Season Finale 2004 Fish Report November 7, 2004 Howdy friends and Sierra Drifters. Best fishes to you all for this general season fish report finale from the Eastern High Sierra. The inclement weather has been a major factor currently and will remain unstable throughout the beginning of this week with the possibility of some improvement as we wind down towards the closure of many fisheries here in the Eastern High Sierra on November 15th. Remember: the Lower Owens River, Pleasant Valley Reservoir and the Gorge section of the Owens remain open all year and actually fish better in the fall, winter and early spring months. We guide year round and will continue to do fish report updates on these areas periodically. The well above average snow fall that has accumulated over the last couple of weeks has put an early end to fly fishing with respect to some of the alpine lakes, creeks and resorts earlier than normal. Any fishery above 8000 will have snow accumulations. The road down to the middle fork of the San Joaquin (Reds Meadow) has been closed for the season to vehicles. The Mammoth Lakes basin has been shut down for the most part and with the present forecast the roads may not be plowed above Lower Twin Lake until the spring or a major thaw. Some resorts have closed early due to the early heavy snow so call before you make the trek up to your favorite alpine destination. There are several areas that fish well during this type of early winter scenario and if you are seasoned enough and have good winter clothing you may be witness to some of the finest big trout fishing the area has to offer. Make sure if you are planning a trip to the high country you bring along tire chains and waterproof winter clothing. Walk any unimproved dirt roads for a short distance to check for deep mud. Many of the two track alkali dirt roads are a booby trap when they get saturated after recent snows and rain. Patton’s tank division would get stuck attempting to navigate some of the roads around Crowley Lake and the Lower and Upper Owens Rivers. Remember this; four wheel drive vehicles only transport you further to eventually get stuck! There are weather links to both Mammoth and Bishop at www.sierradrifters.com/resources.htm Crowley Lake: Fair The big number days are more than likely over. The big fish days are just beginning. The weather has been brutal for most of last week but if the gale force winds lay down and you are well equipped for winter tubing the north arm of the lake around Alligator Pt. and Six Bays will be holding the T- Zilla’s. Streamers rule this time of year for the larger fish. Tie on our Loebergs, Punk Perch or Crystal Leech imitations #10-12. 3X for tippet baby! Nothing less if you want to see that 24 inch plus brown or cutt. Full or heavy sink tip line. Fish the drop-offs and hang those imitations around 10-15 feet. If the weather is cranking or you prefer stillwater nymphing get near the Six Bays area and put the wind as square on your back as possible. Use a tandem rig with a Punk Perch or Crystal Leech #12-14 as the upper fly, hang a dropper with one or our Crystal Tigers or Zebras #14-18. The lower fly should be 9-11 feet below the indicator. It gets deep quickly close to the bank here so do not overcast! (15 feet is about right give or take a few feet) You will be fishing in too deep of water. The fish cruise the points perimeter in search of food. It was a great season overall on Crowley and we hope you had an opportunity to get on this great stillwater fishery. The DFG planted substantially less than last season’s numbers of next year’s rainbows and due to budget cuts the brown trout and Lahontan Cutthroat stocking programs have been discontinued in Crowley and many other fisheries in California. We will do our best to keep you updated on the fiascos the DFG is facing in regards to future plantings. Upper Owens River/Big Springs: Good This is my personal favorite place to wade fish this time of year. The larger fall run rainbows and browns are migrating upstream from Crowley Lake swimming their way towards the major source of the Owens; Big Springs. The “gauntlet” section below the Benton Crossing Bridge is now closed for the remainder of the season. Please go to http://www.dfg.ca.gov for complete information on the current DFG regulations. You will find a consistent baetis hatch around mid-day #18-20. Look for the heads popping up in the larger pools and softer water of the big sweeping type oxbows. Streamers fished with a medium sink tip line in conjunction with our “dip and strip” method will be your best bet for a 20 plus inch fish here. They hold in the tailouts and inside elbows of the big holes and along and under the deeply cut banks of the straight sections of the river. When I designed the SPRUCE-A-BU streamer pattern it was to fish this river and the Lower Owens specifically. This fly will get you into big fish here; the key is not to spook the holding fish during your approach! The migratory fish that are currently here are not always interested in feeding. They are however, very aggressive and will hit a large obtrusive pattern just for spite. Incorporate plenty of long pauses in likely holding water while retrieving the Spruce-A-Bu or similar streamer pattern. You may get one or two “false grabs” prior to the solid strike. Discipline yourself to strip set the hook by pulling your fly line, as opposed to lifting the rod tip. If you miss the short bite, drop the fly back by pushing the rod tip towards the fish and begin your retrieve cadence again. You will be amazed at how many fish will be hooked after using this technique. Cover some water in this area. You will typically find “pods” of rainbows especially. Four progressively longer presentations with a streamer and no grabs; pack it up and relocate to another section. Lower Owens River: Very Good The fishing has been good in all sections of the river including the drift boat areas with the recent stabilization of flows. Currently the river is being released at 150 cfs below the dam at P.V. Good flows for wading. The wild trout section has been experiencing some excellent bwo and trico hatches