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 Fish rating
Upriver: 6.50
Walk-In: 6.50
Key: 1 = Go fish somewhere else
10 = Rent a helicopter and get here now!

Today’s Weather: Partly Cloudy & Windy, High 72 Low 44

Up River crowd rating
2.0 No crowd
Walk In: 1.0 No Crowds
Key: 1 = Sleep late and fish where you want.
10 = Very crowded, get up early

Fly Fishing: The weather is here the flows are low and the fishing is reported as good. Flows are still 10,000 cfs and will remain at that rate until November 1st. We are fishing nymph rigs, dry flies & droppers, anchoring, drifting from the boat and wading as well. Anchoring above the riffle in the tail outs is producing a good number of fish. Wading the riffles is producing a good number of fish as well.

Same suspects, Zebra midges, laser midge, and the midge X,brassies, and San Juan worms.

Walk in: Word has it that this section is fishing well anglers are using the same bugs as up river. Dries –n- droppers, scuds, San Juan worms, and zebra midges. Anglers report fishing is productive from the boulder field all the way to the confluence. Fishing is more productive in the early morning and late afternoon.

Spin Fishing: I did a little spin fishing the past few days and did well.
I was using both a panther martin and a vibrax blue fox and I can’t tell you what worked better. Both did the trick. It was not on fire or nothing but, I was pleased. So, if you have been thinking of fishing,,,,,,,, C’mon down, fishing is good at lees ferry. There are a couple other lures that are working well, stop by the shop and I will put you on the right track. Ted

BE SURE YOU CRIMP THE BARBS.

• If you have some news you would like to report about fishing lees ferry, the walk-in section or up river please e-mail your report to: anglers@leesferry.com Attn. Lees Ferry Fishing Report

• We would be happy to have your input, and pass it along.
-Ted Welling, Lees Ferry Anglers & Cliff Dwellers Lodge

Lees Ferry Fishing Synopsis and Forecast by Terry Gunn 9/28/09

Visit www.leesferry.com for daily fishing reports and updates.

Recent Fishing Conditions: Fall is in the air and the weather is near perfect with cool nights and warm days. The current water flows are a constant 10,200-cfs, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. These flows began on Sept. 1 and will continue until Nov.1 when normal fluctuating flows will return. This is the second year of these experimental flows and we feel that they are preferable to the extremely low fluctuating flows that normally occur this time of year. In years past, the flows in September and October have been the lowest flows of the year and have reset the “green line” to the 5,000-cfs level from the 12,000-cfs level of the summer flows. This has effectively reduced the food supply in the river by a significant amount. Then the higher flows of November and December arrive; but because of the declining sun angle and the shade of the cliffs, photosynthesis and aquatic production in the river declines and the areas of the river that were desiccated by the low flows do not regenerate until the following spring. This will not happen this year because of the steady flows in September and October the green line will stay high.

Fishing has been good and relatively predicable. The midge hatches have been prolific and the fish are feeding on the emergers in both shallow and deep water. The current fish population is better than we have seen in many years with several different year classes present in good numbers and perfect physical condition. I cannot remember seeing such a diverse range in fish sizes, we are catching fish from 12-in to 20-in and everything in between.

You may remember from my previous reports my mention of our prolific spawn of 2007 and that the river was full of small fish that disappear from the time that they reach 3” and reappear when they are 12” long…well, they showed up in mass immediately following the 8,000 constant flow in June. They are everywhere! For the first time in many years we are catching fish of all sizes, from 10’’ to 20” which is typical of a very healthy river. The only downside is that our average fish size has dramatically decreased; the river is still chock-full of big fish but the challenge is getting your fly past the smaller and not so smart little fish.

The current health of the river is outstanding…better than it has been in years. Last year’s above normal runoff into Lake Powell delivered and stirred up countless tons of nutrients into the water and this nutrient rich water is passing through the dam and into the river. Algae is everywhere in the river and this provides food and habitat for the aquatic food base that the trout depend upon. Lake Powell rose more than 30-ft this year which is good news for the fishing and all of the people in the southwest who depend on this water for household use and electrical generation. The rising lake and the nutrient load will guarantee this trend of healthy trout populations and good fishing will continue for the next several years.

The turning point and the beginning for the recovery of the Lees Ferry fishery occurred in 2005 when Lake Powell had the first above normal snow-pack and runoff year since 1997. Last year we had almost exactly the same conditions. The above normal winter snow pack and runoff into Lake Powell in 2007-08, stirred up a tremendous amount of nutrient laden sediment that had accumulated at the lake mouths of the Colorado River, San Juan River, and the Green River. Lake Powell elevation increased 43-ft. and the rivers flowing into the lake mixed the sediment and nutrients into the lake water. It usually takes several months before we see this mixing affect. The increased nutrient load in the lake and river is evident this spring by the dramatic increase in aquatic vegetation and aquatic organisms throughout the river.

