Flora and Fauna

A day on the Merced yielded trout as well as an interesting observation and reminder: YES the Merced has SCULPIN!

More fresh photos at: Sierra Fly Fisher's Facebook Photo Gallery

Early August Report

Although warm weather and low water continues to have us pick our spots selectively, there is good fishing to be had. Wet wading is a sheer joy as well when the air tems are high. A bunch of new images have been posted at Facebook including shots of guide Bernard Yin on a photo shoot for Xola.com with Mark Lloyd and his three sons. Also just added are shots of a great day out with Jimmie Morales. PMDs on the Merced at dusk have been pure fun.

Late July Report

We are fishing primarily the Kings and Merced drainages with some forays into the Kaweah drainage. Are the fish there? Yes! They are willing depending where you go, when you go and how you fish. This comes as no surprise but let's revisit a few topics. First, allow us to offer some anecdotes with some emphasis on stealth. Although we may not service streams that resemble the Letort of yore, we still find that being sneaky is huge. We have a fun story of making the "hide behind the boulder" strategy key and another funnier story of "Take that bright blue cap off please!" each translating into fish. Lower water is naturally making the fish skittish. Remember, this is a soft form of hunting. Below is a shot of Randy positioning himself behind a rock to fish a good looking piece of water..

Here is Randy's reward for staying stealthy...

Elena used this big boulder to cover her approach ...

Another thought is temperature. Some cooler mornings have had good bites because the water starts the day cool. Then, ironically, because the air temps go up the grasshoppers become active and the smarter trout brave the warming waters to grab a big meal. Interesting math eh? Finally, the good ol' evening hatch does play a role all over and we do see varying degrees of surface activity kick into a higher gear on various parts of the river as the insects get active. A dead drift remains very helpful in enticing a trout. John and Frank fished a shady area in the peak of the day to find willing fish on the Kings....

Finally, after missing a few takes, John tied into a beauty...

For you more experienced and resourceful anglers, let it be known that in general terms, the upper Kings has been running a drop cooler than the Merced with both rivers showing robust PMD activity as well as small caddis. A mysterious flurry of giant golden stone hatches have occurred but we can't find the adults no matter how hard we beat the bushes. This, however, may explain why sometimes a huge stimulator draws a take. The fresh shucks covering boulders; still rich in color and soft to the touch. Eeeeew! See the photo below:

Crazy eh? Small PMDs, caddis and attractor patterns are just fine. If you can handle gnarly terrain, your catch rate will go up but we stress safety. Please be reminded as well that our Oakhurst fly shop is open 7 days a week this year! Details: http://yosemiterivers.com

Closing Day 2011?

Well, as you may or may not know, the general trout closer in California does not apply to everything. Certain stretches of the Merced remain fishable. We had several fun sessions over the last few days and inclement weather did not mean bad fishing; not one bit! Yosemite Valley got a few dustings which left it gorgeous. Shannon snuck away from her friends and celebrated with a quality trout. It was one of several. Chad and Katie snuck away from Bakersfield so that they could sneak up on some fish. Great times. Give us a call and/or at least check the DFG regs carefully please. We remind everyone to also check out our facebook profile for other images and random posts: http://www.facebook.com/sierraflyfisher

Late July + Early August News

We continue to be amazed by how late certain waters are "turning on". Of course we are also starting to find it rewarding. As of late July and even early August we are both witnessing and hearing of rainbows migrating to spawn! This isn't even at high elevations. Bigger waters such as the Kings and Merced have come alive and once you adjust to the higher flows, the fishing is solid. The smaller streams remain strong. Some of them unusually pretty and verdant. Below, Mike and Katherine work an idyllic pool after a long day sampling various Yosemite streams with us.

Bernard and Steve work on a good drift on the Kings River.

Perfecting a bow and arrow cast, Bill nabbed this scrappy Kings River bow.

A high meadow stream alive with color and plants.

An overcast day produced a flurry of browns.

Cole nabbed a solid brookie in the Tuolumne drainage. This fish was latched onto a smaller brookie which he hooked and was determined to not let go. We netted two fish. A rare and bizarre "food chain moment"

Gordon Johnson instructs on the Merced.

Myron nabbed a stout small stream brown while out with Rick Mazaria. See the next picture.

What a crazy fish!

One of the forks of the Tuolumne looking beautiful and fishing well.

This photo is a delight. One leaves the heat of the valley and heads for trout city!

Overcast conditions can inspire the fish.

Last but not least, champion angler Victor Gonzalez from Spain had a day out with Bernard and fish had no chance.

