A few couple years ago, my late July run to the Eastern Sierra featured ideal conditions in terms of water conditions in lakes, water flows in creeks and backcountry access. Keeping this in mind, I made sure to schedule last season’s run during the same time of year. Little did I know at the time I made the reservation, the area was blanketed with enough snowfall in the winter that people we still skiing through the 4th of July. The lesson here is, no matter what conditions you prefer when visiting the Eastern Sierra seeking trout or otherwise, it’s best to gauge the dates of the visit based on the snowpack.
Generally speaking, more snow is a good thing. A good snow pack ensures fishable conditions in the creeks later in the season when precipitation is minimal, and it recharges area aquifers which supply the spring fed creeks and rivers including the mighty Owens. Not to mention, much of the state’s domestic water supply depends on how much snow the Sierra Nevada range got that season.
However, heavy snowpack could adversely affect your trip in a variety of ways if you go too early. Even last summer when I spent a week in the Mammoth area in July, there was still a ton of snow in the Mammoth Lakes Basin to the point where Volkswagen-sized chunks were breaking off into the lake as we fished the shore of Lake Mary, and even if you could get to Lake George, it was unfishable. There were no backcountry options (the bread-and-butter of my trips) because the trails were still buried in snow, and even if you could get to the closer high-country lakes, they were either just beginning to thaw, or at higher elevations, still completely frozen. The road to my favorite area — Saddlebag Lake and the 20 Lakes Basin — was also closed due to snow.
While I had decent success fishing the lower level drive-up lakes, I spent way more time at them than I usually do as a result of essentially not being able to fish creeks or get into the backcountry. Speaking specifically for last summer, a mid-to-late August trip would have been ideal.
While there can never be a hard formula for determining the conditions in the Sierra Nevada mountains — especially if you are making reservations months ahead of time — monitoring the early-season snowpack is a big step in the right direction in terms of increasing your odds of getting up there and finding the conditions you are looking for.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Eastern Sierra Trout Opener is April 30.
4/6/11 April 30
While the well-publicized record snow pack in the Sierras will prove beneficial to the area’s trout fishing and has already officially helped propel California out of “drought” status, the extended winter will also mean tough fishing conditions during the Mono County trout opener which arrives on the last Saturday of this month.
Families have been attending the opener like clockwork for generations regardless of the conditions, so the one thing you can count on at the opener — snow or shine — is crowds. Other than those families that automatically head up every year, there is an even larger group of attendees including those of us who have spent the entire off season pining over maps, message boards and guidebooks as we unsuccessfully try to shake an annual case of highway-395 trout fever.
This early in the season, especially with this much snow, these crowds are going to be converging on to the limited amount of open water available. The entire back country, and even some drive up lakes, are typically not accessible by the opener, or sometimes, the whole first month or so of the season. This usually includes the entire Mammoth Lakes Basin and for sure the areas up around Tioga Pass. The lakes in the June Lake Loop should be very fishable on opening week along with Crowley Lake.
Obviously it’s a popular event, so it’s not an entirely negative experience. It’s just different than heading up later when the hype dies down a bit, the weather warms, and the bulk of the blue specks and lines in your topo map become legitimate fishing options with their newly thawed out accessibility.
The water that is open is chock full of DFG-stocked rainbows as well as trophy fish from the Alpers ranch that are typically a couple pounds on the SMALL end, not to mention last year’s holdover fish that are ready to pig out after over five months of dieting under a dark ceiling of ice.
Spin fisherman should focus on slower techniques like jig fishing with or without a bobber. Spinners and spoons can be effective, but they should be fished slower and deeper than usual. Fly fishermen will probably find the most success drifting nymphs or stripping larger streamers while waiting for a mid-day hatch to occur before switching to dry flies.
It’s a good idea to keep tabs on fishing message boards and related websites right up until the day you leave so you have the latest scoop on the conditions, especially during opening week.
While the well-publicized record snow pack in the Sierras will prove beneficial to the area’s trout fishing and has already officially helped propel California out of “drought” status, the extended winter will also mean tough fishing conditions during the Mono County trout opener which arrives on the last Saturday of this month.
