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Eastern Sierras
Capt. Tom Loe
January 8, 2006
Eastern Sierras - Freshwater Fishing Report
New Years 2006 Fish Report
January 8, 2006
Howdy friends and Sierra Drifters. Happy New Year and best fishes to all in 2006.
The mild winter that had tippy toed through November and December tripped up big time with the mother of all storms dropping ten feet of snow on Mammoth Mountain on January 2nd. The Owens Valley and Bishop, CA got punished with over a foot of snow that still blankets the valley floor and is causing considerable access problems for all that want to get to the river. Click onto our website and check out the photos of the current conditions along the Owens River, along with some of the recent pics of fish our clients have caught. www.sierradrifters.com
The forecast is calling for a slow warming trend that will strengthen towards the end of next week. We could use a break from any major storms up here for sure! The dirt roads along the Owens River are a total mess and anything but a four wheel drive or Snow Cat is not recommended at this time. Even with a 4x4 you should walk your path before entering as most are a “tow job” in the making. The valley floor will be very cold in the mornings (mid-teens) and the ice will thaw some in the late afternoons making the once firm tracks a quagmire that will cost you a bunch to get pulled out. Trust me on this one, the place is a mess right now.
Lower Owens River: Slow
Fishing has slowed a bunch after the deluge with the cooler weather being the primary culprit. Water temps have dipped into the upper thirties making the fish very lethargic during the mornings. The substantial snow and rain recently dropped on the valley floor has also affected water color leaving the river very stained and tannin colored. Flows remain low and are being released at 125cfs below Pleasant Valley.
The wild trout section was fishing well prior to the “big one” but has since slowed considerably. The roads are a mess here and we suggest you check them out for yourself before you drive off the improved dirt or paved roads leading down to the Owens. There have been some midge hatches and sporadic baetis (bwo) emergences this week but overall much slower fishing due to the extreme circumstances. The conditions will improve next week and you will see increasing midge activity as the sun warms the water. Olive and black crystal zebra midge’s #20-22, as well as some gray bodied pupa and hares ear patterns #20 will work best. Have some bwo adult patterns #18 in your quiver as there may be a few snouts poking up around noon. Redundant drifts in the deeper pools are a must. Keep those bugs “tickling” the bottom. Your strike indicator should twitch or wiggle occasionally letting you know you have sufficient weight to get down to the fish.
We had a major winter event last week and the catching reflects the current conditions-cold! It will improve slowly kids as the weather moderates and the water temps increase.
Brock and Carmela Arstill from Cardiff, CA rang in the New Year with a guided drift boat trip on the Lower Owens River on New Years Day. Brock is credited with what may be the first trout caught in the Eastern Sierra for 2006. Carmela got big fish honors that day and you can check the pic out on our website. www.sierradrifters.com
The larger fish are on the grab in the drift boat sections and we are very optimistic about an increased run of bigs in the near future. Check out first time Sierra Drifter Dwayne Horii from Los Angeles, CA and his chunky rainbow he caught and released on a Spruce-A-Bu pattern during the late afternoon. Way to fan that reel buddy!
Veteran Sierra Drifters Ryan Schoenbaum and father Karl from Calabasas, CA took a Xmas fly fishing trip with us catch and releasing almost thirty trout with Ryan fooling a beautiful brown on a Loeberg. Way to go Ryan!
Streamers are the way to go right now as the hatches are few and far between. Opportunistic winter trout will often hit streamer patterns out of aggression as opposed to feeding. Loebergs and Spruce-A-Bu’s are my favorite patterns right now, but we have been hitting some nice fish on our Crystal Leeches #10-12 during the cloudy days. Use a moderate sink tip and the dip and strip method for the most grabs.
Pleasant Valley Reservoir: Good
Watch the walk along the banks in the mornings with all the snow and ice around. Nymphing in the river section near the transition with our Crystal Tiger Midges suspended below an indicator or large dry like a stimulator will get you takes in the late mornings. Streamer fishing from a freeze tube or from the shore will also produce well using Punk Perch #10-12, Loebergs #10, and Crystal Leeches #10-12.
Long, dead drifts are important to success in the inlet section and one must keep your fly line upstream of the leader for a killer presentation. “Reach” mends during the final stages of the cast are a potent skill to hone in this area for consistent results.
The Gorge: Slippery…
Since the heavy snowfall I have no current information in this area. I can say from experience that this can be a tricky spot to get into with substantial ice and snow on the canyon walls and prudence is a must until the area melts out. It looks like a movie set here from the Sly Stallone film Cliff Hanger. Historically during conditions such as these one will find slower fishing here with the majority of grabs coming on nymph patterns #16-20 with midge imitations being the best bet.
The Fisherman’s Spot in Van Nuys is hosting a freshwater seminar on January 28, 29 of the New Year. This fly fishing only store has a reputation for having some of the most knowledgeable people in the industry. We are ecstatic to have this fly shop as one of our premier carriers of the flies and products we offer. Chris and other Sierra Drifters guides will be available for questions and “fish talk” during the weekend of the Fisherman’s Spot seminar. Stop by the shop and get the latest scoop and free guide tips during the seminar. Click here to go to their website http://www.fsflyfishing.com Their current Newsletter is available at the this link. Check it out. http://www.fsflyfishing.com
You can pick up our guide flies this time of year at the following stand out locations: 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 and the Fishermen’s Spot in Van Nuys. There are links to these locations at www.sierradrifters.com
The snow is falling and it looks like another wet year for us in the Eastern High Sierra. This is great for the many fisheries that depend on the runoff during the summer. The future looks so bright we gotta wear shades in 2006 and sincerely hope we can fish with you this season. Thanks a bunch for all the great memories and support in 2005.
Be the fly my friends,
Tom Loe
Sierra Drifters Guide Service
760-935-4250
[email protected]
www.sierradrifters.com
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