Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 03-20-2025

With the latest set of storms moving out of the Eastern Sierra it’s time for another warming trend. This will help spur the hatches that are stirring in Eastern Sierra waters. It will take a few days for waters in the upper elevations to become easily accessible. Wind is the bane of fly fishers. Let’s hope for some windless days. Hatches of midges, caddisflies and mayflies are bring the trout to the surface and the bigger fish are feeding on the nymphs. Sierra Bright Dot guides are available to teach fly fishers the techniques that produce trout in Eastern Sierra waters.

The rods are on the vehicles and it’s time to go explore the waters of the Eastern Sierra that are offering dry fly opportunities in March.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

The time for dry fly fishing on the wild trout section of the lower Owens River is now. Mid-day hatches of blue wing olive mayflies and caddisflies are bringing the trout to the surface to feed on the hatching caddis and mayfly duns. For the caddis there are two species hatching. Use size 16 and 20 elk hair caddis, parachute caddis and X-caddis. For the blue wing olive mayflies fish with size 18 blue wing olive parachutes, Adams parachutes and olive sparkle duns. Be sure to move around and find consistently feeding trout if there is little to no dry fly activity where you are fly fishing. Before and after the hatch nymphing is producing wild rainbow and brown trout to 16 inches. Euro nymphing and indicator nymphing are the methods to present the nymphs to the trout. Nymph with size 18 olive quill RS2, size 18 Frenchie’s, size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymph, size 18 olive quilldigon, size 18 Jedi Master Baetis, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ear and size 20 tiger or zebra midges.

Wild brown trout are feeding on the hatching blue wing olive duns and will take a size 18 blue wing olive parachute presented on a drag free drift.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Nymphing continues to be the most productive method of fly fishing the Interpretive site. To present the nymphs to the trout fish with a dry and dropper rig or a Euro rig. Fish with a size 22 tiger midges, size 22 zebra midges, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs and size 18 SOS nymphs. Mid-day hatches of midges and a few blue wing olive mayflies have the fish feeding on the surface. The midges are tiny and hard to imitate an individual midge. Fish with a size 20 Griffith’s gnat or a size 24 midge adult pattern. There are a few blue wing olive mayflies hatching and fly fishers using a size 20 blue wing olive parachute, size 20 Adams parachute and size 20 olive sparkle dun will fool a few of the trout feeding on the hatching blue wing olive duns.

Rainbow trout are feeding on nymphs presented under a dry fly or on a Euro setup on Hot Creek.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

Fly fishers accessing the canyon section of Hot Creek are finding trout that have not been pressured by many fly fishers. Use size 20 soft hackle brassie, size 20 zebra midges, size 20 tiger midges, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 SOS nymphs, size 18 Jedi Master Baetis and size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs to fool the wild rainbows and browns of Hot Creek Canyon. Size 20 blue wing olive parachutes and size 22 Griffith’s gnats will fool a few rising trout.

Storms are leaving snow on the ground and then the sun comes out and it melts quite quickly.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

There is a mid-day hatch of blue wing olives that the resident trout are feeding on. These eight to 12 inch fish will take a size 18 blue wing olive parachute, size 18 Adams parachute and a size 18 olive sparkle dun off the surface. For nymphs fish with a size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph, size 18 olive quilldigon and size 16 SOS nymph. Fly fishers thoroughly fishing the cut banks, deep runs and deep holes will find a few trophy rainbow trout willing to take size 12 stoner nymphs, size 12 green/gold wire Prince nymphs and size 12 gold ribbed hare’s ears variations. The key to success is thoroughly covering lots of water to find the few trophy rainbow trout that are still in the upper Owens River system.

It's easier to present you’re nymphs in deep holes where you are least likely to spook trout.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

Spooky trout in the low clear waters of Bishop Cree Canal is making fly fishing tough. The long flat sections of the canal are nearly impossible to make a cast without spooking the trout. Fish the deeper holes and faster riffle sections where the trout are not as easily spooked. Nymphing continues to be the most productive method of fly fishing the canal. Use size 12 stoner nymphs, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 16 SOS nymphs, size 20 zebra midges and size 20 tiger midges under a dry fly or with a Euro rig.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 03-13-2024

Looks like the Eastern Sierra is about to get a couple of storms moving through the area. These storms look like they follow the recent pattern of stormy for a day and a half clear up for a couple of day and then storm again. Looks like upper elevation mountains will be getting snow and the Owens Valley will get rain with a chance of snow. Most of the storms that move the Sierra blow in and out. Winds are worse to deal with than the snow. Mayflies, caddisflies, stoneflies and midges are hatching and feeding the wild trout of the Eastern Sierra. Sierra Bright Dot guides are available to teach fly fishers the techniques that produce trout in Eastern Sierra waters.

Nymphing produces more trout and bigger trout like this trophy rainbow trout that took a size 16 gold ribbed hare’s ear nymph under an indicator.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

A caddis hatch and caddis migration mid-day have the wild rainbow and brown trout feeding on the surface. Use a size 16 olive elk hair caddis, a size 16 parachute caddis  and a size 16 olive X-caddis. There is a hatch of blue wing olive mayflies in the early afternoon that is bringing the trout to the surface. Use a size 18 blue wing olive parachute, size 18 Adams parachute and size 18 olive sparkle dun to fool the trout feeding on the hatching mayfly duns. The caddis and mayfly hatches are not bringing the trout to the surface at every spot on the river. If you’re looking to fish with dry flies move around during the hatch to find the runs and holes where the trout are consistently feeding on the hatching insects. Before and after the caddis and mayfly hatch nymphing is producing trout up to 17 inches. Nymphing with an indicator rig or a euro rig with size 20 tiger or zebra midges, size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ear, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 Jedi Master Baetis, size 18 olive quilldigon, size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymph, size 18 Frenchie’s, size 18 France fly and size 18 olive quill RS2 is fooling the nymph feeding trout.

