Owens Valley Warmwater

Average Water Temp- 69*F+- Weather

Bass-

Its going to be hot this week, we’re talking 103-105*F!!

Bass don’t like the heat either and like us they will seek comfort in cooler places. They will be more active in the lowlight periods like at dawn and dusk. The action may not begin until the sun goes down or could shut off as soon as it rises. During the day, they will move to their ambush points where it is cooler. Deeper water, shade and cover offer refuge and like trout, a bass will prefer places that offer food and cover.

They are more apt to take the faster retrieves of streamers and balanced leeches early and late but midday you will have to slow it down and coax them out.

Flies-

Balanced Leech #4-6, Boss Bob Leech #4-6, Coonsy’s Dragon Craw #1-1/0, Low Fat Minnow ( Weedless Bluegill) #6-8, Weedless Worm #2-4, Clouser Minnows #2-6

Twerking Tadpole #1/0, Foam Hopper Variations #4-6, Baby Bass Popper #2-4, Elviras Cicada #4-6

CARP

The flats are just about accessible. We used to be able to get out midspring and get after them but these past few years it has been too full to access early. Tinnemeha Reservoir has been dropping and water levels are about a week away from being optimum. Metabolisms are up and they are feeding hard but you just cant see them yet due to the depth. Much of the shore access has been choked off by tules so it can require a long hike through chest deep water to find fish. I don’t recommend this unless you are very physically abled. If you fall, your head will surely be underwater while you try and struggle back to your feet!!

They are feeding all throughout the column which is tricky. A fly that gets to the bottom quickly, will spook a fish feeding on top of the weeds. So, either pick the area you want to target fish, or select a fly that can do all jobs. There is a tremendous amount of food available to them right now and if they seem indifferent to your fly, it may not be you. They can be lazy. I had one fish swat at my fly 5 times and never get it. It would see it, get excited and charge it, but when it swatted at the fly, it did it with the grace and accuracy of the village drunkard. Carp aren’t always the precise killing machines we label them, if you’re putting flies past them and not spooking them, you are doing a good job.

Guide Tip- Keep your eyes peeled for them feeding on Trico spinners, we’ve seen some huge mating clouds!!

Flies-

Carp Coachman #6-8, Primordial Carp Stew #6-8, Bomber Jacket #6, Backstabber #8-12, Sparkle Pupa #8-10, Hares Ear #10-12, Coonsy’s Carp Damsel #10-12, Bugger Variations #10-6, Griffith’s Gnat Cluster #10-12, Trico Spinner Cluster #10-12