Jim Stimson reports on 9.16.2015

A breath of fresh air, finally. After 6 weeks of smokey skies, a small front blew into the Eastern Sierra, dropped nearly an inch of rain in Mammoth Lakes, and dusted the high peaks with snow. The smoke is gone. The temperatures have dropped dramatically and the canyons are putting on their autumn cloaks of color. The aspens are beginning to turn yellow, orange, and...

Jim Stimson Reports on 9.9.2015

The dust is starting to settle along the Eastern Sierra. With Labor Day behind us, we will ease into the shoulder season for tourism. This is a great time of year to fish. The mornings are cool, the afternoon temperatures feel nice, and the trout are becoming more active. If you enjoy the warm colors of autumn, bring your fly fishing enthusiasm and camera gear, you...

Jim Stimson Reports on 9.3.2015

September….. the aspens are starting to turn color, the alpine grasses, huckleberry and willow are looking very fall-like as they get cloaked in ambers, reds, and purples. Autumn is just around the corner. If we get through Labor Day weekend without a local fire, we can breathe a sigh of relief. A smokey haze continues to hang over the Eastern Sierra from the Rough...

Jim Stimson Reports on 8.26.2015

August is winding down and the cool days of September are nearly upon us. If we can squeak into Labor Day Weekend without a local forest fire I will breathe a hugh sigh of relief. That said, the rest of California seems to be on fire. The Eastern Sierra is getting choked with smoke blowing over the crest from the westside, in particular the Rough Fire. Send well...

Jim Stimson reports on 8.13.15

We are just starting to turn the corner on August. The nights are dipping into the upper 30’s-low 40’s, the water is cooling off, and the trout are starting to come out of their summer daze. Just a few more weeks, then the thermometer will start to drop steadily throughout the day as well. The trout enjoy the cool water and will start becoming more active. We are...

Jim Stimson Reports on 8.6.2015

It is August now. The nights are starting to cool off and we have had a fairly wet summer with an abundance of thunderstorms and welcome rain. Just a few more weeks, then the thermometer will start to drop steadily. The trout will enjoy the cool water and the fire danger will go away. Be careful out there…..
Try fishing the backcountry for a change. I prefer...

Jim Stimson Reports on 07.30.2015

It is almost August now. The nights are starting to cool off and we have had a fairly wet summer with an abundance of thunderstorms and welcome rain. Nothing to offset the four years of drought mind you, but any moisture is a relief. The backcountry has exploded with wildflowers and the lower streams in the valleys are maintaining healthy ecosystems with the cool,...

Jim Stimson reports on 7.23.15

The lazy daze of summer are upon us. The fishing is enjoyable with warm afternoons spent wandering along the river banks looking for rising trout. Nights are crisp and crystal clear with sleeping bags laid out under a canopy of stars. Get out there, life is short.

San Joaquin

The road to Devil’s Postpile is open. If you enjoy fishing in a pristine wilderness...

Jim Stimson reports on 7.15.15

The thunderstorms and weather instability have cleared out for now and we are fishing under a dome of blue skies. Bring sunscreen, shorts, and flip flops. Enjoy.

San Joaquin

The road to Devil’s Postpile is open. If you enjoy fishing in a pristine wilderness setting, then the San Joaquin is for you. There will be clusters of visitors heading to Rainbow Falls or...

Jim Stimson Reports on 7.8.15

Thunderstorms, dramatic skies, and intense pockets of rain have been gracing the Sierra the past week. It looks like an additional week of showers until the weather begins to dry out. Beware of the afternoon buildup and the charged air. Remember that your fly rod not only catches fish but also conducts electricity, especially if you are standing in water. Storm cells...