EASTERN SIERRA FOCUS • May 5
By CJ Webb
Apparently a Copper Sulfate based spray is to be the “killer” of choice for the mud snail, but determining the method of decontamination and getting this information to the public has yet to be decided. Dr. Tom Jenkins mentioned that this was used in Crowley Lake years ago to eradicate the algae and apparently it does not harm the fishery. More control of “who, what and how” goes into the waters near Hot Creek will have to be addressed in order to stop the spread. Don’t wade is the answer, until a protocol can be determined, of course this is just my opinion.
Weather Conditions
Unstable conditions will soon change with a high pressure system building in SoCal which is pushing the next impulse to the north with high winds. Hopefully this should keep the next batch of storms at bay, and start turning up the heat in the Ice Station Zebra areas of the Sierra.
Legislation:
AB7 –The bill was set for a hearing in the Assembly Appropriations Committee on May 18th. No vote will be taken they will move the bill to its suspense file then before the deadline on the 27th, the committee will consider all the bills on the suspense file and will then vote on AB7. This time the bill included Wild Trout/Inland Fisheries. Please continue to send in your letters of support directly to the web site friendsofcaliforniahatcheries.org and send in your support from there. CalTrout donated to the Hot Creek Hatchery Foundation to show support of their belief that hatcheries are an integral part of maintaining trout in all waters.
LOWER OWENS is over 600cfs. This should taper if and when DWP turns down the wheel.
ROCK CREEK LAKE is still frozen, but snow is starting to melt around the upper reaches of the 9-mile stream, and the lake is turning ice blue, meaning it is showing signs of melting.
CROWLEY LAKE – The water temperature is around 54 degrees meaning the fish are all over the lake and loving it. When the lake warms they will head to cooler water (river mouths). Sandy point in 9 to 11 feet of water and Magee Bay around 12 to 13 feet will be your best bets. Try Midges, under streamers in dark colors and work up and down the channel. Incredible Cutthroats were caught opening day in the 3-4 lb. range on dark green streamers, some nymphs, and midges (getting a good look at them was hard), and assorted paraphernalia consisting of metal and lepton.CONVICT LAKE – Producing nice Alpers on large Pistol Pete’s in grizzly, dark green and black. Still some snow around the banks.
MAMMOTH LAKES BASIN is still frozen, but a bit of water is starting to show at the outlet of Twin, but check with the Visitors Bureau for the latest conditions.
SAN JOAQUIN – Road crews are supposed to start plowing around May 13th, but will start mid June due to usable snow for skiing. Go figure!
JUNE LOOP – Weather has turned a trout’s fancy to bait, and it will be a challenge to pull up some on streamers. Tubers should be prepared for cold water and dress appropriately.
LUNDY LAKE – Ice free and beaver’s ponds doing great for Brookies on small midges #18-22.
VIRGINIA LAKES – Opener was good for those hearty enough to walk the soft snow 2.5 miles into Big Virginia. There were “Big” rewards for those using jigs, worms, and spinners and I saw a lot of nice fat Brookies taken. The road is plowed to the entrance of the Trumbull Lake Campground now. We expect to be open by June 3rd or earlier. We are still trying to shovel our way out from under. I measured the ice on Little Virginia 5.11.5 it was 56.5” thick, and 7 days later it was 46”. If you want to see a photo, email me, but it’s not for the faint of heart.
EAST WALKER – San Juan worms in natural are still great, and black and white marabou on a re-curve barb, also try nymphs on the bottom in #16 to 18 in green or light brown. It’s always a good idea to try large stimulators over a nymph in the afternoon, or for some quality dry fly action lose the 2nd fly.
WEST WALKER – Water is running fast but murky, so look for calm water near the campground and cast your midge under a large dry (stimulator, royal coachman, or something very visible. Tie on WD40’s, tiger midges, or zebra midges, my favorite is a rainbow prince nymph #20.
TIOGA PASS ~ The Park Service started plowing on April 15th heading toward the East gate, and are between Crane Flat is 44 miles from US 395, and White Wolf, and they are plowing 1/2 mile a day with snow depth at 15 feet. The County is still heading to Ellery Lake. No estimate for opening date. Work was suspended on the 16th so crews could respond to flood event in the valley.
SONORA PASS ~ CalTrans US 395/Sonora met with equipment the other side on the 18th and will be open by the 25th between 2 and 3pm unless something drastic happens.
MONITOR PASS is open with snow at the top.
See you on the water! CJ vlr@qnet.com