Mitch was Euro nymphing with an olive quilldigon and caught this 17 inch rainbow on his last cast before heading to Santa Barbra for the Fly Fishing Film Tour.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Vehicle access made accessing the Interpretive site easy. The next storm will determine if this area stays accessible to vehicles or if fly fishers have to walk in from Hot Creek Hatchery Road. Nymphing continues to be the most productive method of fly fishing the creek. Euro nymphing, tight lining or a dry and dropper are the nymphing methods that are producing trout. Nymph with a size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymph, size 18 olive quilldigon, size 12 stoner nymph and size 18 SOS nymph. Mayfly and midge hatches are bringing the trout to the surface. For the die hard dry fly fishers use a size 20 Griffiths gnat, size 24 gray midge adult, size 20 blue wing olive parachute and size 20 Adams parachute. Streamers fool the bigger trout and pulling size 6 or 10 olive wooly buggers will fool a few trophy trout.

With vehicle access to the Interpretive Site it easy for fly fishers to work their flies along the entire length of the Interpretive Site.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

The next storm will determine if vehicles will be able to access the canyon section of Hot Creek. Fly fishers nymphing with a dry and dropper or a Euro outfit are fooling wild rainbow and brown trout to 16 inches. The trout are taking size 18 Jedi Master Baetis, size 16 SOS nymphs, size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 20 soft hackle brassie, size 20 zebra midges and size 20 tiger midges. I would carry a few blue wing olive Parachutes in size 20 to fool the trout that are feeding on the hatching mayfly duns.

The next set of storms will determine if vehicle access to the dirt roads leading into the upper Owens River will continue.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Vehicles were accessing the dirt roads above Benton Crossing Bridge before the storms. The amount of snow on the ground from these next two storms will determine if vehicle access will continue. There are a few trophy rainbow trout still in the system willing to take flies. A lot of fly fishers use worms, eggs and mop flies to catch the trophy trout. I like using size 12 stoner nymphs, size 12 green/gold Prince nymphs and gold ribbed hare’s ear variations in the deep holes, deep pools and cut banks where the trophy trout are resting and feeding. Fly fishers are finding a mid-day hatch of blue wing olive mayflies that the 6 to 12 inch resident trout are feeding on. For the dry flies fish with size 18 blue wing olive mayflies, size 18 Adams parachutes and size 18 olive sparkle duns. For the nymphs use size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 SOS nymphs, size 20 tiger midges and size 20 zebra midges.

As storms move into the Eastern Sierra Bishop Creek Canal is a good spot to fish and watch as the storm dumps snow on the peaks of the White Mountains.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

The low clear water in Bishop Creek Canal have the trout acting wary. Fly fishers need to make soft gentle casts and watch their shadows to be sure they’re not spooking the trout. Indicator nymphing and Euro nymphing with tiger midges in size 20, zebra midges in size 20, olive quilldigons in size 18, SOS nymphs in size 20, stoner nymphs in size 12 and bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs in size 18 are fooling the wild rainbow trout, brown trout and the occasional Owens River sucker.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 03-06-2025

A weeks plus of above normal temperatures was a nice departure from our normal February weather. Mosquitoes were out to play and definitely were leaving their marks on fly fishers. Now we are back to a normal weather pattern. Minor storms are moving through the Eastern Sierra and are leaving a little precipitation this week. With another storm front moving through the area next week look for more precipitation. Hatches of midges, stoneflies, caddisflies and mayflies are feeding the trout of the Eastern Sierra. Sierra Bright Dot guides are available to teach fly fishers the techniques that produce trout in Eastern Sierra waters.

Winter weather is still impacting Eastern Serra waters particularly above 7,000 feet .

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

With the nice weather came an influx of fly fishers plying the waters of the wild trout section of the lower Owens River particularly over the weekend. The increased fly fishing pressure has slowed down the catch rate. There are fish to be caught for fly fishers willing to work dries and nymphs in places other fly fishers will not venture. Getting in the river bed and exploring sections of the river where the banks are lined with tulles and willows will get you into spots most fly fishers avoid. During the mid-day blue wing olive hatch you can fish dry flies if you are on the right section of the river during the hatch. If you’re not in the right place during the hatch move and find a spot on the river where the trout are consistently feeding on the hatching blue wing olive duns. To imitate the hatching blue wing olive duns fish with a size 18 blue wing olive parachute, size 18 Adams parachute and a size 18 olive sparkle dun. Nymphing under an indicator or with a Euro rig is the most consistent method of fly fishing the river during the blue wing olive hatch. Nymph with a size 18 olive quilldigon, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph, size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymph, size 18 Frenchie and a size 18 Jedi Master Baetis.

At flows of 75 CFS fly fishers can explore sections of the river that are lined with willows and tulle that cannot be accessed from the banks.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

The snow from the last storm has melted enough to allow vehicle access. There has been a big increase in fly fishing pressure with the opening of the road into the Interpretive Site. There is a mid-day hatch of midges with a sprinkling of blue wing olive mayflies. Using a size 22 Griffiths gnat or size 24 gray midge adult will fool a few of the surface feeding trout. Nymphing has been the most productive method on the creek. Fishing with size 18 SOS nymphs, size 12 stoner nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons and size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs is fooling rainbow trout, brown trout and Owens River suckers.