Families have been attending the opener like clockwork for generations regardless of the conditions, so the one thing you can count on at the opener — snow or shine — is crowds. Other than those families that automatically head up every year, there is an even larger group of attendees including those of us who have spent the entire off season pining over maps, message boards and guidebooks as we unsuccessfully try to shake an annual case of highway-395 trout fever.
This early in the season, especially with this much snow, these crowds are going to be converging on to the limited amount of open water available. The entire back country, and even some drive up lakes, are typically not accessible by the opener, or sometimes, the whole first month or so of the season. This usually includes the entire Mammoth Lakes Basin and for sure the areas up around Tioga Pass. The lakes in the June Lake Loop should be very fishable on opening week along with Crowley Lake.
Obviously it’s a popular event, so it’s not an entirely negative experience. It’s just different than heading up later when the hype dies down a bit, the weather warms, and the bulk of the blue specks and lines in your topo map become legitimate fishing options with their newly thawed out accessibility.
The water that is open is chock full of DFG-stocked rainbows as well as trophy fish from the Alpers ranch that are typically a couple pounds on the SMALL end, not to mention last year’s holdover fish that are ready to pig out after over five months of dieting under a dark ceiling of ice.
Spin fisherman should focus on slower techniques like jig fishing with or without a bobber. Spinners and spoons can be effective, but they should be fished slower and deeper than usual. Fly fishermen will probably find the most success drifting nymphs or stripping larger streamers while waiting for a mid-day hatch to occur before switching to dry flies.
It’s a good idea to keep tabs on fishing message boards and related websites right up until the day you leave so you have the latest scoop on the conditions, especially during opening week.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
The River Why trailer has been released.
http://www.moldychum.com/home-old/2010/8/14/the-river-why-trailer.html
Monday, June 21, 2010
Fish Report: Bishop Creek drainage direct from local expert.
Jared Smith of Parcher's Resort on Bishop Creek regularly churns out detailed and timely trout reports specifically targeted toward his area. Contact information for Smith and Parcher's are at the end of the report. Also, check out his book "Fishin Trails" if you know what's good for you.
6/20/10
Conditions
Like most of the season thus far, the weather has been varied with some cold, some warm and some wind mixed in. Still, daytime highs are now approaching seasonal averages and sunshine dominated most of the week.
The water level rise at South Lake stalled this week after Southern California Edison discovered some minor damage to the dam face. They will be holding the lake down for at least one week while they determine the best way to make repairs. Due to SCE having to increase the flow at the South Lake outtake, the South Fork Bishop Creek flows greatly increased on Friday. It’s going to be at least a few weeks before private boaters will be able to launch at the lake.
Regardless of the water level, the docks and a fleet of 10 rental boats - soon to be 14 - are in the water and ready to go.
South Lake Fish Report
The big news this week was a double stocking of trophy Alpers Rainbows that hit the water on Friday. Part of the load was courtesy of Inyo County and the Bishop Chamber of Commerce and the rest were purchased by Parchers Resort. South Lake staffers were extremely excited to see some HUGE Rainbows in this batch of fish - easily the biggest fish stocked in South Lake since 2008. Some of these monsters were estimated to be in the 8 to 9lb class!!!
Anglers are still finding a solid bite on holdover 'Bows, Browns & Brooks using a variety of baits and artificial presentations. Pink or Orange Gulp! trout worms were a top producer this week along with salmon eggs and Silver/Blue Thomas Bouyants. Trollers are picking off some fish but the lure tossers and bait dunkers are still doing best.
The DFG has not stocked yet this season but we're expecting a stocking this coming week as the water is now high enough to get the fish from the truck to the water.
South Fork Bishop Creek
Fishing in the South Fork was steady this week as both DFG and Alpers plants hit the stream. Gold Thomas Bouyants and Salmon Eggs were the top producers for DFG fish, Chartruese Jigs were hot for the Alpers trout. Multiple fish to nearly 4lbs were caught in the creek this week making for some very happy anglers. Father & Son angling duo Mark & Jacob Christoph used Thomas Bouyants and nailed a pair of beautiful Rainbows weighing 3lbs 11oz and 3lbs 5oz in the stream right by the resort.
Intake II
Just about everyone I've talked to has picked up a few fish at Intake II this week. Anglers fishing crawlers, salmon eggs, red Gulp! trout worms, various colors of Powerbait and lures were all catching some fish. Anglers using 3ft leaders and longer seemed to be doing best. No one spot on the lake seemed to be producing better than another so just find some empty shoreline and set up shop.
