Dave Neal
07-11-2010, 11:28 PM
Those of you who know me, know I often have an aversion to “fish reports” since there are so many places to fish around here and it’s impossible to be everywhere often enough.
Furthermore, conditions are constantly changing and I feel that most anglers make their own fish report based on their knowledge, experience, timing, and LUCK!
That said, here is a bit of info I hope can benefit anglers coming to the eastern Sierra…
Runoff has peaked and is on the drop. Many creeks that were blown a few weeks ago are dropping and running clear, still a bit higher than average for July. Weather has been fantastic and mild in the 70’s. We are currently experiencing scattered afternoon thundershowers which is normal during summertime in the mountains. Camping is in full swing and all the campgrounds are open. The SJ area still has a lot of snow but it’s melting fast, same with the high country. Float tubing backcountry lakes has been good!
Hot Creek is on fire. Weed growth is not bad, yet. Water is clear and running higher than average but has been very fishable for weeks. Hatches are abundant during certain times of the day. Runoff fed flows at Mammoth Creek Gauge was 59 cfs today, so the spring fed stream of HC downstream is a little higher. PERFECT!
Trico’s in the morning followed by the spinnerfall followed by an impressive micro caddis migration and egg laying ceremony. Pmd’s are coming off mid morning and they are now small, #18 on the public water, the HCR still has some of the bigger models coming off. Lots of Yellow Salies buzzing around, and the evening is experiencing a great caddis hatch. If you fish late enough, maybe you’ll see some of the trico males emerging. Splashy rises will be the trout on caddis, less urgent rise forms will be the fish on trico duns. Hard to beat #20 Brook’s HC CDC Caddis emerger tied off a larger Elk Hair or EC Caddis!!
For the female trico dun, a #22-24 green Comparadun is good. Fish trico spinner patterns or drown one on a light nymphing rig. For the migrating caddis try skating tiny Hemmingway Caddis or other down wing style patterns. The caddis are pretty small #18 and smaller.
Throw the HOPPERS and Black Beetles also!!!!
Upper Owens has been good. The river still has a bit of brown stain to it, especially below Benton Bridge, but visibility is improving daily (fish can see fine) and if you travel upriver it is a lot clearer. The flows at the gauge on Arc Ranch (way upriver of Hot Creek confluence) was 91cfs today. Below HC confluence the river is higher and bank to bank; Crowley is getting a lot of water.
For beginners, kids, or those who just need a fix of “truck trout” DF&G has stocked the lower river well. Lots of bugs most days, best dry fly fishing has been evenings on the abundant caddis hatch this past week. Same bugs as Hot Creek although the trico situation is always better on the Upper Owens. Hoppers are going to be a big player this season.
Usually, mid day the UO is more of a nymphing game… have at it with basic attractor nymphs, cover water and get good drifts. Easy as that.
Crowley is on the verge of erupting in a good way. I have managed to have a few good-great days out there, but it has been a little up and down the past few weeks.
Stripping and still water nymphing have been equally effective. There are plentiful damsel nymphs, little fish fry (no perch fry yet), callibaetis nymphs, and the ever present midges. Stripping above the weed beds and near them with a type II or III line with damsels and callibaetis nymphs would be a good idea.
Still water nymphing the mud flats will be better for the midge larva/pupa. Each week the conditions change a little and to fish Crowley with success means having a well stocked fly box with a variety of midge patterns in different shapes and colors, and some experience of the lake. We have been anywhere from 9 – 17 feet deep and fishing near drop offs to deeper water.
Soon, the fish will move in mass onto the mud flats in shallower water anywhere cold clean water is coming into the lake. When this occurs Crowley is amazing!!
The algae bloom started, then cleared away (big runoff) now it is back and growing fast (this is not toxic bad algae, but good nutrient rich variety ☺).
The lake is FULL and the weeds are growing well.
The East Walker flows went to 400cfs and now dropping to 350cfs. I love the river when it’s high! Don’t freak, just fish where the fish are… along the banks.
Caddis, midges, pmd’s, tricos, it’s a mixed bag and you should be changing flies often. The fish have so much to choose from in this tailwater it can be a test in patience. Some days hatches have been weak lately, but the fish are still there and they feed because all living things need to eat.
The river is in great shape with the reservoir full and more water is coming in for such a long period of time! The future of the EW is bright and there is a great population of mid sized brown trout in the river. All techniques are worth exploring from streamers to high sticking to dry fly fishing.
Stop first at your local fly shop and come prepared with the usual suspects in fly patterns. Don’t hesitate to stop by Ken’s in Bridgeport as it’s always a great source of the most current information and top fly patterns on the East Walker.
I have not yet fished the MF San Joaquin but it’s currently running high from runoff and it’s cold. It shouldn’t be too long before it’s good to go. I look forward to fishing this river in the “heat” of summer in August when it’s 75 degrees and
shady down there.
