 With the exception of lower elevation waters in the Owens Valley, largemouth bass are not a target species for Eastern Sierra anglers, especially those working high country waters. Thanks to the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW), the scene may be changing. Northern Mono County’s Topaz Lake, shared with Nevada, has been the Nevada target for northern strain largemouth stocking for the past two years. The water has supported a small population for several years, but not to the point of making it a popular bass fishery.
NDOW’s stocking program began last year with 500 bass in the 6-inch range stocked. This year 3,500 sub-catchables in the 4- to 5-inch range were added to the lake’s population. In addition habitat was improved with dead trees placed in several areas.
“All indications are they are doing well,” said NDOW biologist Kris Urquhart. “We’ve had reports of catches being made in the 12- to 14- inch range. Trout stocking will continue at past year levels.”
Going back a few years, I recollect when Nevada proposed stocking smallmouth bass in the popular trout water. However California DFG voiced strong opposition to the plan. The rationale was the smallmouth would eventually inhabit the West Walker River flowing into the lake from California and impact the native endangered Lahonatan Cutthroat trout.
Based on off-hand comments I’ve heard from DFG, they were less than favorable really to the present NDOW program. However largemouth apparently don’t have the tendency to migrate into the fast flowing waters of a river system.
Maybe DFG should consider changes in their policy of stocking only trout in high elevation waters. Like Crowley Lake’s Sacramento perch, another species would provide an added dimension to the Eastern Sierra fishing scene. The species obviously can co-exist. Numerous Southern California waters host both populations of hatchery raised trout and bass—and in many cases striped bass.
Granted, the trout are expensive forage for the bass species, but by the same token they provide angling recreation for countless anglers. Back to reality. With all the controversy focusing on the existing trout species, especially those raised in hatcheries and their alleged conflict with a variety of native wildlife, it’s doubtful we will see any bass stocked on the California high country side of the state line.
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On the local Sierra scene, summer has finally arrived. Based on my yearly gardening logs, we are about three weeks behind last year because of a cold May and June. At least for now there is an abundant water supply. Several high-elevation waters, including Grant and Lundy lakes spilling, and area streams are experiencing healthy flows. Runoff conditions slowed down the early summer fishery at many locations, but with stable water levels, the past weeks have seen a major upswing in catching. One spin-off, there’s going to be a healthy mosquito population this summer, great for the fly fisherman and repellent manufacturers. The DFG is back to stocking the majority of Sierra waters following the early season closures because of the Willow Flycatcher issue. I’ve had a lot of favorable comments noting the stockers are larger than years past. Many anglers were caught off-guard, especially at Crowley Lake, when they discovered the possession limit on Sacramento perch is now 25. DFG has included the limit for the popular fish in this year’s regulations. This is a possession limit, 25 per angler, not 25 one day and 25 the next. Several years’ back I hit on the declining Crowley perch fishery focusing on many anglers taking home catches numbering in the hundreds and more. The impact of reducing the take will be a wait-and-see scenario. There’s an abundance of licensed guides covering Eastern Sierra waters. This spring saw the formation of the Eastern Sierra Fishing Guides Association. Membership in the association now stands at 23 and growing. The group has adopted a code of etiquette aimed at promoting conservation, mutual cooperation and reducing any issues of conflict. For information contact www.esfga.org. |
