The algae has sunk in Lake Crowley & fishing for BIG fish is excellent!

Crowley Lake - Mammoth Lakes, CA (Mono County)


by The Trout Fitter Staff
7-20-2012
Website

Water Conditions: The lake is down to below mid-level and continuing to drop. Water temps on the bottom are getting way up there and over ideal 57 F about everywhere except in front of tribs.
The last few days of hot weather finished off the algae in McGee and it has sunk and we are back to essentially clear water there and decent over the entire lake save the Marina where it is still swampy.

Fishing Conditions and Hatches: Excellent there are still some fish stuck in the north arm but there has been another mass migration of BIG fish into McGee Bay.
Due to so many weeds right in the channel this year there is no real concentration along the channel as in most years and the fish are spread out all over in 8-11 ft of water outside the weeds. The big fish chase the little ones out so it is almost all big fish. Yesterday Chad and I fished and it was 7 Rainbows from 18 to 22 and one 16" Brown in 3 hours before the blow. Today the wind held off and clients managed a little better catch rate per hour and the same mix of Bows and Browns plus a couple of real hogs.

If you want to buck the weeds, go inside and strip in the tube - you will be rewarded. The big fish are chasing Tui Chub fry up from the bottom and whacking them on the surface.

Recommended Flies:

Dries:
Not enough Calibaetis to bother.

Nymphs: Dubbed-head Black Optimidge w/Green Flashback #16, Copper Tiger Small, Blood worms , bright red or Albino Baron early then darker ( Red Baron) later when sun is overhead. Try Ultimate Damsel, purple leeech or Bird's Nest up top.

Streamers: Big black streamers and trailers like Bird's nest to imitate the Tui Chub fry which the big fish are chasing in and around weed beds.

Guides Hint: Don't forget to give it a twitch once in a while - the wiser old fish need to see it move sometimes.