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Eastern Sierras
Capt. Tom Loe
July 19, 2004
Eastern Sierras - Freshwater Fishing Report
Sierra Drifters Fish Report July 18, 2004
July 18, 2004
Howdy friends and Sierra Drifters. Best fishes to all of you who may be heading to the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada Mountains soon.
The “catching” has greatly improved in several locations since last week and the weather has been the key factor in the fisheries that have been on the bite. Look for similar weather throughout the next few days with an increasing chance of afternoon T-storms developing especially over the high country. There will be gusty winds in the valleys and alpine regions developing over the Sierra crest late mornings/early afternoons. The Owens Valley will continue to sizzle in the afternoons and late mornings so plan on fishing during low light periods.
This is the time of year you can “wet wade” many areas. Be sure you have mosquito repellant on any extremities out of the water.
We will cover a few locations this report that have improved significantly. Most other locations have not changed much since our previous report.
Crowley Lake: Very Good
The dreaded algae that has plagued the lake for an extended period of time this season has finally abated and the trout have concentrated in McGee bay the last several days in big numbers. The cutts and browns are showing up in the 10-15 foot zone and those tubers who wish to troll during the damsel nymph migration and along the weed lines for the initial perch fry slaughter are picking up photo ops on 20 plus inch fish on a regular basis. Use our punk perch #12-14, Loebergs #10 and the Drifters Damsels #12. A medium sink tip will get you in the zone.
The chironomid hatch has been heavy and the mixed bag-o-rainbows are scarfing the pupa down in 7-13 feet of water. Our Drifters crystal emergers and gilled chironomids (“gillies”) #18-20 are spanking ‘em during the hatch. Hang a crystal tiger or zebra midge #16-18 as your lower fly and you will get into some nice fish in McGee Bay. Hilton Bays have been spotty but worth the look in the mornings if you are tubing and not into kicking the ¾ mile to get into McGee Bay. North Arm is choked with weed and the fish are moving in and out here with no pattern I can read. Look for this area to “gel” soon as the weed lines recede and the perch fry look for a hiding spot in the thick cover the weeds provide.
Smith Pipe and Supply has historically proven to be excellent in their field. President Gary Smith booked a multi-day “rip lipping extravaganza” using the services of Sierra Drifters and the quality guides of the Troutfitter to assist them in their mission of “catching” trout on the fly. Mission accomplished! Check out the pics of the trophy trout key employee’s Keith Beley and David Hay caught and released while on Crowley and Drifters trophy trout pond.
The Conejo Valley Fly Fishers “top guns” have a reputation of spanking big fish on Crowley Lake. Trout master Jimmy Toy, the tamer of “TroutZilla” broke his curse on Crowley with some huge rainbows recently while Larry “Garf” Garfinkel got into a big brown in the morning. Photo missing; (you must trust us on this one as it’s a long story) and a large rainbow in the afternoon session. Ray Shoemake batted 100% in the afternoon (a noteworthy occurrence) while stillwater nymphing and got into some nice rainbows. Check out the pics of these lucky anglers by visiting our website at http://www.sierradrifters.com
Hot Creek: Very Good
Consistent caddis activity especially when the wind is not honking is providing those who can dead drift a longer leader and a #18-22 dark bodied caddis adult or emerger plenty of opportunities to swing at the small to medium browns and rainbows that are feeding on top or in the surface film. Look for the channels in the weeds and don’t forget to fish the “close water” before you step up to the edge.
Lower Owens River: Very Good
The low flows (150) cfs for this time of year has provided some rare opportunities to those willing to brave the heat of the valley and fish the wild trout section. The late afternoon caddis hatch has been awesome and if you want to get a brown on a dry this is the place right now. The key here is to wait until the sun gets behind the Sierra crest in the late afternoon. Nymphing will produce during the day right now with midges; caddis and mayfly patterns but you will not enjoy the valleys heat. Early mornings with #18-22 PMD patterns and then tie on caddis adult’s #18-20 for the afternoon snap on the top. This will not last much longer, check it out!
Convict Lake: Very Good
You will not get many wild trout here but if you are just looking for some “bendo” and a cool place to spend the late mornings in a tube this is the hot ticket right now. I am told the seagulls are having a feast picking up the unsuspecting hatchery rainbows that circulate around the lakes edge. The birds will tell you where the school is located. Find the “green wave” and stay within casting range with just about any streamer #8-14 and you will have some fun with these stockers. Our Loebergs #10 and crystal leeches #10-14 whack the greenbacks here while using a moderate to light sinking tip. Thanks to Sierra Drifters veteran Joe Mallinger for the tip here.
