Some "Hogs" are being taken at Lake Crowley

Crowley Lake - Mammoth Lakes, CA (Mono County)


by Tom Loe
9-16-2012
Website

The algae situation has improved just recently and water conditions in the north arm of the lake are good. The bulk of the fish have "gone around the Horn" at Sandy and have begun staging in the Green Banks area making the move from McGee Bay last week. There are still decent numbers of fish in McGee, however it is far more consistent with better water quality from Sandy Pt., Six Bays, Layton Springs to the UO's inlet.

Tubers are doing well fast trolling & casting perch fry or damsel nymph imitations along what is left of the weed lines. The lake is very low and will continue to drop steadily eradicating what is left of the aquatic weeds soon. There is still a good chironomid bite at times while still water nymphing; however it can become down right dead when the fish decide to target on the larger prey, or the midges do not emerge in significant numbers. Stick to an emerger or Gillie as the upper, tigers and zebras as the lower- with broken backs doing well with some texture on the water. You will find fish in very short water; as little as 3 feet during the morning, and out to 9 feet as the sun gets higher. Please use soft mesh or rubber nets, the alkalinity is exceptionally high this year due to the poor influx of fresh water, and it is crucial to keep the slime on the fish or they will get severe "strawberry" pox which is becoming prevalent in many rainbows and browns that have been in the lake for two or more seasons. Stiff nylon nets and belly boat aprons are not good for preventing the protective slime from being removed during hook removal or a release. Pinch those barbs down, its a regulation currently.The algae situation has improved just recently and water conditions in the north arm of the lake are good. The bulk of the fish have "gone around the Horn" at Sandy and have begun staging in the Green Banks area making the move from McGee Bay last week. There are still decent numbers of fish in McGee, however it is far more consistent with better water quality from Sandy Pt., Six Bays, Layton Springs to the UO's inlet. Tubers are doing well fast trolling & casting perch fry or damsel nymph imitations along what is left of the weed lines. The lake is very low and will continue to drop steadily eradicating what is left of the aquatic weeds soon. There is still a good chironomid bite at times while still water nymphing; however it can become down right dead when the fish decide to target on the larger prey, or the midges do not emerge in significant numbers. Stick to an emerger or Gillie as the upper, tigers and zebras as the lower- with broken backs doing well with some texture on the water. You will find fish in very short water; as little as 3 feet during the morning, and out to 9 feet as the sun gets higher. Please use soft mesh or rubber nets, the alkalinity is exceptionally high this year due to the poor influx of fresh water, and it is crucial to keep the slime on the fish or they will get severe "strawberry" pox which is becoming prevalent in many rainbows and browns that have been in the lake for two or more seasons. Stiff nylon nets and belly boat aprons are not good for preventing the protective slime from being removed during hook removal or a release. Pinch those barbs down, its a regulation currently.The algae situation has improved just recently and water conditions in the north arm of the lake are good. The bulk of the fish have "gone around the Horn" at Sandy and have begun staging in the Green Banks area making the move from McGee Bay last week. There are still decent numbers of fish in McGee, however it is far more consistent with better water quality from Sandy Pt., Six Bays, Layton Springs to the UO's inlet. Tubers are doing well fast trolling & casting perch fry or damsel nymph imitations along what is left of the weed lines. The lake is very low and will continue to drop steadily eradicating what is left of the aquatic weeds soon. There is still a good chironomid bite at times while still water nymphing; however it can become down right dead when the fish decide to target on the larger prey, or the midges do not emerge in significant numbers. Stick to an emerger or Gillie as the upper, tigers and zebras as the lower- with broken backs doing well with some texture on the water. You will find fish in very short water; as little as 3 feet during the morning, and out to 9 feet as the sun gets higher. Please use soft mesh or rubber nets, the alkalinity is exceptionally high this year due to the poor influx of fresh water, and it is crucial to keep the slime on the fish or they will get severe "strawberry" pox which is becoming prevalent in many rainbows and browns that have been in the lake for two or more seasons. Stiff nylon nets and belly boat aprons are not good for preventing the protective slime from being removed during hook removal or a release. Pinch those barbs down, its a regulation currently.

Photos:
Main Photo Above:Mammoth local Don Stanley got a fat brown on Crowley
Photo #1:John Diaz, another local who knows Crowley is hot also got a nice brownie recently
Photo #2:Bill Chien loves pulling streamers and you can see why! He booked a combo tube/fish magnet trip and did well. This fish is a pig, nice Bill!
Photo #3:Bill got this one from our "fish magnet"
Photo #4:Sterling Newton with a fattie from McGee, copper tiger #18 did the deed
Photo #5:Bobby Burke showing off a thick bodied bow
Photo #6:NINETY years of experience and still spanking them. Jack Stalder with a nice brownie
Photo #7:First timer Rufus Ethington absolutely put on a clinic in McGee Bay and took all the titles for the Dave Arias group. Super fun day guys, thanks again! Way to go Rufus, you da fly man!!!
Photo #8:This kid can fish. Brayden Fleming with a nice one, way to go Bray!
Photo #9:JR. showing off a trophy brown. Way to stick those downs JR!
Photo #10:Steve Gold hit a bunch of nice rainbows like this one recently on Crowley
Photo #11:Former SDFF president Art Reifman hit a high percentage of his grabs on a slow day on Crowley and got this nice brown for his efforts






8-21-2012
The afternoon thunderstorms continue to roll through the region bringing some significant rain to the upper elevations. A couple...... Read More