The berm at the end of the plowed section of Hot Creek Hatchery Road is making vehicle access impossible.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

Vehicles are parking at the end of the plowed section of Hot Creek Hatchery road. Fly fishers are walking the mile plus into the three sections of Hot Creek Canyon. Fishing with nymphs is the most productive method of fly fishing in the canyon. Dry and dropper rigs and Euro nymph rigs are how fly fishers are presenting their nymphs to the trout. Getting a drag free drift is necessary to fool the wild trout in the canyon section. Nymph with size 20 tiger midges, size 20 zebra midges, size 20 soft hackle brassie, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 Jedi Master Baetis and size 16 SOS nymphs to fool the wild trout in the canyon section.

Storms moving through Long Valley may temporarily impact vehicle access to the dirt roads leading into the upper Owens River.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

The dirt roads accessing the Owens River above Benton Crossing Road are covered in snow, mud puddles and ice. Four wheel drives with good clearance are making it as far up river as they want to drive. There has been a mid-day blue wing olive hatch that has the resident brown and rainbow trout feeding on the nymphs and the hatching duns. On the surface of the river fish with size 18 Adams parachutes, size 18 blue wing olive parachutes and size 18 olive sparkle duns. Nymphing use size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymph, size 18 Frenchie and a size 18 Jedi Master Baetis. There are still a few trophy rainbow trout in the system and fly fishers willing to cover a lot of water are finding a few of the rainbows willing to take flies. Nymph with a size 12 stoner nymph, size 12 green/gold Prince nymph and size 12 gold ribbed hare’s ears variations in the deep holes, deep runs and cut banks.

If you do not spook the trout in the clear low water of Bishop Creek Canal they will take a well-placed nymph.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

There are trout willing to take flies in Bishop Creek Canal. The fish are supper spooky in the low clear water of the canal. Successful fly fishers are presenting nymphs to the trout without spooking them in deep holes and fast riffle sections. Fishing the slow moving flat sections of the canal is almost impossible to do without spooking trout. Nymph with size 18 tiger midges and size 18 zebra midges, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 SOS nymphs and size 18 olive quilldigons.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 02-27-2024

Hard to believe how warm the Eastern Sierra has been this week. With the increase in water temperatures the trout’s caloric needs have increased exponentially. For fly fishers this means hungry  trout ready to feed on the flies that imitate the hatching insects. Upper elevation waters are slowly becoming accessible with vehicles. Stoneflies, mayflies, caddis flies and midge are the insects that the trout are feeding on. Sierra Bright Dot guides are available to teach fly fishers the techniques that produce trout in Eastern Sierra waters.

With spring like weather in the Eastern Sierra the upper Owens River snow is melting fast and fly fishers with four wheel drive vehicles can drive up the mud puddle and snow covered road.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Spring like weather makes fly fishing the lower Owens River very enjoyable. With afternoon temperatures in the mid-70’s insect activity has increased along with an increase in the trout’s feeding activity. Along with the insects trout eat there are mosquitoes out and about feeding on fly fishers. Skwala stoneflies are hatching and the trout are continuing to feed on the nymphs. If you want to fish with dry flies try fishing with size 10 yellow olive stimulators late in the afternoon. Fish them in the slow water under the willows. Nymphing with size 12 stoner nymphs continues to be the most productive way of catching trout with skwala patterns. The blue wing olive hatch is just getting started. If you are on the right spot when the trout are feeding on the hatching blue wing olive mayfly duns you can fish blue wing olive parachutes in size 18, Adams parachutes in size 18 and olive sparkle duns in size 18. When the hatch is sparse and the trout are not feeding on the emerging blue wing olive mayfly duns fish with size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 SOS nymphs and size 18 Jedi master Baetis. Fishing with midge nymphs and pupae in tan, zebra and tiger coloration continues to produce trout.

Steve Lee from Arcadia was working on his Euro nymphing techniques when this 17 inch lower Owens Rainbow took a size 18 olive quilldigon fished off a riffle into a pool where the trout were feeding on hatching blue wing olive mayfly emergers.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Vehicles with high clearance and or four wheel drive can drive into the parking area of the Interpretive Site of Hot Creek. The word has gotten out and fly fishers are driving into to fly fish on Hot Creek. Mid-day hatches of midges and the occasional blue wing olive mayfly are bringing the trout to the surface. The midges are small and using a size 22 Griffiths gnat or size 24 gray midge adult will fool a few of the surface feeding trout. Nymphing with size 20 tiger midges, size 20 zebra midges, size 18 olive quilldigons and size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs is fooling the wild trout of Hot Creek Interpretive Site. While most fly fishers fish with nymphs and dries throwing a streamer like a size 6 olive wooly bugger will produce lots of hits from 10 to 20 inch wild rainbows and brown trout

Fly fishing pressure has increased on the Interpretive Site of Hot Creek now that fly fishers can access the area with their vehicles.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

It requires a long walk into Hot Creek Canyon as fly fishers have to park their cars at the end of the pavement as snow is not plowed beyond this point. Once the snow berm melts fly fishers will be able to drive into the Canyon parking lots. Be sure not to park in front of the Hot Creek Ranch driveway. For fly fishers willing to make the mile plus hike into the canyon nymphing is good with size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 Jedi master Baetis, size 20 soft hackle brassie, size 20 tiger midges and size 20 zebra midges. Nymphing with a dry and dropper or Euro nymph rig is the successful methods of presenting nymphs in the canyon section of Hot Creek.

