This is a wonderful business with a more wonderful owner and wonderful fishing guides. If you're going to fly fly this is the way to go

Sierra Drifters Guide Service was once again amazing. We've been coming for 5 years now and everytime we can get up to Lake Crowley we call our guide Devon Preston and get expert service with class and style. This last trip was the best I've ever seen or heard about. Truly a world class experience. I highly recommend giving these guys a chance to show you their stuff. read more

See all

If you want a great experience Doug was an outstanding guide. Very professional, knowledge and put us on plenty of fish. I highly recommend his service and will be using him in the future. read more

Sierra Drifters Guide Service - Awesome day. - Fishing Near Me

See all

By far, it was the best experience I've ever had for myself. I'm a single, independent woman from San Diego who just picked up fly fishing last year. Doug, who goes by "Two Bug Doug" was an excellent and incredible guide. He took me to the East Walker River, and we slayed trout all day. Thank you Doug from the bottom of my heart for your patience, teaching skills, and professional knowledge. I am so grateful and honored to have gotten this opportunity with Doug & Sierra Drifter team! read more

See all

Shout out to Doug and Devin for a couple of great guided boat trips on Crowley Lake. Went solo on my first with Devin and with a buddy on my second with Doug. Both were great trips and learned a lot to perfect my still water fly fishing skills. Several +20" Trout and my first Cut Throat. Can't say enough positive things as both guides were patient and great educators. I'm already talking about booking a trip or two for Eagle Lake next year. Thanks Sierra Drifters and please don't forget next time I book with you to have plenty of the "Savage" flies on board. Cheers / Tight Lines Ron Simmer Cypress CA read more

See all

Doug set us up with Jerry. The experience of fly fishing Crowley Lake was the best in all my 73 years of life. Fish were a little finicky but Jerry figured out the right fly pattern and off we went catch the most beautiful rainbow trout in the world. Hats off to Sierra Drifters. I 1000% recommend them for your next fishing adventure. Call them today. read more

Did a 3 trip guide trip with Doug R on in the first week of May 2022. In total we successfully landed around 30 fish. Our best was probable 22-24 inches. Team Sierra Drifters knows their stuff. I can almost guarantee they will put you on to fish. Landing them is up to you! read more

