The flows on the river have been bouncing around a bit this past week, right now it’s sitting at 95 cfs. The fishing has still been pretty decent in the mornings and evenings much as it was last week. There’s still some decent dry action in the mornings with caddis and Trico patterns and in the evenings with mostly caddis patterns. We have also had some decent reports on hopper patterns as well. Nymphing is still a mainstay down there, like always, and we have had a couple decent fish being caught with crawdad patterns for streamers. The real key, until the weather gets cooler, is to get out there early and fish until 9 or 10, then get back out there around 6 and fish until dark.
Patterns to try: Elk hair caddis, E/C caddis, chubby chernobyl, various hopper patterns, trico’s, San Juan worm, squirmy wormy, micro mayfly, rainbow warrior, buckskin caddis, Fox’s poopah, LaFontaine’s deep sparkle pupa, radiation baetis, darth baetis, dead drift crayfish.
The Sceirine fish pretty well this week with some very good hopper/dropper action going on, chubby chernobyl’s and para hoppers with nymph droppers produced well for several anglers as well as a few fish being caught on dead drift crayfish. Mornings and evenings are still a good bet down there, just like the California side.
We haven’t had anyone on the pond for the last couple weeks, we’re kind of waiting on the weather to cool down a bit and when this happens the action should get better out there.
The Reservoir has still been pretty tough, the warmer water temps are keeping most of those fish pretty quiet lately. There are of course a few lucky anglers who are having some success, there was at least one nice brown caught from the shore this week that we know of as well as a few nice rainbows. Unfortunately there’s been more reports from anglers who have had little or no success out there. Hopefully within the next couple weeks the weather will get cooler which will cool down the water and the fishing should improve.
We didn’t hear any news from Kirman this week but will pass on any info we get when it comes in.
This week produced some good fish from the Twins again, not limits for anglers by any means, but some good fish are being caught for sure. It’s not automatic to get into these good fish but if you put in some time, move around when necessary and switch you baits and lures often you should be able to come up with some fish. Most of the fish we are seeing from up there are 2 to 6 pounds which is nice, just not as many of them as we’d like! Some of the successful bait anglers have been doing well with garlic power bait, pinched crawlers and mice tails while the trollers have been catching a few fish with small Rapalas, needlefish and Thomas Bouyants. Fly anglers are still doing the best with sinking lines and leech patterns like wooly buggers, Twin Lakes Specials, matukas and a soft hackle or zug bug dropper.
Like the most of the other waters in the area, the West is producing a few fish here and there but not stringers full. It seems like the more successful anglers are getting into 1 or 2 fish and we have seen a couple larger fish this week in the 5 pound range. Whether you’re fishing flies, bait or lures one of the keys up there is going to be sneaky, the water is low and clear and the fish that are there tend to be pretty spooky. Try to sneak up on those deeper pools and slots where fish will be hanging out in the shade and get your baits near them without them knowing you’re there!
The Virginias still seem to be one of the better places in the area lately, we’re still seeing some nice 2 to 5 pounders almost every day from up there. The shore fishing has been a little tough and it’s best to fish from the shore early in the morning and late in the evening. If you’re there throughout the day though it will definitely be best to be out on the water in a tube, boat or kayak. Mice tails and pinched crawlers are still working, as well as inflated crawlers and power bait. Thomas bouyants and Kastmasters are still good choices for lures, also mini jigs like Sierra Slammers and Trout Teasers are a good bet. Fly anglers can use buggers, mini leeches, soft hackles, copper johns and in the evenings you can go with a beetle or mosquito on top.
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Due to poor water conditions the BFEF/Ken’s stocking of Bridgeport Reservoir that was scheduled for last week was postponed until mid September, the folks from Desert Springs Hatchery felt the fish would fare better when the water cools down a bit, so I guess that’s something to look forward to. Last week the DFW planted Upper Twin Lake so there should be some new fish cruising up there now.
This year would have marked the 10th annual East Walker River Clean-up day, sponsored by the Fishin’ Mission Foundation, Walker River Outfitters and Ken’s Sporting Goods. With all that’s going on this year we have opted to cancel the clean-up day and get back at it in 2021. The last 9 years have produced a lot of trash that our 30 or 40 volunteers each year have picked up, missing this year may make our job a bit tougher next year but we’ll do our best to get back at it in 2021!!
The Bridgeport Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a “Virtual Founders Day Celebration” for Labor Day Weekend this year, there are going to be prizes and lots of great information to be learned about the area, go to the Explore Bridgeport California Facebook page for more information!
