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Eastern Sierras
Capt. Tom Loe
September 9, 2003
Eastern Sierras - Freshwater Fishing Report
Hint of Fall 2003 Fish Report
September 8, 2003
Howdy friends and Sierra Drifters. Best fishes to you all for this “hint of fall” fish report from the Eastern High Sierra.
We hope you all have an opportunity to come and see the wonderful metamorphosis that will be occurring in the near future as the deciduous trees and fall spawning trout begin their transformation into an unsurpassed color spectacle here in the high country. You could not tell by the current excellent weather that fall is just around the corner and those frosty mornings and cooler days are soon to be the norm. Summer like conditions continue to linger and the occasional thunderstorm has been and continues to be in the forecast.
The weeks ahead will not only provide some of the finest trout fishing opportunities of the season, but will no doubt be the stage for some magnificent photo opportunities with the incredible scenic backdrops this region has to offer.
Fishing has been very good to incredible the last week in some areas. A combination of perfect weather and water conditions attributed to this event.
The annual “Double Haul In The Fall” fly fishing, catch and release, float tube event will be staged at Crowley Lake on Sept. 20th. Up to 400 participants are slated to join in for a plethora of prizes donated by the sponsors of the event and orchestrated by Western Outdoor News Magazine. If you are planning a trip to Crowley during that time frame and are not entered in the event, we suggest you go elsewhere as the lake look likes a giant bowl of Cheerio’s and the fishing can be influenced by the number of experienced fly-fishers ripping lips for a couple of days before and after the event.
The Crowley Lake Fish Camp management and Sierra Drifters Guide Service will be participating in the Double Haul offering a FREE SEMINAR on Sept.19th at 5:00 p.m. regarding fly-fishing techniques, entomology and location strategy for ANYONE interested in learning more about how to fish Crowley Lake with a fly. There will be a BBQ dinner and refreshments served after the seminar at the Crowley Lake Fish Camp for a $10.00 fee. Please call 760-935-4301 if you plan on attending the seminar and the BBQ dinner.
Double Haul participants can PRE-REGISTER and get their NUMBER DESIGNATION all week prior to the event at the Fish Camp. You may also purchase all the flies, tippets, gear, etc… to win the event and get current information on what is happening on the lake. Good Luck D-Haul contestants!
Crowley Lake: Incredible!
The best fly-fishing of the year has been the story in McGee Bay the last week with only a couple of days during this period that could be classified as “off ”. 40 to over 80 plus fish days have been taking place for clients that have spent one or more days with us recently. Still water nymphing has been the key to the huge numbers of rainbows, cutthroats and browns being caught and released in McGee Bay. The multiple chironomid hatches have been reliable and numerous, coupled with excellent weather and daytime cloud cover with little or no wind.
Streamer tuggers have also been doing very well, especially for the larger trout gorging on the Sacramento Perch Fry that are measuring ¼ to ¾ of an inch in length. The weed beds are still prevalent along all the shorelines of the lake, but due to the rapidly dropping water levels these bastions of cover for the perch will not be a safe house much longer. We have been clobbering the trout in 5-12 feet of water depending on how prevalent the increasing algae bloom influences the fly’s profile. The algae are heavy and may become a factor in the future.
The bad news on the lake is the lack of trout elsewhere. The North Arm has some big fish from time to time, but no numbers. The bite just does not hold up for long here and in my opinion, there is no amount of trout here as McGee has been excellent during the same time frame. Leighton Springs, Hilton Bays and 6 Bays are all lacking fish at this time.
If you are planning a trip to Crowley make sure you have some emerging type chironomid patterns #16-20 and some perch fry imitations in #10-12. Our “guide fly’s” have been the Drifters black and copper crystal emergers and gilled chironomid patterns #18-20. Hot streamers are the Punk Perch and Loebergs #10-12.
The current new management at Crowley has committed to better serving the problems tubers have with accessing the many areas of the lake. Ramps have been installed on the floating rest room facilities and a “shuttle” service from the fish camp to both McGee Bay and the North Arm are being provided for a minimal fee. The reports I get from those whom have utilized the new service are excellent. Tubers check this service out it is a great idea! Call 760-935-4301 for info.
We have had so many great trips recently; it is difficult which ones to highlight for the current report. Dr. Cary Kutzke from Long Beach, CA and pal Mike Schroder got taken off the X-MAS list of Crowley’s trout by bringing to net 86 trout in 8 hours of stillwater nymphing.
Scott and Chris Linkletter from San Pedro, CA had 114 trout that were caught and released in a 2 day “swing-a-thon” that included some t-storms and a lightning fire. The fishing was definitely hotter than the brush fire!
Veteran Sierra Drifters client Decker Warner, from Thousand Oaks, CA got his biggest brown ever on one of our chironomid imitations. Check this hook jawed critter out!
