July Conditions

A long overdue update from SFF HQ, the Yosemite Rivers Fly Shop. As many of you may know, after two great water years, we are in the midst of a low water year. The fish, of course, are determined to survive and do a variety of things. They'll hunker down and hide or even move from one region to another if possible. We, the anglers, have to do the same. What we have been both practicing and recommending is fishing cooler areas as well as cooler times of the day. This serves to reduce stressing the fish (and the angler for that matter) during the heat of the day. Pulling a trout through warm water as it offers you a fight can actually harm the fish. Obviously, higher elevation waters are less a worry as they can run nice and cool even during a low water year. Watch the weather and feel free to call the shop for suggestions. Now, a few quick notes pertaining to technique: We are seeing the fish responding to hoppers! This is always fun. We also have noticed a decreased amount of PMD activity from previous years however will comment if this changes. Below is a shot of a hopper-caught trout from the Merced. Click on the image for a cool close up/expanded view. You can see the grasshopper.

Photo: Bernard Yin
Link: http://yosemiterivers.com

Beauty and the Brown

So much summer fun to be had. Here is a small stream brown from the Sequoia/Kings region where we are proud to also be serving. Photo courtesy of Jay Dunkley, one of the newer members of our team. We encourage all to LIKE us on facebook for additional, more spontaneous, updates: http://www.facebook.com/sierraflyfisher. Call us anytime!

Opening Day Kick Off

Hello Everyone,
2011 will be a year when the fish are very happy. When the fish are happy we anglers are happy. Give us a shout for advice or trips during this high-water year. Extra Extra - Sierra Fly Fisher is pleased to formally announce that we have been granted permission by the National Park Service to guide in Kings Canyon and Sequoia. This offers us exciting new territory in the "Secret Yosemite". Much of this region, especially the Kings will provide excellent late season angling. Give us a call at the shop of the guide service if you care to discuss and prepare for a great year in the Sierra Nevada.
Jimmie and the Team
559-683-7664

Warming up for 2011 !!! SFF at Kaweah Club Meeting and Bob Marriot's This Weekend

Dear Friends,

A busy weekend for SFF coming up! Jimmie will be doing a presentation for the Kaweah Fly Fishers club in Visalia, CA on Friday (See: http://www.kaweahflyfishers.org/) and Bernard will be representing at Bob Marriot's in Fullerton, CA on Saturday (See: http://www.bobmarriottsflyfishingstore.com/Events.aspx ). We'd love to see you, love to speak with you. Look for exciting new news regarding Sierra Fly Fisher's 2011 agenda.

Cheers!
SFF

A Fall Report

The conditions continue to prove good. In the afternoon sun while casting a hopper over the cool waters, Malcom Tomes, with very little coaching nailed this beautiful bow. It ran all over the place and with deft foot Malcom gave chase as the drag sang. Smiles all around.

The previous day and at a much higher altitude, Elizabeth took to bow and arrow casting like nobody's business. Too much fun!

Oct. 3-4 Update - Wacky Weather and Frisky Fish

The early signs that fall is turning to winter are best interpreted as a sign to drive even that much more carefully and to fish that much MORE! We have had some weather it is true. With this trend, the fish, especially the browns get extra frisky. All that nifty gear that you scored at REI and Adventure 16 etc. is put to good use here. But let's not get too far ahead of ourselves. Despite the precipitation, the temps are strangely tropical in places. Here are some gems from over the past few days.

 

Goldens remain part of the checklist of target species well into. fall. Gary and Jimmie had a successful session for these gems.

 

Staging browns are only getting hotter. Arnie shows off a solid specimen.

Jordan (and nice brown) puts up with Jimmie's instruction on how to pose with a fish.

Fall Trout Camp Events

Mono Hot Springs and Sierra Fly Fisher are pleased to announce Steve Ojai ( See: http://www.flyfishingthesierra.com/) as special guest co-host on the weekend of October 1-3. Steve will be sharing info., wisdom and projecting cool stuff on the restaurant wall every night after dinner.

The following weekend we have Andrew Maurer whose stellar photography has been used for Cal Trout calendars and various fisheries agencies. Andrew will be talking shop and walking the streams, camera in hand. See: http://www.troutstreamdesigns.com

We hope to see you all there. Contact Jeff or Joe at http://monohosprings.com The area has everything from dispersed camping to quaint cabins, all on a geothermal site!