The snow on the upper Owens River is melting fast and fly fishers in four wheel drive vehicles can access the river by driving up the dirt road on the north side of the river.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Snow has begun to melt and some brave fly fishers have been driving up the dirt roads in four wheel drive vehicles to access waters above Benton Crossing Bridge. A blue wing olive hatch has resident 6 to 12 inch trout coming to the surface to feed on size 18 blue wing olive parachutes, size 18 Adams parachutes and size 18 olive sparkle duns. Dry fly fishing on the upper Owens River in winter is rare. Fly fishers fishing the upper Owens River should take advantage of this rare dry fly opportunity. Fly fishers looking for the end of the trophy rainbow trout season will find the trout in the area of the confluence of Hot Creek tributaries and the Owens River. Fish the deep holes, deep runs and cut banks where the trout are resting and feeding. Use size 12 stoner nymphs, size 12 green/gold Prince nymphs and size 12 gold ribbed hare’s ears variations. Thoroughly work the flies before moving onto the next place to fish your nymphs.  

Working nymphs in Bishop Creek Canal is producing rainbow trout to 12 inches.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

Fishing in the canal while keeping your shadow off the water allows fly fishers to present their nymphs to the trout without spooking them. Rainbow and brown trout are feeding on size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 SOS nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 tiger midges and size 18 zebra midges. Work the nymphs in deep holes and fast riffle sections where your casts or shadows will not spook the trout.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 02-20-2025

Last week’s storm left up to six feet of snow on the peaks of mountains at upper elevations in the Sierra and White Mountains. Easy vehicle access to Long Valley fly fishing waters is over until the snow melts. The Sierra is going to be in a warming trend next week. Owens Valley dirt roads are full of mud puddles. Caddis, midges, mayflies and winter skwala stoneflies are the insects that are feeding the trout. As daylight lengthens fly fishers will find more trout coming to the surface to feed on the hatching insects. Sierra Bright Dot guides are available to teach fly fishers the techniques that produce trout in Eastern Sierra waters.

The White Mountains are tipped with snow while fly fishers ply the waters of the lower Owens River.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Flows have dropped to 100 CFS. At these flows the lower Owens River is very wadable. Mid-day hatches of blue wing olive mayflies have the trout actively feeding on the nymphs and the hatching mayfly duns. If you’re on the right hole during the hatch you will be able to fish with size 18 blue wing olive parachutes, Adams parachutes and olive sparkle duns on the surface. Nymphing continues to be the most productive method of catching wild trout in the lower Owens River. Concentrate your effort on where the riffles dump into the holes. Fish with size 18 olive quilldigons, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 SOS nymphs in black and brown, and size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs. Winter skwala stone flies are still active in the river and fishing with size 14 copper John’s, size 12 stoner nymphs and size 14 golden/brown Pat’s rubber legs are fooling the wild rainbows and browns.

Fishing with dry flies like a blue wing olive parachute is producing trout for fly fishers who fish the right holes during the mid-day mayfly hatch.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

With two feet of snow on the ground it’s tough walking in on the spur road to the Interpretive Site from Hot Creek Hatchery Road. It will take several fly fishers accessing the road on foot to pack down the snow forming an easy access to the Interpretive Site. For those willing to battle the snow the trout are still feeding on midges and the occasional hatching blue wing olive. Dry fly fishing is tough, but fishing with a size 20 blue wing olive parachute, Adams parachute and olive sparkle dun will produce a few surface feeding trout. Use size 22 or 24 Griffiths gnats, olive midge adults and gray midge adults. Nymphing with size 20 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 22 blood, tiger and zebra midge nymphs or pupae are fooling the wild trout.

Accessing Hot Creek Interpretive Site is easier than accessing the canyon section of Hot Creek.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

Accessing the canyon section of Hot Creek is by foot from Hot Creek Hatchery Road where winter plowing stops. Be sure not to park in front of the Hot Creek Ranch driveway. It’s a long hike through the snow to the three entry points into Hot Creek Canyon. For those fly fishers willing to make the hike through the snow they will find wild browns and rainbows willing to take nymphs. This is prime water to be Euro nymphing or tight line nymphing. Success here is thoroughly covering the water with your nymphs. Cover the shallows, the pockets below boulders and deep holes. It does not take a lot of weight to get the flies bouncing off the substrate. Fish with size 18 olive quilldigons, size 20 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph, size 18 brown SOS nymph, size 20 Jedi master Baetis, size 20 soft hackle brassie, size 22 tiger midge, size 22 zebra midge and size 22 blood midge.

The winter storm left enough snow to keep vehicles from accessing the river beyond the entry way into the upper Owens River above Benton Crossing Bridge.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Parking at Benton Crossing Bridge is limited to a few vehicles at the throat of the dirt road leading up river. Access is by snowmobile, cross country skis, snow shoes or hike in by foot. With limited access to the river fly fishing pressure is minimal and fishing for trophy trout is picking up particularly for those angler fly fishing far up river from Benton Crossing Bridge. Walking an hour upstream from Benton Crossing Bridge will get you into good fly fishing for trophy rainbow trout. Working the deep holes, deep runs and cut banks with size 12 stoner nymphs, size 14 copper John’s, size 14 golden/brown Pat’s rubber legs, size 12 green/gold wire Prince nymphs and size 12 gold ribbed hare’s ears variations are producing trophy rainbow trout. A mid-day blue wing olive hatch has the resident trout feeding on size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 blue wing olive parachutes and size 18 Adams parachutes.

