The epic days have passed, however the "catching" remains good during the warmer weather cycles with more large fish showing each float.?? Flows are holding a tad over 100cfs with the water temps dipping into the low forties and upper thirties after the passing cold fronts.??

Nymphing is the best method of angling in the wild trout section using midge patterns in the #18-20 range.?? You may still see a few baetis mayflies (BWO) emerging in the late afternoon periods but I would not bank on it for the next sixty days.??

The drift boat sections are fishing best casting streamers and "strymphs" using the dip and strip technique with moderate sinking tip lines.?? Spruce-a-Bu's, Loebergs, and Vanderleeches #8-12 are all getting grabs.??

Craig "the heron" Holmes made a perfect cast into a deep, dark hole that had Brownzilla written all over it.?? His presentation was, as usual seductive and precise.?? The "heron" is on the Lower Owens most hated trout list and is a long time Sierra Drifter.?? The take was strong and Homey realized this was no average fish!?? Homey looked over his shoulder and told me to get the net out baby, this is a webfish!?? I agreed and could not wait to see this monster brown.?? The battle waged for over ten minutes before we saw some deep color.?? The yellow tint confirmed it was a not a rainbow.?? The giant gold fish was not foul hooked but had indeed engulfed the Punk Perch.?? Sometimes you are the windshield, sometimes the bug!?? Right size, wrong model!??

Although not Brownzilla, Steve (the weasel) Weasel from Florida did get a nice brown on the same drift and on several occasions reminded the Heron what they looked like!?? I am still sore from laughing on this one guys.?? Happy New Year!

Some things never change.?? Buz Brown can attest to this.?? The father and daughter team fly fished for the first time on a drift boat trip with us and Abigail got the big fish once again.?? Buz had a big smile as I took the picture.?? Way to go Ab!

Aaron Britton took a drift with "Two Bug" Doug Dolan and schooled a really nice rainbow using the dip and strip recently.?? Way to pull that one up the chimney Aaron.?? Early X-mas present from trout-a-claus for sure!

Talk about being a quick study.?? Justin Karr may be the drift boat/dip and strip rookie of the year.?? Veteran Sierra Drifter Chris Aldritt had all he could do to stay even with JK on this drift.?? I must say Chris did very well despite using the "rubber" hook that he discovered was tied on after lunch!?? These guys had big numbers on their float.?? Hope those hand cramps went away guys?Ķ