Report Date:
http://www.thetroutfitter.com/fshreport.htmlWater Conditions:
The water level is the lowest in decades due to LADWP "stealing" our water to refill a couple of SoCal reservoirs.
Water temperature is now lower than the optimum temps all over the lake so look for the warmest spots for the ideal 56-58 degrees on the bottom.
McGee Bay and the north end have water down to 50 deg near the inlets and a beautiful 56-58 out in about 9-10 ft in McGee and way down by Leighton Springs, Sandy and Six Bays in the north end.
Low water makes for as much as 5-6 degress increase in temperatures on the bottom from 6 am to noon.
Consequently, the bite is starting most days about 10:30 am and goes through 1:30 pm if you don't get blown out.
Fishing Conditions and Hatches:
The lake suddenly has turned on with nice high pressure building in and sunny days since the cold weekend.
Hilton has slowed but there are still some big ones in there. Sometimes Island, Six Bays and Sandy are are loaded with dinks and bigger ones chasing them. 20+" fish, including some Cutthroats have showed up last two days.
With the low water this is a good chance for you to see exactly where Hilton and McGee Creeks, as well as the Owens River, flow now that they are no longer under water for several hundred yards. Ditto for the springs around the lake.
'Valuable info come next season!
NEWS FLASH . . . Big Hilton is holding some Brown monsters chasing some really small plants.
Buck the wind and cold and you might get that trophy . . . they're in there.
Recommended Flies:
With the cold weather and late chironomid hatches, the fish will for sure be looking for larvae/blood worms near the bottom.
#16 Red/Black Tigers and Blood Worms are early producers followed by size 16 Black Optimidge have been the winners but they were taking anything yesterday as in hungary fish, minimal hatches and winter coming!
Perfection Perch, Stillwater Hares, and Punk Perch for the stripping, which has just about tired with the midging.
The Crowley Cam (mostly wet dirt cam) is off for the season. See you in the Spring with some water!
Guides Hint:
A four DVD copy of the recent 8-hour Crowley University will be available soon for those who could not attend. This is a reference library you need to add to your arsenal if you fish the lake.