Matt Louv came up with a group of San Diego Fly Fishers and hit the fish of the day by landing a hog Lahontan cutthroat on a “gillie” pattern. Nice fish Matt!
Browns, cutts and how about a nice rainbow to cover all the plates that Crowley has to offer? Lance Geiger from Yorba Linda, CA has mastered stillwater nymphing and his results are apparent. Check out his big Kamloops rainbow that fell to one of our crystal tiger midges recently.
To look at these photos and others click to our website at: http://www.sierradrifters.com
You may purchase our guide flies at the following fine fly shops:
The Trout Fly and Troutfitter located in Mammoth Lakes. These great fly shops are also sponsors of the D-haul and you may pre-register and get current info and gear from the pros at these Mammoth Lakes locations.
Malibu Fish’n Tackle in Thousand Oaks. Stroud’s Tackle in San Diego. The Crowley Lake Fish Camp. There are links to all these shops at www.sierradrifters.com
Lower Owens River: Fair
Flows have been lowered to 450 cfs. These are not great levels for wading quite yet, but are down from the flood levels of 600 plus cfs. Things will continue to improve on all fronts in this area as the demand for water and power decrease and the weather cools during the daytime. You will need at least 2 bb shot to get down in the deeper pools during the high sun periods. Use caddis or rock worm imitations when fishing deep. There are mayfly and caddis emergences occurring most days during the mornings and late afternoons. Stick to patterns in the #18-22 size range for best results.
We are anticipating a great season of drifting the secluded sections of the Lower Owens River. Conditions are primed for a season promising big fish this fall and winter. Stay tuned.
Upper Owens River: Good
I had some doubt as to whether or not the new regulations would impact and improve the fishing in this area in the short time they have been implemented. The conclusion is without a doubt positive and we need to keep the closures below the campground area near the Benton Crossing Bridge during spawning cycles to insure a full comeback of the wild fish that will populate this tremendous fishery. If you wish to voice your opinion on this matter please contact Dept. of Fish & Game, Michael Flores, PO Box 944209, Sacramento, CA 94244-2090.
Fishing has improved this season for both numbers and size. Stick to hopper patterns with an emerger or bead head nymph as a dropper in the runs that are less that 3-foot in depth. Hit the big pools and bends with tandem nymph rigs or streamers. There are rainbows working upstream to the gravel spawning areas as we speak, this trend will continue to increase as the water cools this fall.
West Walker River: Very Good
If you do some walking away from the campgrounds during the lowlight periods of the day you can have all kinds of fun with the smaller wild trout that heavily populate this freestone river. The trout will take both mayfly and caddis imitations in #16-18. Levels are ideal for pocket water fishing and the large riffles still have enough flow to hold fish during the cloudy days and lowlight periods.
East Walker River: Fair
You will still encounter some “split pea soup” colored water here due to the algae coming from the reservoir, but conditions are improving with the promise of a decent fall. This area has received substantial rainfall this summer and Bridgeport Reservoir is not empty as has been the case for the last couple of seasons. Reports are mixed, with nymphing being best overall with midge patterns #18 or smaller.
San Joaquin: Excellent
The campgrounds have thinned out immensely and the flows are low, but not to the point in which it makes presentations difficult. You may have to search out holding areas like deeper pools, bends and channels. When you find such a spot it is possible to get multiple grabs and several trout holding in the deeper water. Mixed imitations will work here including mayflies in #14-18, caddis imitations #18 and stoneflies #16. Nymphing with our crystal caddis larva and tiger midges #16-18 will also get grabs when used as a dropper off a dry or below an indicator as a tandem rig.
Hot Creek: Very good
Catching has been real solid here although the fishing has been more difficult due to the decreasing flows. The bulk of the trout will be on the small side. If you hit a warm cloudy day, you will get grabs on most any decent drift with a small mayfly or caddis fly imitation #20. I suggest you stick to the morning and evening periods when the trout are less wary. There is hopper activity on the windy afternoons. Use a #16 Stimulator with a yellow body. Crowds have been lighter than normal, even on weekends.
Mammoth Lakes Basin: Very Good
Upper Twin below the falls continues to provide steady action for both hatchery rainbows and wild brookies. Good reports from those using stillwater nymphing methods with zebra and tiger midges.
Streamers continue to get grabs on Lake Mamie and Mary. Some holdover Alpers and DFG brood stock rainbows will get you bendo from a tube. I like our Loebergs and Spruce-a-bu patterns for these areas. Use a sinking tip or full sinking line and get those imitations down at least 10-15 feet.
Be the fly…Tom Loe
Sierra Drifters Guide Service
Email [email protected]
www.sierradrifters.com
Phone 760-935-4250
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