Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 12-19-2024

Another small storm blew through the Eastern Sierra last week. It left two to four inches of snow around the 6,000 foot elevation. The tops of the mountains got up to a foot of fresh snow. This will be next seasons snow runoff to fill the streams and lakes in the Eastern Sierra. Upper elevation are cold and fly fishers should dress accordingly. Mayflies and midges are providing the food source for the trout. Dry fly activity is limited to a few rising trout in the middle of the day. If you can make the time to get up to the Sierra to fly fish in between the storms the fly fishing is worth it.

Winter time is the perfect time to drift boat the lower Owens River using nymphs, dries and pulling streamers.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Nymphing during the middle of the day is the most productive method of fly fishing on the lower Owens River right now. Euro nymphing and indicator nymphing are great techniques to get your nymphs on the substrate where the trout are feeding. Wading sections of the river not accessible from the banks is where you want to be nymphing. Get in the river and wade upstream using a water load cast to present your nymphs to the pockets and runs that are producing the trout. Use size 20 midges in blood, zebra and tiger coloration, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 20 olive quilldigons, size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 slim shady and size 18 Jedi Master baetis.

Evenings on the lower Owens can be a special time of the day to be fly fishing.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Fresh snow on the ground is not enough to keep fly fishers from driving out to the creek. There is limited dry fly activity middle of the day. Nymphing with size 12 olive burlap caddis, size 12 olive scuds, size 20 midges in tiger, zebra and blood coloration, size 18 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons and size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs is fooling the wild trout of the interpretive Site. Work these under an indicator in the deep holes and under a dry fly in shallows.

As the sun comes out this week it will not be long before the snow on the Interpretive Site begins to melt giving fly fishers easier access to the creek.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

The road into the canyon has snow and frozen water puddles, but is accessible with high clearance vehicles. Weed beds have shrunk to their winter size making lots of the creek available to nymph fish. Work you nymphs in the holes and runs that are now exposed from the summer weed growth. A dry and dropper or Euro rig is a great way to nymph the creek. Be sure you have the right amount of weight and your dry fly or indicator is two to three feet above the bottom fly. Midges and mayflies are the primary insects the trout are feeding on right now. There are good population of hydropsyche caddis and scuds in the creek. Nymphing with Jedi Master baetis size 18, slim shady in size 18, SOS nymph is size 18, olive quilldigons in size 18, midges in blood, zebra and tiger coloration in size 20, olive scuds in size 12 and olive burlap caddis in size 12 will produce the selectively feeding trout of Hot Creek Canyon.

Deep holes is where the trophy rainbow trout are feeding and resting and willing to take a well-placed nymph.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

The new snow from the weekend storm only left a few inches of new snow on the ground. With the sun out do not expect the snow to last to long. Driving the roads is good, but be cautious as the snow melts and the dirt roads get muddy. There are good numbers of trophy rainbow trout in the river right now. The most consistent area for the trophy trout has been in the area of the confluence of the three forks of Hot Creek and the Owens River. Egg patterns, worm patterns and mop flies are producing fish. Fishing with nymphs in the deep holes, deep runs  and cut banks where the trout are feeding and resting is a very productive method of fly fishing the river for trophy trout. Use size 12 stoner nymphs, size 12 green/gold Prince nymphs, size 12 gold ribbed hare’s ears variations on Euro nymph hooks. On standard nymph hooks try nymphing with size 14 stoner nymphs, size 14 copper John’s and size14 gold ribbed hare’s ears.

With low and clear water in Bishop Creek Canal fishing the deep holes and riffle sections are where fly fishers are less likely to spook trout.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

Low and clear water have the trout being vary cautious. The trout spook easily if you are too close to the trout when you cast or you are splatting the water with an indicator. Use a Euro rig or a dry and dropper rig to present the nymphs to the trout without spooking them. Nymphing with SOS nymphs in size 16, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs in size 18, olive quilldigons in size 18 and midges in tiger or zebra coloration in size 20 are fooling wild brown trout and hold over rainbow trout. Deep holes and riffles are spots to fish nymphs without spooking the trout.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 12-06-2024

This last set of storms left snow in the mountains and rain in the Owens Valley. Now we have warm days with cold nights and cold mornings. Fly fishing waters in the Long Valley area are accessible, but there is snow to contend with. I recommend four wheel drive vehicles with clearance. Hatches of midges, mayflies and caddis are what the trout are feeding on. Nymphing is the most productive method of fly fishing in the winter months. There are those days when the trout come to the surface to feed on the hatching insects. Pulling streamers will produce the occasional trophy trout looking for a big meal.