Surface runoff from the snow and rain storm last week have turned the waters of Bishop Creek Canal muddy, but the fish are still taking a well fished nymph pattern.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

Directly after the storm the waters of Bishop Creek Canal were extremely off color. This allowed fly fishers to fish the waters without spooking trout. Fishing with dark colored nymphs is fooling the wild rainbows and browns in the deep holes of the canal. Nymph under an indicator, tight line or with a Euro rig with size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 12 stoner nymph, size 16 SOS nymph in black, size 18 tiger midges and size 18 zebra midge to fool the trout.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 02-13-2024

It’s tough to predict what storms will actually leave on the ground after they move through the Eastern Sierra. It looks like this next storm could leave substantial amounts of snow at upper elevations. If this happens it could be the end of easy vehicle access to the waters of Long Valley. We will only know after the storm moves through the area. The mountains are in desperate need of a good snow pack to keep the streams flowing next summer. It’s mid-winter and hatches of mayflies, midges and winter skwala stoneflies are feeding wild trout and hold over stocked trout. Dry fly activity is just starting in Eastern Sierra waters. Update it’s snowing and raining in Bishop as off Thursday February 12, 2025.

While winter takes place in upper elevation waters, the lower Owens River offers mild weather fly fishing days.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Due to increased water levels of Crowley Lake and Pleasant Valley Reservoir, the lower Owens River flows have increased to 200 CFS. The flows are expected to return to flows of 125 to 75 CFS in the next couple of weeks. This week’s storms could effect when the flows will come down. Trout are feeding on blue wing olive hatches, winter skywalk and midges.. With the increased flows, look for the trout to be in the slower shallow sections. Size 12 stoner nymphs and size 14 copper Johns are good imitations of the winter skwala nymphs. Size 20 to 24 midge and pupae patterns in cream, zebra, tiger and blood colors imitates the Owens River midges. Size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and size 18 Jedi master bateis nymphs are good nymph imitations of the blue wing olive mayfly nymphs.

Flows of 200 CFS limits wading access on the lower Owens River.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Fishing has been good as the last storm did not keep fly fishers from accessing the Interpretive Site. Midges continue to be the main hatch feeding the trout. There is lots of surface feeding trout on the size 30 or smaller midges. Fly fishers do not have hooks small enough to imitate these midges. Griffiths gnats represent midge clusters on the surface of the creek. Fishing with size 20 Griffith’s gnats, olive or gray midge adult patterns are fooling a few wild trout on the surface of Hot Creek. Nymphing with size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 20 black SOS nymphs and midge nymph or pupae patterns in size 20 to 24 in tiger, zebra or blood coloration. Once the storm leaves the area we will know if we will have continued vehicle access to the Interpretive Site.

Hooked up in Hot Creek Canyon while fly fishing with a dry and dropper in one of the deeper holes.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

Nymphing with midge patterns and blue wing olive mayfly patterns is producing wild rainbows and browns. Tight line nymphing and dry and a dropper are both successful methods of presenting the nymphs to the trout. There are fish all through the creek. I cover all the water and in particular work the pockets above and below obstructions where trout are holding. Blood midges in size 20, tiger midges in size 20 and zebra midges in size 20, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs in size 18, olive quilldigons in size 18, olive SOS nymphs in size 20  and jedi master bateis nymphs in size 18 are fooling the wild trout.

It’s been a winter of driving right up to the river with little to know snow on the ground on the roads leading to the upper Owens River.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Access has been good all winter, but that could change after the incoming storm leaves the Eastern Sierra. Because of the easy vehicle access this winter, fly fishing pressure has made the trophy rainbow trout easily spooked. The key to success is working deep holes, deep runs and cutbanks where the trout are feeding and resting. Thoroughly cover each spot before moving on to fish another spot. Sometimes it takes up to 100 casts before moving on. While a lot of anglers like to fish with worms, eggs and mop flies using larger nymph patterns produce a lot of trophy trout in the upper Owens River. Use size 14 golden/brown Pat’s rubber legs, size 12 variations of a gold ribbed hare’s ear, size 12 stoner nymphs, size 14 copper Johns and size 12 green/gold wire Prince nymphs. Resident trout are feeding on nymphs and dries of mayflies, caddisflies and midges. Use size 20 midge pupae or midge nymph patterns in blood, zebra or tiger coloration, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and size 18 olive quilldigons.

In the afternoon, fish on the east bank of Bishop Creek Canal to keep your shadow off the water.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

Low, clear and slow moving water is making it hard to present a fly to the trout without spooking them. Key to fly fishing the canal is to fish deep holes or fast riffles. Your shadow can definitely spook trout. Place yourself on the right side of the canal so your shadow is cast on the land behind you and not on the water. The wild brown trout and holdover rainbows are taking size 20 blood midges, zebra midge and tiger midges, size 18 olive quilldigons and size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 02-06-2025

A couple of storms are due through the Eastern Sierra this week and could leave some substantial snow at higher elevations. Like all storms we will not know how powerful they are until they leave the area. So until they come and go we will not know the outcome of snow on the ground and access to fly fishing waters in the Long Valley area. The Owens Valley is expected to get rain. The rain should not have a big effect on waters in the Owens Valley. Hatches of midges, mayflies, stoneflies and caddisflies are the insects that the trout are feeding on in waters of the Eastern Sierra. For those looking for dry fly activity it's sporadic at best this time of year.