Early July News

At long last the higher water has abated such that the fishing has picked up substantially. For those who really need the "science", the mix of elevation, which direction a drainage is facing and the food sources have all played important roles. Smaller streams remain the prime game but what has been entertaining has been that at higher-than-average flows, they fish more like little rivers. The fish have had enough of this and are on the feed like crazy. They give us a good game and both novice and hot-shot alike can have a fun time. Proper hatches remain spotty but tiny yellow sallies abound. Random hoppers are making a show and the fish seem to know that it's time. A tiny hopper can do the trick such as a size 10 or 12. The standard Elk Hair Caddis or Parachute Adams on the dry side remain very effective while a bead-head anything is always a safe bet. These are the Sierra Nevadas; not rocket science (enter canned laughter). It won't be long before the larger waters also become more fishable and we anticipate strong, fresh and hungry fish. For now, they are better for rafters. Call us at the shop Wednesdays-Sundays at: 559-641-7788 for some quality banter and/or holler our way via out booking line at: 559-683-7664. Look for more photos soon at our facebook profile too: http://www.facebook.com/sierraflyfisher. Finally, brace yourself for a bunch of Sequoia/Kings updates as we get active in that region. Below, Emily Grant and her family had a ball on one of our local streams. They were staying at The Redwoods near Wawona.

Early June News

We have been getting a lot of inquiries about the current runoff conditions. There is no question that there is an insane amount of water melting off in the high country. Yosemite Valley is unusually verdant and the waterfalls are roaring. Check the online gauges, call the park service, check the kayaker boards! Despite this, we have had successful days on smaller streams and are seeing the fishing improve daily. The insect activity is also kicking into a higher gear. Small yellow stones (16s), varied caddis (14-18), some various smaller mayflies and numerous terrestrials are making the fish have a reason to wake up. On a recent guide day, Bernard and his clients had a blast targeting fish that had become aware of a flurry of larger carpenter ants (winged and huge!). We're talking ants that are roughly the size of a medium sized wasp. We're talking easily size 12s!

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

Fall Trout

Fall has brought some see saws in the weather but provided that you are ready to work and hunt, you can be rewarded. On a recent day out with Bernard, Mike and his son Matt got treated to a run on the Merced where an unusually large bow took Matt here for a ride. See photo below. October caddis activity is very regionalized and can also vary from night to night. Just be ready! We foresee the next few weeks to be excellent fishing and will continue to work until regulations or climate dictate otherwise. Call us for up-to-date info.

 

Dick and Jeanne get the A for effort award. Jeannie landing this fish after gaining a much needed extra few feet on a cast to a good seam. Dick persisted with stellar form and tangled at the 11th hour with a fish we couldn't stop.

 

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!

Wacky Weather and Frisky Fish Continued

We have been impressed by the number of folks braving the elements and stopping by the shop. A few things come to mind. For starters, this front will pass soon and fall will really feel like fall. This means great angling. This bow was taken recently from the Merced during an "ugly" day...

We are also chompin' at the bit in anticipation for the appearance of the October caddis. Anticipation is also high for a significant spike in "brown trout friskyness" and we couldn't be happier. Browns love fall and they love "weather". This coming weekend we'll have co-host and special guest Andrew Maurer at Mono Hot Springs. For those of you with a soft spot for photography, you may wish to join us for our evening "hang time" at the restaurant there. Andrew's photos speak for themselves. See: http://www.troutstreamdesigns.com/Photos.htm as well as his recent Eastern Sierra. Sample photo below.

Sept. 30 Update

The browns remain strong at Trout Camp if not stronger. Also, using some spare time, Bernard explored a nearby trickle and was caught off guard by this little beast...

Sept. 29 Update

The Merced, is fishing well despite the warm temps. Evenings being prime. The evening mayfly hatch remains impressive while the larger fall caddis are yet to show. Smaller caddises are thick int he shadows. Trout Camp out of Mono Hot Springs is also kicking-into higher gear with browns showing in increasing numbers. See our Fall 2010 gallery on facebook for some fresh photos. Here's a pod of browns hiding from the sun...

We are booking both regions currently. Don't hesitate to call.

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/

Early Summer Yosemite Report

Hello Everyone,
The rivers remain unusually high for this time of the year but the air temps are pleasant to warm and if you hit the edges of the bigger water or smaller streams, the fishing is wonderful. Summer in general should prove to be very solid this year. In the weeks to come, the Merced should be coming down to a workable level. All that said, we are getting busier and busier with fun-seeking clients of all ages from all over. A recent outing with Bernard guiding on a small stream with Chris, Jake and Logan proved nothing short of a riot as they honed their chops on some dry fly action for browns and brookies. Don't be fooled either. These small and beautiful fish were skittish and gave us a quality game. Thanks guys for a truly fun day. Bernard reports that it was excellent therapy after his recent road mishap. Everyone, please check the road conditions online with the park service. Current construction on the 41 (and other park roads) is creating hazards, delays, dusty conditions as well as reducing turnouts. Just be careful. Here's a helpful link: http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/conditions.htm. The waterfalls in Yosemite Valley proper are doing very well and we are finding happy clients who integrate a day on the stream into their Yosemite visit. Smiles all around.

Please stop by our shop for up-to-date fishing news. We are locate on Hwy 41 in Oakhurst. Info. 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