For those of you that remember what the fishing was like in 1999 and 2000…you should be as excited as I am about the current conditions and what the increased nutrient load should do for the fishing at Lees Ferry.

Lots of stuff happening at the Ferry and it is all good!

Recent Fishing: With the steady water flows we are wading the riffles, drifting from the boat, and anchoring in the deep tail-outs of the riffles. Fishing techniques have been mixed between using a “heavy nymph rig” which is a 9 to 12-ft leader, strike indicator, split shot, and dual fly rig, or a “double tiny” rig with a long leader and 2 bead-head midges on 7X, or a dry and dropper rig. I have been using 6 and 7X fluorocarbon tippet and feel that the lighter tippet results in a much higher success rate than say 5X. Anglers might argue that they break fish off on such light tippet but my argument is that in order to break a fish off, you first have to first get a fish to eat your fly and you are going to get more eaters with lighter tippet than heaver tippet.

When wading the riffles you need long dead drifts. There are 2 types of drifts; perfect dead drifts and all other drifts. Perfect dead drifts catch fish at Lees Ferry; all other drifts don’t catch fish here. You get a dead drift by mending the line, then throwing slack line on the water. If your line is straight from your rod tip to your indicator or you move your indicator during the drift, then your drift is not perfect and will not catch fish. The key to success is to stay over fish, get the flies down to the bottom, and get a long, perfect dead drift.

The high flow experiment, 4/08, was basically a non event as far as the fishery is concerned. It came and went with few visible changes to the river or the fishery. For more details and to see my complete comments go here: http://coloradoriverconservancy.org/

For details on Lake Powell conditions and snow-pack, go here: http://lakepowell.water-data.com/

For a real time graphic view of water releases and ramp rates go here: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/az/nwis/uv?09380000

The AZ Game and Fish Department has detected whirling disease in a very small percentage of Lees Ferry trout that were collected for a random sampling. A more recent sampling turned up no sign of the disease, which may mean that it was a “one time” exposure, where the disease was not established or that the disease is present but at a very low prevalence. Anglers should still use caution in cleaning their equipment both before and after they have fished here or in other waters. For more information visit: http://www.whirling-disease.org

Glen Canyon Dam / Lake Powell

The unregulated inflow volume into Lake Powell during August 2009 was 0.323 million acre-feet (maf) which was 52% of average based on the period from 1971-2000. This was well below the unregulated inflow volume that was forecasted at the beginning of August (0.550 maf). As a result, the elevation of Lake Powell at the end of August was about 2.5 feet lower than projected in the August 24-Month Study. The release volume during August from Glen Canyon Dam was 0.802 maf and the elevation of Lake Powell on August 31, 2009 was 3637.40 feet above sea level. The current forecast of the most probable (median) unregulated inflow volume for September through November is 1.350 maf which is 86% of average. During September thus far (through September 10th), the unregulated inflow volume to Lake Powell was only 70,500 acre-feet. At this rate, the monthly volume of unregulated inflow would be approximately 211,000 acre-feet which would be well below the forecasted level of 400,000 acre-feet. It is likely that the elevation of Lake Powell at the end of September will be on the order of 1 foot lower than the elevation projected for the end of September in the September 24-month study which was 3636.7 feet above sea level. During August 2009, releases from Glen Canyon Dam followed a daily fluctuation pattern for power generation that included an afternoon peak to approximately 16,500 cfs with an early morning low release rate of approximately 8,500 cfs. During the last 3 days of August, the fluctuation pattern was tapered by reducing the afternoon peak each day and increasing the early morning low release rate to 10,000 cfs. These modifications were made to provide a transition from the fluctuating release regime to a steady release regime which began on September 1, 2009. During September and October, releases from Glen Canyon Dam will be held steady at a targeted release rate of 10,000 cfs pursuant to the ‘February 2008 Finding of No Significant Impact Experimental Releases from Glen Canyon Dam, Arizona 2008 through 2012’ and consistent with the ‘Final Environmental Assessment – Experimental Releases from Glen Canyon Dam, Arizona, 2008 through 2012’. Fluctuations for power system regulation and spinning reserves will occur if necessary during this steady release period. The release volume for September will be approximately 0.595 maf which will achieve a water year release volume of 8.23 maf for water year 2009 pursuant to the ‘Colorado River Interim Guidelines for Lower Basin Shortages and Coordinated Operations for Lakes Powell and Mead’ (Interim Guidelines). The release volume for October will likely be near 0.615 maf as a continuation of the steady release period In water year 2010, the unregulated inflow to Lake Powell is projected to have an 80% probability of being within the range between 5 maf and 18 maf. There is an estimated 10% probability that the 2010 unregulated inflow volume will be below 5 maf and there is also an estimated 10% probability that the 2010 unregulated inflow volume will be greater than 18 maf. Based on the range of probable inflow volumes and through implementation of the Interim Guidelines, there is approximately a 65% probability that Equalization will occur in 2010. The determination of whether or not Equalization will occur in 2010 will be based on the results of the 2010 April 24-Month Study. If Equalization does occur in 2010, the water year release volume would be approximately 10.4 maf or greater. If however, Equalization does not occur in 2010 (35% probability), the water year release volume would be 8.23 maf. Each month these forecasted probabilities will be updated as hydrologic conditions change in the Upper Colorado River Basin.

