Howdy friends and Sierra Drifters. Best fishes to all for this March 2008 fish report from the Eastern High Sierra.

The weather pattern has once again become more stable after another series of cold storms dumped more snow and rain into the region. The last group of storms deposited another foot or so of snow in the upper valleys and conditions have not changed much around Hot Creek, the Upper Owens R., and the East Walker R. With the longer days the snow will begin to melt off at a faster pace than before and conditions will improve greatly on the EW, but will not alter much with regards to road conditions in the Hot Creek/Upper Owens areas. The morning temps remain very cold with single digit readings on Crowley Lake and Bridgeport Reservoir still occurring. It has been a very cold winter here and the ice and snow remain very thick in this area currently.

If it gets warm for an extended period of time in April and early May look for moderate to heavy early run-off on the moving waters due to the substantial low elevation snowpack this season. The issue this season especially in the Crowley area is the above average amount of wind blown snow drifts that have accumulated in the valley. If the trend of cold weather continues you may see some areas that are historically accessible for the opener not easy to reach around here. Crowley and Bridgeport will thaw very late this year and may not have a wide open start due to the late ice. It will be a solid year on Crowley and Bridgeport overall with a good summer and fall to look forward to.

Speaking of Crowley Lake this summer?ĶThe Second Annual Crowley Lake Still Water Classic is on the books for August 9th which is the second Saturday in the month of August. We will release the details and structure of the Classic, the 2008 rules, and how to register in future reports. For all of you who participated in the First Annual Still Water Classic the format will be pretty much the same. There is however, going to be some surprises and additional great prizes for this season's fisheries enhancement tournament.

The premise of the Still Water Classic is a catch and release fly fishing tournament open to boats, and float tubes that has been created to provide funding for the fisheries benefit of Crowley Lake. Last seasons event raised $10,000.00 that went directly into the purchase of brown trout from the locally based Inland Aquaculture Group. Those 2400 hundred fish were planted last fall and are going to provide some great opportunities this season and in the future.

If you fish or cherish Crowley like we do, or are affiliated with a club or organization, or if you own a business that benefits from this resource please consider participating or donating in the Classic this year and help maintain the five star fisheries rating that Crowley has earned over the years. Feel free to contact us by email if you have questions after we post the rules and registration links.

The rainbows are beginning to migrate and the populations of mature fish will increase greatly in the next couple of weeks in the tributaries of Crowley. The year around waters like Hot Creek and the Upper Owens R. will remain difficult to access in March and April. Sticking the peak of the spring fishing in some areas will require you to put forth the effort and hike to your favorite bend or pool in the Long Valley region this season as these fisheries will probably be washed out in late April/early May.
Both of these locations are currently fishing fair to good if you make the effort, but you will be walking on 3 feet of snow or ice. Nymphing with flash back PT's and crystal tiger midges #16-18, or streamers like Loebergs and Spruce-A-Bu's #8,10 are the best arrows in your quiver to get grabs here.

The East Walker is currently fishing good and should fish even better as soon as it warms up and the flows get bumped up. This will spread the fish out more and make for more diverse water to cover. Nymphing with PT's, Silver Streaks, WD-40's and zebra midges in the #18-20 range will work in the deeper pools and runs. As I said before this area is at a lower elevation and will see the influence of spring sooner than HC and the UO.

I expect conditions to be pretty much normal in the alpine regions unless the Sierra gets hammered by some late storms. A very strong inversion layer has been the factor in keeping it cold in the valleys this winter.

The Lower Owens River was fishing horrible due to an unexpected flow increase that put 200cfs below the dam at Pleasant Valley for about four days. The inevitable silt and colder water associated with rising flows put the fish down big time. The baetis hatch was also disrupted and coupled with the colder weather made for some really tough conditions.

The flows have once again dropped to around 100cfs and should remain here for a couple of weeks I have been informed. The last few drifts have been much improved and I expect things to really pick up in the near future. The weather has been great in the Owens Valley recently and looks to hold for sometime. The river access roads are beginning to dry out once again after a major soaking in late February.

If you are planning a trip around the March 15th time frame be aware that there is a major "catch and keep" event occurring that weekend and one who is not interested in a blood, guts, and beer kind of gathering may want to avoid the Pleasant Valley Reservoir and Lower Owens R. area during that time. Fish the Gorge or head up and try the year around waters to get away from the masses.