Warm  sunny days are being replaced by rain and snow showers in the Eastern Sierra as a series of storms moves through the area.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Mid-day hatches of blue wing olive mayflies have the trout feeding on the nymphs. If you are on the right spot on the right day you can use dry flies on the surface if the trout are feeding on the hatching mayflies. For the dries use size 18 blue wing olive parachutes, size 18 Adams parachutes and size 18 sparkle duns. For the nymphs use size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons and size 18 Jedi master bateis nymphs. Skwala stoneflies are hatching and the trout are feeding on the nymphs. Use size 12 stoner nymphs on competition jig hooks, size 14 copper John’s and size 14 golden/brown Pat’s rubber legs to fool the wild rainbows and browns.

Jack Yarger from Beverly Hills landed this wild brown trout from the catch and release section of the lower Owens River that took a stoner nymphs fished on a tight line rig.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Storm predictions are not always accurate. When the storms clear the Eastern Sierra we will know if the Interpretive Site of Hot Creek is still accessible by vehicle. Prior to the storms fly fishing was good with both dries and nymphs. Mid-day midge hatches and the occasional blue wing olive mayfly had the trout feeding on the surface. For the dries fish size 20 blue wing olive parachutes, size 20 Adams parachutes, size 20 olive sparkle duns, size 20 Griffith’s gnats and size 20 olive midge dry flies. For the nymphs fish with size 20 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons and size 20 black SOS nymphs.

Time will tell if Hot Creek Interpretive Site will be covered with a new layer of snow as a series of storms moves through the area.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

This is a fun section of Hot Creek to fish when there is snow on the ground. It can be a very quiet spot except for the slurping of rising trout. Nymphing has been the best method of fly fishing the canyon section. Tight line nymphing with a standard nine foot five weight rod is a very effective method of nymphing in the canyon. Euro nymphing is also very effective in the canyon section. Use size 20 blood, tiger or zebra colored midges in larvae or pupae patterns, size 20 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 20 olive SOS nymphs and size 18 jedi master bateis nymphs.

Before the snow storms fly fishers could drive out anywhere they wanted on the upper Owens River above Benton Crossing Bridge.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Easy vehicle access maybe over after this series of winter snow storms moves through the Eastern Sierra. There are trophy rainbow trout in the river willing to take nymphs. The key is to find the trophy trout. The upper Owens has seen lots of fly fishing pressure which has slowed down the fly fishing opportunities for the trophy rainbows. Key to success is to thoroughly cover lots of deep holes, deep runs and cutbanks where the trout are resting and feeding. Fish with size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons and size 20 midge pupae or midge nymph patterns in blood, zebra or tiger coloration for the resident rainbows and browns. For the trophy rainbow trout use size 12 stoner nymphs, size 14 copper John’s size 12 green/gold wire Prince nymphs, size 14 golden/brown Pat’s rubber legs and size 12 variations of a gold ribbed hare’s ear.

Fast sections of the canal like this riffle are place fly fishers are least likely to spook the wild trout.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

Surface runoff from this week’s rain storms may increase the flows to improve the fly fishing in Bishop Creek Canal. With the low water the wild trout are very spooky and very hard to sneak up on and get a cast to. On sunny afternoons casting your shadow on the water is definitely spooking trout. Size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and size 20 blood midges, zebra midge and tiger midges are fooling the wild trout if you can make a drift without spooking the trout.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 01-30-2025

If you are looking for tips on fly fishing techniques on Eastern Sierra waters, upcoming events and where the best Eastern Sierra weekend fly fishing spot is, sign up for the email on the webpage at https://www.sierrabrightdot.com

We are in a maybe get some snow in the upper elevations weather pattern. Look for the possibility of snow over the weekend. Owens Valley got an inch or two of snow last weekend, but once the sun comes out the snow is gone. As we leave January and head into February I expect the fishing to pick up. As daylight increase so will the hatches.  As the hatches intensify it will bring consistently rising trout to the surface. Mayflies, stoneflies, caddisflies and midges are the insects feeding the trout. If you are on the right water at the right time you will see sporadic surface feeding trout.

The only snow left in the Owens Valley is protected in the shadows of north facing willows and tulles on the lower Owens River.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

There are fish to be caught, but fly fishers nymphing are working really hard for a few trout. With the cold water the trout are not aggressively taking the nymphs. The slightest movement in the indicator and the fly fisher needs to setting the hook. It’s better to over set than not set. As the saying goes sets are free. Midges, stoneflies and mayflies are the insects the trout are feeding on. Use size 12 stoner nymphs or size 14 copper John’s to imitate the winter Skwala stoneflies. Use size 18 or 20 midge pupae and midge nymph patterns in tiger, zebra or blood coloration. For the blue wing olive mayfly nymphs nymph with size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 brown or olive SOS nymphs and size 18 jedi master bateis nymphs. Carry a few size 18 blue wing olive parachutes, size 18 Adams parachutes and size 18 olive sparkle duns to imitate the hatching blue wing olive duns when the trout are sipping flies off the rivers surface.

Tim Louis from Redwood City with a wild rainbow trout from the wild trout section of the lower Owens River.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

The recent snow storm did not leave enough snow on the ground to inhibit vehicle access to the Hot Creek Interpretive Site. This area fly fishes best when there are hatches going on. Middle of the day is seeing trout feeding on tiny midges. Nymphing under an indicator, under a dry fly or with a Euro rig is producing trout during the midge hatch. Fish with size 20 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quildigons, size 20 black or olive SOS nymphs, size 20 or 22 midge pupae or midge nymph patterns in blood, zebra or tiger coloration. There have been a few blue wing olive mayflies hatching so have a few blue wing olive parachutes in size 20 if you want to try fly fishing with a dry fly.

