Summer 2008 Fly Fishing Report
Capt. Tom Loe
August 10, 2008
Eastern Sierras - Freshwater Fishing Report
Howdy friends and Sierra Drifters. Best fishes to all for this "Fly Fish'N Gals" of summer fish report from the Eastern High Sierra. Check out these beauties (and I mean the fish too) by clicking on our website fish report. Jeepers Crow do I love my job!!! Click on www.sierradrifters.com/fish.htm to see the Fly Fish'N Gals and their fish.
There have been some significant changes in several of the top fisheries since our prior report. The creeks and rivers are all decreasing in flow due to the diminishing snow melt. It has also been very warm this summer which has accelerated the run-off in the upper snow fields. August is prime time for T-storms in this region and one should expect afternoon storms to develop off and on the remainder of this month.
Reliable backcountry sources tell me that the mosquito population is alive and well this year, and it is one of the worse seasons they can remember. The "skeeters" have not been too bad in the lower elevations, but make sure you put on your chemical shields before hiking into any of the alpine meadows, or San Joaquin area.
Please take extra care if you have a campfire or when discarding your smokes. The fire danger is extreme this summer and there has already been one severe local forest fire near the Sherwin Creek area around Mammoth Lakes that has destroyed some beautiful habitat.
Get well soon Skip Baker, owner of the Big Meadows Lodge in Bridgeport. Your friends in the fishing community are in your corner pal.
Crowley Lake Still Water Classic Update:
You may still enter for a spot in the Classic at the time of this report. The event is occurring on Saturday, August 9th. There is a 200 person limit this year. The prizes are fantastic and Crowley is fishing very well most days.
Sierra Drifters Guide Service has donated over $3000.00 towards the fisheries enhancement of the lake. We have donated guide trips and "Crowley Killer Kit" fly boxes stocked with our popular flies. These prizes will be auctioned or raffled off after the event. There are a ton of other prizes and trips that will also be put on the awards menu. Please participate, or donate to this event to insure the quality fishing we have enjoyed at Crowley for many years. Many of the Drifters guides will be judging the Classic again, and we are looking forward to meeting you when you wave that flag for a score. Good luck to all---may your Sungicators go under often!
The Mt. Whitney hatchery was devastated by a flash flood and its entire population of brood stock destroyed. The hatchery buildings also sustained significant damage and the DFG is evaluating its opening in the future. This is another salvo into an already listing ship, and all the more reason for you to contribute to fisheries enhancement programs like the Classic.
Loe's Trophy Pond:
Marc Benoist is not a Fly Fish'N gal by any means, and when you see the rainbow he caught on our private pond recently you will say he is a mountain amongst men! We do limited guiding here but it is the by far and away the best trophy fish water in this region, bar none. Browns and rainbows to 20 lbs. Check this fish out on the web you won't believe it. www.sierradrifters.com/fish.htm. And it really does have a tail and fins!!! We are the only guide service that can fish here and bookings are very limited. Call if you want a shot at one of these rascals. Not a place for beginners, no exceptions please.
Crowley Lake:
The algae is done, gone, outta here! So are most of the weed beds. The lake level is very low for this time of year and you may not have some of the traditional spots in McGee Bay and the North Arm fishable due to this low level of water. Many of my GPS locations that I have guided in August over the last decade are high and dry! Nevertheless fishing is still pretty dang good most days and the lake level is receding at a pace that is enabling the chironomids to emerge in full force. There have been strong hatches all over the lake with McGee Bay still holding the most fish. I suggest you stay out in ten feet of water on most days. It has been more consistent out here. The exceptions here are late afternoons with a west breeze on the water, or early am's before the fleet arrives in force. You Still Water Classic participants need to consider this when anchoring up. Don't get yourself pinned in short water for a few quick scores in the morning, then get the big banana as the sun rises and the boats block the feed of fish into your area. We are sticking them out to fourteen feet some days and there is plenty of fishy open water to work outside along the south shore and towards Sometimes Bay.
You will see fish crashing on adult damsels hovering near the surface looking for a midge to gobble up on a regular basis. The damsels have been thick this year due to the very warm water. The larger trout are punishing the stray perch fry, or damsel nymphs at times migrating with a scum line.
The North Arm of the lake also has decent numbers of fish, and they are increasing in number every day. The big move here will be very soon. If you are planning a trip and wish to tube Crowley I suggest you give this a try. If you drive past Benton Crossing to the Layton Springs turnoff and CAREFULLY navigate on the dry upper shoreline towards Big Weed Beach you can get closer to Green Banks and not have to pay a use fee. 4X4's ONLY!!! Hiltons have been spotty, but are a good choice if you get a strong east wind. Stay out in ten or more feet in both areas. There are some fish into eight feet in the North Arm and they are mixed in with what is left of the weed beds here.