Upper Colorado River Basin Hydrology

In the Upper Colorado River Basin during water year 2009, the overall precipitation accumulated through September 1, 2009 is approximately 100% of average based on the 30 year average for the period from 1971 through 2000. Early in the water year (October and November 2008) accumulated precipitation was well below average but rebounded in December with the monthly accumulated precipitation estimated to be approximately 185% of average within the Upper Colorado River Basin. Below average precipitation returned during the winter months (January, February and March) followed by above average precipitation during the spring months (April, May and June). Of note, in June the accumulated precipitation was estimated to be 215% of average. Below average accumulated precipitation returned in July and August and projected to persist through the end of water year 2009. The Climate Prediction Center outlook (dated August 20, 2009) for temperature over the next 3 months indicates that temperatures in the southwest have an increased probability of being above average while accumulated precipitation is projected to be near average in the Upper Colorado River Basin.

Upper Colorado River Basin Drought

The Upper Colorado River Basin continues to experience a protracted multi-year drought. Since 1999, inflow to Lake Powell has been below average in every year except water years 2005 and 2008. In the summer of 1999, Lake Powell was close to full with reservoir storage at 23.5 million acre-feet, or 97 percent of capacity. During the next 5 years (2000 through 2004) unregulated inflow to Lake Powell was well below average. This resulted in Lake Powell storage decreasing during this period to 8.0 million acre-feet (33 percent of capacity) which occurred on April 8, 2005. During 2005, 2008 and 2009 drought conditions eased somewhat with net gains in storage to Lake Powell. As of September 1, 2009 the storage in Lake Powell was 15.7 million acre-feet (65 percent of capacity) which is still below desired levels while the overall reservoir storage in the Colorado River Basin as of September 1, 2009 is 34.8 million acre-feet (58.5 percent of capacity).

Check out: www.kutv.com/content/outdoors/default.aspx

I have had some people that are fishing on their own (unguided) tell me that they are having a difficult time catching fish. The fishing has changed from the peak of 2000 and many people are not adapting to the new conditions. The current fish population is lower than it was in 2000 and there are not fish “everywhere” in the river like there were several years back (this is probably the reason that we are seeing better conditioned and larger fish today). Just because you might have been successful in one spot on the river in the past does not mean that particular spot is always good. There are many times of the year that the water flows, or conditions are not right to hold fish at “famous” spots such as 4 mile or Dam Island. It is often challenging, even for a good guide, to stay on top of where the fish are and what they are eating; but we do have the advantage of spending a lot of time on the water.

Lees Ferry Anglers - Fly Shop Specials:
“GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE!!”
*****CLOSEOUTS******
PATAGONIA- Women’s Stretch Jacket was $315.00 now $175.00
Call for all current sale items as they change quickly.

Cliff Dwellers Lodge:
Our lodge has rooms with cable TV (20 channels), in-room coffee, and the basic amenities. Choices of rooms are ONE king-size bed, TWO doubles and TWO queen-size beds. Also our group unit we call the HOUSE, sleeps six with two baths, dining area, kitchen, patio with a view, and cable TV. Rates vary with season. 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, Skip Dixon, Rick Smith, Natalie Jensen, J.D. Miller, Luke Blaser and Tom Jones make up our guiding staff. Lees Ferry Anglers is proud of our fly-fishing guide team! Wendy Gunn, 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
Marble Canyon, AZ 86036
Toll Free 1-800-962-9755
Direct 1-928-355-2261
Fax 1-928-355-2271

Copyright © 1996-2009 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