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Eastern Sierras
Capt. Tom Loe
January 10, 2005
Eastern Sierras - Freshwater Fishing Report
New Years 2005 Fishing Report
January 6, 2005
Howdy friends and Sierra Drifters. Happy New Year with best fishes to all for this New Year’s 2005 fish report from the Eastern High Sierra.
We’ve got snow…A bunch of snow! It is forecast to continue snowing this weekend with the potential for heavy accumulations in the upper elevations and significant amounts of a rain/snow mix to precipitate the Owens Valley by Saturday. It will remain very cold with the highs hovering only slightly above the freezing mark by the weekend. This is the winter we have been waiting for as it will certainly ease the drought like conditions we have experienced the last handful of seasons here in the west. Mammoth Mountain skiers and boarders rejoice! An epic ski season is upon the High Sierra.
Many folks like to combine a ski/snowboard trip with a winter fishing trip this time of year….give as a call or email to check our availability and then check out Mammoth Mountain Ski Area at www.mammothmountain.com Mammoth Mountain is offering “January Midweek Madness” including some great midweek specials for Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays of this month.
Remember to get those new fishing licenses for the 2005 season. The 04’s expired on 12-31-04. They are currently available at all locations. There is NO grace period for an expired license! Please go to http://www.dfg.ca.gov for complete information on the current DFG regulations.
Lower Owens River: Good
The water temperatures are in the mid to upper 30’s and the bite is far better during the afternoon most days, with the exception being the relatively warm air moving in just prior to a storm front. These mornings can be excellent as the air temps are well above freezing and the fish feed vigorously prior to the cold fronts passing. There is significant midge activity during the late mornings into afternoon and the trout are feeding on midge clusters during the cloudy days in the larger pools and softer water. You will not see many fish in or around the riffle water this time of year. There are a few scattered baetis emerging after 1 pm #18. Have some midge cluster patterns like a Griffith’s Knat handy #20-22 and some #22-24 gray or black midge adults. Nymphing with olive zebra and tiger midges will be your best bet all around this time of year #18-20. Flows are starting to rise for the start of the New Year; currently they are being released at 125cfs below the dam at Pleasant Valley. Look for an earlier than usual increase in flows to begin this season as the snow pack is very laden with water. Click here for the LADWP flow rates http://wsoweb.ladwp.com
The wild trout section is not crowded this time of year (some say for good reason) but you can experience some darn good fly fishing here at this time of year. If you are having a spot of cabin fever, the Lower Owens is open year round and could be the cure.
A word to the wise when driving on the unimproved two track roads: DON’T! You will get stuck and a costly towing bill will be the result as well as the loss of fishing time. Park on the hard packed shoulders and walk to the river. The extra 5 minutes of walking time is not worth the hours and trouble you will spend when you get bogged down in the muck that is everywhere along the river right now.
There are weather and road condition links on www.sierradrifters.com
Please remember that this area is NZMS positive and rotten with the critters. Walk and wade in the streambed as little as possible, do your moving on dry ground. For more information on the snail go to http://www.flyline.com
December 2004 was a memorable month for us on the Lower “O” with some incredible numbers being landed by several clients. John Avanzino from Fountain Valley, CA and his partner Andy Jecusco of Irvine, CA caught and released over 120 rainbows and browns in a single drift this last December. I recall a stop in which 17 fish got hooked in 14 consecutive casts! That’s catching baby. The bigs went on the grab later in the month and we have too many pictures to post on one report.
The weather made Siberia look balmy this day but check out the “Beast” that was caught and later released by Joe Baffoni, one of the “Tres Amigos Trout Assassins.” Veteran Sierra Drifters Michael Pouliot and Joe’s son Mikey Baffoni assisted with sage advice in the capture and subsequent netting of “the beast”. I still say that fish was worth the hypothermia guys!