North Lake
Still waiting on two field surveys, one in July and one in August, before it can be determined if North Lake will be stocked with trout this season. This will obviously affect the bite up there. To preserve the fish that are still in North Lake - we strongly encourage anglers to practice Catch & Release on all fish in North and to use artificial presentations whenever possible.
Backcountry Conditions
The snow is steadily disappearing but there is still a lot of the white stuff up there. The trail to Brown and Green lake is now open, as is the trail to the first Tyee Lake. The trail to Long Lake is passable but there is still a gob of snow up at that elevation. No reports from the Treasure Lakes as of yet. I still have not heard from anyone who's been up to Bishop Pass but from what I understand of the conditions at Long Lake - Bishop Pass is probably loaded with snow at present.
Top Catches of the Week!
Jacob (left) and Mark (right) of Indio, CA with a pair of beautiful Alpers from South Fork Bishop Creek caught on a Thomas Buoyant lure.
Becky Roberston of Redlands, CA with a 2lb 4oz rainbow caught on a Salmon Egg in the South Fork Bishop Creek.
South Lake staffer Ryan Wischnack of Santa Clarita, CA with a solid 4lb Alpers caught in the creek using a pink Berkley Powerworm.
South Lake staffer Jeff "Jefe" Chowdhury of Santa Clarita, CA with a 3lb 11oz rainbow caught on a jig in Bishop Creek.
Jared Smith
GM Parchers Resort
Phone: 760-873-4177
Email: reservations@parchersresort.net
Web: www.ParchersResort.net
6/20/10
Conditions
Like most of the season thus far, the weather has been varied with some cold, some warm and some wind mixed in. Still, daytime highs are now approaching seasonal averages and sunshine dominated most of the week.
The water level rise at South Lake stalled this week after Southern California Edison discovered some minor damage to the dam face. They will be holding the lake down for at least one week while they determine the best way to make repairs. Due to SCE having to increase the flow at the South Lake outtake, the South Fork Bishop Creek flows greatly increased on Friday. It’s going to be at least a few weeks before private boaters will be able to launch at the lake.
Regardless of the water level, the docks and a fleet of 10 rental boats - soon to be 14 - are in the water and ready to go.
South Lake Fish Report
The big news this week was a double stocking of trophy Alpers Rainbows that hit the water on Friday. Part of the load was courtesy of Inyo County and the Bishop Chamber of Commerce and the rest were purchased by Parchers Resort. South Lake staffers were extremely excited to see some HUGE Rainbows in this batch of fish - easily the biggest fish stocked in South Lake since 2008. Some of these monsters were estimated to be in the 8 to 9lb class!!!
Anglers are still finding a solid bite on holdover 'Bows, Browns & Brooks using a variety of baits and artificial presentations. Pink or Orange Gulp! trout worms were a top producer this week along with salmon eggs and Silver/Blue Thomas Bouyants. Trollers are picking off some fish but the lure tossers and bait dunkers are still doing best.
The DFG has not stocked yet this season but we're expecting a stocking this coming week as the water is now high enough to get the fish from the truck to the water.
South Fork Bishop Creek
Fishing in the South Fork was steady this week as both DFG and Alpers plants hit the stream. Gold Thomas Bouyants and Salmon Eggs were the top producers for DFG fish, Chartruese Jigs were hot for the Alpers trout. Multiple fish to nearly 4lbs were caught in the creek this week making for some very happy anglers. Father & Son angling duo Mark & Jacob Christoph used Thomas Bouyants and nailed a pair of beautiful Rainbows weighing 3lbs 11oz and 3lbs 5oz in the stream right by the resort.
Intake II
Just about everyone I've talked to has picked up a few fish at Intake II this week. Anglers fishing crawlers, salmon eggs, red Gulp! trout worms, various colors of Powerbait and lures were all catching some fish. Anglers using 3ft leaders and longer seemed to be doing best. No one spot on the lake seemed to be producing better than another so just find some empty shoreline and set up shop.
North Lake
Still waiting on two field surveys, one in July and one in August, before it can be determined if North Lake will be stocked with trout this season. This will obviously affect the bite up there. To preserve the fish that are still in North Lake - we strongly encourage anglers to practice Catch & Release on all fish in North and to use artificial presentations whenever possible.
