 |
Eastern Sierras
Capt. Tom Loe
February 20, 2006
Eastern Sierras - Freshwater Fishing Report
Presidential Fish Report 2006
2-20-06
Howdy friends and Sierra Drifters. Best fishes to all for this Presidential 2006 fish report from the Eastern High Sierra.
Just when it looked like spring was going to make an earlier than normal emergence…Old Man winter came roaring back in and crashed the party big time! A string of extremely cold Artic storms lined up on the high country and Owens Valley dropping substantial snow in the upper elevations and a solid dusting on parts of the Owens Valley over the holiday weekend. Air temperatures have plummeted over the last week and this has once again dropped water temps back into the high thirties and very low forties at best on the Lower Owens River near Bishop, CA.
The forecast is calling for a slow but steady warming trend throughout next week with no major precipitation forecast at this time.
The roads around the river are in pretty good shape with only a few “tank traps” here and there, but you should always avoid any wet sinks longer than the distance between your front and rear axles when driving the unimproved dirt roads in an all wheel drive vehicle.
ROAD TRIP!!! Sierra Drifters guide, Tom Loe will be doing a seminar and slide show for the combined groups of the Las Vegas FFF, TU Vegas Chapter and the Las Vegas/Henderson Fly Fishers at 6:30 pm on April 18th 2006 at the incredible Bass Pro Shop facility in Las Vegas. The show will include Stillwater nymphing tactics from a boat or float tube, as well as instruction on the “dip and strip” method of fishing streamers from a boat or pontoon. Areas focused on will be the Eastern Sierra’s Crowley Lake and the Lower Owens River near Bishop California. The public and friends are invited to attend at no charge. Donations however, would be greatly appreciated to the above mentioned clubs. This will be an informative, really fun show and we are looking forward to a large turnout of friends and clients from all over. Come to Vegas and say hi!
Lower Owens River: Fair-good
The flows have dropped to 100cfs and the water temperature has lowered back into the thirties and low forties recently making the hot bite during the first two weeks of February a fond memory. We are back in full winter guide “garb” once again damn it! We are still tagging some very large fish but overall the numbers have dropped off with the drastic change over the last several days. We expect the conditions to change for the better slowly this week as the weather is predicted to improve and the Artic air dissipates over the next week.
The wild trout section is easily accessible with these very low releases and you will encounter a strong baetis/bwo hatch after noon each day. The fish are really targeting on this emergence and it is by far the best time to fish for the rascals. A bwo pattern #18 will get the job done with a solid presentation and drift in the channel foam line or eddies and tailouts of the larger pools. Look downstream of the significant riffles for “pods” of feeders. Midges are very prevalent this time of year here and cluster patterns like a Griffiths Knat #20-22 will work on the top as well as crystal olive zebra or tiger midges fished under a strike indicator. These low release rates will change very soon folks so take full advantage of them in the near future.
The DFG has been doing a great job of planting this season on the Lower Owens - no doubt in part to the passing of the Inland Fisheries Restoration Bill AB7. We are seeing a good number of quality “tagged” trophy rainbow trout. These fish have a metallic tag clipped to their gill plates in an area that is not damaging to the fish. The DFG does NOT want to get these tags back; it is just their way of letting the public know that not all big fish planted in this region are Alpers trout. We have taken a close-up shot of one of these tags and put it on the web so you may view it.
Our guided drift boat trips continue to be your best bet in this area for getting into a trophy fish on a fly rod. We are continuing to have very good fishing for these big critters using our “dip and strip” method of tugging streamers from a drift boat. The mid-day bwo hatch is also providing a great change of pace for an hour or so each day casting dries to the gulping surface feeders.
Mike “Mac” McIntire, from Hermosa Beach, CA, Jeff Ginter and son “The Rocket” from Huntington Beach, CA commonly known amongst those on the river as the “Three Rancheros” booked their annual float trip with us just before the cold snap hit. Mac hit it big with two huge rainbows before noon and Jeff got the big fish honors with a rod wrecking monster hen in the 7 pound class after lunch. The Rocket swears revenge next year (maybe some better fitting pants???) Inside joke folks.
John Tsitakis and Martin “Marty” Wiley (former D-Haul winner) from Bakersfield, CA had aspirations of hitting some big fish (and dissing another earlier featured Sierra Drifter, Bill Darbee) while on a drift trip with us. They were not denied. It took extra innings but the low sun angle was enough for the two fly fishers to net a couple of super big bows on one of the last bends of their drift. Fun day guys, way to go!
Revenge was etched on the brow of Bob Futrell from Coto de Caza, CA as he stepped into the drift boat with his fly fishing co-worker Jim Fricks, from Trabuco Canyon, CA for their annual float trip down the Owens with us. Bobby wanted a re-match with a huge trout he had hooked on a prior drift with us (the fish won that battle) and it was still heavy on his mind. The day was slow with only a few decent trout being seen, not many hard grabs and a steady stiff wind that made good presentations difficult. Towards the end of the drift near a huge willow tree stump Bob made a very good cast considering the wind. After a few animated strips of our Spruce-a-bu fly and his rod went bendo; then bananas! Check out this one for sure. Kismet baby!
Click on www.sierradrifters.com to view all the pictures…
Pleasant Valley reservoir: Poor-fair
Reports here from “freeze tubers” are not real good as of late. The suddenly cold water temps have the fish lethargic and seeking the stability of the deeper sections near the dam. The rez level remains high so the usual transition area is still very difficult to fish from the shore. The creek just below the powerhouse is your best bet using a dry/dry or dry/ dropper bead head nymph combo in the deeper sections in the brush. Watch for ice and some snow patches along the banks the next few days especially if you are wearing felt soled wading boots. You may have a crack at the US Olympic Luge team after a slip on the banks!
The Gorge: Fair
Slower here as well this week but look for this area to come on when it begins to warm up again. Some ice and snow in the upper and shady sides in the pit, but not really bad like this January. Still- use extra caution for the next few days when hiking down in here. The usual mayfly imitations will all work #14-18, and midge cluster patterns in the 18-20 range will suffice. Dry dropper bead heads with zebra midges and birds nest or flashback PT’s are a solid choice.
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
Looking forward to fishing with you soon.
Be the fly my friends,
Tom Loe
Sierra Drifters Guide Service
760-935-4250
[email protected]
www.sierradrifters.com
More Fishing Reports:
|
|
|
|
