Fishing Conditions in 2023 in the Eastern Sierra may present several opportunities that we haven’t seen in quite some time. Due to the record snowpack throughout the Sierra, the meltdown runoff will be probably going long into July and possibly August. Upper elevation lakes should be full with most creeks running at full flows offering some great opportunities for late season trout fishing. One lake that will benefit from the higher water levels will be Lake Crowley. Another perk from the cold snow meltoff is lower water temperatures this summer making the fishing possibly a little better too.
Lake Crowley has always been a popular destination for anglers. It has a large full-service marina of 90 rental boats and 200 private boats slips. There are rental cabins, full hook-up RV Sites, dry camping sites, a tackle shop, and Pelican Point Grill. The tackle shop carries most fishing items, camping odds and ends as well as snacks and beverages.
The lake is approximately 12 miles in length and five miles at its widest. There is ample elbow room at this lake to accommodate a large number of fishermen as in years past, this was the number one place to fish on opening weekend. Rainbow trout is the number one sought after prey but there are Cutthroat and Brown trout along with Sacramento perch here for the offering. The average water depth ranges from 10 feet to its deepest point of 100 feet.
Trolling for trout is an option for many, as water depths range between 10 to 40 feet in most parts of the lake. Lead-core line doesn’t need to be used but it may be to your advantage to fish the brown trout that tend to swim in deeper waters. Several choices for trolling lures would be Thomas Bouyants in the frog pattern, silver rainbow, and the gold/red dot. Hard bait selection choices such as Rapala Countdowns in the Gold/Black, Rainbow patterns and Berkley Flicker Minnows are popular lures. Berkley Flicker shads in Perch(green) and hot pink also can be used.
Mini jigs in the 1/16th oz. In perch (green), rainbow sparkle, browns, and pearl white colors fished on 4 lb. test can get feisty rainbows to bite both on the cast and sink method or vertically jigging. Using a fishfinder to locate schooling fish is generally a good practice especially when trying to jig for trout. One item worth mentioning is that during the hotter months, this lake can have a heavy growth of vegetation that can hamper trolling in several areas of the lake. Keep a watchful eye out when trolling inshore areas to avoid snagging vegetation.
For flyfishermen the North Arm is a common destination. When the temperatures drop in the fall, fishing generally gets better, especially as water temps fall to the low sixties. Late September and October are prime times for fishing up here.
Lake Crowley has several regulations that take effect on August 1st in which no bait or scent may be used, only 2 trout may be taken and they must be a minimum 18” in length.
Flyfishing is a very popular option at this lake and there are several fly-fishing guide services that cater to this lake. Fishing the mouth of where the Owens River enters the lake can be a long boat ride but maybe worth it during cooler fall months as this is a popular place for the Brown Trout to visit. McGee creek inlet is another popular place to flyfish during the fall months. Several reported flies that are effective at Crowley are: Adams Dry Fly , Pale Morning Dun, Gilly Broken Back, Elk Hair Caddis, Olive Matuka,Wet Flies/Nymphs - BH Pheasant Tail Nymph, BH Prince Nymph, Zebra Midge Black, Barr's Emerger Nymph. Streamers - Wooly Bugger Black (size #8 x 2), Wooly Bugger Olive (size #8 x 2). Recommended fly rods are 9-foot 5wt or 6wt rods. A floating line with a tapered 9-foot leader for dry flies and nymphs should be considered standard fare. Use a 3X or 5X tippet depending on fly selection. The tackle shop can assist flyfishing anglers with what flies are working and areas that have been producing of late.
Float tubing is allowed but be aware that this lake can have strong winds that can make float tubing a risky affair and tubers should always be wearing a PFD out on the lake. Using a tri-claw folding anchor might be considered a wise investment to keep from constantly kicking with swim fins and tiring yourself out on windy days on the water.
The Sacramento Perch limit is 25 per person. Perch hot spots have been McGee Bay, Alligator Point, Chalk Cliffs and the North Landing areas. Springtime spawn starts usually near Memorial day and the fish move close to shore in depths ranging to 10 feet or less. Summer months the perch move to waters between 15 to 25 feet of water for these schooling fish. Using Thomas Bouyants trolled very slowly or cast and retrieve methods can also be used effectively on Perch once a school has been found. Popular places to find Sacramento Perch would be weedy areas where they tend to hide from large predatory fish.
Drift fishing is a popular method for locating perch using 1/16th minijigs and curly tailed grubs in chartreuse, rainbow sparkle, pearl white and brown/black colors are effective. Wind conditions make drift fishing a very effective method in locating perch. Once fish have been located anchoring can be considered and cast and retrieve fishing methods or vertical jigging can be used. These fish are quite tasty and a popular table fare. Lake Crowley should be a prime destination for many Sierra fisherman this season.
