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Hot-Bites Fishing Report By the Fish Sniffer Staff	August 11, 2008 Updated Regularly

JUNE LAKE/WEST WALKER RIVER TROUT... Trout fishing is going strong for both fly and conventional tackle anglers in the Eastern Sierra Nevada. Every major water in the region has been planted and some lakes have been planted heavily. While there are plenty of trout to be caught, gas prices and other factors have combined to keep crowds exceptionally light for this time of the year.

According to the Mammoth Chamber of Commerce, June Lake has been pretty good on the marina side of the lake. Anglers are experiencing the best luck while slow trolling large baitfish imitating streamer flies.

At Silver Lake the trout fishing has been quite productive. The best area has been the outer edge of the weed line in the southwest corner of the lake. In that area anglers fishing with bait or slowly stripping nymphs are enjoying very good action.

Grant Lake is kicking out plenty of fish. The inlet area has been particularly productive for anglers stripping heavily hackled black or purple woolly Buggers.

“Bridgeport Lake has been off the hook,” exclaimed Jim Reid of Ken’s Sporting Goods. “Fly fishing has really picked up with damsel, callibaetis and small minnow patterns doing the best. The midge action has been off, but the other patterns are certainly making up for it. Dainty damsels, floss damsels, Rickards Callibaetis and mirrored minnows are all doing well, mostly fished off an indicator, but slow stripping has also been effective. The bait anglers are also nailing big numbers of trout. We are getting lots of reports of 15 to 40 fish per boat out there with crawlers and Power Bait, it’s really been good.”

“Virginia Lakes are also doing great, streamers, beetles, soft hackles, ants, Stillwater nymphs for the fly anglers and Gulp eggs and crawlers for the bait fishermen,” said Reid.

“The West Walker River is really fishing well these days also, lots of fish in the deeper pools, sometimes you have to search out some water that hasn’t been hit too hard, but when you find some fish they’re usually pretty hungry. Dry flies are doing great, hoppers, stimulators, caddis and the like are good, as well as “hopper/dropper” rigs with a hopper or other large dry pattern and an emerger or nymph pattern dropped off the back. Eggs and crawlers are doing well for the spin anglers,” added Reid.

According to Gary Gunsolley at Brock’s Sporting Goods, the Lower Owens if flowing at a brisk 350 cfs. The river is fishable, but Gunsolley confided that fishing during the middle of the day is pretty much a waste of time. During the evening there has been some pretty good dry fly action on the river for anglers working size 16 and 18 elk hair caddis.

The Owens River Gorge is booting out big numbers of trout for anglers working a variety of small dry flies, while the upper river is providing very good action for nymphers employing size 16 and 18 flies.

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Area Fishing Maps Bass Lake Beardsley Lake

Pinecrest Lake Pine Flat Lake Twin Lakes

Most of the fishing in this area is accessed from the east side of the Sierras. In the Bishop area you might want to check out Lake Sabrina. Although regularly stocked, there are some old lunkers to be had. The area receives pressure from the southern Californians so you will find many of the rivers and streams are stocked frequently. For the adventurous, the area offers wilderness areas full of lakes and streams. Sorry you have to walk in. In the Bridgeport area the East Walker River offers brown trout to 10 lbs. for fly and spin fishermen. Upper Twin Lake has kokanee and some large trout. Other places to look into are Crowley Lake, Mammoth Lakes, June Lake, Convict Lake and Rock Creek Lake. All offer a variety of vacation and fishing options.