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Eastern Sierras
Capt. Tom Loe
May 20, 2005
Eastern Sierras - Freshwater Fishing Report
Mid-May Fish Report 2005
May 19, 2005
Howdy friends and Sierra Drifters. Best fishes to all for this mid-May fish report from the Eastern High Sierra.
We have some changes to tell you about in several popular areas this report and some of them I am sorry to say are not good. The run-off has started with a recent wave of warm spring type storms that brought rain to the 8500 foot elevation. Numerous free stone creeks are running very high and off color this week and this trend will continue through the weekend. On a good note many of the lakes that have been frozen are breaking up and the alpine lakes that thawed late are warming with the trout feeding aggressively.
The weather has been good on the weekends and unstable during the mid-weeks and this week looks to be following the same pattern with a warm spell the beginning of next week. I suggest you bring layered type clothing and have a hooded waterproof shell… (Skis and a snowboard are a great option as well) This freakin’ winter will just not end it appears!
Crowley Lake: Good-fair
The unstable weather periods have made us play a little chess on the lake depending on the wind conditions but overall Crowley has been your best bet to get into some numbers and quality fish with a fly rod recently. The lake level is very low as the LADWP claims it needs to lower the level to prepare for the melt. This is moving the trout into different areas this time of year historically speaking and you may have to move around to get into any concentrations. A boat is a big plus and if you are tubing and driving near the shoreline here stay a good 50 feet off the waterline as you will toss about 300 bones for a tow as the mud is still very sticky and deep. Pressure has been heavy even during mid-weeks as this is the best game in town.
Solid chironomid hatches have been coming off during the good weather periods and we have had excellent results using Drifters Crystal Tigers and Zebras #16-20, Emergers and Gillies #18-20 during the hatches. The hot ticket if you are not sure what is going on with the bugs is to hang a #14-16 Drifters Crystal Leech or Punk Perch on top and a Tiger or Zebra as the lower. If you see the grabs coming on the upper leech or perch; rig a dual leech or “gang of punks” under your Drifters SUNJICATOR tm.
The fish are scattered and you will find fish in as little as 7 feet in McGee Bay and some nice cutts and browns pulling you down in the deeps, 11-13 feet on the drop-offs at Sandy Pt, Hiltons and Alligator Pt.
All over the Sierra the browns are going down the proverbial “smoke stack” and Crowley is no exception as I would have to say this has been the best early brown showing I have seen in years. Check out the double brownies father and son team Wendell and Jim Nagao from Orange, CA caught and released recently. Saaa-wheet guys!
Vince DiMeglio Jr. from Rancho Palos Verdes, CA showed that youth and skill will overcome old age and treachery on a guided trip with us and his dad Vince, Uncle Chris Henrich, and friend Anthony Vuoso even though every one of the “Fab Four” got into big fish. JR got the big brownie for the day but we all had plenty of laughs thanks to Uncle Chris!
East Walker River: Fair
The numbers continue to be on the low side but the quality of fish you will get into is outstanding. The flows have increased a few days ago to 565cfs. This is not good for wading and this flow increase will most likely continue as the run-off intensifies. Streamers like our Loebergs and Spruce-a-bu’s #8-10 in the larger pools; nymph patterns like olive RS-2’s, Drifters Crystal Zebras #18-22, and PT’s #18-20 are all good choices. If you plan on fishing here use patterns that have high visibility and some flash built in. The EW has not seen flows like this for a long time and it will be ugly here for a while. Pressure is heavy in the section below the dam, but you will find better numbers and less crowds the further you work downstream. David Kendrick from Irvine, CA had some Kodak moments with the legendary browns here recently (before the flow increase) while nymphing. Check out these pics and others by visiting our website at http://www.sierradrifters.com
Bridgeport Reservoir: Fair-good
Good reports from streamer tuggers tubing from the marina/air strip section towards the “bath tub” area recently. The lake has a solid population of Sacramento perch and perhaps a superior to Crowley chironomid and damsel fly concentration under current conditions. Use a moderate sink tip or type 4 full sink with a Loeberg #10 or Crystal Buggers #8-12 and a 10 foot/3X leader. The trout are not as concentrated here and you must move if you are not getting grabs. The lake has excellent conditions right now and if you wish to avoid the crowd’s of Crowley this is an excellent alternative.
