April 18, 2004
Greetings, Rock Creekers! With the fishing opener less than a week away, it’s only appropriate that cold and snowy weather reestablished itself in the Eastern Sierra over the weekend. Rock Creek Lake’s high temperature of 32 degrees on Saturday was more typical of January than April, but the forecast for the coming week is much more seasonal. A gradual warm-up will begin Tuesday and continue throughout the week, and by Saturday, highs are anticipated to be in the upper 50’s to lower 60’s at the 7,000 foot level, absolutely perfect for the first day of fishing in nearly 6 months in the Eastern Sierra.
On Saturday, Opening Day, most upper elevation lakes above 9,500 feet, including Rock Creek Lake, South Lake, and Sabrina, as well as the lower Mammoth Lakes Basin, will still be frozen for the opener. However an earlier thaw is very possible this year, especially if the warmer temperatures of the coming week become the norm for the rest of the spring. In early March, it looked as though winter would have a strong grip on the region well into May. However March, a typically wet and snowy month for California, turned out to be extremely dry and warm. The result was a snowpack that dwindled from 100% of April 1 early in March, to less than 75% of normal by April 1. Basically, the spring runoff began a month early this year, creating a water deficit that will now continue into next winter.
To compare this year’s
snowpack to previous years check out the following link…
http://wsoweb.ladwp.com/Aqueduct/snow/PrecipConditions/laprecip.htm
It’s also interesting to
compare the water content in the snow in various regions of the state…
http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/products/PLOT_SWC.2004.pdf
The warm weather has allowed the campground concessionaire to open up campgrounds with relative ease this spring. French Camp and Tuff are already open, and Big Meadow and Iris Meadow could be opened anytime, but freezing is a concern that will probably keep them closed for at least 2 more weeks. The snow has completely melted from French Camp and Tuff, and is patchy up to Big Meadow. It is more solid from East Fork up to the lake and beyond, but bare ground can be found all the way to the lake and with the warm weather coming this week, you can expect lots more bare ground opening up. Rock Creek Road was plowed on Tuesday, and the road around the lake was also plowed to allow Saab to film a commercial on Thursday night. The road is now completely dry all the way to the pack station.
Rock Creek Lake already has
open water at the inlet, outlet, group camp area, and a small section of Rainbow
Bay. None of these areas of open water are extensive. The lake is
still 99% frozen, and the ice is rotten in some sections. Those
considering fishing Rock Creek Lake or any other high elevation lakes on opening
day, should use extreme caution on the ice. To eliminate all risk, I would
advise waiting for the ice to melt before fishing the lake. I wouldn’t
be surprised if the lake thawed completely by May 10 this year. To stay
updated on current fishing, ice, and snow conditions, check the current fishing
conditions page…
http://www.rockcreeklake.com/fishing/current.htm
A serious concern for
Eastern Sierra fisheries has come to light in recent weeks. The New
Zealand mudsnail, a non-native invasive species of snail, is now present in Hot
Creek and the Owens River. It was introduced to the Owens River in 2000
and is present in Hot Creek as well. The snails can be transported to
other local streams and lakes via waders, shoes, boats, and even pets. In
fact, you don’t even have to be near the water to transport them, because they
can travel up to one meter per hour and have been found over 40 feet from the
water. They are a serious concern because they choke out native insects
and snails, deprive fish of their main sources of food, and multiply rapidly.
To find out how to prevent the spread of these pests, please read the following
link and inform yourselves as best you can…
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/fishing/assets/publications/mudsnailposter-smaller.pdf
Well, this is it folks…the start of the 2004 fishing season. Summer is just around the corner. I can already smell that crisp morning air and hear the sound of chickadees singing their vibrant morning greeting. Fingers of sunlight reach over the mountains and paint the peaks with soft pinks, oranges, and golds, reflecting in the lake like a mirror. A warm cup of coffee fights off the welcome chill of a new day, while the faint scent of campfire wafts through the listless air, further awakening the taste buds.
Well, I can dream, can’t I?
I’ll have some information about campground managers in the next newsletter, as well as information about opening day among other things. Until next time, keep dreaming, get your fishing gear ready, take it easy, and THINK CREEK!
Tim
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