Fishing Tip:
Mother Nature just seems to get her way every April, and dealt us aces and eights, wind, snow, rain, which is her normal venue for this time of Spring. Warming during the opener was very welcome making the conditions excellent. Spring runoff has started in some places and the flows are up, West Walker, fast with good clarity. Bridgeport Reservoir is filling but won’t rise until full-on thaw starts. Hopefully it will improve conditions on the Rez with colder water and a lot of it later into the summer.

No-see-ums must have had reservations on American Airlines and have been slow to arrive but I don’t think you’ll hear many complaints.
Mosquitoes must have been on standby since they are virtually no where to be found, yet!

Be safe if you walk in and around the gorge, Western Diamondbacks are snoozing on the warm rocks during the day after a long cold winter underground. Hike with a wading staff. It hurts me deeply to admit I actually bought one yesterday but then I guess I’m lucky to be able to do the amount of fishing and hiking I’ve been rewarded with. If you cross streams, remember, the water is extremely cold this time of year, don’t take chances unnecessarily, and keep a solar blanket in your fly/tackle vest and assess the flow and your physical ability to handle the water.

Legislation and News
If you have been following SB1262, you will know that the Cogdill Bill, AB7, has had a change that will allow DFG to pull back on their “….25% of the fish produced by state fish hatcheries are used for the purpose of initiating and managing the restoration of naturally indigenous stocks of trout to their original California source watersheds….. this bill would exclude fish produced in mitigation hatcheries from the computation of the 25% restoration goal goals.” The strikeouts are the removal of what is undergoing change. There will be another change to the bill next week.

The Department of Water and Power will be inspecting boats prior to launching in Crowley Lake due to the Quagga/Zebra mussels. There will also be an inspection station set up in front of Vons/K-Mart in Bishop which started on the 23rd of April. DWP is trying to head off a possible problem in their water system. Bet you could skewer them.

Fishing Report:
Remember to check the regulations prior to fishing unfamiliar water that you are unsure as to limits, size, etc.

ROCK CREEK – The road is plowed as far as the Pack Station and they should finish it up this week or early next week.

HOT CREEK – Road is clear and water is fishable but off color. Be careful as the rocks are kind of slimy so get out that trusty wading
stick. A bit of wind comes up late afternoon so switch to Midges if you’re not getting takes on Trio Spinners #22-24, try San Juan worms, birds nest, and tiny zebra midges should get tugs. Please stay out of the water to prevent the spread of the New Zealand mud snail. Gate is expected to be open soon.

CROWLEY – has been primed and ready for the opener and will be hit hard; nymphing will get you a blue ribbon if you try some large zebra and tiger midges around 10-12 feet, which has been about the standard for opening day. Lake has been ice free for about 21 days now.

UPPER OWENS –Has been tough, but if you put your “observant brain” on alert and stake out a place and try some midges’ #18-20, or small Prince Nymphs 18-16 or the ever enticing San Juan Worm, you’ll get some nice fish in the 20 inch range. Use a 2 fly rig and don’t be a “slow-set” like me.

CONVICT – Was stocked with some heavyweights and the largest trout for the opener was taken using alternative means.

MAMMOTH BASIN – Still under snow and ice and the Lake Mary Road should be open in the near future.

SAN JOAQUIN ROAD – Plowing will not start until May 10th as usual, due to the number of skiers taking advantage of the great snow.

JUNE LAKE –Is ice free and has been most of the winter and the loop road opened 4.25.6. June Lake marina cage culture program will be releasing some great fish for this opener. Tubing will be on the menu as a means to an end with less coffee breaks and “loo” rests.

GULL LAKE – Is ice free and did well for the opener for the alternative fly fishers.

SILVER LAKE – Is also ice free and had a great showing for the worm crowd.

GRANT LAKE – Is ice free and ready as well.

TIOGA PASS – Road is plowed to 32.5 miles from Crane Flat gate and plowing through 5’ of snow. CalTrans plans to do hazard tree work before it can be safely opened.

LUNDY – Is ice free and road is open, with resort opening Memorial weekend.

VIRGINIA LAKES – The road is plowed to Trumbull Campground entrance and the resorts opens the 17th of May. The ice on Little Virginia is 22”. Ice should hold for about 7 days.

EAST WALKER – Is low and as of this writing was 55cfs, but it has been as high as 225 in late March and 75cfs on April 19th. Loads of bugs with the warmer weather and this could prove to be the hot spot once the run-off starts. Early morning cooler temps will keep the run-off at a minimum but only for a couple weeks. A really nice brown showed his nose for a happy fly angler over the weekend.

BRIDGEPORT RESERVOIR –Is ice free and the water is low and a bit off color and about 100 feet from the end of the airport runway. The only boat launching happened at Bridgeport Marina and the “bathtub”. Runoff has not really hit the Rez yet, but it is coming. Water has been stocked with sub-catchable DFG bows recently and with some Alpers to tweak those tippets. Stay in the 4X range for possible hawgs.

WEST WALKER – Flow is 418cfs making it a bit harder to fish around the flats. Try some nice attractors over San Juan Worms in the curves.

SONORA PASS - Was open on the 24th due to some issues.

KIRMAN – Looks good for those willing to take the hike in.

MONITOR PASS – Opened early April.

See you on the water,

CJ 8.4