Nothing to write home about

Crowley Lake - Mammoth Lakes, CA (Mono County)

Photo Credit: Jim Elias

by Jim Elias
7-15-2022
Website

 

Water Level - 6766.8ft - Water is developing some algae now but not bad - Surface temps near 71 by early afternoon, Bottom temps hovering in the mid to upper 60s

Rod Size: #5-#6 Weights

Tippet Size: 3-4X

Leader: Deep Indicator Rig 15-25ft

Dries: N/A

Nymphs:  Black Zebra #16Gray/Black Midge #16-18Albino Baron Wine #16, White Tiger #16 , Copper Tiger #14-16, Albino Baron Red #16, Red/Black Midge #16, Red/Black Dubbed Head Optimidge #16-18, Gray Dubbed Head Optimidge #16-18, Spiral Red Holographic #16, Albino Baron Spiral Flash #16, Purple/Silver #16, Spiral Flash Grey/Black #16, FMF #16, Rasta Midge #14-16

Streamers: Black Maribou Leech #12, Hornberg #10, Doc's Black #10

 

 

Things seem to have taken a turn for the worst the last couple of days. I was out there yesterday, and after having a good trip a few days before the fish just didn't want to eat. I drove all over the lake looking for cold water and here's what I found. I dropped my digital thermometer all the way to the bottom near Green Banks, and the bottom temp was 68 degrees at 4pm. McGee bay in 34ft was 68 as well, so was Big Hilton. The only place the water seemed to be cooler was out in Christmas Bay at 66 degrees, and you guessed it. That's where the fish are concentrated at the moment. I have absolutely NO idea why the water is cooler there, but the fish aren't eating much. I pumped a couple of fish yesterday suspecting daphnia, and didn't find any in either one. Just a few smaller gray/red midge pupa and nothing else. The fish are varying their depth a little though. I got most of my fish the last week in about 34-38ft of water. Some of my friends ventured into 25ft and managed a few fish, but the bulk of the fish I'm seeing are out in 35ish feet. Can't say I marked ANY fish in the north arm, the Hiltons, or where everyone has been stacked up in McGee the last 2 months. There are fish out in Crooked, but they're in like 45ft of water and I'm not even going to try at this point. Surface temps were up to 71 as of yesterday, so I won't be lifting fish out of the water for pictures (and you shouldn't be either if you have a sliver of respect for these fish) until the temps cool off later in the season. 

 

 


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..


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