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Eastern Sierras
Capt. Tom Loe
October 20, 2003
Eastern Sierras - Freshwater Fishing Report
Eastern Sierras Fishing Report
October 17, 2003
Howdy friends and Sierra Drifters. Best fishes to all of you from the Eastern High Sierra.
The weather has been incredible this October and the transition into fall has been gradual and very pleasant. The colors are spectacular in the canyons and along the Aspen lined creek sides in the upper valleys and meadows. Daytime temperatures remain in the low to mid 70’s with the lows dipping 5-10 degrees below freezing in the mornings. The Owens Valley is warm with highs in the low eighties and low temperatures remaining above freezing. The forecast is calling for dry and stable conditions well into next week. There will be periods of gusty westerly and southerly winds as the dry fronts move past the region.
Bring along clothing that is easily layered. It can be cold in the mornings this time of year but as the sun warms the thin air you can be in summer attire during late morning. It is best to be prepared for a sudden winter storm this time of year also. Float tubers and wade fishers are best advised to have heavy to moderate thermal unders and socks for the cooling water temps also. Expect most lake and river temps to be in the low 50’s.
Fishing has been good overall in most locations with some areas beginning to kick out some nice browns that are staging for the fall spawn. Water levels are very low in the freestone creeks and reservoirs. Most of the tail water fisheries have been reduced to winter flow rates and are fishing well. Please be extra careful when handling trout in the creeks and rivers this time of year as the rigors of the spawn put heavy stress on them. Avoid removing the protective slime that coats the skin by handling the fish as little as possible.
Lower Owens River: Very good
Flows got bumped up to 250 cfs. but are still very conducive to those fishing the wild trout section. There is solid caddis activity everyday, with the trico hatches becoming more prevalent each day. Nymphing under a strike indicator with #18-22 bead head patterns that imitate mayfly, caddis and midge nymphs will all get you grabs this time of year if you present the flies properly. Keep those bugs near the bottom by using enough split shot and the proper length of leader calibrated to the depth of the water you are fishing. 1.5 times the depth of the water is an approximate length you should set your leader under the indicator. Example: water depth is 3 feet with a moderate current flow, your leader and tippet length should be 3X1.5=4.5 feet. Using enough weight to get those bugs down is paramount to your success also and you may need to add or remove split shot to achieve a solid dead drift. The flies or shot must “tickle” the bottom as they drift. Your indicator should vibrate or shimmy periodically when you are set correctly.
We have had very good results on our initial drift boat trips this season. Heavy sink tips and streamer patterns in olive have been the hot ticket for us #10-12. The dip and strip method has proven to be deadly to the rainbows and browns holding along the undercut banks on the Lower Owens.
The highly talented tandem of Jack Bentley and Tom Kaa both long time San Diego Fly Fishers and veteran Sierra Drifters floated the Lower “O” with us recently and had an excellent day catch and releasing over 50 rainbows and browns using our Loeberg and Spruce-a-bu patterns. Way to tug em’ up guys!
Upper Owens River: Poor-very good
The poor is not due to a lack of trout in this situation but the increased flow rates have made the river a mess with free drifting weed. It is impossible at times in the section below Hot Creek to get a presentation without a clump of weed on your fly. If you do get some clean water you will find very good fishing for 12-16 inch rainbows with a few browns starting to show in the Long Years section of the river. We have had good results using a hopper and a dropper bead head nymph rig and a moderate to light sinking tip and streamer pattern #10-12 using the dip and strip method. There are fall spawning rainbows that are showing up in ever increasing numbers daily and it will not be long before the larger browns begin making their way up river to honeymoon for the fall spawn also. The first good winter storm usually gets them moving and with the season extended until 11-15-03 we will see some nice fish coming up from Crowley in the days to come. The section downstream from the Benton Crossing Bridge to the fishing monument located about ½ mile upstream from Crowley Lake is closed to ALL fishing for the remainder of the year.
Crowley Lake: Good-very good
The lake has risen from the ashes of over fishing in late September and is once again providing some excellent opportunities for fly fishers using both streamers and stillwater nymph set-ups. The big fish are showing up in the north arm of the lake from Leighton Springs to Green Banks and along Six Bays during the mornings and evenings. McGee Bay has been tumbleweeds and cactus lately, with a few fish being caught in Little Hilton. The chironomid hatches have been steady and above average for this time of year due to the extremely warm days. You will find the best bite to be during late morning and then late afternoon if the wind is not flapping your ears around. Emerger type patterns (Gillies, crystal pupa and crystal emergers) #16-20 have been best with the larva patterns (crystal tiger and zebra midges) more consistent in the mornings and off hatch times. You will find the fish on the flats in 7-9 feet and along the drop-offs in 6 Bays in 11-13 feet. Streamer tuggers hang on the big boys are on the prowl! Hornberg type patterns like our olive Loeberg #10 have been rocking some very large browns and bows in the river channel along Green banks and North landing. Black, purple, cinnamon and black and red wooly buggers and leech patterns are also doing well when the fish are holding on the bottom. Use a dead slow retrieve when fishing leech imitations and I suggest a full or heavy sinking line to keep your fly down. Our crystal leech #10-12 is a good choice for a slug imitation.