See all

This is a long one. Enjoy. Husband and I just spent a long weekend at the McGee Creek Lodge, which was beautiful, rustic and quiet. Our son visited the Convict Lake Resort with some good friends who are getting married there in the summer and he brought back some travel brochures and Sierra Drifters was advertised on one of them. I reached out through their website and Doug called me within a few hours. He was patient, knowledgeable, kind and enthusiastic about fly fishing. I booked my husband and I, who are novice fly fishers, two half day trips. Since I had no clue as to where we wanted to go, I told Doug to surprise us. He did great. The first trip was with Matt, we met him at Upper Owens Lake Marina, about an hour north of McGee Creek Lodge and from there we followed him and hiked about a quarter mile to the river. I was feeling a little rough in the morning having to wake so early to meet him, but WOW! It was so worth it. Even if we hadn't caught any fish, which we did, plenty, the drive and the river were absolutely beautiful and Matt was easy going and fun. He took such good care of us. Trekking between us in the current of the river and slick rocks like the pro he is to make sure we were pulling in fish and helping when we did. Sierra Drifters supplied all of our gear and waders. We just had to show up and the time flew by. Also....58-62 degrees feels very different at 8000 feet. I didn't know and I was all layered up in a long sleeve fleece lined tee shirt, electric heated vest and fleece lined legging, Ugg boots (I'm a skinny SoCal girl) because I get cold and it was cold when we left the Lodge, but at 8000 feet elevation, it felt like 80 degrees. My husband, who normally doesn't burn, even in Hawaii, wore a tee shirt and got some color. The next morning we stayed really close and went out on a boat with Josh from Sierra drifters at Crowley Lake. We met him there. It is about 10 minutes from McGee Creek Lodge. (Thank goodness because my husband forgot his fishing license and we had to drive back and get it and we still made it on time) There is a $10 parking fee at the marina entrance. Again, a beautiful morning, definitely colder than the day before and at 630am, the marina was buzzing. Josh had given me detailed directions and we found him quickly. Josh was kind, calm and seriously knowledgeable about fishing, as well as, boats and local history, geography and where to get a decent hamburger and some rings. He took us to a couple different areas of the lake and ended up anchored in a cove. We had quite a bit of luck hooking some smaller feisty rainbows and browns. Again, it would have been fun even if we hadn't caught anything, catching what we did was a bonus. I actually didn't know you could fly fish from a boat and while I enjoyed it immensely when I landed a fish, it was not my favorite. It was difficult FOR ME to stay focused on the "bobber" when I was surrounded by all the nature, the adorable midge ducks, the clouds of midges, the rhythm of the boat on the water, the other boats racing by, especially when using the tiny barbless hooks (smaller than your pinky toenail) which I love, because I don't want to maim a fish, AND I feel so skillful when I can land one, but I think I would have been happier with a traditional fishing pole if I was to go boat fishing again. My husband and I were happy to experience two different ways of fly fishing and I really appreciate Doug surprising us with two totally different options so that we could make good choices for us for future trips. If having a guide seems expensive, remember this....they have all the knowledge of the area, the weather, the best lures to catch fish, the equipment....everything is presented on a platter by these skillful fishermen to their clients making it easy and worry free. If you are new to the sport like me and just want to get out somewhere beautiful, touch grass and feel safe out there in nature while reeling in some trout, a guide service is the way to go and this guide service, Sierra Drifters, is pretty f**king awesome. Thank you Doug and Matt and Josh for making us look good out there. read more

See all

Fished Crowley Lake 1/2 day trip it was a fantastic day. Lots of good sized trout in the net. Sierra Drifters Guide service I'd recommend whether on Crowley or drifting the Owens River. Their guides are top notch very patient and knowledgeable. read more

My son and I fished with Doug R at Crowley, May 2024. Doug was professional, knowledgeable and took extra time with my "new to" fly fishing son. Doug worked very hard to find fish and was very patient answering questions. You won't find a better guide. read more

See all

If you're looking for a guide service for fishing the Eastern sierras then look no further. This is not our first time with Sierra Drifters Guide Service and it definitely won't be the last. Every time we have used their services we have not been disappointed. If I could give more than 5 stars I would. They're a fantastic team and great at teaching the art of fly fishing. Even if you have been fishing for years or even decades they can teach you something new. I'm coming onto 65 years old and have been fishing longer than I can remember and was shown a lot better way of roll casting than I have been doing my whole life. I'll stop here with, if you're interested in learning or you need a guide, look no further this is your best choice without a doubt. One last comment, my wife and I doubled up today and it was a blast. read more

We hired Sierra Drifters last weekend for some late season Crowley trout fishing. Our Guide was Doug Dolans, AKA, Two Bug Doug. What an awesome time! After spending about 30 minutes at a spot with a few "drive bys" we moved to a new spot where there were a few other Sierra Drifters boats. The fishing was hot! Our boat and the others getting action nonstop. Doug was very helpful and knowledgeable. When he wasn't untangling a few tippet knots and rechecking our depth to make sure our tiny midge flies were at the proper distance from the sandy bottom, he held our attention with wonderful stories of chasing large browns on the Walker River, surfing Southern California, and his special technique of tying flies by injecting oxygen in the head section. We all got fish, I was able to get the so called Crowley Slam (catching a brown, cutthroat, and rainbow trout) The thought of being in California's trout Mecca and spending half a day on a boat did not feel right, but boy was I wrong. Most fun I have had fishing in a long while, all thanks to Sierra Drifters, and especially Mr Two Bug Doug. read more