EASTERN SIERRA FOCUS • April 19
By CJ Webb
Weather Conditions
Winter started mid October of 2004 with a 3’ storm, and another 18” the following week. The County kept all the roads clear through trout season; only to have the high elevation waters freeze. The bulk of the winter arrived between Christmas and January 11, 2005 with many temporary road closures due to less personnel plowing, and budget problems.
March 20th dumped over 24” inches of snow, and April was the coldest unstable month in my 31 years on Conway Summit. Winter is over, but no one bothered to email “Mother” that spring arrived according to the calendar, and she needs to refocus on sprouting flowers for the bugs, for the trout.
State Water Resources Board stated that the snow pack is 31% above average that means full reservoirs, rivers and streams for a longer duration this summer.
MAY should bring more water into the streams and rivers as the temperature increases and the weather stabilizes by into May.
Butterflies are on the rise again this year and the car washes are doing a bang-up business, while mosquitoes at lower elevations are looking for “blood”.

AB7 – The Hatchery Bill passed out of Water Parks & Wildlife on the 26th and headed for Appropriations. This time the bill included Wilt Trout/Inland Fisheries. Yeah! Please contact me for a letter of support or go to friendsofcaliforniahatcheries.org and send in your support direct. CalTrout donated to the Hot Creek Hatchery Foundation to show support of their belief that hatcheries are an integral part of maintaining trout in all waters. vlr@qnet.com

LOWER OWENS is at 550-600cfs. This should taper as flows as DWP turns down the wheel.
ROCK CREEK LAKE is still frozen with snow around the upper reaches of the 9-mile stream, and the road is open.
CROWLEY LAKE – 350,000 trout plus trophy fish were stocked late last year, and 8,000 anglers are expected. This will be the hot spot, if you like fishing in someone else’s pants.
CONVICT LAKE – Ice free and Alpers await the “Bravehearts” of tubing.
MAMMOTH LAKES BASIN is mostly frozen, but check with the Visitors Bureau for the latest conditions.
SAN JOAQUIN – Road crews will start plowing around May 13th.
JUNE LOOP – Grant is almost ice free, Gull is breaking up, Silver is breaking up and 20 feet out from the east edge, June is breaking up with the help of marina owners. Tubers should be prepared for cold water and dress appropriately.
LUNDY LAKE – Breaking up, and ice is rotten, dress warm for tubing.
VIRGINIA LAKES – Now that you have had one-year experience with tube sailing, you better pack your ice skates too. The County road crew is only 3 1/2 miles from US 395 and on a 4-day workweek, so hopefully they will get another 2.5 miles before opener.
EAST WALKER – Stay with San Juan worms in natural, and a few golden stones if the air warms, and try nymphs on the bottom in #16 to 18 in black or dark brown. It’s always a good idea to try large stimulators over a nymph in the afternoon for some quality dry fly action.
WEST WALKER – Water is running fast but clear, so look for calm water and eddies and cast your nymph behind the fish and let it drift to them.
ROSACHI – Some good action around the curves as water is clear and rising, try very small black weighted nymphs, and some tiny dries in natural colors. Different techniques will produce so be versatile and patient, dress warm. My favorite a BH soft hackle, it’s tricky.
TIOGA PASS ~ County road crews are busy plowing all upper elevation roads to free up the equipment for clearing the snow on Tioga Pass, and the County reports 13 feet of snow at Tioga Pass Resort with 30’ wind drifts in front of Ellery Lake. The Park Service started plowing on the 15th heading toward the East gate, and the County will start west on May 5th, weather and equipment permitting. They will, to quote Larry the cable guy “git her done”.
SONORA PASS ~ Road crews are working to get it open by Memorial weekend, but the last couple weeks have not helped with the unstable weather.
MONITOR PASS is still closed and they are working on the road from both sides of the pass, no date has been given for when it will be open.
WEST WALKER – is running high and fairly clear and will easily accommodate the myriads of Alpers headed for the area shortly.
EAST WALKER water flows were over 300cfs but are currently at 193cfs. I’ve spent a few hours searching for surface action and have seen some movement during the warmest part of the day. I think this is going to be a hot spot this summer. I’m tying up some “special” goodies for the brutes to see if they like this new invention.
See you on the water! CJ vlr@qnet.com


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