July 17-23, 2016 VLR Fish Report

Weather: - (7am Temp First light/Last light)
Sunday 45º 5:17/8:42 Clear with slight breeze
Monday 49º 5:17/8:41 Clear warm and windy
Tuesday 50º 5:18/8:40 Clear warm and very breezy
Wednesday 51º 5:18/8:40 Clear, warm and light wind
Thursday 52º 5:18/8:40 Clear warm and light breeze then into steady wind with heavy gusts and clouds
Friday 49º 5:21/8:38 Clear and warm with wind off and on
Saturday 47º 5:22/8:37 Clear and calm

This week started out much warmer than the previous one but a bit of wind came in last Sunday and continued into Monday. Mono Lake hillside fire is still being graded and CalTrans is currently repairing the guard rail lumber and shoulder. Upon completion they will probably start moving the barriers to finish the hillside work from 2015, so there will be delays with signals for one way traffic in each direction shortly.
The stock truck arrived Tuesday with 500 pounds including trophies. Trumble and Big Virginia also got stocked including trophies.

BAIT: Inflated crawlers are the number one trout getter and also orange glitter and bubblegum mice tails, and plain garlic powerbait are also taking a lot of trout. Salmon eggs on size 14 egg hooks are also doing well.

LURES: The best action was on red/gold Buoyant's, orange/silver Kastmasters. Always try all your favorite hardware until the fish find the "action" they are looking for. Remember to use the lure properly by adding the right swivel for the best action.

FLY AND BUBBLE: Surface midge hatches were going off for dry fly heaven early last week and early morning and late afternoon with California Mosquito and Grey Hackle yellow size 14, black elk hair caddis, midge cluster and black ants. Best action is ALWAYS when their is a chop on the water which is usually late afternoon to legal limit at night.

FLY RODS: Black Gnat Para #14 is still working, Blue Damsel's, poxy-back Callibaetis, black woolly buggers, red throat olive Matuka's, olive Loberg's, grey hackle yellow grey tail, Broughton Grey Ghost, cluster midges, Black gnats, and skinny stillwater nymph. If you tie your own flies, make sure you use less material than normal for high elevation waters, and shorten your bugger tails by pinching them with your fingernail, it's better than using scissors.

BACKCOUNTRY: Fishing is always good early in the season depending on time of day, surface hatches and of course the wind. Come and ask me what's hot. Mostly dry flies with a bubble or fly rod on small gnats, mosquitoes, small Brite Dot, x-caddis and olive elk hair caddis sizes 16-18, stay small on all flies this early in the season. Lure angler action has been good on small gold Super Duper's # 500, and Bouyant's. Early morning and early evening are the best times for any action. This is pretty consistent for the canyon.

Also, If the trout bleeds, it's yours, PLEASE don't toss it back into the lake as it will die. If you care about the resource please be careful when releasing fish back into the lake. Also, IT ATTRACKS BEARS!