BY ERNIE COWAN
BRIDGEPORT—A tragedy in the form of a massive fish kill has struck the prime waters of the East Walker River flowing out of Bridgeport Reservoir.
The late summer event is not uncommon, but for unknown reasons at this point, the die off this year was much larger than normal.
Warm summer temperatures create layers of water at different temperatures that prevent mixing and an oxygen exchange. The result is a die off of algae and weeds producing a toxic combination that kills fish.
When this toxic soup flowed from the reservoir into the river, the result was the massive fish die off.
Many feel this is a result of the combination of high-water levels in the reservoir and an unusually warm summer that stimulated growth in the lake.
Jim Reid at Ken’s Sporting Goods first sounded the alarm last week.
“It sounds like the reservoir is in the process of ‘turning over’ and this created a huge amount of carbon dioxide from the decaying weeds and as the carbon dioxide pushed through the dam at the “Big Hole” it caused a significant fish kill,” Reid said.
Anglers began reporting hundreds, if not thousands of fish of all species floating dead along the “Miracle Mile,” below the dam.
Rick Gieser, at Ken’s, has been on the waters of Bridgeport for 45 years and this was the largest die off he has seen.
“Usually it’s a few smaller trout, and perch, but I have never seen it like this,” Gieser said.
Both Ken’s Sporting Goods and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife have asked anglers to stay off the East Walker River for the rest of the season.
“Normally it takes a few weeks to recover from this annual event, but we lost a lot of 8- to 9-pound fish and it’s going to take longer this time,” Gieser said.
In a short statement released by DFW, it indicated an investigation is underway to determine the cause and extent of the die off.
“CDFW staff from Bishop, investigated the event Monday and confirmed that the East Walker River did not contain enough dissolved oxygen to support fish life for the first two miles below the dam and found dead fish as far as four miles below the dam,” the statement said.
Further investigation will hopefully identify why the annual event was so intense this year.
Ken Hoffman, a Bridgeport Reservoir fishing guide and Bridgeport Fish Enhancement Foundation Board Member, said his group is committed to stocking browns.
“We will continue to stock brown trout in the East and West Walker rivers, as well as Bridgeport Reservoir as they are available and permitted by CDFW,” he said.
Gieser at Ken’s said it did not appear that the die off had any significant impact in Bridgeport Reservoir.
“I think the wind pushed everything up to the dam and that’s where we had the biggest problem. The reservoir seems to be okay,” he said.
While the die off is not good news, it is a localized event and should not impact the overall trout fishing as the Eastern Sierra moves into the fall season, considered by many veteran anglers to be prime time.
So, lake take the tour along the Eastern Sierra front to check on conditions from Lone Pine to Bridgeport.
Bishop area and south—Daytime temperatures on the Lower Owens from Bridgeport south are still unbearable. This means the water is also too hot for trout and they are stressed. Anglers are advised to stay off this section, or focus on bass and catfish, until things cool off. Anglers are reporting that the top water bass action has been good.
Higher elevations are the place to be, where chilly nights are keeping water temperatures cooler. They even had a dusting of snow last weekend and that should help bump fish into their fall feeding frenzy.
Waters in Bishop Creek Canyon, including South Lake, Lake Sabrina and forks of Bishop Creek were stocked last week by DFW and there also plenty of trophy stocked for the Labor Day weekend.
Anglers heading out from the trail from South Lake are also doing well for wild trout on the lakes at higher elevations.
North Lake remains active for both rainbows from shore with bait and small lures, and wild brookies, especially from a float tube drifting near the inlet.
Mammoth Lakes area—Rock Creek Lake holds lots of Desert Springs Hatchery trophy rainbows, but anglers should seek deeper water where fish are holding to get away from summer temperatures. The drop-off near the inlet is a prime location, especially late in the day after the shadows cover the water in that area.
The annual Ambush at the Lake Derby is underway at Convict Lake, and 600 pounds of trophy fish and 700 pounds of DFW rainbows were stocked last week. The derby continues until Nov. 15 and if you catch one fish over 14 inches to be eligible for the prize drawing. Entry fee is $16.
Lisa Cornwell at Convict said traditional baits and lures are working well, but fish are hanging out in the cooler deep water. Mornings and evenings have been the most productive times.
Water levels at Crowley Lake are now dropping more rapidly and once you find the fish; the bite has been very good.
With slowed runoff, water temperatures are still rising, so that means fish have moved into deeper water.
Guides from The Trout Fitter in Mammoth say McGee Bay has picked up, but to concentrate on any stream inlet for better results. Hilton Bay is holding a lot of smaller fish.
Mammoth Lake was also hit by snow last week, but that means fish will be more active as water temperatures cool and fishing pressure drops after Labor Day.
Mammoth Basin lakes are well stocked with both DFW and trophy rainbows from Idaho or Oregon, and an early dusting of snow hit the area last weekend. This means as the crowds diminish after Labor Day there will be much less angling pressure. With temperatures cooling, the aggressive fall bite is about to begin.
June Lake Loop-Lee Vining—Waters in the June Lake Loop always come alive as fall weather approaches. That has already seemed to start at Grant Lake, where Tony Hallum at Grant Lake Resort is reporting good numbers of 3- to 4-pound browns being caught with trolled Rapala.
So far, the browns have not started to move up into Rush Creek to spawn, but they might be staging at the back end of the lake. Check in with Hallum at the landing for the latest if you are planning to fish Grant.
June, Gull and Silver lakes are well stocked with trophy and DFW fish and anglers are reporting limits, especially when fishing early and late. The season for fishing on Rush Creek will close on Sept. 30.
Higher elevation waters above Lee Vining are well stock and fish are feeding the cooler water, Tioga and Ellery lakes have produced some larger fish, and a few nice browns have been caught at Ellery.
WON has had no update from Saddlebag Lake regarding operation of the shuttle across the lake to the Hoover Wilderness Trailhead, but if operating, that service typically ends after Labor Day.
Good reports continue to come in from Lundy Lake where the water level remains high and both trophy rainbows and DFW fish have been stocked.
Virginia Lakes, Bridgeport area—Cooler temperatures, even snow, kept things interesting at Virginia Lakes the past week, but the bite continues with the traditional baits and lures working.
“Always try 1/6-ounce red/gold and silver/blue Thomas Buoyant, silver/blue Kastmaster, black/yellow dots Panther Martin, gold Super Duper 502, gold Mepps and a few bleeding frog Buoyants, said Carol Webb at Virginia Lakes Resort.
The fish kill in the East Walker River has not seemed to have impacted fishing at Bridgeport Reservoir.
Jim Reid at Ken’s Sporting Goods said he is still getting good reports from anglers catching fish up in the Robinson, Buckeye and East Walker channels at the reservoir, mostly with bait.
“Some anglers are reporting 20-fish days per boat, and we’ve seen fish up to 5-plus pounds come in,” Reid said.
Both Upper and Lower Twin Lakes continue to fish very well, with trolling overall the best bet, however bait anglers have been catching fish from shore and from boats.
The best lures for trolling have been Thomas Buoyants, Kastmasters and Rapalas.
This the time of the year when changes come to the Sierra. Crowds will drop off; the weather will cool off and aspens will begin to take on the hues of autumn.
Anglers should come to the high country now for some of the best fishing of the year. Just come prepared for the weather, which can turn ugly at any moment.
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