Backcountry Conditions
The snow is steadily disappearing but there is still a lot of the white stuff up there. The trail to Brown and Green lake is now open, as is the trail to the first Tyee Lake. The trail to Long Lake is passable but there is still a gob of snow up at that elevation. No reports from the Treasure Lakes as of yet. I still have not heard from anyone who's been up to Bishop Pass but from what I understand of the conditions at Long Lake - Bishop Pass is probably loaded with snow at present.
Top Catches of the Week!
Jacob (left) and Mark (right) of Indio, CA with a pair of beautiful Alpers from South Fork Bishop Creek caught on a Thomas Buoyant lure.
Becky Roberston of Redlands, CA with a 2lb 4oz rainbow caught on a Salmon Egg in the South Fork Bishop Creek.
South Lake staffer Ryan Wischnack of Santa Clarita, CA with a solid 4lb Alpers caught in the creek using a pink Berkley Powerworm.
South Lake staffer Jeff "Jefe" Chowdhury of Santa Clarita, CA with a 3lb 11oz rainbow caught on a jig in Bishop Creek.
Jared Smith
GM Parchers Resort
Phone: 760-873-4177
Email: reservations@parchersresort.net
Web: www.ParchersResort.net
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Some non-tackle items to always have with you when trout fishing the Sierra backcountry.
It's easy to remember your rod, reel and tackle, but there are a few items that do not take up a lot of space that can save your backcountry outing. Here are five items that every Sierra trout fisherman should have on hand on every hike, if not at all times.
Extra fishing line - Most backcountry anglers only carry one rod and reel with them, and typically that is is enough, but it doesn't take much for the worst-case scenario in terms of fishing line to occur. Keeping in mind how small the typical trout reel is in terms of line capacity, one of those mother-of-all tangles can be devastating if you end up having to pull a good amount of line off the spool just to get the tangle out and make the reel operational again. If you can get up and running after one of these monster tangles, you may find yourself casting to the end of your spool and limited to a casting range that is quite a bit less than you're used to. An even worse problem that can come of this, is you may hook a fish of a lifetime and not have enough line on the spool to let the fish run with. Packing an extra reel, a spare spool for your reel, or at the very least, burying a spool of new line at the bottom of your backpack can give you a lightweight insurance policy that sure beats calling it a day after a long hike to your backcountry trout spot.
Water - Typically, everyone has water on them during a backcountry outing, but not everyone thinks to bring more than usual when hiking to a new location when it is not known how rigourous or long the hike may be. Case in point, just about everywhere I go I can get away with 100-ounces of water or less. I decided to make my way up to Hilton Lakes above Rock Creek Lake, and I even saw that it was a couple miles longer than I typically do in a day but I carried my usual amount of water on me anyway. By the time I made my way up five miles of dusty switchbacks culminating with a staircase-type steep ascent to the lake I was aiming for, I found myself with very little water left. Luckily there was still a lot of snow around, so I dug down to the nice white stuff and filled my bottle with it in hopes that it would melt in time for the trek back down. It was better than nothing, but it did not melt fast enough and I was only able to drink small amounts at a time leaving me parched for the entire hike back down. Another option would be to carry a water bottle with a built in filter and fill it up in creeks you come across before heading back.
Tip repair kit- Repair kits to replace a broken rod tip are even lighter and less space consuming than extra line -- which weighs next to nothing -- and can also save a backcountry outing. If a rod tip breaks -- even a crack in the ceramic insert because it will cut line -- and you do not have an extra rod or a tip to put on, the only option you have is to cut the rod off right above the next guide down and there's your new tip and your rod is six inches shorter. A tip repair kit consists of the tips (usually there are three, all different sizes) and a glue stick.The first step is to heat the broken tip (with the lighter that should already be on you for survival purposes) to melt the glue holding it on and it should come off easily. Next, heat the hot glue and cover the tip of the rod with it, then heat the new tip and slide it over the glue. Make sure it is in line with the other guides, let it dry, then you can pick off the excess glue and you are back in the game.