Sunny days, wild trout and dry fly fishing makes fly fishing the Owens Valley waters in winter a treat for fly fishers.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Low flows, warm days, in the low 70’s, and lots of eight to 12 inch wild rainbow and brown trout makes the lower Owens River the place to be fly fishing. A mid-day mayfly hatch has the trout coming to the surface to feed on the mayfly duns. If you’re looking to fly fish with dries you will need to find the section of the river where lots of trout are feeding on the hatching duns. Blue wing olive parachutes in size 20, Adams parachutes in size 20, olive sparkle duns in size 20 and light Cahills in size 20 are fooling the surface eating trout. Nymphing continues to be the most productive method of fly fishing on the lower Owens River in the wild trout section. Euro nymphing and indicator nymphing with size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 16 SOS nymphs, size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, size 12 stoner nymphs size 12 olive burlap caddis and size 20 zebra or tiger midges is producing the wild trout. Wading into areas inaccessible from the banks is the most productive way of finding the wild trout in the wild trout section.

The last of fall colors, rising trout and T-shirt weather makes fly fishing the lower Owens River the best opportunity in the Eastern Sierra right now.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Access to Hot Creek is on snow covered roads and fly fishers should have four wheel drive vehicles with high clearance. Most of the action right now on the creek is with nymphs. Fishing with a dry and dropper rig will keep from spooking wary trout. On the surface fish with a size 16 Adams parachute, size 14 stimulator or a size 10 Chernobyl ant. For nymphs fish with size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, size 14 olive scuds and size 12 olive burlap caddis.

It takes effort to get into Hot Creek Canyon in the winter time, but the fly fishing is worth the effort.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

Fly fishing in Hot Creek Canyon takes some extra effort, but is worth the solitude and the nymphing opportunities. Less weeds means it’s easier to drift nymphs to the trout that are always looking for food. Euro nymphing, dry and dropper and indicator nymphing will produce the wild rainbows and browns on the creek. Size 20 zebra or tiger midge, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph, size 18 SOS nymph and a size 18 olive quilldigon will fool the larvae feeding trout. Key to success is covering lots of water with your nymphs and having the right amount of weight in the flies or on your tippet to bounce the flies along the substrate.

Trophy rainbow trout are the fish fly fishers are targeting in the upper Owens River in winter time.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

There is snow on the ground and the temperatures are cold. Trophy rainbow trout are the target species this time of year. Fly fishing with egg patterns, worm patterns, mop flies and streamers will produce some trophy trout. Nymphing the deep holes, deep runs and cut banks where the trophy trout are resting and feeding is the most productive method to catch the trophy trout. Nymphing under an indicator or with a Euro rig with size 12 gold ribbed hare’s ears variations, size 14 copper John’s, size 12 stoner nymphs and size 12 green/gold Prince nymphs are the flies that produce the trophy trout. For the resident rainbows and browns fish with a size 18 olive quilldigon, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph size and size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymph.

Wild brown trout are taking well place nymphs fished on the substrate in deep holes and riffles.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

There are wild brown trout and stocked rainbow trout willing to take nymphs as long as you do not spook the trout. Riffles and deep holes are spots fly fishers can fish without spooking the trout. Euro nymphing or dry and a dropper nymphing with SOS nymphs in size 16, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs in size 18, olive quilldigons in size 18 and tiger or zebra midges in size 20 is producing the trout. Middle of the day is the perfect time to be on the water working nymphs.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report for 11-29-2024

Winter storms are hitting the Eastern Sierra bringing winds and snow to the high country and snow flurries and rain in the Owens Valley. Access to upper elevation waters will be determined after the storms clear and fly fishers venture out on the dirt roads now covered in  six to 18 inches of snow. Be careful when driving on snow covered roads. Getting stuck in the snow is no fun and can be costly if you have to call an off road recovery crew like Frosty Four Wheeler. Fish are feeding on mayflies, midges and caddis. Nymphing has been the most consistent method of fly fishing the waters of the Eastern Sierra. Fall is a great time to target trophy trout with streamers in streams of the Eastern Sierra that are now open to catch and release fishing.