Sierra Drifters Guide Service - Hooked up! Thanks Doug! - Fishing Near Me

My wife and I had a great trip on the upper Owens with Seth Cline. We headed out on a snowmobile to target snow bows!! Seth was very knowledgeable and very willing to share his knowledge. Thank you Sierra Drifters for a wonderful time! Tight Lines! read more

Best guide service ever, couldn't be happier and I will keep coming back! The value Sierra Drifters provides is second to none. read more

Sierra Drifters Guide Service - Fishing Near Me

We have fished 3 times with Sierra Drifters and they put on the fish! 2 times with Doug Roderick, the owner, and today with Seth Cline! Great guides, good company and good people to spend the day with! read more

Sierra Drifters Guide Service - Doug put me on this Upper Owens Jumbo a couple of February's ago on a cold Wind day on my 2nd cast of the morning! - Fishing Near Me

My dad and I had a wonderful experience with Sierra Drifters. I had gotten him a half day guide session as an early Father's Day gift and we were both so excited. But when we looked at the weather report it looked like it was going to be really cold. My dad is 75 so he's not up for the sub 30 temps any more. But when I called Doug, he just suggested a later start, which turned out to be perfect. Our guide, Jerry, was so knowledgeable, had the equipment set perfectly, and gave great advice- so great in fact that even a true novice like me managed to bring in every fish I hooked. Dad and I both caught the biggest trout of our lives. When I booked I noticed that Sierra Drifters was a little pricier than some other guide outfits, but here is what made the difference for me: 1. When you book, they ask you a number of questions about your experience level and how they can best tailor the trip for you. 2. Doug followed up with a phone call right away to arrange the trip. 3. Jerry was so flexible when we got nervous about the weather and found us some good fishing despite a later start. 4. Doug followed up afterward to find out how everything went. I couldn't have asked for better service. Book with Sierra Drifters and you'll have a great day! read more

Fished with Doug and he was great! Patient with me as a 1st timer and showed me some casting techniques which worked! Thanks again Doug for an awesome trip! read more

Sierra Drifters Guide Service - Fishing Near Me

See all

The Sierra Drifters Guide Services is great. I have fished with them many times and have always gotten into tons of fish. Every time out is a new body of water and the guides are knowledgeable. I always find my trips educational and relaxing. And Most of all, I always have fun. Recently I took my family up with Doug R, and Two Bug Doug. They were awesome. They were super patient with my 10 year old daughter and 12 year old son. I always have a great time! read more

See all

Two Bug Doug guided myself and my wife last year for 2 days, one on the Upper Owens and then Drifted the next day on the Lower Owens, he was very patient with her being a very novice Fly-Fisherwoman and she had a great time! If you're a Novice or a Pro, Doug can put you on fish! We had a great couple days fishing and couldn't have been happier. read more

Sierra Drifters Guide Service - Fishing Near Me

Our family had never taken guided fishing trips until this Memorial Day weekend. One day after spending time on the Lower Owens River and the North Fork of Bishop Creek, we hooked up with Sierra Drifters Guide for a half-day guided trip on Lake Crowley. I wasn't sure what to expect since I had never been on the lake, but Doug Rodricks assured us that it would be a great place for us to catch fish AND learn how to fly fish a lake. The weather in Mammoth Lakes, where we were staying, was blowing snow (during a Memorial Day Weekend!), but we were blessed with sunshine at Lake Crowley, albeit with cold temperatures and the occasional cold wind gusts. Phil Therrien and Jerry Gilpin met us at the docks and proceeded to get us on the water and to their preferred fishing spots very quickly. We caught numerous fish, many of them over 14 inches long on flies! With a party of 6, we split up into two boats, and both guides were terrific. 1. I wasn't on Jerry's boat, but I heard he was incredibly encouraging and helped one of my twin son nab numerous fish. 2. My wife is not the most enthusiastic fisherman, but even she got into it when Phil put us on a particular hot spot. 3. Both Jerry and Phil were great teachers, and I picked up even more tips on how to be an effective beginning fly fisherman. 4. Phil's attitude was terrific: he had a great sense of humor, kept things light, and made sure the day was enjoyable. 5. Phil also helped my other son pull in a 17" rainbow trout! The next time I fish Lake Crowley, I'm going with these guys, and I'll make sure to ask for Jerry and/or Phil. read more

