Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition 3815 July 5-19 2019

July 5 - 19, 2019 VOL.38 • ISS. 15 7 Catch & Release Fishing Reports Sponsored by Kiene’s Fly Shop 916-483-1222 • www.Kienesflyshop.com 9550 Micron Ave. Suite B • Sacramento, CA FLY FISHING REPORTS CROWLEY LAKE Up And Down Action It has been kind of up and down fishing here with the mix in the weather. Some days we are seeing some pretty good wind come down the lake and others are warm and glassy. There is no real concentrated body of fish currently as they seem to be moving around from day to day. Different holding depths are being selected by the fish depending on the weather. Some big fish are being caught in the usual areas but we are weeding through the Melody hit the American River on June 12 with her recent plants of some smaller grandpa and boated this fine shad on fly gear. browns and rainbows. Photo courtesy of KIENE’S FLY SHOP, Sacramento. #16 Copper Tiger Midge, #16 Zebra Midge, #16 Broken Back Gillie have been TRUCKEE RIVER good flies. The first generation of damselflies and callibaetis are now High & Muddy making an appearance. It won’t be Not much in the way of any bugs too long before the fish make their hatching but a few PMDs have been move into McGee Bay along the coming off later in the mornings plus weeds in the shallows to start feeding Baetis on cloudy days. There have on them. been some golden stones too. If you do go, look for soft water near the edges and strip or dead drift some streamers along the edges. A pink San Juan Worm is always good this time of the year in the clearer water as are golden Stone and midge patterns. Try a crawdad The rainbow bite at Lake Crowley has been off the hook for fly anglers pattern. this June. MIDDLE OWENS RIVER: Too High For Safe Wading Flows jumped up a few days ago but then Fly guide Jason Thatcher (left) has been putting his clients on returned to some dandy rainbows while fishing the Sacramento River above 400 cfs here. Red Bluff. Photo courtesy of RIVER PURSUIT GUIDE SERVICE, Red Bluff. It’s been a little slower here lately. This level is still too high for wading in the PMDs and Baetis are the main wild trout section, but fishing the slower bugs, though Green Drakes hatch water and the edges can yield some on cloudy days. Lots of Golden takes. Smaller nymphs with some flash Stoneflies in the air in addition to in them are a good call with plenty of Little Yellow Stones. weight to get your bugs down. Best flies are black rubberlegs Look for some afternoon hatches and small red nymphs. A size #18 on all sections of the river. When the Flashback PT with a red hot spot mayfly hatch is happening, try switching can get grabs. Fish aren’t smart yet to our #16 Punk Perch and Crystal so you should do real good. Leech just prior to and after the peak of the hatch. Best flies for these areas have been #10 Loebergs in all colors, #8 Spruce-a-bus in light and dark, #16 Punk Perch, #14 Crystal Leech, #18 Assassin Light, #16 San Juan Worm Red, #18 Blue Winged Olive, #22 Parachute Midge, #18 Broken Back Copper Tiger Midge, and #18 Crystal Caddis Larva Olive Dubbed-Black. Photo courtesy of SIERRA DRIFTERS GUIDE SERVICE, Bishop. Fly Fishing Destinations In Focus: Hot Creek H ot Creek begins as Mammoth Creek, which drains the alpine lakes that give the town of Mammoth Lakes its name. It flows out of the east side of the Sierras through town and after a couple of miles reaches Long Valley, a flat expanse of scenic Sagebrush covered flats and low hills. The geothermal characteristic of Hot Creek’s geology keep its water temperature warm enough in the winter so it never freezes even though it is located in one of the coldest sections of California, and its aquatic life takes full advantage of it. Once the creek transcends from freestone to a more placid spring creek demeanor (after passing under Hwy 395) in the more level ground of the valley it enters the geothermal section where the cold freestone water is tempered by the infusion of warm springs heated by the volcanic caldera where its name changes to Hot Creek. Success on Hot Creek is dependent on technique-technique-technique! Line handling technique is important so that you can present the fly by means of a down- stream drift to assure the fish sees the fly first before the leader floats over its head. The fish are smart. It is imperative that your flies are small as most bugs are what you could tie size #18 or smaller hook. In some cases you need to fish #20 and #24 patterns. Adult patterns don’t work as well as those that imitate transitional life stages, so you need to have a fly box full of cripples and emergers. HAT CREEK Conditions & Fishing Excellent The Fly Shop reports that the fishing is excellent. Salmon Flies are just starting to get going. Alex landed and released this trio of hefty largemouth bass while using fly tackle on the Sacramento Delta this June. Photo courtesy of THE FLY SHOP, Redding

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