Howdy friends and Sierra Drifters. Here is the
latest scoop from the Eastern High Sierra. The rivers and creeks are
all on the rise and trending upward, or high. The Upper Owens and
Hot Creek can also get higher
and off color on the warmer days due to snowmelt from their tributaries.
Road access to these locations is greatly improving, but if we get more
snow this week it may be quite a while longer before you can drive to the
normal parking spots in both areas.
Spring is just around the corner but first we must
deal with a series of cold, windy Pacific storms that may put additional
snow on the Sierra. This weather pattern is forecast to continue
through the moon.
The guide staff at Sierra Drifters supports the
Cal DFG warden stamp and
the warden program. Click on
the link to obtain yours and show support for these under resourced-
protectors of our resources.
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Lower Owens River:
Kathy P. with SD
Guide, Fill T and her Trophy Drift Boat Rainbow...
Nathan M. with his Quality Silver
Bullet...
and then his Beautiful Brown...while
drift boating recently with T-Loe
Flows are on the rise and I have
been told they will go to 550 cfs soon. Despite the rising water
we have had some good days in the upper sections of the LO nearest the
PV rez dam. We are getting into some larger fish on streamers
while drifting,
but the numbers continue to be poor and inconsistent in the planted
sections.
We are seeing strong caddis activity on the
warmer upward trending barometric pressure days #16-18 for adults and nymphs, BWO’s #18-20 after lunch-use a PT
or birds nest pattern 18-20 for nymphing.
You can access
real time release data from the link we have provided to the LADWP
website at the top of the Fish’N conditions page. Look at the
release flows just below PV Rez, and the outflows on the N. fork of
Bishop Creek to get the entire picture.
I have received many emails this season about
what constitutes good flows to wade and fish the LO . The fish
do not pack up and leave the river, they just alter their holding
areas whether the flows increase or decrease. Stability allows
the fish to adapt to new conditions and minimizes the effects
turbidity, debris , and water temp changes cause on feeding behavior
and aquatic hatch cycles.
Click here
To View Our "Be-The-Fly" Drift Boat Videos! |
Award Winning Author, Andy R. "The
Sasquatch" gets a
nice bow...
Mr. Linkcredible always gets his
fish...
Upper Owens River:
Compliments of David
Kendrick... an Obese Spring Rainbow on the UO...
The snow is finally melting and
you can access the UO with a 4X4 in most areas on the main two track
roads. The feeder roads remain snowbound and are not passable at
this time. You will need to hoof it from the main roads down to the
fence walk thru's, or walk upstream from the Benton Bridge. There is
a good amount of snow remaining in the drifts and along the fence lines,
but the rivers edge is easy to walk along.
The bigs are moving up from
Crowley in small pods. The numbers here remain small, but the
quality makes it worth the effort. Good midge activity on the warmer
days, and a solid baetis hatch after 1pm that the fish respond to well.
Streamers are getting the predacious rainbows to move in the big pools.
Have some red in your choice of pattern. Nymphing with a San Juan
Worm as the attractor, hang a broken back tiger or zebra as the dropper
for a hot tandem rig. Flashback PT's, hares ear, and egg patterns
also will get you grabs.
The water flow remains kinda
high and when it gets warm there is a fair amount on tannin color to the
water leeching in from the soggy banks. Focus on the deeper
sections, not much activity yet in the tailouts.
Click
Here to
View our Snowmobile Snowbows Video
Hot Creek:
Andy R... "The
Sasquatch" displays "Brownzilla"
You should have seen the one that got
away!
NO CHANGE FROM LAST REPORT-STILL FANTASTIC!
Fishing here is as good as
it gets! Recent trips have put big smiles on the lucky ones making the
effort to hike down into the canyon over a hard packed snow covered road.
Rarely do I classify fishing here as “stupid good”
but I have seen two days recently in which the “crick” has lived up to its
potential. The trout are gorging on the baetis hatch and if you can fog a
mirror-you could catch a fish on a fly with little fishing effort.
Fish midge clusters in the morning or may fly nymphs
#18-20. Switch to BWO adults around mid-day. This is the sweet spot
during the day and you will see just how many fish thrive in this fertile
spring creek!
We had a great trip
and really enjoyed fishing with Doug, (the big fish champ of the East
Walker). Would definitely fish with him again. I will try to attach a
photo of my 20 inch bow. Thanks, Butch C
David K.... A Sweet
Brown...
David K. with his
Hook Jawed Buck...
"Many thanks again for another wonderful fishing
trip/adventure with you. I don’t think I have ever caught so many big fish
in one day. WOW, what a great time I had!!!!! Thank you so much!
It was a lot of fun switching techniques, etc. and they all were
productive and caught fish. It ranks right up there as one of the top
guided trips (if not the best) I have ever had with you, and I will never
forget it...David K. & Randy A."
Randy A. with his
Sweet Brown
"I too can not thank
you enough for yet another great trip. We really hooked up some
great fish in high numbers and had a blast!!!!I am exited about setting up
more trips with the Drifters. Randy A."
East Walker River:
The spring flow increase has occurred and are
currently at 270 cfs. You can track the real time flow data
on the link at the top of this page.
Fishing has picked up with some trophy sized fish
being fooled daily. The SJW and BB tiger/zebra #16-18 are killers
here as well this time of year. The baetis are #18 and emerge around
1 pm. The fish key on this hatch and you will see snouts
a plenty in the larger, softer pools and transition water along the major
riffles. Midge clusters are good choices in the
mornings on high pressure days, PT's or may fly nymph imitations #18-20
work well most of the time.
Rick R. with an EW
Broom Tailed Bow...
John N. with his
very first EW Brown...
PV Reservoir:
The Rez has been good for those wishing to tube, or
fish the inlet section if power generation is NOT occurring. The
inlet section and river proper will be significantly influenced by
increased flows during this cycle and are not safely fishable during power
generation. If you get a down generation period fish dry/dropper
bead head rigs, or tandem nymph rigs under your "Under-Cator" with tigers,
PT's, or broken back midges #16-20.
Most of the DFG and IAG planted fish from a recent trout derby went here
and Drifters Two Bug Doug reports good fishing here in the inlet and from
tubes. He guided here 3-29-10 and had a great day with Jim and
Sergey M. Full or moderate sinking tips and streamers
#10-14 are best. You can also hit the drop-offs (9-12 feet) with a
still water nymph rig using midge patterns and PT's #16-20.
The Gorge:
Very good down here. The warm weather got the wild
browns on the chew and it has been a dry fly fest in the deeper pools and
tailouts. Dry dropper combos with #16-18 beads heads, or emerger patterns
will get you plenty of grabs. Fish this area with upstream presentations,
starting at the rear or back end of the pool or riffle. Midge clusters,
or mayfly adults #16-20 will get looks. The ice and snow is gone in all
sections.
You can click on the
Closer Look Tab above for a comprehensive overview of many of the waters
we guide.
Be
the fly friends…Tom Loe
Sierra Drifters Guide Service
760-935-4250
Driftfish@qnet.com
and Michele Loe
Michele@MammothLakes.com
Eastern Sierra Real Estate….
http://www.mammothlakes.com/mlRE/Agent_Michele.html
®™