Fish Report for 12-21-2012

The Lower Owens has really been great for "drifting"

12-21-2012
Tom Loe

We have enjoyed a really great winter drift boat season thus far with numbers being excellent on streamer patterns like the Spruce-A-Bu. The flows are very low (100cfs) and it is not often you see the river this low for such an extended period. We are still able to drift, however some runs require us to abandon ship and walk the boat through the short water. The wild trout section below the dam at Pleasant Valley has also been very good consistently & you will see the last hatches of this seasons baetis well after mid-day & a good showing of midges on the warmer high pressure days. Nymphing the deeper pools with pheasant tails and birds nest patterns which imitate mayfly nymphs are also good choices. Put a #18 bead head mayfly imitation as the upper fly with a #18-22 broken back tiger or zebra midge as the dropper for a versatile tandem rig for indicator nymphing. The weather has been fantastic down in the OV so far and due to the lower elevation the Lower Owens River is a great location to fish during the winter periods. We could see some significant snow on the ground by the New Year if the extended forecast comes true.

Photos:
Above Photo:
Scott "Linkcredible" with one of many he tamed on a drift trip.
Photo #1:Andy "jake brake" Rafkin showing a nice Owens brown.
Photo #2:Scott & Andy with the daily double!
Photo #3:Big Ben & Ron with one of their doubles caught while drifting.
Photo #4:Hans-O showing how to break a tail walking rainbow.
Photo #5:Mission accomplished, this one has been officially broken!
Photo #6:Jeff Grotewold and Hans had a great float together on the Owens.
Photo #7:The Casey's whacked a bunch of rainbows and browns on their family float down the Owens.
Photo #8:Bobby & Chris showing off a nice rainbow.
Photo #9:Another father and son dynamic duo-Steve and Sean Murray did nearly 60 to net on their drifts
Photo #10:The Murray's had several doubles-fun times guys!


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