Sierra Nevada Fly Fishing Report

Eastern Sierra Fishing Report provided by Reel Mammoth Adventures (7/12)

Dave Neal 760.924.0438

Neal2fish@qnet.com

www.reelmammothadventures.com  

Quick Summary:

The weather pattern remains sunny with temps in the low 70’s with some scattered thunderheads developing late in the afternoon.  Currently we are experiencing a mild summer and the wildflowers are popping everywhere!  The weather is fantastic and July-September is a great time to fish the Eastern Sierra.  The Town of Mammoth Lakes is at 8,000 feet!!

The high country is finally coming into season.  After a warm and sunny 4^th of July weekend the snow has been melting fast.  Mammoth Mtn Ski Area closed for the season on July 5^th.

Hot Creek is in prime shape with slightly high but clear water. The weeds are not bad yet and we are seeing great hatches of pmd’s, bwo’s, trico’s, caddis, little yellow stones, and hoppers are abundant, too.

The East Walker flows have gone up and down and are around 400 cfs this week.  Flows are changing often.  But the river will fish fine under high flows – focus near the banks! Usual summer hatches of caddis, pmd’s, and lots of midges from tiny to large.

Upper Owens is still a little affected by runoff but water has cleared quite a bit and fishing is improving.  Solid pmd, caddis, trico and little yellow stones are hatching daily.

Crowley Lake has been up and down, some days it is tough, other days there have been some big fish landed.

East Walker:

Fishing Conditions- Great, but CROWDED on a lot of days.  Water temps are remaining cooler than typical July due to the increased snowpack and long runoff period.  Be prepared to change your flies as soon as you stop getting grabs.  Fishing is good from sunup to sundown with some slow periods throughout the day. Caddis, mayflies, midges, & streamers!!!  Trico spinnerfall is one of the best around.

Water Flow/Conditions- Around 400 cfs this week, but it’s changing weekly.  Always check current flows. 

Fly Patterns-

Nymphs:  #18-20 brown Fox’s Poopah, Brook’s tan loop wing cdc caddis emerger #20, #18 Z-Wing Caddis, #20 Gallatin Caddis white/cream, olive, tan, brown, cinnamon colored caddis larva patterns…

#20-24 WD-40’s in olive, black, grey, and rusty.  #20-24 Zebra midge in silver/black and red/black, yellow & black. Pmdand trico nymphs #22-24, RS-2’s, Barr’s bwo pmd Emergers from #18-22, Burk’s HBI’s, #20-16 tan Bird’s Nests, #20-22 rusty and black spinner patterns, #16-22 Pheasant Tails, Yellow Sallie Stoneflies

Dries: Your favorite caddis, midge and bwo and pmd dry fly patterns #22-18, #20 pmd Comparadun, yellow Stimulators for the little yellow stones, Elk Hair Caddis, EC Caddis, trico spinnerfall patterns

Tips-

Take your indicator off and try some high sticking the fast water…

Hot Creek:

Fishing Conditions- Great dry fly fishing opportunities.

Water Flow/Conditions- Slightly high but water is in prime shape!!!

Hatches-  Trico emergence/spinnerfall in early morning. Solid pmd and little Yellow Sallies hatching during midday from 11-2pm!! .  Lots of micro caddis, too. Hoppers are out and about finally

Fly Patterns – Nymphs: #20-24 WD-40’s in olive, black, grey, #22-24 Zebra midge in silver/black and red/black, trico & pmd nymphs #20-22, Barr’s pmd emergers, #18-20 green caddis larva, Z-Wing Caddis, cdc caddis emergers like Brook’s Hot Creek Caddis, Yellow Sallie Stonefly nymphs,

Dries: #22 female trico dun and spinnerfall patterns, #18-20 cream (pmd) Comparadun & Hacklestackers, #18-20 pmd parachute patterns, #16-18 Yellow Sallie’s, yellow Stimulators.  6x tippet is all that is necessary, 7x and you won’t land many in the weeds. Presentation will trump fly selection!!

Tips-

Don’t let the crowds annoy you.  You’re at Hot Creek!  Just keep moving and when you look down, anywhere on the stream, there are probably several DOZEN fish right out in front of you!