East Walker River: Very Good
Flows are very low once again for this time of year and it is making wading access to the big holes and bends easy. The larger fish are getting less active as there is plenty of food this time of year and they have just about seen everything thrown at them. You will have a good time with the smaller browns and bows during the mornings and early evenings. Stick to smaller caddis and midge patterns #18-22 while nymphing. Our crystal tigers and zebras are deadly here while being fished under an indicator. The “EW” has a history of being a great end of the day location to skip and flip caddis dries during the last hour of light. Don’t get yourself burned out too early and miss the magic hour here. Anchor yourself up at a big pool or bend and kick back for a while late in the day and watch what happens!
Upper Owens: Fair-Good
You will find free floating and heavy weed in the water below the confluence of Hot Creek. Conditions are better in the Long Years section. Caddis activity is solid here as well and you may get a shot at one of the big resident browns that live under the deep cuts in the bank if you fish a hopper or stimulator during the afternoons, especially when the wind comes up and puts a ripple on the surface.
San Joaquin: Fair-good
Plan on doing some walking if you want to catch here. Due to budget cuts the D.F.G. has not planted the middle fork this season and has no plans of doing so this season. Alpers is stocking Sotcher and Starkweather Lakes and the DFG is planting Sotcher only. There are plenty of smaller wild fish but you will have to get away from the campgrounds for any consistent action. Caddis and parachute mayfly patterns with a #16-18 bead head dropper in the deeper runs will get you grabs in the slower sections and fishable pocket water. The river is still on the high side but definitely wadeable this week. The blood suckers are prevalent here, have the repellant handy.
West Walker: Good
Clarity and flows have improved a lot here and this is a good choice for those wishing to fly fish a freestone creek this week. Caddis, stone flies, hoppers and larger mayfly imitations will get you attention on the top. Our crystal copper and black tiger midges are deadly here if you are nymphing. Pikel Meadows both up and downstream are fishing well. The late mornings and early afternoons can get pretty breezy here; best to hit this location early
Pleasant Valley Reservoir and the Gorge:
These areas will fish better after mid-September when it begins to cool down.
Rock Creek: Good
Take a hike below Rock Creek Lake down to the “ponds” and you will get away from 90% of the people and have an opportunity to get into several species of smaller wild fish that are eager to hit a dry dropper combo with a caddis or stimulator as the upper and a Drifters crystal olive zebra #18-20 as the nymph. The meadow section just below the outlet can be a lot of fun and quite challenging for the small wild browns that cruise the flats here. The weather has been great at the lake this week and tubers fishing the inlet have had a good time fishing streamers like our crystal leech, punk perch and Loebergs #10-12 with a full or heavy sinking tip line.
Mammoth Lakes Basin: Good
Very good reports coming from Lake Mamie from those trolling with a full sinking line using a streamer and a bead head midge or hares ear as a trail fly. If you want to get into some of the big Alpers trout that are planted on a regular basis in the lakes basin area, locate the submerged trees stumps along the shorelines and inlets and concentrate here.
June Lake/Rush Creek: Good
Do some walking with your polarized glasses and locate the “pods” of stockers that have held over from the heavy plantings over the 4th weekend and you can have some fun with these planters on Rush. Silver and Gull continue to be the best for tubers using full sink lines and a tandem rig with a streamer and dropper nymph at least 2 sizes down from the point fly.
South Lake/Bishop Creek: Very Good
Conditions have been very good this week as the weather has been excellent and the hatchery fish plentiful in most sections of this area. Dry/dropper combos in the creek with steamers fished down to 10-15 feet getting the best results for those trolling from tubes in the lakes.
Kirman Lake: Good
The weed and algae are becoming a factor and the fish get “attitudes” after mid-morning but stillwater nymphers using scud patterns #18-20 and hares ear imitations #18-20 are fooling some nice cutts and chunky brookies along the tulles during the low light periods and cloudy days. You will have company on the weekends here.
You can pick up all the above mentioned flies and information at the following fine fly shops: Crowley Lake Fish Camp, Troutfitter in Mammoth Lakes, San Diego Fly Shop, Stroud’s Tackle in San Diego, and Malibu Fish’N Tackle in Thousand Oaks. 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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