The golden stones are beginning to hatch and you will see some exuberant splashy surface grabs around lunch. A yellow bodied Stimulator #16 will get the job done. Tie a #16-18 blue winged olive pattern thirty inches below the Stimmy and you have a deadly dry/dry combo for the mid-day hatch. Nymphing with PT's, birds nest, WD-40's, crystal tiger midges and olive zebra midges in the #16-20 range will get you into fish under an indicator as well.

Richard Lorenzi would argue that his guided drift with us recently was just fine and his chunky rainbow was the icing on the cake. Nice fish Rich, way to make it happen!

Bryan Laws experienced a fine blue winged olive hatch on his Drifters float recently and hammered double digit numbers on the dries including this pretty rainbow that was no match for Bry's excellent casting skills. Way to be the fly Bry!

Long time Sierra Drifters Lynner and Dirky Westfall always seem to get big fish. Despite rising and off colored water Dirky stuck a really nice brood rainbow on our blood sucking Vanderleech pattern #10. See ya at Pyramid soon Dirky!

The San Diego Fly Fishers were well represented by the duo of Bobby Miller and JackO Bentley. The first days float saw only a few fish to net and some horrible water conditions. The following day the flows began to recede, the weather was warm, the catching improved a bunch, and JackO got to shake "fins" with a gorgeous rainbow that hit our light Punk Perch pattern #10 that shall be from this point forward called the "Golden Retriever" thanks to the nick name created by Bobby. Thanks Bob!

Please click on www.sierradrifters.com/fish.html to view all these great pictures?Ķ

Spring is a great time to drift the Owens River around Bishop and we have guides available to put you on the fish in one of our large, comfortable drift boats.

PYRAMID LAKE NEVADA GUIDED FLY FISHING TRIPS BOOKING NOW & A FEW DATES STILL AVAILABLE!!!

I am very pleased to announce that I will once again be guiding Pyramid Lake NV this spring and fall for the GIGANTIC cutts that thrive in this huge lake. I obtained permission and permits from the Piute Tribe to once again guide Pyramid from the "Fish Magnet" and shoreline.

Pyramid Lake is arguably the best large trout fishery in the contiguous USA and those who fished it with me last season have the pictures to prove it! We will be booking trips in March, April, May, and October of 2008. I am stoked to be guiding this area from my flats boat, and when you check out the pictures of the gargantuan cutts we caught last season you will see why. Click on this link for available dates, rates, and some awesome pictures: http://www.sierradrifters.com/pyramid_lake_nevada_.htm

We are also pleased to announce that our Sierra Drifters Guide Flies & Sungicators are now available at Crosby Lodge at Pyramid Lake, Nevada?Ķ www.crosbylodge.com talk to Fred or Judy?Ķ.

EAGLE LAKE CALIFORNIA GUIDED FLY FISHING PACKAGE: BOOKING NOW WITH A FEW DATES STILL AVAILABLE.

This is my favorite place to fish a still water in California. The rainbows average twenty inches. AVERAGE TWENTY INCHES!!! This gorgeous lake is located in Northern CA. near Susanville and Mt. Lassen. Michele and I have been hosting and guiding groups here for five spring and fall seasons and we are booking trips for May/June 2008.

If you enjoy fly fishing for huge rainbows and being pampered in a custom lake front house, this is your dream trip. Click on this link for dates, rates and some awesome pictures please. http://www.sierradrifters.com/EagleLakeCalifornia.htm

The Sierra Drifters Guide Team will be at the ready to assist you for any of your guiding needs in the Eastern Sierra while T Loe is away from his home waters.

Sierra Drifters original guide flies will be discounted for the 2008 fishing season. Please stop by your favorite fly shop and stock up on these time tested Eastern Sierra patterns.

This time of year, Sierra Drifters flies & Sungicators are only available at the following great fly shops and stores (don't be fooled by any of the imitations out there!): Kittredge Sports in Mammoth Lakes, Malibu Fish'n Tackle in Thousand Oaks, Stroud's Tackle in San Diego, The San Diego Fly Shop in San Diego, The Fishermen's Spot in Van Nuys, Bob Marriott's in Fullerton, Buz's Fly Shop Too in Bakersfield, Crosby Lodge at Pyramid Lake, Nevada and online at www.bigfishhappen.com. There are links to these locations at www.sierradrifters.com/resources.htm. We pride our Guide Service & Products on Innovation not Imitation!