The drift boat sections are beginning to slow down in regards to the numbers being caught; however the bigs are still showing most drifts and I would rate the fishing above average for sure considering the tough weather we have been dealing with the last two weeks. As is usual this time of year we get those big rascals to hit our streamers used in conjunction with moderate to heavy sinking tip lines. The Drifters Crystal Leech #10-14 and the dark version of my Spruce-a-bu #8 have been the most reliable patterns lately. Use our “dip and strip” technique and put plenty of lengthy pauses or hesitations in your retrieves. You will note most of the grabs will occur on the stops or pauses. Keep those rod tips down under the surface to lower the fly in the water column and in the strike zones!
Trout doctor Bill Povolny from Reno, NV and his streamer tugging buddy Victor Marcus from Truckee, CA headed south to check out what drift fishing the Lower Owens is all about. They did not leave disappointed. Click on http://www.sierradrifters.com and look at the digital images of these fly fishers big rainbows and others. Sweet fish guys!
Steve Coultas from Victorville, CA and brother Matt of San Diego, CA booked a “cast and blast” with us on the drift boat recently. Fly rods and shot guns do compliment each other well on the drift boat. The “blasting” (water fowling) was slow with less than a dozen mallards being jumped in two days; however Matt “casted” to a trophy rainbow that pulverized a Spruce-a-bu the second day of the float trip. Nice shot Matt!
Pleasant Valley Reservoir: Fair
Heavy pressure over the holidays in the inlet and launch ramp sections dimmed the otherwise recent good fishing especially in the inlet area. The transition water from the “rez” to the river has been good with streamers and dry/dropper combos being the best rigs. You will be hard pressed to find a better fly than a #16-18 black or copper Drifters Crystal Tiger Midge in this section. It is deadly here and you can fish it under a dry or use it as a trail fly behind a streamer like the Loeberg or Spruce-a-bu #8-10.
The “rez” level has been raised significantly the last week and this will also make fishing the inlet section more challenging. If it remains high, or holds here it may down right SUCK as you will find limited water to fish in from the bank.
“Freeze” tubing is not generally my cup of tea this time of year but you hot blooded types will still get into fish especially by the launch ramp section and up into the inlet along the far or south side of the rez. Streamer chains and tandem rigs work well when used with a full or heavy sinking tip line. Get your imitations down 6-10 feet and concentrate your efforts near the drop-offs. When you get a grab or a solid hook-up note the spot by taking general landmarks on the canyon walls and get your bugs back into that piece of water again. The rainbows are notorious for “podding” up here and it is not uncommon to get multiple grabs in one section of the lake while others with the same patterns look on. The browns will not be as concentrated and if you are hunting for them stick to the deeper water and near the shadow lines formed by the canyons walls.
There is a very good chance that the snow and ice will hit the valley floor and remain in the parking lots on both ends of the rez by this weekend. The footing will be greatly “compromised” getting down to the waters edge and you may have difficulty seeing the loose rocks under the snow. I speak from experience here and have encountered contusions otherwise known as “Rez Rash” caused by an error in foot placement management. Be extra careful.
The Gorge: Fair
This area has been good at times using midge imitations both nymphing and on the top. My advice this week would have you use prudence dropping in here as it could be more work than it is worth with the snow and ice that is forecast to be in no short supply soon. If you must go hike upstream from the powerhouse and fish the lower gorge section after a 20 minute hike. There will be less snow here and easier access.
You can pick up our guide flies at the following stand out locations:
The San Diego Fly Shop, The Troutfitter/Trout Fly in Mammoth Lakes, Stroud’s Tackle in San Diego, Malibu Fish’N Tackle in Thousand Oaks. There are links to these locations at www.sierradrifters.com
If you visit these links be sure to tell them Sierra Drifters sent you…
Mammoth Lakes Real Estate: http://www.mammothrealestateonline.com
Mammoth Lakes Lodging: http://www.mammothlakes.com
Be the fly…Tom Loe
Sierra Drifters Guide Service
www.sierradrifters.com
[email protected]
760-935-4250
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