Howdy friends and Sierra Drifters. Best fishes to all for the 2010 general trout season which opens on 4-24.
I look back many seasons ago while I was still very much engaged in commercial fishing for broadbill swordfish to the excitement I felt this time of year. Not only was I anticipating installing the sword plank and harpoon gear for the upcoming season on the Pacific, I was preparing for the annual migration to the Sierra on opening day of trout season. It had become a tradition to arrive the day prior to opener and scout out several pieces of water that I would potentially fish as soon as it became light.
Over hydrating with the scouting team the evening prior to opener could sometimes lead to a delayed and severely disorganized start, or complications with our eyesight (being cross eyed at 4 am is not conducive for tying on miniscule midge patterns!)
I would go through the motions each and every year pragmatically applying my professional fishing knowledge and science factoring in all the observations discovered during my recon mission. Inevitably, I would always end up in the same section of the Upper Owens River (if I told you, I’d have to kill ya) that I had fished for many years. There is no doubt; we are truly creatures of habit my friends.
Arriving hours before daybreak with my rods rigged and fly boxes full of the winter’s latest and greatest visions made from stolen clippings of my grandmothers fur coat, hair from my golden retrievers stern feathers, and high quality silk (from a source that I will take the fifth amendment on at this time thank you.) I would await the gray of daybreak impatiently freezing my ass off and neurotically preparing by repeatedly moving my strike indicator up or down a few inches, or changing a streamer pattern several times before the first casts of the new season.
Although distant memories, those days are etched deeply in my mind and the excitement of the first casts to untouched water is always the biggest rush for any fisherman. I hope you all have the opportunity to experience the opening days of the 2010 trout season. Be the fly friends.
East Walker River: open year around with special regulations
John G. "Old School Nymphing" gets him Double Chocolate Delights with SD Guide T-Loe...
Bill E....Persistence & technique pays off for Bill's Trophy Brown...
"Thanks for all your hard work on Saturday. Thanks for not only taking us there, but for sharing your knowledge of the place. I ran into the group of guys that were fishing below us and they didn’t catch a fish. I talked you up big and once they saw the pic’s of the fish we caught. The boys and I had a great time as always and we are already talking about getting back up there with you. Talk to you soon."
We have had some great days here recently. Flows are trending upward but remain very good considering the amount of snow in this drainage. There is a link to the EW flows towards the top of this page.
The hot ticket here is a large red or brown larva pattern #10-16 or San Juan Worm as an upper fly with a bead head flashback PT, hares ear, or broken back zebra as your dropper #18-20. Streamers have also been fooling some fish in the deeper pools. The miracle mile has been very crowded for spring break but seems to be holding up well for the pressure it has received. With the increase in flows I suggest you work the sections below the first bridge. Although fish counts are lower here you will have more open water and should end up with a better overall score due to the lack of pressure.
Triple Thick Brownies for Davey D....and Dad, Joe goes Bendo...
Pops (82 years young) & still schooling the Browns!... Franko's Glitter Bow putting on a show...
Hot Creek: open year around with special regulations
You can drive to the seasonal gate above the ranch as of 4-14. The crick has been consistently very good and the flows have been near perfect allowing extended drifts in the weed channels. Nymphing with PT’s in the #18-20 range, midges #20-22. The baetis hatch is still the main attraction mid-day. #18 BWO patterns fished with a 10 foot 5-6X leader work well enough.
Harold M on Hot Creek. Never caught a fish on a fly rod before this...
"I thought I would take a few minutes to report what a great time I had last Friday with Doug R. I learned more than I thought possible. The fishing was super as were Doug's instructions. When I forgot what to do, like mending, or was looking at the line when I had a strike, Doug would calmly refocus my attention. My wife, Julie, thinks I'm hooked for life. I thinks she is right. Thanks so much. Sincerely, Harold M"
Don G. with his gorgeous Brown while fishing with Two Bug Doug...
Beauties...OK the fish too!!!... Mary T. and Katherine H. while fishing with Two Bug Doug...
"On behalf of the four of us, we would like to thank you for such a great trip. You really made our 2 days on the water special and the fishing was great. Your timeliness, attention to detail, and your patience is exactly why we will be using you again. You provided great company as well as taught us a lot of good information. Look forward to seeing you soon and I will be making sure all my fishing buddies purchase your indicators. Those are by far the best indicators I have ever used. All the best for a great season and thanks once again for a truly fantastic experience on the water. Ken T."
Upper Owens River: open year around with special regulations and area restrictions.
