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Eastern Sierras
Capt. Tom Loe
May 25, 2005
Eastern Sierras - Freshwater Fishing Report
Memorial Day 2005 Fish Report Update
May 25, 2005
Howdy friends and Sierra Drifters. We have some major changes to report regarding some of the fisheries recently that may assist you for any Memorial Day fly fishing trips.
Lower Owens River:
We have not been down here the last couple of days to fish it but the flows have dumped to 225cfs as of this report. This is down from 605cfs just a few days ago. The weather has been hot in the afternoons in the Owens Valley and this will get the caddis hatches going full blast. At the current flows you can anticipate good “catching” while the decreased release rates continue. No word on how long these lower flows will last but as long as the heavy run-off continues in the lower sections of the Eastern Sierra and Rock Creek you can plan on these ideal conditions in the wild trout section. Wading at 255cfs here is not difficult but you may need to add more weight to get those nymphs like our Olive Crystal Zebras #16-20 down to the wild browns in the deeper pools. Look for afternoon and evening caddis activity on the surface and traditional patterns like dark brown bodied elk hair patterns #16-18 will get grabs on a well presented drift. Fish the slack or softer water and eddies with shaded areas for best results. Take a nap in the afternoon and hit this area during the low light periods for more consistent and comfortable fly fishing.
Bring plenty of mosquito sauce and a pint or two of your blood type, they are thick this year.
Freestone Creeks:
Most of these creeks are raging right now and you will find poor conditions for fly fishing. Rock Creek (bring a white water kayak), Big Pine, Independence, McGee (looks like the Mississippi), Hilton, Mammoth, Convict, Rush, Lee Vining, Robinson, Buckeye, Green, West Walker (there is currently a flash flood warning from the NWS here), etc. are all high as the run-off from snow melt has begun.
East Walker River:
Flows went up to 900cfs this week! This flushing flow removed a lot of debris and silt in many bends on the EW but pretty much shut down any fishing. The flows are currently at 450cfs and may continue to drop this week. You may get real time flow data by clicking the buttons on our website fish report at http://www.sierradrifters.com
Hot Creek:
Very tough fishing since the flows messed up the water last week but conditions are improving with regards to clarity and the fish are adjusting to the lower water temps and higher levels. Use nymph patterns with flashbacks or crystal flash incorporated into them. This is also a good time of year to swing soft hackles or streamers with light sink tips or a floating line and weighted fly. Hit the deeper pools and larger channels in the weed lines. Keep your flies clean -check them every cast!
Upper Owens River:
The “Gauntlet section” will open this Saturday but do not expect good conditions here for anyone. High water with a lot of weed free drifting especially below the confluence of Hot Creek. The DFG will stock below the bridge.
Big Springs has some leftovers but the conditions are not great here also.
Crowley Lake:
The lake level is finally coming up with the decrease in flows on the Lower Owens and this is good news for fly fisherman as it will insure good levels for the summer and fall. Water clarity continues to be excellent and with the amount of water being “flushed” this year from the lake we should see some excellent chironomid hatches and better water quality for the trout. Stillwater nymphing has picked up nicely this week with the coming of summer like weather and it looks to improve further with the rising water levels. Look for concentrations of fish to be holding near the deeper drop-offs and points. Sandy Pt. on both sides 11-15 feet, Hiltons 10-15 feet, Alligator/Leighton 11-15 feet, McGee has been hot and cold- 13 feet, but look for it to explode soon. You will encounter some Sacramento perch from cast to cast and you will also get into some downstream spawners that are a tad thin and beat up looking as they are just getting back into the lake from the spring spawn. The browns and cutts are still showing in above average numbers for this time of year but not as well as last week.
With the warm weather this week the chironomids came off in clouds and Drifters Crystal Emergers and Gillies #18-20 whacked em during the hatches. Drifters Guide “Fill” Therrien had a super day (over 40 fish) in deep water after the hatch with a #18-20 Crystal Zebra off Sandy Pt. Streamer tuggers are not doing so well right now but this will change soon as the damsel fly nymph migration will begin soon. The water temps are in the upper 50’s and low 60’s mid-day on the surface.
Bridgeport Reservoir:
Good reports from Jeffery at the marina here for trollers and bait chuckers, still on the slow side for fly fishers. Some good sized DFG tagged fish and super stockers are being brought in. Conditions continue to be awesome on the lake and we think the fly fishing will pick up here very soon near the inlets at the airstrip and Buckeye. Best bet for tubers are full sinks with olive matukas #8-10, Loebergs #10, crystal buggers in purple, black, and cinnamon #8-12. The areas in front of the marina towards Rainbow Pt. and then along the east shoreline to the “bathtub” and yellow house are the most consistent locations. Check with Jeff at the Bridgeport Lake Marina or Eric and Michele at Paradise Shores for current info. Fly fishers have a friend at Big Meadows for lodging, ask for Skip. He may even turn you on to his secret flies and spots! www.bigmeadowlodge.com
Alpine Lakes:
The June lake Loop or Convict Lake are your best bet right now as many of the resorts and lakes above 8500 feet are still icebound or have rotten ice and lots of snow along the shorelines. Silver is still good for tubers using full sinks with Loebergs, Crystal Leeches, #10-14. Crystal buggers and matukas will also get you into some of the stockers here.
Bishop Creek is still not at flood and is fishing well for stockers. The lakes still have broken/solid ice and plenty of snow around the edges, no reports from fly fishers here.
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
Sierra Drifters Guide Service
www.sierradrifters.com
[email protected]
760-935-4250
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