Pleasant Valley Reservoir

Beautiful trout like this wild brown Jeff Hudson caught hold in the plentiful riffle and pocket water found in the river below the powerhouse at PVR.
Photo Credit: Sierra Drifters

by Tom Loe
1-28-2018
Website

Very good bite around the inlet, & short river section below the powerhouse as flows have moved down to a trickle. Dry/dropper rigs are the hot ticket for numbers of smaller trout sipping on midges, & mayflies in the transition section.  Still water addicts can get their fix here all winter. This fishery is planted all winter, & can provide some excellent fly fishing opportunities from a float tube; or near the inlet section that feeds the reservoir proper. Full sinking lines fished along the steep shoreline drop-offs using patterns like Loebergs, Crystal Leeches, Parallel Punk Perch, Parallel Agent Orange, & Spruce-A-Bu’s are good calls for “freeze tubers” during the winter. Locals call PVR “little Crowley” as fly fishers in the know will use still water nymphing techniques to score big numbers during periods of stable water levels. Set your “Under-Cators” to suspend those broken back midges, crystal tiger/zebra midges, gillies, & Assassins around the 12-14 foot depth. The inlet section is historically the most consistent section to fish. This diverse fishery also allows you to move into the short river section that feeds the lake. Looking much like the East Walker, this short; but sweet section has plenty of pocket water and riffles that hold holdover rainbows and browns that move into the heavy brush during periods of lower flows. Dry/dropper rigs using para hi-vis BWO’s, Stimulators, and hi-vis caddis patterns as your upper; with crystal tiger midges, crystal olive caddis larva, & assassins as a nymph. The transition area that dumps into the lake has slower moving/deeper water that requires the use of an Under-Cator, or longer dropper off your dry. This is perhaps the most fertile area of the lake, & competent roll casters can enjoy huge days here while making extended drifts in the foam lines. The trout will concentrate here to feed on the abundant chironomid, & mayfly that come off throughout the cooler months. Keep this fishery in mind if the weather gets nasty in the higher elevations.





More Reports

Sierra Drifters Reports
for Sunday, January 28th, 2018
: Fish’N Conditions
Owens River: Upper Owens River Fish Report
: Middle Owens River
: Hot Creek Report

Tom Loe Reports
for Monday, November 27th, 2017
Owens River - Section 3 - Upper (above Crowley): Upper Owens River 11/27/17
Owens River - Middle: Middle Owens River (Bishop Area) 11/27/17
Hot Creek: Hot Creek 11/27/17
Owens River: The Gorge 11/27/17
East Walker River (CA): East Walker River Fish Report
Crowley Lake: Crowley Lake Fish Report
Bridgeport Reservoir: Bridgeport Reservoir Fish Report
Jurassic Pond (Private): Jurassic Pond Fish Report