Numbers here continue to be disappointing. The spring rainbow migration is running very late due to the extended amount of sheet ice on Crowley Lake, and cooler than normal water temps. This is also the case in all of Crowley’s tribs this spring. The good news is that they are for the most part size large, and we should have a great May if the UO does not flood early on. Hit the soft water and larger pools while nymphing or running a streamer through them. Midge patterns and flashback PT’s #16-20 are good as the lower fly in a tandem rig. Use a San Juan Worm, larger PT, hares ear, or #16 broken back midges as the upper.
THE SECTION FROM THE BENTON BRIDGE DOWNSTREAM TO THE FISHING MONUMENT WILL CONTINUE TO BE CLOSED UNTIL 5-29. YOU MAY FISH DOWNSTREAM FROM THE MONUMENT TO CROWLEY BEGINNING 4-24.
Lower Owens River:
At flows above 300 cfs this time of year wading around the wild trout section sucks. Flows are still high and as of 4-14 are a little over 400cfs. Drift boat trips have been poor due to high flows and a lack of planted fish this spring. There is link to the DWP flows towards the top of this page.
Mike “Scoop” Moreno from Creston CA. has tamed the largest drift boat beast in several seasons while being guided by T. Loe on the Lower Owens River. The fish measured 27.5 inches and was caught on one of Loe’s Spruce-a-bu’s. Punctuating the accomplishment was the fact that flows were at 600cfs (nearly flood stage) when he and fishing buddy Dana Olivares from Templeton CA. landed the great rainbow. Way to go Scoop!
SD Guide T-Loe & Don S. with his Drift Boat Money Fish!
Click here To View Our "Be-The-Fly" Drift Boat Videos!
PV Reservoir:
Get here early to fish the river section near the inlet; it can be very good before power generation occurs. Dry/dropper bead head combos are killer. It has been starting up around 9-9:30am recently, but don’t bank on this please. Bring your tube along and after the freak’n water starts rising go to the rez proper and fish the transition with streamers. The fish migrate towards the flow and you can have some fun fishing the scum lines along both shores.
Steve N...spanking one of many wild browns before the flows increase...
The Gorge:
This is my favorite time of year to fish here. The brush is still on the skinny side and the fish are pretty much ravenous if you get into the more secluded sections. Fifty fish days are obtainable if you can accurately cast 30 feet using a dry dropper bead head rig. You will also have excellent opportunities to fish mayfly and caddis adults #16-18 during the afternoon here. Upstream presentations are necessary for consistent results. Suck em’ up short-move or cast progressively towards the pools head every other cast.
Steve N...Accurate upstream presentations can get you 50 fish a day!
Adobe Pond:
We will be here for opener and this place will be awesome this spring. Get your dates early. May will be excellent. We sight fish from a drift boat and have exclusive rights to guide this famous wild brown trout fishery. Click on the Adobe Ranch tab at the top of the site for more info.
OPENER PREVIEW:
NWS forecasters are saying that we will have a cooler and unstable weather pattern remaining through most of April this season. We are a few weeks behind this season. It will be a “contracted” opening period due to the extended winter and low snow levels.
You will have moderate snow and ice in locations above 7500 feet, with locations above 8,000 feet having heavy snow and thick ice that will remain well into May and early June this season. Lower elevation freestone creeks will be in great shape early on but will get blown out as soon as we get a sustained warming. The Lower Owens is high however look for it to back off substantially as soon as the snow begins melting in the southern Sierra. I have been told the East Walker should be very fishable with regards to flows through the opener . West Walker is great currently and if it remains cool will be a good choice early on this season. Lower Rock Creek will be in good shape as will Bishop Creek.
Crowley tribs are sparse of spawners as of 4-15. McGee Creek runs 20 feet from my porch and I have observed little spawning activity up to now. It will ERUPT very soon and when we get a sustained warming trend you will see a major migration of rainbows and cutts after the opener.
Crowley has substantial ice in the middle of the lake and dam area as of 4-15, but it should dissipate by opener. Bridgeport Rez was ice fee on 4-12 and is nearly full, docks are floating (Jeffery is not!). Water temps at both these locations will be cooler than normal. ZERO chironomid activity in either location. Fish deep with larva patterns. The usual opener alpine locations have ice as of 4-14 but may open up at the buzzer so call your destination before you drive up. Have a great season.
