The winter of 2013 will be remembered by the string of days where the temps dip double digits below zero in the upper valleys. Winter is supposed to be cold around here, however this one is turning out to be extraordinary with regards to the consistent low temps throughout the month of January. Relief is in sight according to the NWS and we should see temps begin to normalize from now until the end of the month. No significant storms are forecast to hit the region in the ten day outlook as well.

The extreme cold has made the previously excellent fishing on the Upper Owens much slower. There have been mornings where the LADWP has released water from the Rush Creek diversion and the inlet to the hydroelectric facility at Pleasant Valley Reservoir. This exercise prevents ice build up in their pipelines and puts large amounts of free floating ice and super cooled, low d.o. water into the UO and PV. Not good for the fish. The "rat holing" of water this time of year should be looked at to prevent fish kills which have occurred at PV in the past. Like Mark Twian said, "whiskey's for drinking, waters for fighting!"

The most effective method for winter time fishing on the UO, Hot Creek, & East Walker River is without any doubt nymphing, with or without an indicator. Fish will not move far to take a fly when it is cold and there is little food around so redundant drifts near the bottom using larger, more visible patterns that can trigger a hit more from aggression than hunger. I like flashback bead heads, bird's nest, SJ worms and egg imitations. Streamers are also a very good choice to provoke a hit. Stick to the deeper water along the cut banks allowing the fly to "hover" or pause momentarily in an area of your presentation where you may believe a fish to be holding.

The hike into Hot Creek is not bad, but you will find ice and snow along the canyon and around the banks. Flows have come up due to the increased amounts from Mammoth Creek. Ironically the air temps are much higher at the 8000 foot level than at the valley floors under this inversion type of condition, this is why we continue to have water in the freestone creeks flowing. Look for HC to get juicy as soon as we see an extended warming trend. It has been wicked cold here recently with a moderating pattern forecast by the end of the week.

The East Walker really suffers with this type of weather and we have not been guiding here recently. Bridgeport is perhaps the coldest place in Mono County during the "evil inversion". Flows are at 33cfs with heavy ice on the water.

The Lower Owens continues to be the best location for numbers, and you will find much better weather here due to lower elevation. Be prepared for low teens, even single digits at times-air temps come up above freezing most days. Flows are very low and have dipped below 100 cfs at the PV dam. Nymphing and streamer fishing are the best methods currently. Midges and smaller mayfly patterns fished in tandem on the deeper runs and pools will get results. You will find warmer, and more consistent water temps the closer to the dam you fish. Pleasant Valley Reservoir has dropped some, but remains on the high side for accessing the transition area near the inlet. During the winter months the water will actually be warmer at the bottom of a lake as the depth provides insulation from the cold air. The opposite occurs in the summer making tail water fisheries ideal habitats for trout. "Freeze tubers" using full sinking type 5 lines will find fish at 20 feet near the launch ramp and dam area. There have been times when the flows will come up in the small river leading into the res proper, and ice will be present floating here due to the flushing of the inlet pipe at the power house.

Drifting has been slower overall due to the cold weather but still productive for rainbows in the 12-16 inch range. Streamers are best, the Agent Orange was the hot fly last week getting the sluggish rainbows to hit with repeated casts into the deeper pools, then allowing the fly to "hover" in front of their nose.

Let's hope it warms up soon and we get some more snow on the way. We have a great start to winter, although the last few storms have been very cold and the water content will not be high. Crowley and Bridgeport are filling and will be at near normal levels by opening.

I will be posting available Eagle Lake dates soon, Eagle is getting a good jag of winter this year as well, and the spring trip is on.

Thanks for reading the report friends,

Be the fly...Tom Loe, Sierra Drifters Guide Service

Photos:
Above Photo:The Upper Owens is the place to be for trophy rainbows on the fly. Mike Wilding shows off a jumbo snow bow he fooled while nymphing recently.
Photo #1:Heavy ice on the Upper Owens due to the flushing of the Rush Creek diversion pipe
Photo #2:Amy with her first trout on the fly.
Photo #3:Justin did great with his first time with a fly rod, the big time salt water fisher may be hooked on the fly after his drift!
Photo #4:Sean Burke with his dad Michael doing net honors on a nice drift boat bow
Photo #5:Mike tight to one of his many on an Agent Orange streamer
Photo #6:Hans-O with father Jeff did a snow bow trip on the Upper Owens and it payed off with this beauty
Photo #7:Jeff Grotewold nailed a fatty while nymphing the Upper Owens recently
Photo #8:Mark Renault with the first of his trophy snow bows he caught on the Upper Owens
Photo #9:Back to back big bows for Mark on the Upper Owens
Photo #10:Check this nice "frosted" brownie out that Rob Wilding caught recently. There are some nice browns still holding on the UO as well.
Photo #11:Michael Dunn got his trophy snow bow despite frigid temps. Look at the belly on this hen!
Photo #12:Chuck "BRRRus" no pun intended got a nice snow bow on the Upper O with us. Photo #13:Don "trout stud" Grondin defied 21 below and still landed a fish! That is NOT the fly line folks- He is shown posing with a flash frozen 4X leader and tippet!
Photo #14:Please tell me it was just a bad dream! Air temp taken at the Benton Crossing Bridge 1-13-2013, 9 am in my truck.