GUIDE TIP: Chironomid (midge) larvas live on the bottom in a very oxygen poor environment. They have gills on both ends of their bodies to process oxygen more efficiently, built like a tiny worm with well defined segmentation along the entire abdomen. They can be bright red, or rusty in color. This is due to the large amount of hemoglobin present in the crude vascular system they possess. Hence the popular name "blood midge." In most instances with water deeper than eight feet, or in murky conditions, infrared wave lengths of light do not penetrate below that depth. This makes the bright red larva…GRAY! Nature designed this to hide the larva, NOT make it stand out. If you want a color that is accentuated near the bottom, choose purple, blue, or black. Ultraviolet light is a higher frequency and penetrates the water column better making these colors stand out. Understanding this simple concept about the visible light spectrum will help you achieve your goals as to whether or not you are trying to make your flies stand out, or blend in and look more natural. Fish do not have deductive powers of reasoning, and are opportunistic, programmed creatures, at least that's my story and I'm sticking to it. Sometimes you may want fish to see your fly better, especially in deeper or murky water. Clean water with a high bright sun may alter your game plan. Use this guide tip to select your color, and experiment with variations to get more grabs!
Stick to #16-18 tigers and zebras as your lower. Gillies, pupa, or emergers as twins #18-20 during the hatch and hung a foot higher than if you have a larva pattern like the tiger midge as a dropper. Another hot rig for us as of late has been twin bead head PT's #14-18. Put the larger fly on top (as is always the case) in any multi fly rig.
Streamer tuggers will do OK with damsel fly nymphs, Punk Perch, and Loebergs #10-14. Better weed lines in the North Arm for you kids wishing to get grabs this way.
Big City Fly Fish'N gals Lisa, Caitlyn and Marisa all got their first trout on flies with us recently. Big City Guide T. Loe was all smiles for this trip!
Sweet Shannon always gets her way! She asked for a big brown, she got it! Thanks for this trip Robert O!!!
Lovely Lisa put the wood on many Crowley rainbows this day. Impressive numbers for this fly Fish'N gal!
Gorgeous Fly Fish'N gal and firefighter Chelsea covered a lot of water with this nice brown being her largest fish caught on the trip.
Beautiful on the inside, as well as out Carolyn, is a long time Fly Fish'N gal of the Sierra Drifters family. Shown here schooling a Crowley Rainbow.
Talk about making a beautiful scene more beautiful! Jennifer gets her first on the fly at Crowley then enhances the scenery on the Upper Owens with one she fooled while high sticking. It was a rough couple of days for Doug R and T. Loe…Whatever!!!
Upper Owens River:
It has been another great summer here. Numbers are excellent downstream of the Benton Bridge but not many large fish showing yet. Nymphing with flashback PT's #16-20, tiger and olive zebra midges #16-20. Dry dropper rigs in the shorter water. A Stimulator #12-16, Fat Alberts #6-8, foam hoppers #10 for the upper. Streamers are also good here along the deep undercut banks. Loebergs, Spruce-A-Bu's #8-10 used with a light sink tip. Above the Benton Bridge very good action with caddis and hoppers in the afternoons. Smaller fish but very eager on the days you don't get blown out.
More pretty Fly Fish'N gals here high stick nymphing and catching some pretty rainbows along the Upper Owens. What self respecting trout wouldn't want to hit these pretty gals flies? Way to go Chelsea and Jennifer!
Adobe Pond:
We are having blast out here fishing from the drift boats. After the midges are spent and fall as spinners the damsel flies are on the prowl and hover about the pond and grass edges looking for a meal. The wild browns attack these adults like no tomorrow! Casting large adult damsel imitations to crashing browns is really fun and it makes fly fishing for smaller trout very special. We have the exclusive out here and it is private water. This is a truly beautiful place to fish and we fell very fortunate to be able guide it. Call for booking information.
Fly Fish'N gal and cutie Kelly has exceptional casting skills for a young lady. She put on a clinic while at Adobe with me recently and I had the honors of taking a bunch of browns off her leader.
Hot Creek:
It is getting a bunch tougher here lately and there is less water to fish. The weeds are protruding above the surface in many runs making drifts almost impossible. If you are fortunate enough to secure a weed free /angler free run, or a deeper pool you can do well. The caddis hatches have been awesome this year, dark bodies, #18-20. Hoppers or larger Stimulators used as a platform, or upper fly to spot that tiny little point fly work well, 2-3 feet is ample separation. PMD's and midges in the morn, #18-22.
