alpers.
"Tom,
I wanted to let you know how impressed I was with 'Two Bug' Doug Dolan on our March 7th Lower Owens drift trip. I'm a self-mistaught novice fly fisherman, and my 9-year-old daughter Catalina had never fished with a fly rod before— So Doug certainly had his hands full. To say he is a great guide doesn't even begin to cover it. Yes, he kept us in fish all day (including a chunky Alpers, which is the biggest trout I've ever landed), but he also put on a full day clinic for us, teaching Cat and I the Dip-and-Strip, shot and indicator nymphing and dry fly techniques. Doug's teaching style is so effective and low impact that Cat never got frustrated. She had the hot hand at the Dip-and-Strip and even hooked and landed a beautiful brown on a BWO dun pattern during the midday hatch. I knew she was having fun (see attached photo), but at the end of a full day on the water I worried she might have some regrets about not joining the rest of our family playing in the snow at Mammoth that day. As we were pulling up to the take-out spot I told her we'd go sledding the next day. She replied, "Aww, dad. Can't we go fishing?" Any fly fishing father knows that was the highlight of my day.
Thank you, Tom for setting us up with Doug. He gave us a great father-daughter fishing day that I'll never forget, and laid the foundation for many more to come. Kurt Popke"
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