I tried to keep this short and tight but that’s hard to do. Hope everyone is enjoying summer and getting out and fishing as much as possible wherever that may be.
Furthermore, conditions are constantly changing and I feel that most anglers make their own fish report based on their knowledge, experience, timing, and LUCK!
That said, here is a bit of info I hope can benefit anglers coming to the eastern Sierra…
Runoff has peaked and is on the drop. Many creeks that were blown a few weeks ago are dropping and running clear, still a bit higher than average for July. Weather has been fantastic and mild in the 70’s. We are currently experiencing scattered afternoon thundershowers which is normal during summertime in the mountains. Camping is in full swing and all the campgrounds are open. The SJ area still has a lot of snow but it’s melting fast, same with the high country. Float tubing backcountry lakes has been good!
Hot Creek is on fire. Weed growth is not bad, yet. Water is clear and running higher than average but has been very fishable for weeks. Hatches are abundant during certain times of the day. Runoff fed flows at Mammoth Creek Gauge was 59 cfs today, so the spring fed stream of HC downstream is a little higher. PERFECT!
Trico’s in the morning followed by the spinnerfall followed by an impressive micro caddis migration and egg laying ceremony. Pmd’s are coming off mid morning and they are now small, #18 on the public water, the HCR still has some of the bigger models coming off. Lots of Yellow Salies buzzing around, and the evening is experiencing a great caddis hatch. If you fish late enough, maybe you’ll see some of the trico males emerging. Splashy rises will be the trout on caddis, less urgent rise forms will be the fish on trico duns. Hard to beat #20 Brook’s HC CDC Caddis emerger tied off a larger Elk Hair or EC Caddis!!
For the female trico dun, a #22-24 green Comparadun is good. Fish trico spinner patterns or drown one on a light nymphing rig. For the migrating caddis try skating tiny Hemmingway Caddis or other down wing style patterns. The caddis are pretty small #18 and smaller.
Throw the HOPPERS and Black Beetles also!!!!
Upper Owens has been good. The river still has a bit of brown stain to it, especially below Benton Bridge, but visibility is improving daily (fish can see fine) and if you travel upriver it is a lot clearer. The flows at the gauge on Arc Ranch (way upriver of Hot Creek confluence) was 91cfs today. Below HC confluence the river is higher and bank to bank; Crowley is getting a lot of water.
For beginners, kids, or those who just need a fix of “truck trout” DF&G has stocked the lower river well. Lots of bugs most days, best dry fly fishing has been evenings on the abundant caddis hatch this past week. Same bugs as Hot Creek although the trico situation is always better on the Upper Owens. Hoppers are going to be a big player this season.
Usually, mid day the UO is more of a nymphing game… have at it with basic attractor nymphs, cover water and get good drifts. Easy as that.
Crowley is on the verge of erupting in a good way. I have managed to have a few good-great days out there, but it has been a little up and down the past few weeks.
Stripping and still water nymphing have been equally effective. There are plentiful damsel nymphs, little fish fry (no perch fry yet), callibaetis nymphs, and the ever present midges. Stripping above the weed beds and near them with a type II or III line with damsels and callibaetis nymphs would be a good idea.
Still water nymphing the mud flats will be better for the midge larva/pupa. Each week the conditions change a little and to fish Crowley with success means having a well stocked fly box with a variety of midge patterns in different shapes and colors, and some experience of the lake. We have been anywhere from 9 – 17 feet deep and fishing near drop offs to deeper water.
Soon, the fish will move in mass onto the mud flats in shallower water anywhere cold clean water is coming into the lake. When this occurs Crowley is amazing!!
The algae bloom started, then cleared away (big runoff) now it is back and growing fast (this is not toxic bad algae, but good nutrient rich variety ☺).
The lake is FULL and the weeds are growing well.
The East Walker flows went to 400cfs and now dropping to 350cfs. I love the river when it’s high! Don’t freak, just fish where the fish are… along the banks.
Caddis, midges, pmd’s, tricos, it’s a mixed bag and you should be changing flies often. The fish have so much to choose from in this tailwater it can be a test in patience. Some days hatches have been weak lately, but the fish are still there and they feed because all living things need to eat.
The river is in great shape with the reservoir full and more water is coming in for such a long period of time! The future of the EW is bright and there is a great population of mid sized brown trout in the river. All techniques are worth exploring from streamers to high sticking to dry fly fishing.
Stop first at your local fly shop and come prepared with the usual suspects in fly patterns. Don’t hesitate to stop by Ken’s in Bridgeport as it’s always a great source of the most current information and top fly patterns on the East Walker.
I have not yet fished the MF San Joaquin but it’s currently running high from runoff and it’s cold. It shouldn’t be too long before it’s good to go. I look forward to fishing this river in the “heat” of summer in August when it’s 75 degrees and
shady down there.
I tried to keep this short and tight but that’s hard to do. Hope everyone is enjoying summer and getting out and fishing as much as possible wherever that may be.