A few hardy fly fishers are taking advantage of the mild weather and fly fishing Hot Creek Canyon tell dark.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

With the weed beds at there lowest growth it is easier to nymph fish in the canyon section of Hot Creek. With little fly fishing pressure it’s easy to slowly and thoroughly work your way upstream making sure you are covering all the water with your nymphs. Don’t forget to work your nymphs along the near bank. There are lots of trout holding and feeding right next to the bank you are standing on. To imitate the midge nymphs use midge pupae or midge nymph patterns in blood, zebra or tiger coloration in sizes 20 or 22. To imitate the blue wing olive nymphs use size 20 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quildigons, size 20 black or olive SOS nymphs and size 18 jedi master bateis nymphs.

With easy vehicle access to the upper Owens River there has been lots of fly fishing pressure on the trophy trout.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

This year’s lack of snow has made it easy for vehicles carrying fly fishers to access the upper Owens River from  Benton Crossing to the Longyears area. The trophy rainbow trout are feeling the pressures of all the fly fishers on the river. To catch a trophy trout fly fishers need to cover lots of water looking to sight fish to a trophy trout or just covering the water that the trophy trout are inhabiting on their migration upstream. Fish the deep runs, deep pools and cutbanks where the trophy trout are resting and feeding. Actively spawning fish represent future trout populations and should not be fished to. Allow them to successfully reproduce so we have a future trout population of wild rainbow trout in the upper Owen River. Use size 12 stoner nymphs, size 14 copper John’s, size 12 green/gold wire Prince nymphs and variations of a gold ribbed hare’s ear to fool the trophy rainbow trout. For the resident rainbows and browns fish with size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons and size 20 midge pupae or midge nymph patterns in blood, zebra or tiger coloration.

Low clear water in Bishop Creek Canal means fly fishers have to sneak up on the trout to keep from spooking them.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

Winter fly fishing on the canal is in low clear water for spooky trout. It’s tough to cast to the trout without spooking them. Be aware of your shadow as it will definitely spook trout. To fool the trout nymph with size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and size 20 blood midges, zebra midge and tiger midges. Fly fishing on the canal picks up in March with the increase of flows in Bishop Creek Canal.g

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 01-23-2025

If you are looking for tips on fly fishing techniques on Eastern Sierra waters, upcoming events and where the best Eastern Sierra weekend fly fishing spot is, sign up for the email on the webpage at https://www.sierrabrightdot.com

Weather is fickle in the Eastern Sierra. There have been cold days and unseasonable warm days. We are in desperate need of a winter snow pack to provide water for next year’s stream flows and to keep the lakes full. This weekend might see a little bit of much needed precipitation. Midges, mayflies, caddisflies and stoneflies are hatching and providing the food source the trout are feeding on. Nymphing is the most productive method of catching trout right now in the Eastern Sierra. There are a few opportunities for catching trout on dry flies on the surface of the creeks and streams.

Snow in the Eastern Sierra right now is not enough to provide water for the streams and lakes this summer.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Cold water is making the fly fishing tough. The trout are feeding on stick caddis, winter Skwala stoneflies, midges and mayfly nymphs. Water flows have been in the low 70 CFS which allows fly fishers to wade anywhere they want in the river bed except for the holes which are deeper than the fly fisher is tall. Size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs imitate the stick caddis and the blue wing olive mayfly nymphs. Size 20 tiger, zebra and blood midges imitate the black fly larvae and midges. Size 12 stoner nymphs imitate the winter skwala nymphs. Key to success is to have the right weight on the tippet or in the flies. Saw my first blue wing olive hatch this week with trout consistently feeding on the surface on the hatching blue wing olive duns.

At 70 CFS it’s easy to access the areas that are inaccessible from shore due to the thick riparian vegetation of tulles and willows.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Mid-day hatches of midges have the wild trout in the Interpretive Site of Hot Creek feeding on midge nymphs. There are a few blue wing olive mayflies hatching in the middle of the midge hatch. Nymphing with size 22 tiger, zebra and blood midge imitations, size 18 olive quilldigons and size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs are fooling the wild brown and rainbow trout. Using dry flies for the indicator reduces the opportunity for spooking trout. For the dry fly in a dry and dropper rig on Hot Creek use a mini Chernobyl ant, size 14 stimulator or size 16 Adams Parachute.

An evening session in Hot Creek Canyon with Dan Barelmann from Encinitas with a rainbow trout that took a mini Chernobyl ant of the surface.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

Middle of the day the canyon section of Hot Creek has been devoid of winter fly fishers. Once the sun goes behind the canyon walls fly fishers need to be bundled up to stay warm. Wind is adding to the chill felt by anglers. The flats in the canyon section are tough to fish, but are holding trout. The deeper holes are a great place to nymph with a Euro rig or a dry and dropper rig. The mid-day midge hatch has the trout actively feeding. For the nymphs use midge pupae and midge nymph patterns in blood, zebra or tiger colorations in size 20 or 22. Stoner nymphs is size 12, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs in size 18, olive quilldigons in size 18 and olive SOS nymphs in size 20 are fooling the wild trout.

It's late January and the upper Owens River looks like fall because it’s missing its blanket of snow.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Water is high and slightly off color. Access on the dirt roads out to the upper Owens River is just like in the summer time. There might be a tad more water on the roads in summer after a summer rain shower. With the easy access to the upper Owens River the trophy trout are seeing lots of fly fishing pressure. The trophy rainbow trout are there, they just need some extra effort to find them and to get them to take your flies. Since most fly fishers are nymphing try throwing a streamer at them. Offering them something different might get them to bite. I’m sticking to my Euro outfit and throwing size 12 stoner nymphs, size 14 copper John’s, size 12 green/gold wire Prince nymphs and variations of a gold ribbed hare’s ear. Work the deep holes, deep runs and cutbanks with your nymphs. Don’t be afraid to put a 100 drifts in a hole. The key is for your fly and the trout to be in the same place at the same time.