Chelsea's fly Fish'N here, there, and everywhere!
East Walker:
Another one that is getting tougher to fish. The flows have dropped and it is getting weedy in the lower sections. The water is getting green and is very warm. You may want to leave well enough alone until it cools down for a week or so. The fish get very stressed here under these conditions.
It has been a good summer here and the fall should be fantastic. Check out the beautiful brown, the beautiful Ali caught while being guided by SD's Doug R. on the EW.
West Walker:
The conditions here are great. The canyon is fishing very well with a good number of wild fish taking dries. This is another fishery that you can catch four species of trout in one pool! The Pikel Meadow and campground areas are well planted and dry dropper combos with Stimmies and Tigers #16 do a number on these rascals. Look for the water to start getting skinny by early September. You may also find that a streamer will work well on the larger pools and slower water. Blood Sucking Vanderleeches, Agent Oranges, and Loebergs #10,12.
Lower Owens:
Still on the high side and too hot for me down in the valley most days, but I suggest you plan a trip beginning around Sept. here as the conditions will be better than last fall early. We do more nymphing and dry fly fishing in the fall and the numbers can be silly good. It should be killer through early December this year using the "dip and strip" with streamers as the water cools and we roll into winter hunting for monster rainbows and browns. The wild trout section has a fence around it and there is talk about more fencing to prohibit vehicles on other sections of the river as well due to the rash of man made fires in recent years. Flows are too high to wade here right now but there is plenty of water to fish from the banks in the evenings and early mornings. PMD's at coffee time, caddis around beer thirty!
San Joaquin:
Way good. Fish'N conditions are great down here and the wild trout are making up for lost time. Plenty of stockers around the campgrounds if you do not want to hike. Get down the trail a half hour and you will have some water to yourself. Dry/dry or dry dropper bead head nymphs like olive zebras and PT's combos. Stick to #12-16 here, there is no need to go smaller. The pocket water and riffles are best fished casting upstream. If you attempt a conventional position standing across from your water you may spook the fish out of their holds.
Sotcher is also fishing well from the reports I get from tubers. Loebergs, Vanderleeches, Agent Oranges, and damsel fly nymphs #10-12. Bring your tube along and they will allow you to drive in with your own vehicle.
Alpine Lakes:
Most are fishing very well. Grant, Silver, and Gull have had some great snaps recently. Loebergs #10 are the weapon of choice here. Lower Twin in Bridgeport has also reported some great catching. Spruce-A-Bu's #8 might get you into some of the big browns and trophy planted rainbows showing here. Get those streamers down 10-15 feet in the Alpine lakes during the high sun periods. The fish ride deeper due to the excellent clarity. I hear good things about the Virginia Lakes region also, and this area is absolutely beautiful this time of year. If you can position yourself near the inlet at Virginia the still water nymphing method can be deadly here on the drop-off. Tigers, tigers, tigers! #18. After the sun goes behind the crest dry dropper rigs can be deadly. You will see the surface come alive with rise forms. Use Callibaetis adults or larger may fly patterns #14-16 as the dry and tie a small PT #18-20, or midge emerger #20-22 under it no more than a 2 feet. Rock Creek Lake is one of my favorites and is also fishing well. Tubing this is best. I like Loebergs, Vanderleeches, and Agent Oranges #10-12 in this fishery. Most of these areas are crowded this time of year, so do not expect any solitude. It will thin out after school starts and the fishing should remain good well into fall.
Stocking programs are said to be increased this year, and from what I can tell I do believe it's true. The Mt. Whitney Hatchery disaster will not affect this years planting, but will take its toll in the near future.
Sierra Drifters Flies, Killer Kits & Sungicators are available at the following great fly shops and stores: Crowley Lake Fish Camp & The Crowley Lake General Store in Crowley, Bridgeport Marina at Bridgeport Reservoir, Kittredge Sports in Mammoth Lakes, Malibu Fish'n Tackle in Thousand Oaks, Stroud's Tackle in San Diego, The San Diego Fly Shop in San Diego, The Fishermen's Spot in Van Nuys, Bob Marriott's in Fullerton, Buz's Fly Shop Too in Bakersfield, & Crosby Lodge at Pyramid Lake, Nevada. There are links to these locations at www.sierradrifters.com/resources.htm. We pride our Guide Service & Products on Innovation not Imitation!
Be the fly friends…
Tom Loe
Sierra Drifters Guide Service
760-935-4250
[email protected]
and Michele Loe [email protected]
Eastern Sierra Real Estate…. http://www.mammothlakes.com/mlRE/Agent_Michele.html
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