Howdy friends and Sierra Drifters. We hope you all get a chance to come fish with us this spring as it is turning out to be one of the best in several years. The high snow pack is melting slowly. This allows a gradual transition into summer, as opposed to the huge run-off in creeks and tail waters which is the historical normal as we approach the Memorial Day holiday.

The wind has been an issue recently, and it seems that this pattern will continue through the holiday weekend. These dry fronts bring strong southwesterly winds that pretty much shut down fisheries that are exposed or open to these down slope winds. We seem to get a day or two of pleasant conditions between cold fronts and during these times the fishing has been great in some areas. The alpine regions are opening up quickly and even the higher elevation lakes and streams will be ready to fish by Memorial Day, which is quite unusual as you may well know.

Flows continue to trend upward on the East Walker and Lower Owens; however they are well below historical averages and allowing an extension of early spring like conditions.

The fire season is already upon us here in the Sierra. The NWS and NFS are asking that outdoorsmen use extreme caution this year. You will see control fires throughout the Sierra this spring as the NFS is trying to reduce fuel along fire prone areas. There will be extensive control burns around the June Lake and Mammoth regions.

The Long Beach Casting Club will host the Wounded Warriors- Healing Waters Program at the Sierra Drifters trophy pond on May 19th. Very special thanks to the vets for their sacrifices, and thanks to the LBCC members and SD's Two Bug Doug Dolan who are helping out these special people. Good luck gang, hope you get one of the many monsters in Jurassic pond!

My great friend and legend in the fly fishing business Bill "the mighty osprey" Stroud, pictured above is not well. I am asking a favor from all of you who know of Bill to keep him in your thoughts and prayers for a recovery. Bill's contributions to the San Diego Fly Fishers and fly fisherman everywhere have been huge. Special thanks and a hug to Ricky Vorst and Jim Reeg for their incredible friendship and loyalty to Bill.