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Fish Report for Friday September 11th, 2009
| Bridgeport Reservoir: | Bridgeport Reservoir has been on fire all summer long!!! It keeps fishing well. This is a good time of year to be on its waters, as the big trout begin to make their march. Don't delay... get out there!!!
Fly anglers You'll do well to strip some Punk Perch patterns down by the dam. The fry are on the move, and the fish are after them. Stripping Buggers (Green or Black -- regular or krystal flash) with your sink line will get hits. Beadhead Matukas are also going to get grabs. Streamer fishing is probably your best bet, but don't limit yourself. Midge fishing with Blood Midges (14/16) off Rainbow Point and in the channel about 3 - 5 feet off the bottom is getting hits. Mix it up a bit, and double up your midges... putting them about 18 inches apart. Gray midges and emergers will also get hits.
Spin & bait anglers Yellow and Red Powerbaits are the baits of choice right now. You can always default to American Pie or Sherbert Gulp! also. Nightcrawlers dipped in Powerbait Garlic Sauce will hook trout. Trolling the clear water with Yo-Zuris, Thomas Bouyants, Needlefish, Mepps, and Bloody Ripperz will hook trout. | | Convict Lake: | Convict Lake is going to look a lot nicer after this weekend, as part of the clean up going on there. The poor little creek at Convict certainly sees more than its fair share of styrofoam containers. Taking a few pieces every time you fish means you are leaving the waters better than you found them. As for the fishing in the creek, Salmon Eggs are great for the bait anglers. Indicatorless fishing with Hare's Ears is good for the fly gals and guys. For the lake...
Fly anglers This is big fish season for Convict. Some fun tournaments are on the schedule and there are lots of lugs in the waters. Get over to the far end inlet where the fresh water brings in new food for the fish and oxygen. Strip Matukas and Krystal Flash Buggers on a sink line. For the dries, Yellow Stimis, Elk Hairs, and Callibaetis Cripples. The "boil" is around 730am, and again in the evening.
Spin & bait anglers Shooting Orange, Silver, or Blue Kastmasters from the beach is working. Yellow Powerbait, as well as Chunky Cheese on a treble hook will land trout. Putting some Powerbait around a nightcrawler is quite deadly. Trolling with 2 - 3 colors out with Broken-back Rapalas, Yo-Zuris, and Big Thomas Bouyants will get the larger fish, otherwise Needlefish and Mepps are just fine. | | Crowley Lake: | Crowley Lake at the time of this report still has some algea in it making the angling a bit tough. It is really hit or miss. That said, there is some good fishing going on, but there is also a lot of time spent just staring at the beautiful mountains above. Keep in mind that the big browns will be on the move soon, and since Crowley was hit not quite as hard this summer as years past, it is going to get better before the season closes.
Fly anglers Fishing in McGee with the other boats out there is still a pretty good place to be. You can get at 'em with a Punk Perch or Blood Midge about 6 inches off the bottom. You'll also want to strip a Perch pattern up at the North End.
Spin & bait anglers Trolling with smaller Rapala patterns or crank baits are getting hits for perch fishing. Most of the perch are coming out of Chalk Cliffs or Alligator Point. You can also troll with various Needlefish patterns up around the North End, or better yet, get a Punk Perch Pattern on your lead core and troll it around. If you want a trip for the family/ friends with Don Meier, our Crowley troll specialist, call the shop at 934.7566. Itīs good fun. | | East Walker River: | East Walker River is fishing decent right now. Flows are around 150 - 200, pretty accessible for wading in. The best times of day to fish are morning and evening. Be sure to revive your trout completely before re-releasing them into the water. They will be fine if you give them the TLC that they need.
Fly anglers The usual caddis patterns will get lots of trout. Yellow Stimis and Callibaetis Cripples also. Micro Midges and WD-40's for nymph patterns. You can also toss Black PT's and Beadhead Prince Nymphs.
Spin & bait anglers Pinch the barbs off Orange Stingers and Trout Teasers and work them throughout the off sections of "The Glory Hole." Yo-Zuris, Small Rapalas, and Panther Martins will also get hits. | | Grant Lake: | Grant Lake is not the most scenic in the lake, but it is full of big, big fish, and lots of them. Getting a float tube or small boat near where Rush flows into Grant is a good bet. Bait anglers working off the shore near the outlet also get lots of trout.
