07/09/2026
Greetings from the California Eastern Sierra "Crown Jewel" better known as Crowley Lake, the Trophy Trout fishery. I got back to my fly fishing headquarters here at the Crowley Lake Fish Camp a week ago and was busy getting my campo together, reaquainting with very special Crowley friends, celebrating the 4th and getting some fly fishing time on the water in between. Eventually this past week I had to make time and slow down to rest and recharge the battery.
Here is the current waterscape status on the lake. There has been an algae bloom the entire week I've been here. It is very thick in many zones on the lake. I have been to all areas on the lake and the worst four days ago was the North Arm. It was not fishable. Most angler presence has been from McGee Bay to Crooked Creek and the Hilton bays. Even in these fishing zones the algae can roll in and clog the surface. We just completed a full moon cycle and the barometer is rising with hotter days in the forecast.
Up until today the winds have kicked up significantly like clockwork right at 11 am causing boats to head back to the docks. Today was the first day you could stay out and fish beyond the noon time hour.
The fish bite has been slow. You can fish in the shallows, mid water levels and in deeper water up to 25 feet which I do not care to do if not necessary. I've got a good feeling that any day now or at any hour the trout bite will start to turn on and we'll get that annual trout ascension into McGee Bay.
The surface water temps are in the high 60's and I expect the algae bloom to clear up within the next couple of weeks. There is some trout rising/chasing to surface eating activity. The lake is live with perch fry, damsel nymps and an occasional callibaetis so these imitation patterns should be on your rig presentations in addition to the time tested midge patterns.
I am booking requested guide trip date's through the end of October so if you want to come to Crowley this season reach out sooner than later as August dates are already being secured and booked.
I will continue to provide fish reports as we move along this season. Check out pics of recon this week and my first guide trip this 2026 season.