Fast water sections and deep holes are areas you can fly fish without spooking trout..

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

Fly fishing in the afternoons have been tough as the angle of the sun makes it hard to keep your shadow off the water. The trout are vary spooky in the low clear water and are hard to approach. Fish the deeper holes and faster riffle sections where the fish are not as spooky as in the slow, low and clear water sections. Nymphing with size 20 blood midges, zebra midge and tiger midges, size 18 olive quilldigons and size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs is producing a few trout if you’re in an area where you’re not spooking trout.

Sierra Bright dot Fly Fishing Report 01-16-2024

If you are looking for tips on fly fishing techniques on Eastern Sierra waters, upcoming events and where the best Eastern Sierra weekend fly fishing spot is, sign up for the email on the webpage at https://www.sierrabrightdot.com

Storms moved out and left the Eastern Sierra with cold and wind. It’s time to break out the heavy duty long under wear or wading pants to wear under the waders if you want to stay warm. Having gloves with you will warm up frozen fingers after releasing trout and getting your hands wet. We are still in that slow period where the water temperatures are low enough that the trout just do not need to feed ravenously like they do in the summer time when trout waters are that optimum. Midges, caddis and mayfly nymphs are what the trout are feeding on. Right now nymphing is the game as there is little to no dry fly activity to bring the trout to the surface.

Hooked up in the winter time is the big benefit of year round fly fishing opportunities in Eastern Sierra waters.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Water temperatures in the low 40’s and air temperatures only a few degrees warmer have made it cold to be fly fishing on the lower Owens River. Flows in the river are in the low 60’s as DWP has on going repair work at Pleasant Valley Reservoir. As the water temperatures lower the trout’s need for calories decrease exponentially. What this means for fly fishers is the trout have lock jaw. They are not moving to feed. Even If you put the fly right on the trout’s nose it is not a guarantee they will take your nymph pattern. Fortunately there are trout that are feeding and fly fishers are catching trout on caddis, midges and mayfly nymphs. Size 18 or 20 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 20 or 22 tiger, zebra or olive midges in nymph or pupae imitations and size 12 stoner nymphs are the flies producing the wild rainbow and brown trout in the wild trout section of the lower Owens River.

Nymphing in the lower Owens River is the most productive method of fly fishing right now with cold water temperatures and lock jawed trout.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Its been cold on the creek and fly fishers need to dress warm. On the right days fly fishers can catch trout on the surface with mayfly and midge adult patterns. Use a size 20 blue wing olive parachute, size 20 blue wing olive sparkle dun, size 20 Griffith’s gnat and a size 24 gray midge adult when the trout are feeding on the surface. Nymphing continues to be the most productive method of fly fishing the Interpretive Site. Size 20 midge and pupae nymphs in blood, zebra and tiger coloration, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 12 olive scuds and size12 olive burlap caddis are the nymphs fooling the wild trout.

It's the middle of January and Hot Creek Canyon looks like fall not winter time..

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

Now is a fun time of the year to be nymphing in the Canyon Section of Hot Creek. Mornings are pretty devoid of fly fishers as most people in the Eastern Sierra right now are on Mammoth Mountain skiing. With low water and spooky trout I use a Euro rig or a dry and dropper rig when nymphing Hot Creek Canyon in the winter time. Use size 14 olive stimulators, size 12 Chernobyl ants and size 16 Adams Parachutes for the dry fly in the dry and dropper rig. For nymphs fish with size 12 olive scuds, size 12 olive burlap caddis, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 slim shady, size 18 Jedi Master baetis and size 20 blood, zebra and tiger coloration midge patterns.

Hard to believe it’s middle of winter on the upper Owens River with easy vehicle access and no snow in site.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Most of the snow is gone and the roads are drivable with very little muddy places to worry about. There are wild rainbow trout in the river that have migrated up from Crowley Lake. These trophy trout are resting and feeding in the deep holes, deep runs and under the cutbanks. With the increased fishing pressure from the easy vehicle access to the upper Owens River this winter the trout have been pressured. Thoroughly cover the water and look for those deep pockets and hidden pools that most fly fishers are passing by. Success is a couple of trophy trout per angler per outing and comes from covering lots of water and using lots of casts to make sure your flies and the trout are in the same spot at the same time. While a lot of fly fishers like worms, egg patterns and mop flies I like nymphs. Use size 12 stoner nymphs, size 12 green/gold wire Prince nymphs, size 12 gold ribbed hare’s ears variations, size 14 copper John’s and size 12 rainbow warriors (rainbow trout like brightly colored flies) to fool the trophy rainbow trout. I fish a three fly rig and use an olive quilldigon in size 18, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph in size 18, tiger midge in size 20 and zebra midge in size 20 to fool the resident, eight to 12 inch browns and rainbows.

The flat channel areas of Bishop Creek Canal are tough to present a fly to the trout without spooking them in the low clear water.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

Low, clear and cold water is making it hard to fool the wild brown trout and the hold over rainbows. It’s hard to sneak up on the trout in the low water channels. It’s easier to cast to the trout without spooking them in the deeper holes and faster riffle sections. Indicators and shadows are spooking a lot of trout. I use a size 14 stimulator and a size 16 Adams parachute for the dry fly in a dry and dropper rig. For nymphs use size 20 tiger, zebra and blood midge, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons and size 12 stoner nymphs.