Upper Owens:

Fishing conditions- Good

Water Flows/Conditions- Clearer the farther upriver you travel.  Runoff has slowed but the river is still slightly high and a little off color, which is good for sneaking up on them.  The trout are seeing just fine and feeding on small bugs like pmd’s, midges and tricos.

The campground section below Benton Crossing has been getting stocked by CA DFG and is a great place for beginners, novices, kids, or those in need of some action!

Hatches- pmd mayflies, micro caddis, midges, and little Yellow Sallies…

Fly Patterns-

Nymphs; Attractor nymphs work well enough!! #16-18 Prince Nymph, #16 Pheasant Tails, San Juan Worm, #18 red & copper Copper John #20 Zebra midge in silver/black, pmd and trico nymphs and emergers (same as EW or Hot Creek), #22 drowned trico spinners, Hogan’s S&M Nymphs, #20 lime green Brook’s Hot Creek Caddis emergers, #16-18 tan Bird’s Nest

Dry Flies: #16 Yellow Sallie patterns, #18-20 EC Caddis, olive & tan Elk Hair Caddis, #18 Hemmingway Caddis, #16-18 pmd’s like Comparadun etc.,  #12-14 tan hopper patterns!!

Pull your favorite streamer patterns in the deeper pools and along cut-banks and see what happens!!

Lower Owens:

Fishing Conditions- Flows have been over 400cfs for a while.  Time to say goodbye until fall - unless you catch the trout feeding on the surface or slower back eddies in the early a.m. (tricos) or late evening (caddis or male trico)

Water Flows/Conditions- Dam release is over 400cfs.

Hatches-  Caddis, little yellow stones, couple different mayfly species, especially pmd’s and tricos.

Fly Patterns-

Nymphs: #20-24 Zebra midge in silver/black, #20 pmd nymphs like Poxy Back Baetis, Burk’s HBI’s,  #20-22 olive Surface Emergers, #20-22 Barr’s bwo & pmd Emergers, Micro Mayfly, Pheasant Tails, #16 Bucksin Caddis, #16-18 Mercer’s Biot Stone, #16 Yellow Sallie Stones.

Dries: #18 Hemmingway Caddis, dark bodied & tan Elk Hair Caddis, #18 olive EC Caddis, bwo & pmd dry fly patterns such as Comparadun, parachutes, crippled bwo, etc. etc… also #12-14 yellow Stimulators and other Yellow Sallie patterns.

San Joaquin:

Fishing Conditions- Road is now open.  Mandatory bus is running…

Water flows- very high water due to runoff currently.  Maybe in two weeks…

Water Conditions- High and cold!!

Hatches- very slight, caddis, stoneflies,

Fly Patterns: Stimulators and ants, Elk Hair Caddis, micro mayfly, Hogan’s S&M, Pheasant tails…

Crowley Lake:

Fishing Conditions- Variable from slow to great.

We have been getting to some big fish lately (20-25” rainbows and browns) stillwater nymphing from 10-17 feet deep. Midge hatches have been weak.  Stripping streamers has improved for those who know the lake well… callibaetis and damsels are starting to show.  Usual places like Green Banks, Alligator Point, Sandy Point, North Landing, and Hilton Bays, out deep in McGee Bay.

Crowley should begin to fish really well toward the end of the month…

Water Conditions- Surface is warming up, between 65-70 degrees.  Weed beds are growing fast!!!  Water has cleared up a lot; algae bloom has slowed up a little for now.

Fly Patterns- For stripping try a type II or III line - Callibaetis and damsels are prevalent. #16 Jansen’s Callibaetis and marabou damsels fly nymphs slow twitched and stripped over the weed beds, or bumped under an indicator!

For still water nymphing use #18 midges in tan, grey, and olive with black, copper, or sliver wire ribbing.  Also, try hanging some damsel and dragonfly nymphs on the line mid way up.

OTHER WATERS:

Little Truckee River:

East Carson River:

The flows are still high, but they are dropping.  Use lots of weight to get down.  Hot flies are Anderson's Bird of Prey (tan 12), Guide's Choice Hare's Ear Soft Hackle (16), Bird's Nest (tan 14).  Hoppers are starting to show.