Fast Water Nymphing - East Walker River

End of April; Flows ~150cfs; Sunny, around 80 degrees.
Nymphs Used: Tri Color San Juan (12), Rubber Legs (8), Tungteaser (12)---The fish overwhelmingly took the Rubber Legs!

Weather was great and the flows were strangely low for this time of year. I tried out for the first time the lower California section of the East Walker, below Murphy's Pond (or what used to be the pond). I was surprised how narrow the river gets here, and how fast the water was moving. Wading was tough but not dangerous because the water was never deep. When the river gets over 200cfs, I would not recommend this section for both the quality of fishing, and for safety. 

Got quite a few small rainbows--they are definitely reproducing. Hopefully the river stays primarily a brown trout river, which is a rarity on the West Coast.

Just had to find the small areas of slower water when you could in the raging torrent.

One of the few flat sections where the river eases up a bit--these type of spots almost always have a trail through the jungle like brush to the trail or road. 

Some of the softer holding water was not so obvious. It takes a little trial and error to get the right drift through these small pockets.

Very nice to see all the healthy looking brown trout. I think the river has recovered from the drought, though in a few more years there will start to be good numbers of big dogs. I lost 2 that were probably around 16-17", and most of the browns were around 12-14". The biggest fish hang out in that mile or so below the dam (the Miracle Mile or Meadows Section).

Great day of fishing! Had a cold beer or two at the Bridgeport Inn afterwards.