Sierra Drifters Guide Service - Fishing Near Me

My son and I had a great time fishing with Doug at Sierra Drifters Guide Service. We spent the day at Crowley Lake (9/2021) catching HUGE Rainbow Trout and learning a lot about fly fishing. Doug was a great guide and I highly recommend. I don't have enough nice things to say about him. The best part was how patient he was with my son who was a novice fly fisherman... Especially for trout of this size. He explained the techniques, showed him how to cast the line, then talked him all they way through netting a beautiful rainbow! We will be back. read more

Sierra Drifters Guide Service - Fishing Near Me

My husband, cousin, and I hired Doug (guide) to take us out on Crawley and we were Killin it!!! We learned so much about how to fly fish on Crawley and had an awesome time catching Cut throat, Rain Throats, and Rainbows all day. I even caught a Sierra perch. Highly recommend!!!! Totally worth it! read more

See all

Decided to take a trip on short notice and emailed Sierra Drifters. Doug called me within 10 minutes and was able to juggle his guides to accommodate a family of 4. He was very patient and worked with my 8 and 9 year old kids. We all had a blast and caught some very quality fish. Highly recommend this place for your fly fishing needs. Great job Doug!! read more

Sierra Drifters Guide Service - Fishing Near Me

I've done two trips with SD; 2008 and 2010. 08' was a drift on the LO, and 2010 was a custom private trip on Adobe Creek/Ranch to hit the pond near sunset, but mostly give access to the creek below the pond. We used to fish the creek annually before it was purchased and fenced. Shame, great fish. Either way, and yes, older trips, but bother were excellent and I wouldn't hesitate to book again today...do it! read more

Awesome people. Awesome fishing! Lake Crowley provided an excellent locale. Our guide; Doug provided excellent instruction to a first timer who I dragged along. Even better: when the wind picked up and wild fire smoke rolled in, Doug was very generous in suggesting not only turning our full day into a half day but in finding a guide to take us out the following morning where we did even better! Great customer service! Will definitely look to do more trips with this A class outfit! read more

See all

We were out for four hours on Lake Crowley, and did not catch a single trout. I know this happens but the guide did not move us to a different spot during the four hours. Plus it is the most boring type of fishing I have ever come across where you sit and stare at a intensely at a bobber. You can't even look away for a second. Really really boring type of fishing. The bonus was when we didn't catch any fish the guide informed me it was my fault because I was negative. Four hours of staring at a bobber can make anyone a little negative. read more

My buddies and I went on a guided trip with Corey a couple of months back on Lake Crowley, and we had the best time. We each caught a good sized fish, and enjoyed being out on the lake and spending time in nature. The weather was perfect, and the water was fairly cool, so fish were biting more frequently than during the hot summer we have recently experienced. Corey was very knowledgeable and easy to get along with, I would definitely recommend him as a guide! If your looking for a guide service, Sierra Drifters is the best in town! read more

My family went out on two boats because we are a family of six. We had Devin and Hans as our guides and they were simply amazing!!! They took the time to teach, explain and make it fun for my children ages twin 10, 13 & 15 year olds. They were able to keep both boats close so we can see each other and enjoy watching everyone catch fish. We were all lucky and caught multiple fish for our very first time. Highly recommend this company and definitely can't go wrong with the guides. Super easy and friendly to work with. THANKS for an amazing day! read more

See all

Best time fishing ever, Doug was a great teacher, was my first time with a fly rod, and we had 2 successful days of catching the highest quality and quantity fish - in an incredibly beautiful setting. Anyone who is interested in fishing at all can have an excellent experience. I will return soon with my wife cause I now know she'll love it too. I highly recommend!!!! read more

