The Fish Report - July 24, 2008
Water Conditions:Good
Water is ridiculously hot everywhere in the lake, as in over 70 degress on the bottom except in McGee Bay and the mouth of the Owens, which you can't get to by boat.
Fishing Conditions and Hatches:Good
McGee Bay has some perfect 57 degree water but it is in 4 ft of water choked with weeds and unfishable.
The underwater stream channel has disappreared (silted out) so there is no concentration of colder water following the old channel out into the bay. The cold water goes about 100 feet from the mouth in what's left of the channel and then just dissipates over the entire bay wih no real concentration.
The good news is that there are some excellent Bows, Browns and Cutthroats but they are spread out. Everyone is doing about the same. slow to slow-steady from close in in 7 ft of water out to 12 ft.
The last two days there has been essentially no chironomid hatch from 6 am to Noon. I think it will turn on if they ever decide to come off.
Recommended Flies:
Blood Worms early then gray or gray/black Optimidges in size 16 mid-morning. If you see any calibaetis on the surface at any time go to a Jensens Calibaetis
Fish are nailing Damsels and very small Perch fry on the surface in McGee and stripping Damsle patterns with slow 1 inch twitches or Bird's Nest usinglonger strips then coast to imitate the miniture fry.
The hot water has slowed down the fish even when feeding so expect a ton of drive-bys. Shorten up 6 inches at a time to get better angle=2 0of attack so the fly goes in their mouth and doesn't just bump the tippet and slide around their nose producing the infuriating, drive-by twitch.
Guides Hint:Crowley, An Underwater Perspective is still available on DVD. . .