EASTERN SIERRAS

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[left]Eastern Sierra's trout season opens April 26. It's primed for another excellent season. Water levels are never an issue here, and trout plants come almost weekly. [/#005000][/font][/size]
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[size 4][font "Arial Narrow"][#005000][/#005000][/font][/size][font "Arial Narrow"][#005000][size 4]Gary Olson of Bishop Creek Lodge said 2007 was one of the best trout seasons on record in the South Fork of Bishop Creek. Olson said 2008 should provide the same to anglers fishing from the lodge to Weir Pond with Orange Deluxe and Gold Label salmon eggs, crickets and [#ff8000]Woolly Buggers[/#ff8000]. South Lake never filled last year, but May and June will provide limit-style action for anglers working the inlets at the back of the lake.[/size][/#005000][/font]
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[size 4][font "Arial Narrow"][#005000][/#005000][/font][/size][font "Arial Narrow"][#005000][size 4]Anglers tossing red and gold Thomas Buoyants, small mini-jigs and worms -- all vying to catch half- to 1-pound bows -- will dominate at North Lake, Intake II and Lake Sabrina. [/size][/#005000][/font]
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[size 4][font "Arial Narrow"][#005000][/#005000][/font][/size][font "Arial Narrow"][#005000][size 4]Let's pushing north. Jim Reid and Rick Gieser of Ken's Sporting Goods in Bridgeport agreed that fresh plants of trout in the West Walker River, Robinson, Buckeye and Green Creek pave the way for quality trout fishing for day-users and campers who work salmon eggs in small pockets and pools. [/size][/#005000][/font]
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[size 4][font "Arial Narrow"][#005000][/#005000][/font][/size][font "Arial Narrow"][#005000][size 4]Even when low water hits, the drainages will fish well in spring and summer. As for the lakes, Upper and Lower Twin and Bridgeport Reservoir are benefiting from private stocking programs that have been raising brown trout in recent years.[/size][/#005000][/font]
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[size 4][font "Arial Narrow"][#005000][/#005000][/font][/size][font "Arial Narrow"][#005000][size 4]Even as fishing pressure increases, anglers have seen catches of browns hold steady. [/size][/#005000][/font]
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[size 4][font "Arial Narrow"][#005000][/#005000][/font][/size][font "Arial Narrow"][#005000][size 4]Plan to fish the lakes in May while temperatures are still cold and browns could still be close to the surface. Your best bet is dragging large Rebel Minnows, Bomber Long As, Castaic Soft Trout swimbaits and J-Plugs along dropoffs. [/size][/#005000][/font]
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[size 4][font "Arial Narrow"][#008000][#005000]LOWER OWENS RIVER. The Lower Owens is open all year; the fall and winter fishing is usually very good. The flow has been fluctuating; it is now at 250 cfs. Recently there have been 4 fires along the river. Reportedly there have been 700 to 1200 acres burned. We have been fishing some of the other sections of the river and doing quite well. There were some fantastic caddis hatches but died off quickly. Most of our catches have been on nymphs, using a number of different patterns. Have been doing some experimenting with various patterns and sizes. We caught fish on pratically all of them from size 22 Brassies up to size 14 "Lew's Nymph". This last one is a variation on the Zebra Midge that one of our club members came up with. It is a Zebra Midge but tied with Brown thread or Olive Dun thread for the body. Action on sreamers has slowed significantly. Try Olive, Brown, and Black Wooly Buggers. When fishing streamers you will most likely get a lot more hits than landed fish. Be prepared for all kinds of weather. Be aware of New Zealand Mud Snail problem (see opening paragraph). The river flow is not significantly impacted by storms since the flow is controlled out of Pleasant Valley Reservoir. However, with any storm activity the access roads will be muddy. Cars can get stuck[/#005000]. [/#008000][/font][/size]
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