Lees Ferry Fishing Report
Report by: Natalie Jensen
We hope that you like our new report format. You can subscribe to receive a notice when a new report has been posted, by clicking “subscribe” in the above toolbar. All previous reports are archived and available by clicking “Previous Entries” at the bottom of this page.
Today’s rating:
Upriver: 7.0
Walk-In: 5.75
Key: 1 = Go fish somewhere else
10 = Rent a helicopter and get here now!
Today’s Weather: Mostly clear skies today with a low of 79 degrees along with an afternoon high around 97. There was a 30% chance of isolated storms in our region, basically no rain. This season is very unpredictable, so therefore it’s is best to carry a rain jacket and be aware of the danger of flash flooding throughout the southwest.
Today’s Crowd Rating:
Upriver 1.0
Walk In: 1.0
Key: 1 = Sleep late and fish where you want.
10 = Very crowded, get up early!
Today’s Fly Fishing: The fishing was good while nymphing in the morning to working the Cicada approach. Even a little nymphing while drifting picked up a few. Vary your approach and look into where the trout are holding before you begin, as they are in new locations. The flies you’ll want on hand are large black foam patterns (cicadas), scuds, san juans, and a few zebra midges.
Walk In: No new reports received today. As of late nymphing is still the most productive approach at this section. Not much picked up with a dry-dropper but san-juan worms, zebra midges, and scuds were working. The lower section, paria beach, is done for a while…MUDDY! Everything above the confluence is OK but below will most likely be muddy and dirty for a couple weeks.
Fishing Synopsis and Forecast by Terry Gunn
The fishing this past month can be summed up in one word…CICADA!
The hatch began two weeks earlier than normal, around the first of July the fish started keying in on the prolific bug. It began with a bang and as any of the people that experienced this action would tell you…it was nonstop. It is still happening this week but the “wide open” bite has slowed considerably. We are getting most of our action in the deeper runs where the fish are coming off the bottom, in water that is 5 to 20 feet deep, to eat the fly. Long casts are necessary and the best strikes have been while fishing the large dry fly directly downstream of the boat. One technique that we have employed to get the fly away from the boat is to keep the bow pointed upstream and cast downstream then put the boat in gear while throwing slack line on the water which allows the fly to move downstream. I’m not sure how much longer the top-water action is going to continue but the cicadas are still singing and I have seen the action continue well in to August in years past.
The drift fishing with heavy nymphs has been hit or miss most days. We have not been spending a great deal of time with this technique since the dry fly fishing has been so productive.
September 1 is when we will experience a flow change to lower water. Most years this is the very best fishing of the entire year so if you are waiting for cooler temps and want to experience some great wade-sight fishing this is the time to be at the Ferry.
The AZ Game and Fish Department recently detected whirling disease in a small percentage of Lees Ferry trout that were collected for a random sampling. This is not good news nor is it necessarily terrible news. Whirling Disease has infected many of the
The summer drift fishing is often the best and most productive fishing of the year and this has certainly been the case recently. The high summer flows are great for the trout by providing more drifting food. I can’t wait to see what our fish look like this fall; my bet is that they are going to grow all summer and be fat and sassy this fall.
The trout spawn is over. We saw the best spawn that the river has experienced in years. Most all the spawn is occurred in deep water which bodes well for fry survival and future recruitment of juvenile trout.
Spin Fishing: Egg patterns are still producing down deep when drifting. Make sure that you have the proper weight on so that the flies are bouncing the bottom and not dragging bottom. Consider a scud dropped below the glo bug about a foot and a half. Kastmasters and Rapalas are also productive while back trolling.
Projected River Flows:
Releases from Glen Canyon Dam in July 2007 will average 13,100 cubic feet per second (cfs) with a total of 804,000 acre-feet scheduled to be released for the month. On Mondays through Fridays in July, daily release fluctuations due to load following will likely vary between a low of 9,000 cfs (during late evening and early morning off-peak hours) to a high of 17,000 cfs (during daylight and early evening on-peak hours). On Saturdays, release fluctuations will likely vary between a low of 9,000 cfs to a high of 16,000 cfs. On Sundays, release fluctuations will likely vary between a low of 9,000 cfs to a high of 15,000 cfs. Releases from Glen Canyon Dam in August 2007 will be similar to July. A total of 804,000 acre- feet are scheduled to be released August 2007, which is an average
flow of 13,100 cfs. Releases are scheduled to be decreased in September. The current schedule shows 603,000 acre- feet of release in September 2007.
Inflow to
Lees Ferry Anglers - Fly Shop Specials:
*****CLOSEOUTS******
SIMMS WADERS- Travel Waders $89.95, Lightweight Waders $109.95, Guide Waders $179.95, Half-finger Gloves $13.00, Women’s Classic Guide Waders $180.00, Wading Boots $50.00
EXOFFICIO- Men’s & Women’s Amphi Shorts $46.00
SMITH/ACTION OPTICS POLARIZED SUNGLASSES- 2006 discontinued models at 50% OFF
ROSS SPOOLS- 50% OFF
Cliff Dwellers Lodge
Our lodge has rooms with cable TV (20 channels), in-room coffee, and the basic amenities. Choice of rooms are ONE king-size bed $75 plus tax, TWO doubles $70 plus tax, and TWO queen-size beds $80 plus tax for 1 to 2 people. Also our group unit we call the HOUSE, sleeps six with two baths, dining area, kitchen, patio with a view, and cable TV. We are excited about the cool fall season and have some great “black board” specials planned. Patio dining is available. (Enclosed in the winter months)
Meet the Guides
THE GUIDES AND STAFF OF LEES FERRY ANGLERS have thousands of days on this water, and over 100 years combined fish-guiding experience. Captains’ Terry Gunn, Jeff English, Kevin Campbell, Skip Dixon, Tyson Warren, Rick Smith and Natalie Jensen make up our guiding staff. Lees Ferry Anglers is proud of our fly-fishing guide team! Wendy Gunn, Natalie Jensen, Sandy Willie, Ted Welling, and Kris Stoudt work in the fly shop to provide you with the best customer service in the industry.
Email: anglers@leesferry.com
Lees Ferry Anglers
HC-67 Box 30
Toll Free 1-800-962-9755
Direct 1-928-355-2261
Fax 1-928-355-2271
Copyright © 1996-2006 Lees Ferry Anglers and Flyshop
All rights reserved Lees Ferry Fishing Report
Terry Gunn
Lees Ferry Anglers Fly Shop, Guides, & Rentals
Cliff Dwellers Lodge
http://www.terrygunn.com
http://www.leesferry.com
http://www.cliffdwellerslodge.com
800-962-9755