Fly anglers Black Gnats in the evening if you're going after the Kamloops. Otherwise, sink line and streamers. Green Flash Krystal Bugger.
Spin & bait anglers Gulp and Powerbait work very well on Grant. Go with Rainbow, Sherbert, or Rainbow Candy. | | Gull Lake: | Gull Lake is a jewel of a lake. The aspen that surround Gull are going to explode in yellow and gold. There are also lots and lots of trophy trout still in its waters also. Gull is heavily stocked... one of the best stocked lakes in the Eastside.
Fly anglers Believe it or now, you'll get some trout midge fishing off the docks where plenty of bows and browns circle around. Blood Midges. You can also hook them on various emerger patterns. For the evening and morning boil, Gnats and Ants. Callibaetis Cripples and Yellow Stimis. Matukas and Flash Buggers are about as good a streamer as you can have for Gull. Sink Line. Get a Flashback PT dropper tied about 18 inches behind it.
Spin & bait anglers Thomas Bouyants land plenty of Alpers and browns in this lake. Lip Ripper Spoonz and Rapalas are also great lures for Gull. Troll with about 2 colors out with your lead core line. If you are bait angling, you are going to get plenty with inflated nightcrawlers. Gulp! is also a great bait on Gull... Buttercup Yellow, Bubblegum, and Chunky Cheese. Trout love all of it. | | Hot Creek: | Hot Creek has easily been the best place to fly fish all season long, and it is only getting better still. We are entering autumn, which means the crowds are thinning out. You can end up on Hot Creek with large stretches solely to yourself. The vegetation, while still present, is clearing out a bit. There are trophy trout all over the waters of the canyon. If you are fortunate enough to be staying at The Hot Creek Ranch, you are going to have a fun few days as well.
Fly anglers Don't put your Tricos and Spinners away just yet, as we are still seeing a few in the morning. Lots of Caddis on and off all day. Leonard was plucking them off with a small Low Profile Caddis (18/20) last week, having a lot of fun pulling some nice looking trout out of the water. Tent Wings and EC Caddis will work equally as well. 6X tippet is still your best bet, as the trout have come off a summer of being pounded. You can get away with 5X for your nymphs or streamers. Streamers? Yep, some small subs in the creek appear to be chasing fry. Be mindful of fishing Buggers or Matukas, as you don't want to go tearing out vegetation and losing your flies. For the nymphs... the usual Hot Creek goods: Micro Midges (20/22/24), Scuds (14/16/18 -- Olive), WD-40's (18/20/22)... all should get plenty of hits. Work the runs through the channels. | | June Lake: | June Lake has been great all summer long. Still a lot of trout moving around it. Not a bad place to spend half a day, or the weekend for that matter.
Fly anglers Fish streamers near the reeds off the marina. Standard patterns: Buggers, Matukas, G's-catchem-alls. When they are surface feeding in the morning, and again in the evening, pitch Mosquitoes or Callibaetis Cripples.
Spin & bait anglers Trollers have been getting multiple hook ups with Tasmanian Devils and Needlefish. Fire Tiger and Silver/ Orange. Fish are a bit more off the bottom, so having about 2 colors out should be fine. Dunking worms dipped in garlic are also bending rods. Keep the worms 3 - 5 feet off the bottom. | | Lake George: | Lake George has plenty of trout "near the big rock" on the far side. Kick the tube over there, or if you are spin fishing, plunk worms into the shore off either side of the marina.
Fly anglers Pitch some dries the last hour of daylight, or early in the morning with Callibaetis Cripples (16/18), Parachute Adams (16/18), Mosquitoes (16/18), and Elk Hairs (16/18. Yellow Stimis also.
Spin & bait anglers Nightcrawlers. Casting them near the reeds off the side of the marina is definitely a productive choice. Inflate these bad boys and dip them in the garlic sauce. Trout love the garlic sauce. Powerbait hooks plenty of trout in George: Yellow, Flourescent Orange, Rainbow Sherbert -- all good stuff. Taz Devils, Lip Rippers, and Needlefish are all the goods for lures on George!!! | | Lake Mamie: | Mamie has plent of trout in it, and it is user-friendly for the float tubes.