Highly recommend this Guide Service. Went out to Lake Crowley twice a few weeks ago. First time, had two boats, 2 anglers on each boat.. had Devin and Hans as our guides - we needed a lot of instruction, and they were up for the task.. 25 fish... went out a second time on one boat with Hans, day one's instruction paid off.. we landed over 50 fish! read more

See all

Fishing in the Mammoth area was one of my goals this summer and I had lots of fun on this trip. We went to Crowley. I hadn't tried fly fishing before and Devin was a very patient guide. Caught way more fish than I expected. I'll do it again, trying at another location. It was a great trip. read more

Amazing First Fly Fishing Guided Trip. Truly my first fly fishing period. I Contacted Sierra Drifters Mammoth.To book a fly Fishing Trip. I Wanted a all day guided trip. We met Friday @ 7am at Benton Crossing Very Cold 19 Degrees. But was told what to wear and what was provided by Sierra Drifters. Fly Fishing Rod all tackle for the day. Waders , Lunch if I wanted for $ 15.00 include Big Sandwich , Chips, water , and dessert. All I needed was a 2020 fishing license Met my Guide Doug. I followed him into Benton Crossing to the River. We Started fishing by 7.30am. He Really Knows The River The first hole we stopped at was to take 30 minutes to teach me how to Do Several different casts look for fish and explain the Waters.This area is excellent for this teaching. The Next Hole we Had a Big Strike I set Fish On But I lost it my fault I didn't let the Fish Run broke off. A few minutes later another Strike. I Landed this Monster. We hooked up 5 Times. I landed 3 All Beautiful Rainbows. Great Pictures Released to be caught again. We fished up the river Doug knew all the holes that Truly Held Big Fish some holes we passed I thought sure looks good He explained why we needed to go to the bigger and deeper holes. I will book again this July to fish Crowley lake with Sierra Drifters. Thank you for a excellent first time fly fishing trip. Kim. read more

See all

My son (9yrs) and I went fishing at Crowley this weekend with Devon. It was a FANTASTIC trip. Devon is patient, knowledgeable and funny. My son said he's the "best guide ever" and we'll definitely be returning. Devon put us on some great fish, and I caught a personal best Cutthroat. Highly recommended. Great service. read more

We booked two days with Doug fishing in mid November. We fished the Upper Owens for bigger trout on the first day and then hit Hot Creek on the second day. Doug was awesome. We landed beautiful fish on both days. These are not easy waters to fish and having a guide who fishes these waters all year made all the difference. read more

I highly recommend Sierra Drifters. The guides are personable, professional, experienced and exceptionally talented. I have been fishing in the Eastern Sierra's for 60 years and with Sierra Drifters's guidance four years, multiple times a year. The day is always informative, adventurous, exciting and fun. Sierra Drifters provides the opportunity to experience fly fishing at the highest level. read more

Loved our 3 days whit Sierra Drifters . Had a great time and caught lots of fish. Highly recommend Doug and his associates.

Lake fishing, creek fishing, in season or off season, beginner or experienced , we've always got fish with Sierra Drifters. I'll be back again in the spring. read more

My uncle Bill "Beebs" and I had an amazing fishing experience with Hans! We fished Crowley and caught several sizable trout! Hans was great! His attention to detail spot on! Don't let his age fool you. He's a hell of a fisherman and a wonderful young man! Book your trip you won't be disappointed! read more

My son and I went out with Devin Preston last summer, and we had an amazing time fishing with him. Devin was a great guide for my seven-year old -- funny, patient, instructive. It was a pleasure to spend time with him; he clearly loves fishing, and his enthusiasm was infectious. A memorable trip for which we are extremely grateful! Thanks Devin! read more

DANG! Excellent customer service! Answered my call right away...professional and super courteous. Listened carefully, gave me great recommendations on some flies, followed up with an email like they said they would WHEN they said they would AND shipped them to me only hours after I ordered them. Looking for to hiring them for guide services in the near future. Thanks Doug! read more