Lake Davis Report

I finally took the boat out on Davis for a shakedown cruise and was absolutely amazed by the amount of water in the lake. of the snow is gone from the lake but the westside still looks snowed in and impassable. I only fished for a few hours before the wind forced me off the lake. It was nice launching from the Lightning Tree boat ramp for the first time in YEARS, but the dock has not been installed yet so retrieving in the wind was a pain in the ass. All four launch ramps are usable this year!

On a down note, only one Forest Service campground is open this year,Lightning Tree. Grizzly and Grasshopper are closed for improvements and there is very limited dispersed camping on the west side of the lake. J&J's Grizzly Store has 34 camping sites available for tents and RV's and is less expensive than the Forest Service campgrounds.Check them out!

The water clarity in the north end of the lake is pretty poor at this time with a foot or two of visibility and a color that ranged from chocolate milk to pea soup. There is a lot of water to explore this year and finding fish should be a fun and challenging experience.There were a few blood midges around but not much else at this time. The damsels should start showing up anytime but with the full lake may have a long migration this year. I am hoping for a good hatch but expect it to be about the same as last year...spotty. If they don't show in great numbers don't be too bummed because midging will be outstanding as usual! Blood midge pupa's and Sano's rootbeer midge will catch plenty of fish!

Next up...Frenchman's.

Lake Davis 5-13-10

Got out on the lake with new client Adam and his uncle Mark yesterday for a laughter filled day in the boat.It was Marks' first day fly fishing and by the end of the trip he was casting well and he even got to tangle with a fish!Unfortunately the fish broke him off after a short battle.Adam lost his only hooked fish shortly after the hookset.Each angler had multiple opportunities as fish were taking a #14 bead head PT under a bobber,but getting the fish hooked was challenging on this day.Next time will be better I am sure.All in all it was a great day!As far as wildlife goes,we saw ospreys,a bald eagle,canadian geese,pelicans and lots of other birds.

Water temps were 54 degrees and there were a good amount of blood midges hatching.The lake is way up from last year and it seems as though it will stay higher longer than last year.

Come on up!Let's fish!!

Lake Davis

The rain has returned as of this writing.Looks to be a great water year and the rivers may be prime well into the summer.

Reports are coming in from Lake Davis and it seems as if the veterans who know the lake are averaging between 1-5 fish per outing. Blood midges under an indicator have been producing, but don't be afraid to try PT's and hare's ears as well.A few damsels are starting to show so damsel patterns are worth fishing. Olive,cinnamon,and black buggers as well as wiggle tails are all productive flies stripped in on an intermediate line.My personal favorite, the Sheeps Creek Special,is always the first fly I fish because it catches fish like no other.Give it a shot,you may like it!!

Please leave the false spawners in the backs of the coves alone to do their thing. It is a bad habit for fishers to target actively spawning fish in any lake or river.Please leave these fish alone!!

In closing,come on up and enjoy the beautiful Sierra Valley and Lake Davis!!

Wind and Rain

Another powerful storm is plowing into the Northern Sierra's this morning with very strong winds and heavy rain.We need the rain but I could do without the wind!

The general trout season opened on Saturday,but due to some familial issues I was unable to fish.My thoughts on this coming season are that the streams and rivers will fish well into late summer before succumbing to warm and low water conditions.Runoff is starting in earnest and will take the rivers out of shape for at least 2-3 weeks.I am looking forward to the Grey Drake hatch on the streams here in the Sierra Valley and the blood midge hatch on Lake Davis.

As of this writing the ice has come off of Davis and it is fishing pretty well for false spawners in the inlets,if that is your game.Fish are also being found along the eastern shore.Small buggers,sheeps creeks,wiggle tails and green hornets are producing fish.Midges and PT's under an indicator are also producing quality fish in the 16-18" range.Lake levels are fairly low as of today but that will change as snowmelt fills the lake.

The Lakes Basin is covered in a thick blanket of snow and will be a while before the lakes are accessible for fly fishers.The Middle Fork of the Feather is high and cold but fish can be found in the upper reaches above Portola.As the water warms with the weather look for carp tailing in the shallows or sucking bugs near the weedbeds.Largemouth bass will be eating poppers on the surface and other large offerings in the weeds near the lilly pads.

I am looking forward to warmer weather and great fishing!See you all on the water!!