Fly anglers Yellow Stimi's and Callibaetis Cripples are great dry flies on this float tube-friendly lake. Kicking the streamers around with a intermediate tip is a good idea also. Woolly Buggers in brown, green, and black. Flash Buggers also work.
Spin & bait anglers Kick around with any of our Eastern Sierra Thomas Bouyants in the shop. You'll also hook up with Needlefish. Kastmasters for fishing from the shore. Powerworms have been hooking trout in Mamie -- Red and Charteuse. Inflated nightcrawlers dipped in garlic also. Get your worms off the bottom about 3 - 5 feet. | | Lake Mary: | Lake Mary has been fishing well for the lakes above Mammoth. Lots of healthy trout have come from its waters this summer. As the air temps begin to cool down, we are going to see more large trout getting hooked. It is worth getting on Mary again this season.
Fly anglers Pitching Yellow Stimis, Parachute Adams, and Mosquitoes in the early morning and late evening will grab trout during the boil. Kick the tube around Pokonobe with a sink line and BH Krystal Green Bugger. The corner next to Mamie is also productive.
Spin & bait anglers The latest we are hearing is to just troll up and down the middle of the lake with about 3 colors out for your lead core. Fire Tiger Needlefish are whacking them! Yozuris are good choices if you want to target the bigger fish. Rapalas, and Lip Ripper Spoonz. Lures with any hint of orange on them also seem to be productive. Worms dipped in garlic will get rods bent. And, Super Dupers are good lures for shore angling. | | Lower Owens River: | Lower Owens River is flowing with about as much water as the muddy Mississippi River right now. It's really not worth fishing. Get up into Bishop Canyon and fish Bishop Creek if you want to get at some trout above Bishop. Fly anglers will do fine on Bishop Creek with Parachute Adams, Bivisables, and Renegades for dries. Dry fly fishing is probably your best bet, work the pools and runs behind the rocks where the wild browns are. Bait anglers will get grabs in Bishop Creek from Gulp! in American Pie or Chunky Chartreuse or Salmon Eggs. | | Mammoth Creek: | Mammoth Creek is another one of the aspen-lined creeks of the Eastside that is going to get really yellow, really quick. There are definitely some trout left in its waters as well.
Fly anglers Good place for a short 2 or 3-weight rod. You are not going to be casting any major distance, usually pick up and put down. Parachute Adams and small terrestrial patterns (Beetles, Ants, Hoppers). Indicatorless nymph fishing with Hare's Ears and PT's.
Spin & bait anglers Salmon eggs. Fish near the museum if you want to catch trout. Mike who runs the museum can point the trout out to you!!! You'll also get plenty of trout with Powerbait. Try putting on a bit of Yellow mixed with Red/White/Blue. All the colors and sparkles attract the trout. Trout Teasers in Orange and Green are good jigs, and you can also work deeper pools with small Rooster Tail patterns, black and silver is a good choice for Mammoth Creek. | | Owens River (Benton Crossing Down): | The Upper O below the bridge is not what is was last year. It's slow. We are seeing stockers go into the water, but coming out again a couple days later on stringers. Just goes with the territory. If you want to fly fish, get on Hot Creek. If you are really itching to hit the O...
Fly anglers Madam-X Parachutes, Parachute Adams, Stimis, Elk Hairs... they'll get the trout that are in there. Black PT's or Caddis Larva for your nymph patterns. Work Buggers through the pools per streamers.
Spin & bait anglers You have lots of options for the Owens. Powerbait really never goes wrong on the O... Red/Blue/White, Rainbow, Yellow. Gulp! in Chartreuse is also candy. Nightcrawlers for bows AND browns! Salmon eggs... all great baits. For the lures, Panther Martins, Thomas Bouyants, Rooster Tails, Trout Teasers, and Stingers. | | Owens River (Benton Crossing Up): | The Upper O above the bridge is a bit slow right now, but the brown trout run is still to hit us yet. Keep your fingers crossed. You could pull out some nice ones now if you'll put in the time.
Fly anglers The usual... Madam-X Parachutes, Parachute Adams, Tent Wings, Humphies, Stimis, and Elk Hairs. Work the far sides of the river, giving the flies time to swirl around a bank. Subsurface nymphs include Black PT's (sizes 16/18), Prince Nymphs (16/18), and San Juans, run them down the middle of currents with some shot to get them down.