Guided days are, of course, encouraged but not essential. Contact Sierra Fly Fisher at 559-683-7664 if interested.

Enjoy the good weather everyone. It's an Indian Summer for sure.

All Over The Place And Loving It

It's late August and the summer has been busy. We have worked the small streams, the bigger rivers and are also doing a lot of exploring. Guide Rick Mazaira was honored to be part of Paul and Melissa's twenty fifth wedding anniversary celebration. Fly Fishing was part of the agenda. Melissa caught her first fish on the fly no less.

 On another session, Rick had Chris Malin get his stoke on the Merced River. This fish offered an unusually acrobatic fight.

Bernard and Jim brought a band of merry men down to the Kings for a session that mixed hiking, fishing and getting dunked. Looking out for everyone's safety was part of the challenge on this day. The crew was invincible and the before and after shots show that sometimes it's the journey (right?).

Before

After

This trip was into a region of the Kings that we rarely service. With a wet year, it is running well and fishable. Normally it is too low and warm by now. It also includes a hike that may or may not be suitable for everyone. Please inquire if you want more detail.

Don't hesitate to ask about the Fall Trout Camp when we intercept migrating browns.  This starts mid-September and runs until mid October. Call us at 559-683-7664 or pop by the Yosemite Rivers fly shop. Details here: http://yosemiterivers.com/

March and April Browns

The annual March Brown "event" on the Upper Kings has remained true to form: Mysterious yet rewarding.

 Photo: Artin Marootian

The hatch would shift in time and even location but it held enough onto tradition and we got into some action. Between the feeding frenzies we were spoiled by the amazing spring beauty and while smelling some flowers SFF guide Bernard Yin planted his face roughly two feet from a sizable rattler. "I never heard a flower like that!" As he adjusted his focus, he tells us, "All I saw were scales and huge diamonds" (as in Diamondback Rattlesnake). Luckily the only thing bitten were our flies. Pocket water hunting provided fish when the bugs were less active. Mayflies and numerous types of stoneflies were and are the predominant insect at this time. This river is truly an interesting game. What is this all about? We look for good weather but not so hot that the high country slopes start to melt. We then dash in and work hard at finding the hot zones. Upper Kings bows are strong and wild. A foot long fish is average but a few in the "teens" are always sprinkled in. Look at the bend on client Dave's rod...

 Photo: Andrew Maurer

Note that this is the catch and release section of this massive river and also remember that most streams are not open for fishing until the last Saturday in April. Don't be discouraged, just know the regs.

We have been blessed with great photographers. Last year Stephanie Skiff shot a multitude of great shots. Over the last few days we had the honor of guest photographer Andrew Maurer (see: http://www.troutstreamdesigns.com ) in our company.

  Photo: Andrew Maurer

The collective crew be they guides, clients or others crated a wonderful mix and camp every night was a great hang with food and laughter. Some of these shots are a sneak peek at Andrew's stellar work and look out for more photos very soon. We also carry shirts with prints of his photos at the Yosemite Rivers shop in Oakhurst. For those of you in So. Cal. Jimmie and Bernard will be present at The Fishermen's Spot (April 8th) and later at Bob Marriot's (April 10th). More of Andrew's photography, Stephanie's photography and even some exclusive 2010 helicopter footage of the drainage will be showcased. Email us if you want more information or to be on our email list. sierraflyfisher@sti.net Feel free to visit their sites too:http://www.fishermensspot.com/ and http://www.bobmarriottsflyfishingstore.com/
The conversation will be about Yosemite, The Kings, our Fall brown trout camp and mucho mas.

LATE BREAKING NEWS
We had a spike and then a drop in flows so for those of you who fished the river in early April, you may have gotten some good action. As of April 4th-5th, there appears to be a solid spike in flows that may truly indicate the official start of the season's snowmelt. Check in for info. to save yourself a wasted trip.

Contact us if you want to talk trout.
The Sierra Fly Fisher Team

Yosemite Rivers Fly Shop 2010

Happy New Year!
Sierra Fly Fisher is proud to ring in the new year with one of those silly things they call WEBSITES for the shop! We really wanted to keep it old school but ok ok these are modern times right? It's http://yosemiterivers.com. Pop on by the site and by all means pop on by the shop. In fact, be on the alert for fly tying classes. See flyer below.