Extra Socks - Yet another item that weighs almost nothing and takes up barely any space, an extra spare of socks won't necessarily make or break a backcountry fishing experience like the other items can, but it sure can make you more comfortable if you are unlucky enough to get your feet soaked. A couple years ago, I invested in Gore-Tex hiking boots so I could have some degree of waterproofing (since I don't bring waders into the backcountry) while getting into a good casting position or crossing a shallow section of creek. I was immediately impressed at how quickly I could navigate these crossings while other hikers searched for rocks to hop on so they can stay dry. But, one problem with waterproof boots is while they don't let water in, they don't let it out either.
Sure enough, while fishing a creek a few miles up the Duck Pass trail, I stepped into deeper water and it leaked in through the top of my boots. Before heading back down, I took my shoes and socks off to try to dry them out, but it wasn't happening so I had to miserably squish-squish my way all the way back down. The whole way I was thinking, "If only I had dry socks to put on, this would be a lot more comfortable."
Sunscreen - Like water, sunscreen is something that most fisherman have at all times, but it is even more important in the mountains. At higher altitudes, there is less natural protection from the sun because there is less atmosphere to block UV rays than there is at lower altitudes. SPF 15 is the lowest level you should use up there, but on days when you know you are going to be exposed (no trees) all day and there is not a cloud in the sky, making the jump to SPF 30 is a good idea. I am somewhat of sunscreen junkie, and my arms still got burned after an entire day on the Upper Owens. As a result, I made the decision to not only make sure I am using adequate sunscreen, but before my next trip up 395 I want to get one of those moisture-wicking, long-sleeved shirts made out of lightweight nylon with the vents on them. These are the shirts that flats guides in Florida use to protect them from the sun while stilll keeping them cool.
None of these things are expensive, heavy, or space consuming, but clearly they are worth having on hand in case you run into some bad luck.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
2010 Eastern Sierra trout season preview (link)
http://www.examiner.com/x-4358-San-Diego-Fishing-Examiner~y2010m4d23-Eastern-Sierra-2010-troutseason-opener
Monday, January 25, 2010
The demise of the Panther Martin continues.
A while back, the company that makes my (And many of your) favorite trout lures decided to switch its base of manufacturing from Italy to China which resulted in a new Chinese version that performs about as well as dragging a pork chop through the water column.
While I plan to write about this discovery a couple years ago, as well as the ensuing e-mail battle with the company in great detail, I noticed yet another idea of theirs crapped out on them.
Soon after the lures became communist, they decided to come out with a spinner made out of stainless steel (which I must admit caught my interest initially) with a price tag of $7.99 per lure. That is right, eight bucks for a trout spinner that --if you are fishing the way you should be-- very well could end up in a creekside tree the first time it is cast.
Well, said lure has found its way into the Cabelas bargain basement, and you know what that means.
Stainless steel Panther Martin on the cheap
I am still kind of tempted to buy one, just to see what a $7 trout spinner feels like, kind of like in Pulp Fiction when John Travolta just HAS to see what a "five-dollar shake" tastes like.
Anyway, fear not as I have found a replacement lure that is far-beyond worthy. A through-blade spinner (like the Panther Martin) made in a shop in Tillamook, Oregon with all American components (other than the Gamakatsu hook, which I am more than fine with) that performs better than EITHER version of the Panther Martin, and wait till you see the price.
Check out these spinners at www.wyldedge.com
While I plan to write about this discovery a couple years ago, as well as the ensuing e-mail battle with the company in great detail, I noticed yet another idea of theirs crapped out on them.
Soon after the lures became communist, they decided to come out with a spinner made out of stainless steel (which I must admit caught my interest initially) with a price tag of $7.99 per lure. That is right, eight bucks for a trout spinner that --if you are fishing the way you should be-- very well could end up in a creekside tree the first time it is cast.
Well, said lure has found its way into the Cabelas bargain basement, and you know what that means.
Stainless steel Panther Martin on the cheap
I am still kind of tempted to buy one, just to see what a $7 trout spinner feels like, kind of like in Pulp Fiction when John Travolta just HAS to see what a "five-dollar shake" tastes like.
Anyway, fear not as I have found a replacement lure that is far-beyond worthy. A through-blade spinner (like the Panther Martin) made in a shop in Tillamook, Oregon with all American components (other than the Gamakatsu hook, which I am more than fine with) that performs better than EITHER version of the Panther Martin, and wait till you see the price.
Check out these spinners at www.wyldedge.com
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