From cornice to creek

By Chris Leonard

So what’s teleskiing got to do with the fish report? Outside of the relationship of snowpack to water flows and lake water levels, absolutely nothing, but since the Mountain is closing on July 4 this year, some of you fisher-folk may rise early and decide to put in a few final turns before grabbing your rod and tackle boxes and heading from frozen to just plain cold water.

Now, I don’t believe a large number of anglers teleski. Some teleskiers cast flies at the creek, but most are religiously fanatic climbers this time of year. However, this weekend, you can do both. Throwing down some sweet teleturns on the corn snow off Cornice in air temps that easily justify wearing the short-sleeve shirt or bikini top (and maybe pants, ski naked if you please) is certainly an ideal way to celebrate our national birthday.

And if you want to get into teleskiing, the crew at Mammoth Mountaineering Supply can fill you in on the details of learning to teleski if you so aspire. If Urmas is hanging around the Main Lodge Sports School, hit him up for a chairlift or two. I went to a couple of clinics this season with the dude, and he had me teleturning down Wipeout Chute, though it probably wasn’t a pretty sight! Look into his clinics next season if you want to take your first steps towards freeing your heel, or building upon what knowledge and skill you already possess.

As for the fishing, I believe the place to be on the Fourth of July is Silver Lake in the morning and Crowley Lake in the evening, and a stop at Hot Creek along the way. Now THAT is American!

Silver Lake has quite the enjoyable family-oriented barbecue with the horseshoe tossing competition and all in the morning. Hot dogs and hamburgers to have between kicking around in the floattube on the lake. Trollers will want to drag Brown or Rainbow Trout Pattern Rapalas. Red and Gold Thomas Bouyants are also good lures for Silver. As for the fly anglers, stripping a Beadhead Olive Matuka on a sink line is a good call. Work the waters on the far side of the lake. Keep your eyes open for “Sierra Steve.” This trout bum lives in Apple Valley most of the year, but passes summer up on Silver Lake, and he’ll tell you the latest hot spots on the water. Ask for him at the RV Park, the vacationers there will point you out to him. He’s quite the character.

As for Crowley, the bait fishing around Sandy Point and McGee is decent. Dunking worms will get hook ups. Trolling is superb right now, hitting the same two bait-mentioned spots along with Alligator, North Landing, and Big Hilton. Get your lures down to 20 – 25 feet of water. Go with F7/F9 Rapalas. Brook and Rainbow Trout, Silver and Black patterns are all catching the eyes of worthy fish. Taz Devils in Frog, Funky Frog and Brown Trout will work. Fly anglers are into decent midge fishing at Sandy Point. Check the Crowley Lake Fish Camp website for more detailed info on Crowley.

Hot Creek is fishing very well. Caddis are starting to come alive hence you’ll do fine with Yellow Stimis, Elk Hairs, Tent Wings, Parachute Caddis, or any of the other fine Caddis dry flies. Your drift is generally more important than the fly when they are heavily surface feeding. Subsurface action is best with Scuds, Prince Nymphs, San Juans, Micro Midges … the usual suspects for Hot Creek.

So, do some teleturns in the morning, hook a 17-inch brown in the afternoon, and enjoy the Independence Day fireworks at sunset!

A more detailed report can be found at http://kittredgesports.com/fishing_report.php. Leonard guides for Kittredge Sports. Call 760.934.7566.