On The Rebound

Crowley Lake - Mammoth Lakes, CA (Mono County)

Photo Credit: Jim Elias

by Jim Elias
8-26-2021
Website

Crowley Lake - Lake level is dropping slowly. Water temps are near 68 mid-day on the surface. Water is pretty clear.

Rod Size: #5-#6 Weights

Tippet Size: 3-5X

Dries: N/A

Leader: 15-20ft Deep Indicator Rig, 9ft 3-4X Leader

Nymphs:  Spiral Flash Grey #16Copper/Black #16-18, Copper Tiger #16-18, Gray/Black #16-18, Zuchini #16Black/Red Midge #16-18, Fat Man's Favorite #16, Red Butt #16, Purple/Silver #16-18

Streamers: Damsels, Mayfly nymphs and small perch patterns

 

I have plenty of open dates in September. The fishing is usually solid and the crowds are mostly gone after Labor Day.

 

Water temps have come down considerably this past week and a half. Lets hope the next several very hot days don't heat the water up too much. The good news is this time of year the days are shorter and the nights are longer. Temperatures at night have been in the upper 30's in Long Valley so that's gone a long way in improving water conditions. Algae is a non issue right now, and most of the fish I've been getting have been pulling hard and seem like they're in way better shape. The fish are concentrated near most of the inlets in tight to the weeds. This doesn't just include the usual places like Mcgee, Hilton, Crooked and The Owens. There are springs all over this lake and if you put in the time you'll find a couple that the fish are hanging near. Some days the fish are eating the perch fry, some days they aren't. Mostly getting grabs on larva patterns close to the bottom til about 9:30, then they start looking up a little bit and will eat pupa about a foot to two feet off the bottom. I've also been having to move out a little deeper when the bite slows down around 11. Seems to go til about 12:30-1 and after that I don't know, I haven't been out there in the evenings at all this season. Fishing mostly in 10-13ft of water, but I did find some fish in 18-22ft back in Crooked. Honestly, I've been experimenting with a lot of new patterns, but I keep returning to the usual suspects after trying them unsuccessfully. The bad news is I pumped a fish that had some daphnia mixed in with the midges. I'm not seeing any suspended fish, but there are clouds of them just outside the weeds in the North Arm. Didn't seem to affect much the last couple of days but it's always in the back of my mind.

 


Fish Mammoth Guides Services is located in Mammoth Lakes, CA (Mono County). Fishing Guide, Jim Elias, can take you fishing on Crowley Lake, Upper Owens, Lower Owens and East Walker River. To book your guided fishing trip with Jim Elias please all him at (760) 582-2195 and for more information please visit his WEBSITE..