Mid February is upon us; our winter fisheries are beginning to ripen up nicely...
Falling under the category of: You'll never know, unless you actually go!
(Image: Pup Buster and client Lisa enjoying post drift beer; we had a fun two days drifting the Lower Owens this week)
Lower Owens has been flowing at a perfect 175cfs (the gauge has been stuck at 255cfs). This current flow is IDEAL for drifting and wading. It could change at any time - SO GET ON IT NOW!!!
Daily hatches of mayflies up to #16 and midges down to #26 are the main events. There's even a few caddis out and about. Typical nymphing techniques with or without indicators will make up the bulk of our day. The dry fly fishing has been getting better and better during peak periods.
Look for noses... make your best dry fly presentation to those noses, have fun while doing so... repeat. I can show you where the noses live.
(Images: A pointer's job..., fish on! with a beautiful backdrop, Shwaaack...love that sound, feels good to get out of the boat occasionally)
Check out Cal Trout's new and improved website! It has lots of great information, news and tips... including some winter fishing advice from yours truly: http://caltrout.org/2012/02/caltrouts-winter-fly-fishing-tips-by-guides-and-other-fly-fishermen/
My favorite local river, East Walker, will be waking up soon...
The USGS flow gauge still shows the river at 19-25cfs which is skeletal & bony. Hopefully the NV ranchers will need some water soon!!
When the river creeps up towards 100cfs the river starts to open up more holding water for these fish and in my personal opinion - just gets more fun to fish! In the meantime, we have lots of other options that are in great shape right now...
Hot Creek has been experiencing great midge and bwo mayfly activity in the afternoon.
I don't spend a ton of time here in winter, however, the dry fly fishing can be exceptional right now - and crowds, not so much.
The first generation of bwo mayfly has been hatching for a few weeks now, look for #16-18 olive duns in the afternoon. Fish have been keying in on the midges before the bwo appear.
Being a spring creek, the water flow is fairly stable and water temperatures are generally consistent. HC doesn't freeze in winter, and doesn't get too warm in summer. The consistency of flow and water temp add to the ingredients that make this little gem so unique and special. That, and wild C&R trout!!
Here is the link I use to check more accurate flows on Hot Creek: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ca/nwis/uv/?site_no=10265150&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060
This gauge is in the canyon, below the Hot Springs (where Hot Creek gets its name). The fumaroles in the Geothermal Area are mostly gas, with a little water, so this flow gauge is more indicative of water flows in the areas we fish, and accounts the many springs on Hot Creek Ranch etc.
Most fish reports for Hot Creek link to the LADWP Gauge on Mammoth Creek, just below Hwy 395. In the winter this creek only flows around 4-10cfs and is not indicative to Hot Creek where we fish - which actually averages 40cfs+ flow.
During spring runoff periods, Hot Creek flows will spike daily due to influences from freestone streams of Mammoth Creek, Laurel Creek, Sherwin Creek etc... last spring I believe it went well over 200cfs!!
My fly box...
I get a lot of questions and emails about what flies we are fishing. I tie a lot of my own patterns (they work) but I do purchase many commercial patterns, too. Remember, "It's not the arrow, it's the Indian" - Find feeding fish, get a good drift!
That said, a few of my favorite patterns to have in your box this time of year...
For Dries: Griffith's Gnat or similar #18; tiny #22-26 black collared hackled dries, black (midges); Mercer's Missing Link #18... these are staple midge dries. For bwo; Compardun in olive #16-20, Parachute Adams #16-22; Hackle Stacker, olive #16-20; Brook's Sprout Baetis, and spring caddis: Cutter's EC Caddis #16-20, Brook's HC Caddis #18-20, LaFontaine's Sp Pupa, good old Elk Hair Caddis, Hemingway Caddis...
Experiment with all the variations! For example, I will carry parachute & "no hackle" versions for imitating low riding emergers when fishing flat & slow water. I use traditional "collared hackle" dry flies for fast, bubbly, water... these versions will float higher and resist drowning. Don't forget you dry shake desiccant powder!!!!!
When fishing over finicky or refusing trout, try changing your pattern profile! There are hundred's of bwo dry fly patterns available in todays market - many of them work as well as the next.
Nymph and emergers: WD-40's #18-24 in just about any color; olive, grey and black are must haves. Good old Zebra Midges #20-24; Olive/light brown Surface Emerger or RS2's; skinny bwo nymphs like Hogan's S&M; BH FB Pheasant Tails; Barr's Emergers. Olive caddis larva patterns; CDC bwo emergers #18-20.
If you want to secure a winter/spring fishing trip get a hold of me soon...
My spring guiding calendar is beginning to fill up all the way into May. Thanks to my "early bird" clients who booked spring fishing adventures already! If the winter trend continues (lack of snow) the spring 2012 season may be the time to come - fall season may be lean on a few of our freestone rivers this year.
If I'm not available the days you prefer, let me know and I will be happy to refer you to another top local guide service...
Good news on the snow front - WE GOT SOME. Mammoth Mountain is reporting 12" with more to come over the next few days!! This is much needed precip. But don't fret, today it's supposed to be a sunny and 60's in Bishop and the Owens Valley later this week. LOL. I love the Eastside!!!
Please visit my website www.ReelMammothAdventures.com, email me Neal2fish@qnet.com or call me 760.924.0438 office 760.914.0465 mobile. Find me on Facebook or sign up for my email newsletter
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