Spin anglers Rooster Tails and Panther Martins worked through deep currents tend to land trout. Jig patterns like Trout Teasers and Stingers are also gonna get hits! | | Rock Creek: | Rock Creek is beautiful this time of year. Just like the lake, there are hundreds of aspen up and down the highway, and it is a photographers dream. The fishing in the bends near the campsites are also very productive. Below the 395 can be a blast to fish as well.
Fly anglers Try terrestrial patterns for the wild browns found in the slow moving meadows. For the stockers, running Hare's Ears through currents without an indicator will work fine. PT's are also good patterns. Glo-bugs in Orange or Red. San Juans will also do okay.
Spin & bait anglers Salmon eggs is a great choice for a creek of this nature. You can also Gulp! the daylights out of the trout in Rock Creek. Chunky Cheese or American Pie are great flavors. Silver or Silver and Black Panther Martins are good lures. Running jigs like Trout Teasers and Stingers in the pools will also get chases. Green or Green and Brown are producing. | | Rock Creek Lake: | Rock Creek Lake is a magestic place to be this time of year! The aspen that line the creek all the way up to the lake and beyond turn brilliant colors of yellow and gold in the autumn. It is very worthwhile to pull out the hiking boots again before the snow flies and get at the high country lakes which lie above Rock Creek Lake. There are plenty of healthy trout to be had from the lake waters as well. Lots of stockers and Tim Alpers lunkers in Rock Creek Lake.
Fly anglers Kicking the tube around Windy Point with Black Buggers or Redhead Matukas will get some hits. Pitching Gnats and Callibaetis Cripples for the evening rise is productive. There is also a morning rise that is pretty awesome. You can pluck off some healthy trout either side of the day.
Spin & bait anglers We love worms for Rock Creek Lake -- natural nightcrawlers and Powerworms. For the dirt-residing nightcrawlers, inflated some air into them, dip them in Powerbait Garlic Sauce, and get them about three feet off the bottom. You are going to get a lot of takes off Windy Point. Red, Orange, and Green Powerworms on a size 10 mosquito hook will get lots of grabs. Loosen the drag a bit, if you hook into a five pound Alpers. Per lures, trolling with Broken-back Rapalas in the Brown Trout or Rainbow Trout patterns will work well. Needlefish are great lures on Rock Creek Lake, any of the flashy flourescent colors. Put some worm on the lure, as trout love this set up. It's deadly! | | Rush Creek: | Rush Creek water levels are low this time of year, as expected. We are coming on the later half of the fishing season, and the snowmelt is over, so the pools are more shallow than they were a couple of months ago. That said, it is still an incredible place to fish in the Sierras... possibly Leonard's favorite only behind Hot Creek. Tuolumne River up in the Park is on the list also... there is time for all three in one long, but very enjoyable day. "Little Switzerland" as The Loop is rightfully called, sees an explosion of yellow with the changing of the colors. It is worth getting on.
Fly anglers Which dries? Elk Hairīs, Parachute Adams, Madam-Xīs, and Gnats are grabbing trout. Find a good rock, or many, and get the dries right under it. For subsurface flies, a San Juan Worm under a Hare's Ear. Zug Bugīs. Flashback PT's will also get trout. The Egg Sucking Leech is the most deadly streamer on Rush, if water levels will allow you to use it. Streamers might be tough on Rush this time of year. Below Grant, you'll want to pitch Parachute Adams under the trees, and Terrestrial Patterns.
Spin & bait anglers Salmon eggs. Powerbait (Red/Blue/White), and Gulp! in Sherbert Burst or American Pie. Putting some dough bait around a worm will definitely work. Lures are going to be tough on Rush now, but you can try in the deeper pools. Good jigs and lures include Trout Teasers (brown w/ green) and Mepps. Panther Martins are definitely trouble for the trout on Rush! | | San Joaquin River: | San Joaquin River has a few trout in it. If you're going down there though, you're going to have to walk a bit off the beaten path to get into some of the more productive pools. Of course, a hike in the valley is not the most heartbreaking experience.
Fly anglers Same standard dries for the San Joaquin. Pitch Sierra Bright Dot's, Bivisable's, Adams, Mosquitoes, Royal Coachman's, Royal Trude's, Royal Wulff's... anything Royal. They'll take them if your drift is right. Wet bugs include Zug Bugs, PT's, San Juans, and Hares Ears. All 16/18.
