East Walker River Fish Report- Update by Dave Neal 6-12-09

East Walker River (CA) - Bridgeport, CA


by The Trout Fitter Staff
6-12-2009
Website

Water Conditions:

Water release has been dropping over a week. As of 6/12 it has risen slightly to 165 cfs. If the weather warms up, expect flows to rise again.

Fishing Conditions and Hatches:

Fishing continues to be really good, especially for those who know the river. This is the time too consider hiring local guides?Ķwe earn our money on the Walker and you will learn a trick or four.
The hatches are a smorgasbord of midges, mayflies, and caddis. Figuring out what the fish are eating is the most important aspect, change your flies often and don't expect the trout to be eating the most abundant bugs!!! That's the funky nature of the Walker.

RECOMMENDED FLIES:

Dries: #14-18 elk hair caddis, Cutter's ec caddis, or parachute caddis. #20-22 bwo dries, #16 pmd dries, #16 ped's #12-14 hoppers, skate a mouse pattern in the evening and see if it gets eaten.

Subsurface bugs: the kitchen sink, change them often! Grey, black, olive #18-24 wd-40's, zebra midges in grey or black, silver streaks, disco midges, drowned mayfly spinners, LaFontaine's spark le pupa, Fox's poopah, Gallatin caddis emergers, various mayfly nymphs for the baetis and pmd mayflies #16-22.

Streamers: white or grey zonkers, Hornbergs, double bunnies, sculpin patterns.

Guides Hint: The E Walker can be a tricky river. Now that the fishing pressure has caught up to it, catching a lot of bigger fish will not be a "gimme". This is one river where hiring a knowledgeable, local, experienced guide can pay off big time.