The Western Outdoor News hosted Double Haul in the fall takes place on Saturday September 15th on Crowley Lake.?? Conditions on the lake are excellent and if the weather co-operates this year's event may see some of the top fly fishers scoring ten or more fish for the first time in many years.?? The lake is as clean as I have seen it with regards to algae and weeds. The fall turnover will not occur for another two-three weeks due to the warm weather.?? The chironomid hatches are ballistic and if you hit Crowley during a rising barometer it can be stupid good using the still water nymphing method.?? Streamer fishing is also very good during the mornings and late afternoons.?? The damsel fly nymph migration is tapering off and the weeds are pretty much gone except for a few clumps in McGee on the west and south shore and well up into the Owens channel.?? Pretty skinny water in both locations-the fishing has been inconsistent in less than 4 feet.??

An above average amount of larger fish are being fooled on the chironomids this year and my prediction is the top guys will get more scores on midges than on streamers like Loebergs and Drifters Punk Perch patterns.?? The perch fry have been hammered hard this year as they have not had the heavy weeds to hide out in.?? Translated, there are less of them and the fish are feeding on what is most available, the plentiful midges.?? The fish have also been moving into deeper water and feeding on daphnia when the pupa are not in huge numbers.?? This is when some of the more adventurous tubers that like to cover water can get fish out in the 15-20 foot range with full sinks and spank some numbers.??

Alligator has been very slow as of this report.?? The water is very warm here relative to the north end and there is some thermal activity emanating from the lake bottom that I have witnessed at times at Layton Springs.?? Six Bays has had some very good catching at times but it has been inconsistent and when it shuts off it sucks.??

McGee Bay more to the south side of the inlet in 7-10 feet.?? North Arm from Green Banks to Windy in 6-11 feet. ????Money!!!?? ??Some fish showing out in front of North landing but at this time pretty inconsistent.?? It is not wide open every day, and there are some slower days associated with weather and barometric changes. With out a doubt this has been the best overall fishing I have seen on Crowley in a long time.??

Gillies #18, 20 are rocking during the hatches as well as our pupa patterns #18-22.?? Use the pupa out deeper and 6X tippet for a better presentation on the smaller midges.?? Tigers and zebras #16-20 as the lower flies are doing the trick during the "in-between" and off emergence periods.?? Loebergs, Agent Oranges, Blood Sucking Vanderleeches, and last but not least the light and dark Drifters Punk Perch patterns are good choices for you streamer tuggers.??

The Crowley Lake Fish Camp is the check in location for the D-Haul again this year and they are offering a THIRTY percent reduction off Sierra Drifters guide flies and Sungicator strike indicators beginning on Thursday the 13th through the Sunday after the Haul.??

Check out this awesome double rainbow I got a shot of recently while guiding Ken and Larry Jackson from Northridge CA.?? Kenny found the pot of gold (in this case it was a big brown) at the rainbows end in the North Arm of Crowley.

Check out this gorgeous cutthroat spanked recently by Mike Rovzar from San Juan Capistrano?Ķ?Ķ.Beloved Drifters guide Fill Therrien did the netting ceremony with pleasure.

The McGuire family has invested a bunch of time with us this summer and it has paid off for Sergey.?? Two Bug Doug put the Serge-ster on a 22 inch bow one day and Fill Therrien got him into another twenty plus the next!?? Sergey could be a guide in the ruff ehhh?