Spin & bait anglers Salmon eggs are candy on the San Joaquin. You'll also grab trout with Gulp! in Rainbow Candy and Sherbert Burst. Work the deeper pools where the trout reside. You can also pull them out with Mepps, Panther Martins, and Rooster Tails. | | Silver Lake: | Silver Lake is another magical fishery in the loop! The aspen around Silver are gorgeous when the explosion of the changing of the colors hits. Likewise, Silver does have trout over 20 pounds in its waters. Just get out there and kick around and you're going to get a hit. Trollers tend to do best on Silver, but fly anglers can bend rods as well.
Fly anglers Kick to the far side with a BH Olive Matuka that's really the one and only bug you'll need for Silver, of course, you can also use Buggers and G's-catchem-alls.
Spin & bait anglers The most productive angling has been trolling w/ Thomas Bouyants. The Perch pattern is a good choice for Silver. Needlefish will also get grabs. Go with silver, or silver and orange. Nightcrawlers will also get trout, as will Powerworms -- Red. | | Sotcher Lake: | Sotcher Lake is definitely worth fishing if you are going to the San Joaquin. Very float tube friendly.
Fly anglers Olive Matukas on the intermediate tip line. This is a very fun lake to kick the tube around!!! IF you are pitching dries, try Yellow Stimi's, Parachute Adams, and Mosquitoes (all 16/18).
Spin & bait anglers Kick around with Phoebe's, Thomas Bouyants, and even nightcrawlers. Dip your worms in garlic sauce, as it works well. Kastmasters are great lures for flinging from the shore. | | Twin Lakes (Bridgeport Area): | Twin Lakes has been hit and miss all season. The big fish that are in Twin haven't been hooked this year, but there is still plenty of season left. Not to be discouraged, Twin Lakes in Bridgeport is one of the most idyllic settings in the world. It is so beautiful up there. And, you can always fish Robinson Creek either coming into it or going out.
Fly anglers Get your full sink line and strip big, ol' streamers like G's-catchem-alls, Woolly Sculpins, and Double Bunnies.
Spin & bait anglers Trolling with 2 - 3 colors in your lead core is your best bet, the fish are around the middle of the lake. Yo-Zuris are good choices on this lake, as you can also get into monsters in the East Walker. Big Rapalas make good lures also. Thomas Bouyants and Taz Devils also. From the shore, inflated nightcrawlers or Gulp! in Sherbert or Chunky Cheese are good baits. | | Twin Lakes (Mammoth Basin): | Twin Lakes in the evening is magical. The area near the waterfalls is golden. There are lots of bows, browns, and brooks in it... and ALPERS!!! Get at 'em!
Fly anglers Olive and Black Matukas on a sink line. Green Flash Buggers. Doc's Twin Lakes Special is obviously a good choice. Per dries, Black Gnats, Black Elk Hairs, and Ant Patterns.
Spin & bait anglers Thomas Bouyants in the float tube land plenty of trout. We love the Red and Gold pattern up there. Rainbow and Watermellow are also good patterns. Small Rapalas in brown and rainbow trout are good lures to troll. Worms & Powerbait from the shore. Get your worms about 3 - 5 feet off the bottom. Dip them in garlic sauce to really grab the attention of the trout!!! As for the Powerbait, Chunky Charteuse has been working really well at Twin. | | Virginia Lakes: | Virginia Lakes has been fishing very, very well! All the lakes up there are producing right now. John and Carolyn keep the lakes very stocked with DFG and Alpers trout, and most anglers are hooking lots of fish. Get a slice of Carolyn's apple pie at the resort!
Fly anglers Stripping streamers on Virginia Lakes is a good decision. We like BH Olive Matukas on a sink line. If they are surface feeding, Callibaetis Cripples, Yellow Stimi's, and Mosquitoes are all good choices, as are Parachute Adams also. Fishing the inlets with PT's is a lot of fun. You can spot fish and really don't need an indicator.
Spin & bait anglers Troll with Taz Devils, Needlefish, and Rapalas. Shoot Kastmasters from the shore. Worms, inflated nightcrawlers, always work at Virginia. You'll want to toss Gulp! in Chunky Chartreuse also. Powerworms in the same color. There are lots and lots of trout in Virginia. And, if you have the time, we suggest a trip down to Lundy below the grade also. |
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