Crowley Lake Fishing Report

Crowley Lake - Mammoth Lakes, CA (Mono County)


by The Trout Fitter Staff
8-21-2008
Website

Water Conditions:
Water is still very hot everywhere in the lake, as in over 66 degress on the bottom except in McGee Bay, Crooked Creek and the mouth of the Owens, which you can't get to by boat.
McGee Bay has some perfect 56-58 degree water inside against the weed line. The underwater stream channel has disappreared (silted out) so there is no concentration of colder water following the old channel out into the bay. The cold water goes about 100 feet from the mouth in what's left of the channel and then just dissipates over the entire bay wih no real concentration.

Fishing Conditions and Hatches:
For McGee fishing goes from wide open to slow-steady day by day but overall the big attraction is the 20+ inch fish that are prevelent everyday. The fish are spread out so the whole bay produces from inside in 5 feet of water out to 10 feet. The tough part is that inside where the most big fish are residing, the fish are getting very wise to even the smallest flies and are sipping and spitting very quickly. If you really concentrate you'll be okay but expect about 1 hook-up for every 3 sets plus a bunch of drive-bys and you can't shorten up much when you are fishing three feet under the surface in 5 ft of water to get that better angle of attack. You must concentrate and really look closely at the indicator to see the first movement or "sag". I've seen weaker clients get 30+ grabs at least two inches under and come up with 2-3 fish to the boat. There are plenty of less educated fish in the 16 inch range out deeper for those who aren't addicted to the big ones!
Perch fry slashing on the surface from first light in along the weed beds. Those 23-inch plus fish who don't dine under the indicator are waiting for you. Crooked Creek is also producing.
No reports from the north end but it will go off as the temps drop.

Recommended Flies:
Go with dubbed-head gray/black, black or olive Optimidges in size 18 (or smaller if you tie your own)
If you see any calibaetis on the surface or it slows down at any time, go to a Jensen's Calibaetis.
The fry are getting to the smallest Punk Perch and soon, Perfection Perch size, and don't forget the Stillwater Hare if you want to strip just over the weeds on the bottom.
The colder water has the 17 inch fish screaming around with vapor trail ribbons following the line as it cuts through the water. When you get the 20+ inch fish on, it is backing time.

Guides Hint:
Bigger fish have learned more ways to get off. Be ready for jumps the second the indcator goes under, followed by lunges, direction reversals, runs into t he backing and body flops way out there. Oh yeah, the final tune . . . here we go round the anchor rope! Crowley, An Underwater Perspective is still available on DVD. . . Click Here





More Reports

The Trout Fitter Reports
for Thursday, August 21st, 2008

Mammoth Lakes : Mammoth Lakes Basin
Hot Creek: Hot Creek Fish Report
San Joaquin River: San Joaquin River Fishing Report