Crowley is having one of the best starts for fly fishers in many years. The chironomid hatches have been huge and the trout are gorging on these large still water midges in most areas of the lake. Water conditions remain very good with no algae issues currently. We have been having consistent fishing in 13-16 feet in the North Arm, Sandy Pt. Layton Springs, and Big Hilton Bay. McGee Bay and Sometimes Bay also have decent numbers. If it gets to look like a parking lot at Sandy Pt. or Layton, go find a clean piece of bottom that is grass free elsewhere.

When you get large numbers of boats anchoring in a small area it disrupts the feeding patterns and pods of fish that work these pieces of bottom. There are good numbers in Crowley this year, it is evident the DFG put a bunch of fish in last year. They have also stocked some brood fish and a couple trucks of catchables recently. It is nice to see an effort to get Crowley back as the crown jewel of the Sierra. The late summer and fall season could be one of the best for 18 inch fish we have ever seen here. Due to the mild winter, growth rates on the fish have been incredible and we are amazed at how "rotund" the rainbows and browns are this spring.

The fish are feeding heavily on larva most days, then keying on the pupa when the barometer rises. Chironomid larvae are commonly called blood midges. This is because they are red in color due to the large amount of hemoglobin necessary to sustain life near the bottom of lakes where the dissolved oxygen levels are low. Red colors turn gray below 8 feet of water. This is because infra red light does not penetrate below this depth. Nature colored the larva red to disguise the worm, not to make it stand out! Tiger and zebra midges are designed to imitate the naturals, fish your larva patterns close to the bottom for best results.

By far the most productive period while still water nymphing with midges will be when the trout are gorging on the pupal stage of the insect. The pupa drift with the subtle currents caused by the wind and are suspended in the water column while undergoing the metamorphosis into the adult, and final stage of their lives. Use emerger patterns that have flash, or a crystal type tail built into the pattern. The tail imitates the "shuck" or exoskeleton of the midge and is an important feature when trying to fool the hungry trout into taking your fly. You can fish well off the bottom while the fish are feeding on pupa, use emerger type patterns as an upper fly on a tandem rig, or tie both as emergers and fish them several feet above the bottom while suspending them beneath your Under-Cator.

Photos:
Photo # 1: Jay Preston showing off one of many quality rainbows he caught on Crowley recently.
Photo # 2: Taryn Franks had a great day on Crowley while still water nymphing with Two Bug Doug
Photo # 3: Taryn with a nice brown caught on a midge larva pattern
Photo # 4: Dave Mount with one of many on Crowley
Photo # 5: Dave with friends Robert and Bill got the elusive triple on Crowley. It has been awesome recently while nymphing with midges
Photo # 6: Andy with a beautiful Crowley brownie
Photo # 7: Billy Schuh did well on Crowley getting nice fish and big numbers
Photo # 8: Lucas Schuh got a nice brown too