Steve Campbell Wrightwood, CA and Dad, Fred Campbell from Upland, CA book a fall trip on Crowley every year hoping to get into some hefty trout. They are seldom disappointed and this year was no exception. Check out Freddie’s slammer.
Carol Thaxter from Fresno, CA has done very well on Crowley during the fall and she once again got into some big fish while stillwater nymphing with us recently. Check out the big rainbow she bested. High fives Carol!
Sam and Linda Nicolosi from San Diego, CA hit a great day for browns with Sam getting a chunky fish on a “gillie” pattern. The couple skillfully brought to net around 40 fish. Good going kids!
You may see these lucky folks and others by visiting our website at: http://www.sierradrifters.com
Hot Creek: Good
This is the most technical time of year to fish this area and it presents some difficult situations to even the most experienced fly caster. The low water levels make extended drifts difficult. The mayflies are tiny #20-24 and the fish have been hammered all summer. The key is “high sticking” keeping as little fly line on the water as possible and very long leaders 11-13 feet with 6X and 7X tippets. You can use a parachute or hopper pattern if you have difficulty seeing the tiny emerger or trico imitation as a “flag fly” There are caddis in the afternoons and this is your best bet if the wind is not cranking. Wait until the shadows creep onto the section you wish to “angle” upon. The browns get more aggressive this time of year here despite the heavy pressure and fishing the low light periods is best.
West Walker River: Good
Very low water here. You will have to locate the deeper pools and runs in order to find concentrations of trout and when you do a dry dropper combo will do a number on them. The riffles and pocket water are not good as the water is very low. Check out upstream from Pikel Meadows.
East Walker River: Fair
Flows are 85 cfs. These are low and very easy to wade in. This is a great time of year to pull streamers for the larger fish located just below the dam, but at these release rates there are only several sections that you can use a light sink tip line. Dry/dropper, dry/dry combos are best and the fish are eager, as the water temps have cooled substantially. You will still encounter off colored water but it is getting much better as the algae in Bridgeport Reservoir decreases.
San Joaquin River: Good
Very low water conditions here. You must hoof it to locate deeper water the trout are holding in. Fish the deeper pockets and pools avoid the riffles. Dry droppers with tigers and zebras #16-20 will get you takes. Crowds are way down here this time of year and it is gorgeous just to be in this area. The mornings are a tad chilly so layer up. Best bite starts mid-morning.
Rock Creek Area: Good
Fair numbers of planted fish still being caught by streamer tuggers using wooly buggers, Matukas, Loebergs and leeches with a trail fly. Hares ear #14, soft hackles #12-14, crystal midge pupa #18 will all get grabs in the late afternoon and evenings. Mornings are slow; wait until it warms up a little. The creek is flowing low also and you need to locate the pools and deeper runs for best results. Dry dropper combos are a good choice. #14-16 elk caddis with a #18 crystal tiger---Fish on baby!
June Lake Loop:
Good reports from Silver for stockers. Get the flies down to 15 feet. Try one of our Spruce-a-bu patterns #10. This is a great fall streamer for rainbows in the dark style, while the browns seem to prefer the “Kelley Bundy” or blonde version. Grant has been slower as the water levels are dropping. Gull has had reports of some large Alpers being caught on streamers during the sundown snap.
Kirman Lake: Good
Hit this place mid-week to avoid the crowds if possible. The brookies are fat and getting aggressive from a very reliable report recently. If you are having trouble getting the cutts and brook trout to hit a streamer, try a dual scud rig employing stillwater nymph techniques under a strike indicator. Very pretty scenery to view here this time of year also.
Pleasant Valley Reservoir: Good
When they are not generating power the river section is very good for both rainbows and browns using a dry/dry or dry dropper bead head set-up. Work the riffles and pocket water in the brush section below the powerhouse for some good action on smaller sized trout. The reservoir is still slow; tubers are doing best in the late afternoons when the shadows get over the water on the south side. Perch fry imitations like the punk perch and Loeberg #10-12 will get you grabs.
Mammoth Lakes Basin: Fair-good
Wait until it warms up a bit or best if you hit these areas late afternoon if the wind is not honking. The fall spawning Alpers are aggressive this time of year and you can tug some big attractor patterns that will get them to hit your fly out of aggression as opposed to hunger. The big flies like zonkers, crystal buggers, #6-8 are good choices as is our spruce-a-bu #8 for these rascals. Get those flies down 10-15 feet with a heavy sink tip or full sink line.
The Gorge: Very good
One group of individuals report that the “evil stinging nettle” has evolved into a multi-legged plant creature that actually stalks fly-fishers along the banks and with each hook set swats the back of the legs! The fishing is great down in the canyon and with the cooling weather it is a sure bet if you want to get into some smaller sized browns that hit dries. Stick to caddis or baetis patterns #16-18. A stimulator and an olive crystal zebra #18-20 as a dropper is money!
You may purchase our time tested guide flies at the following fine fly shops:
Stroud’s Tackle in San Diego, Malibu Fish’n Tackle in Thousand Oaks, The Trout Fly and Troutfitter in Mammoth Lakes, and The Crowley Lake Fish Camp. There are links to all shops at www.sierradrifters.com
Be the fly…Tom Loe
Sierra Drifters Guide Service
Email [email protected]
www.sierradrifters.com
Phone 760-935-4250
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