Eagle Lake Spring Trips:
Eagle will be excellent this spring and should fish very much like last year. It was incredible last season and we logged numbers of chunky Eagle Lake bows that were off the charts! We will be booking trips from 6-4-2010 through 6-30-2010. Doug R will be guiding Eagle with me this season on his new 24 foot Ranger "fish magnet" and can easily accommodate three anglers. AS OF 4-14-10 we have 1 boat open for 2-3 anglers on June 8, 9, 10, 16, 17, 20, & 23.
PLEASE GET YOUR TRIPS BOOKED TO THIS INCREDIBLE FISHERY SOON OR YOU WILL MISS OUT ON AN EPIC SPRING!!!
Depending on conditions we may be doing some trips in July as well. I will post those dates at a later time.
Eagle is hands down, without a doubt the best rainbow trout still water in the State. If you like big numbers of 19 inch average Eagle Lake Trout that weigh 2-3 lbs on the fly, this is your huckleberry! Big fish here go 27 inches and weigh 6-7 lbs. It is a gorgeous alpine lake bordered by huge pines and is California’s second largest natural inland body of water.
Click on the Eagle Lake tab at the top of this page for additional info.
Fly Fishing Clinics for beginners and intermediates:
If you or someone you know wants to learn the basics of fly casting, knot tying, and the fundamentals of wet and dry fly fishing from full time fly fishing professionals, here is a great opportunity!
We will be conducting casting and knot tying clinics located at Sierra Drifters beautiful private trophy pond overlooking Crowley Lake at McGee Creek for next season. You may enroll for an on the water instructional seminar in addition to the pond session for the second day.
These clinics were a big hit last year and we had high marks from those who attended the classes. We are adding additional dates for next season and have greatly reduced the cost thanks to last years demand. The four hour clinics cost $100.00 per person/day.
Day one will focus on rigging your fly rod and essential knot tying, emphasis for day one clinics will be hands on instruction of several basic casts. It is intended for entry level fly fishers, but the instructors can tailor your individual needs. You will not need a license at the Drifter's trophy pond. Bring your 4-6wt fly rod and reel with a floating line and we supply the rest!
Day two will take place on the water and covers basic rigging methods, how to read water and "entomology made easy" so you can figure out what flies to use and when. Instruction on how to properly fight and safely release a fish will also be covered. Emphasis will be on presentations and location along a stream or river. A license is required for this class and is not covered in the cost. You will also need a fly rod and reel, a vest with some basic tools, strike indicators and leader material, we supply the flies. We can supply all you need for both classes for an additional minimal fee.
You may choose a single day if you wish, and we will limit the classes to five students per guide to insure you get excellent personal instruction. These classes are a great way to learn the basics of fly fishing by pros at a very affordable cost. May 21&22, June 4&5 (these classes are full at this time), 2010 dates available are: June 18&19, July 2&3, 16&17, 30&31, August 13&14, 27&28, September 3&4. Please contact us by phone or email for more details and enrollment; we can customize family or group clinics to suit your needs.
Online fly sales…New Lower Prices for 2010. And new for 2010…the broken back “Black and Blue Midge” #18 and the broken back Dark Zebra Midge #18. These smaller sized versions of our time tested and deadly broken back #16 patterns are a must for still waters as well as moving waters that hold trophy trout. The new colors give you additional options for the ever changing water and light conditions. Click on the Online Fly Sales Tab at the top of this page.
SD “Two Bug Doug’s” Under-Cator (patents pending) is currently available online and to wholesalers.
Two Bug’s vision has led us to come up with the ultimate strike indicator/bobber. It is now available online, and in stores February of 2010. This versatile strike indicator comes in two popular sizes and can be used by fly fishers or spin casters. It is high riding and easy to see - never needs floatant or drying, adjusts quickly and easily without slipping, and casts beautiful. Unlike others it needs NO tools or torque wrenches to install on leaders or lines from 25lb.-7X. It won’t slip, kink, or damage your line like others. A user friendly custom thumb screw (patents pending) locks the Under-Cator onto your leader or line securely and easily!
This strike indicator/bobber has gone through extensive guide testing and trials on both still waters and rivers for over a year. It is the most innovative and versatile of its kind available.
We are selling flies online this season for your convenience. The 2010 Sierra Drifters Flies are available at the following great fly shops and stores now: The Crowley Lake General Store in Crowley, Bob Marriott’s Flyfishing Store in Fullerton, Malibu Fish’n Tackle in Thousand Oaks, The Fishermen’s Spot in Van Nuys, Stroud’s Tackle and the So Cal Fly Shop in San Diego. There are links to these locations at the resources tab above.
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