especially on the overcast days which have been plentiful. Nymphing with our crystal olive zebras and tigers #18-22 with a flashback mayfly pattern as the upper will get the job done nicely in the wild trout area. The Owens Valley’s elevation is about 4000 feet. It is classified as high desert and winter/early spring are by far and away the optimum times to fly fish this tailwater. You can have a raging winter storm bombing the Sierra’s crest and the valley will be no more than overcast with some gusty winds. The average temperature during the daytime is about 50 degrees with 70 degree days not uncommon even during winter months. Figure on freezing temperatures during the early mornings but if the sun is out it will warm up rapidly. It can snow in the valley, but it is not usual. None the less, be prepared for winter weather conditions here if you are planning an excursion to this fine tailwater. We are shifting into high gear for this seasons drift boat trips and are expecting another excellent year with big trout being the icing on the cake. Recent drift boat trips have been very good with 30 fish days common. Winter is the ideal time to drift secluded and difficult to reach sections with us on the Lower Owens and we would like to show you some of the highlights of last season’s big fish to wet your appetites! Click on http://www.sierradrifters.com/fish.html to link you directly to photos of these fortunate Sierra Drifters from last season. We hope you all get an opportunity to book a trip with us this winter for a fish filled and memorable trip down the Owens. Please remember that this section of river is NZMS positive and rotten with the critters. Walk and wade in the streambed as little as possible, do your moving on dry ground. For more information on the snail go to http://www.flyline.com/environmental/nzms/ Hot Creek: Good This may be the best time of year to fish Hot Creek, especially mid-week. The weather has most people thinking snow as well they should and the skiing and boarding is fantastic for this time of year at Mammoth Mountain. The Mammoth Mountain Ski area www.mammothmountain.com currently has a 4-6’ base with the earliest opening in many years! Crowds are light and the baetis and trico hatches are strong and reliable. Water levels are low but there are plenty of channels in the weed lines to drift a dry during the mid-day emergence. Stick to #18 and down for more looks. Dry dropper combos are always deadly here and midge imitations #18 and down are best below a #14-16 caddis or stimulator. The improved dirt road leading to the public section is not plowed after the hatchery turn-off so exercise common sense if there is snow falling or present. West Walker: Fair The recent snow and rain have put additional flows back into the West Walker and you will find more water to fly fish than a month ago. The riverside campgrounds got a last of the season shot in the arm of planted rainbows to keep the area active until 11-15. Dry dropper with a crystal tiger, zebra, or pheasant tail #16-18 will do the trick. East Walker: Fair The flows remain below average with Bridgeport Reservoir being depressingly low. The river continues to produce some good sized fish, some that have been recently planted. Stick to the big hole right below the dam and the first several riffle/pool sections immediately downstream of the outlet pipe for your best chance at getting fish here. Streamers would be the hot ticket here under normal seasons, but the water is too “skinny” to fish most sections with a light sink tip. You can still swing a streamer with a floating line or light sink tip in the big hole and large pools, but you will have limited water. Nymphing with midge or may fly imitations #16-20 under an indicator is best in the deeper runs and pools. Look for some baetis activity mid-day and you will see some noses poking up in the back eddies and big pools for sure. June Lake Loop: Good If you are seasoned and do not care about colder weather take your tube up to Silver, Gull or Grant Lake and tug streamers with a full or heavy sinking tip line. The low water levels in Grant give tubers an advantage by concentrating the fish in a smaller area. The inlet of Rush Creek into Silver is always a good bet and you may get into a big holdover Alpers or good sized brown here. There is plenty of snow along the lakes edge to keep your anti-freeze/aiming fluid (beer) cool so don’t buy ice! Pleasant Valley Reservoir: Fair If the weather is nasty up the hill and you are Jones’n for some decent tubing without the possibility of hypothermia, then P.V. is your place. Stick to streamer patterns with a full sinking or heavy sink tip line near the inlet or launch ramp areas. Loebergs, Punk Perches, and Crystal Leeches always work well here. The river section is fishing good currently but the powerhouse will be generating off and on this week so be prepared to move if the water levels rise. Dry dropper tandems with a Drifters Crystal Tiger Midge #16-18 whack em’ here. Fish the section just below the last riffle. The reservoir is extremely high so you may find this area more towards the heavy brush than usual. The level will be dropping I am told all this week. The Gorge: Good No snow or ice down here in the “Hole” and the little wild browns are on the bite. Excellent choice if it is storming in the upper fisheries and you want some dry fly action. Have some may fly adults #18 and midge patterns #16-20 if you like to nymph. The willows are losing their leaves and the evil nettle is not as “evil” this time of year. You can pick up our guide flies at the following stand out locations: The San Diego Fly Shop, The Troutfitter/Trout Fly in Mammoth Lakes, Stroud’s Tackle in San Diego, Malibu Fish’N Tackle in Thousand Oaks. There are links to these locations at www.sierradrifters.com/resources.htm. Be the fly…Tom Loe Be the fly…Tom Loe Sierra Drifters Guide Service If you visit these links be sure to tell them Sierra Drifters sent you… Mammoth Lakes Real Estate: http://www.mammothrealestateonline.com/Nav.aspx/Page=/ListNow/Default.aspx Mammoth Lakes Lodging: http://www.mammothlakes.com/ml2/Lodgingx.html