Howdy friends and Sierra Drifters. Best fishes to all in 2012. Hard to believe that last year was one of the wettest on record, and this year is so far one of the driest! The contrast between the two winters has been the greatest I have ever seen. The snowpack is less than 15% of normal in most regions of the Eastern Sierra. The long range forecast indicates possibilities of precipitation towards the end of the month but the storms look to be far less than the "frog chokers" needed to get the season back on a normal track. For the time being we are enjoying some great winter fishing conditions with mild weather in both the upper valleys and the Owens Valley. Morning temps are cold, but the daytime highs have been shattering records recently. What a joy to guide in a light shirt on the Upper Owens River in January! Tioga Pass remains open, Sonora Pass is also open. This is unheard of for this time of year. We are all hoping for the snow to fall soon so we may build on what was a great water year last season.