Twin Lakes Bridgeport: Awesome!
Lower Twin has been kicking out the largest browns the Eastern Sierra has seen in years. An accomplished “conventional tackle” brown bagger got a 16 lber. recently while trolling. If you want a shot at the brown of a lifetime this is the place. Full sinks type 5 with a shot of anchor chain to get down, you can’t use a big enough fly here and if you have some light colored salt water patterns bring them along. Our Spruce-a-bu Blonde has whacked a few nice browns here in the past #8.
Crowley tributaries: Poor
With the exception of Lower Convict Creek most of these are high and muddy and not fishing well. If it freezes up high the water will clear and the flows drop in the near future. Lots of fish up for the spawn.
Upper Owens: Poor
Lots of free weed and high, dirty water in the Long Years section and especially below the confluence of Hot Creek this week. This may change after a few days if the flows in Big Springs abate.
Hot Creek: Poor-but will improve
As of this report the flows from Mammoth Creek have messed up the clarity and levels here. Give it a few days to mellow out and I have found high water here to actually be a blessing after the fish adjust. Go outside the box here and try a streamer or soft hackle.
Blasphemy, lunatic! Not on Hot Creek… Yes, I said a streamer dang it! A light sink tip or a floating line can get the job done here especially during the higher and off colored water periods. Tie on one of our Punk Perch #10-14, or a Loeberg #10 and you may even need to wash those spider webs off that Hot Creek net when “Troutzilla’ smacks your streamer pattern. Look for the larger channels in the weeds and the big pools for best presentations with a wet fly.
Lower Owens River: Pretty much sucks.
Flows are at 555cfs. Rumor has it they will be running large beer carrying tankers up the Owens River to Bishop for Mule Days at current flow rates. Please, please remember to write the LADWP and give them some grief for not managing the recent burn (suspicious in origin) areas properly. You can click on the flow rates at www.sierradrifters.com Call the LADWP at 760-387-2400 to report violations or the Inyo FD 760-873-5485 and Inyo Sheriff’s 760-873-7887. Click on the contacts button for the LADWP here…http://wsoweb.ladwp.com/Aqueduct/default.htm
June Lake Loop: Good
Heavy plantings from the DFG and Alpers crews have these areas well seeded for fly casters trolling streamer patterns with a full or heavy sinking tip line. I like Silver the best for numbers near the inlet from Rush Creek, but Grant will kick out a toad brown this year for sure as the water levels are coming up fast and this spot is due for a toad. Gull can be a hoot during the late afternoons for stillwater nymphers as the surface temps begin to climb. Use a callibaetis dry and a zebra midge #18-22 two to four feet beneath the dry.
Mammoth Lakes Basin: Stay off the ice!
Convict Lake: Good
The creek and the lake have been heavily planted last week and the creek is still not at flood. This may change soon. Troll Loebergs #10, Drifters Crystal Leeches #10-12 and Spruce-a-bu’s in dark or blonde depending on the light. Use a full or heavy sinking tip line around the inlet area and drop-offs in the lake. I like a dry/dropper bead head nymph rig with a crystal tiger or zebra #16-18 in the creek.
Rock Creek:
The creek is well stocked with planters and Tuff campground is open. The creek is beginning to rise but not making the conditions poor yet. You will find substantial snow above 8500 and the lake is open at the inlets but still frozen with snow in places.
Bishop Creek: Good
Heavy plantings here from Alpers and DFG because the lakes are iced and the Lower Owens is flooded. Flows are beginning to increase but are fine as of this report. The lakes are breaking up and have solid to rotten ice on them, check with the resorts and use caution and common sense around frozen lakes and shorelines.
The state hatchery program remains intact at current levels for this season with next year’s budget situation a mystery. Click these links for DFG news and how to help out the Hot Creek Hatchery Foundation.
http://www.sierradrifters.com
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/
www.FriendsofCaliforniaHatcheries.org
You can pick up our guide flies at the following stand out locations: The Crowley Lake Fish Camp and the Crowley Lake General Store and Deli in Crowley, The Troutfitter/Trout Fly in Mammoth Lakes, Malibu Fish’N Tackle in Thousand Oaks, The San Diego Fly Shop and Stroud’s Tackle in San Diego. There are links to these locations at www.sierradrifters.com
Looking forward to fishing with you soon.
Be the fly…Tom Loe
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