Fall and winter is a great time to be fly fishing the waters of the Owens Valley like the wild trout section of the lower Owens River.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

With flows down to 125 CFS and rainbows and brown readily feeding on nymphs now is the time to be fly fishing on the lower Owens River. Indicator nymphing or Euro nymphing with size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 SOS nymphs and size 20 zebra or tiger midges is producing the wild trout. Methodically covering all the water with the right amount of weight is the key to being successful. Wading the river is giving fly fishers access to spots not accessible from the banks at higher flows. Summer growth of stream side vegetation is hampering fly fishers access to the stream banks. Cows and the impact of fly fishers is needed to beat down the vegetation and open up pathways to the river. At the right time and right section of the river trout are feeding on the surface on Adams parachutes in size 20, blue wing olive parachutes in size 20 and size 20 elk hair caddis.

Andrew Heine nymphed under an indicator to take several wild brown trout in the wild trout section of the lower Owens River.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

It is yet to be determined if the road into Hot Creek is accessible as it is still snowing at the time this is being written. Before the storm the blue wing olive hatch was bringing the trout to the surface. Fishing with blue wing olive parachutes in size 20, Adams parachutes in size 20 and sparkle duns in size 20 is fooling the surface feeding trout. Nymphing after the storm will be producing trout if the blue wing olive hatch does not happen. For nymphs fish with size 18 olive quilldigons, size 16 SOS nymphs, size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs and size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs.

Rainbow trout from the canyon section of Hot Creek are feeding on nymphs fished under a dry fly.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

This is a great time to by fishing a nymph under a dry fly as your indicator. I like using a size 16 Adams parachute, size 14 stimulator and a mini Chernobyl ant as my indicator fly. I attach 24 to 36 inches of 5X fluorocarbon tippet to the bend of the dry fly with a clinch knot. I attach a size 20 zebra or tiger midge, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph, size 18 SOS nymph and a size 18 olive quilldigon to catch the wild brown and rainbows of Hot Creek Canyon. Key to success is floating this rig in the open water sections in and around the weed beds. Deeper holes are always a great spot to work the nymphs through.

The brown trout run is just about done on the upper Owens River.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

When the skies clear and fly fishers venture out to the upper Owens River it will be determined if the roads are drivable or if it is time to be parking at Benton Crossing Bridge and walking, snow shoeing, cross country skiing or snowmobiling into the river. The trophy rainbow trout are in the river system and feeding on nymphs and streamers. This is not a quantity fishery, but a quality fishery with one to three trout above 18 inches being caught by anglers that know how to work the river. Fly fishers covering lots of deep holes, deep runs and cut banks are finding trophy trout willing to take their properly presented flies. I like fly fishing a Euro rod with three flies. My two trophy trout producing patterns are a size 12 stoner nymph and a size 12 green/gold Prince nymph. My third fly is either a size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymph or a size 18 olive quilldigon which is there to entice the smaller resident fish. Fishing streamers downstream along the cut banks or in the deep slots or pools will produce the trophy trout. Pulling streamers requires covering lots of water to get a few trophy trout to whack at your flies.

The leaves are dropping quickly and nymphing in Bishop Creek Canal is producing stocked rainbows and wild brown trout.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

The water is low and the trout are spooky, but fly fishers are catching trout nymphing the canal. Working the deep holes, and fast runs allows fly fishes to approach the trout without spooking them. Size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, size 16 SOS nymphs and zebra or tiger midges in size 18 are the flies that are producing the wild brown trout and holdover rainbow trout.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 11-22-2024

Storms are starting to move through the Eastern Sierra leaving snow at upper elevations. Winds and snow are not pleasant to fish in so be sure to check the weather before heading up to the Eastern Sierra or out to the waters to fly fish. Throwing streamers is still producing trophy browns and rainbows. Hatches of midges, mayflies and caddis are the insects that the trout are feeding on both. A lot of Eastern Sierra waters are now catch and release barbless lures and flies. Sierra lakes with marinas are closed to fishing as off the 16th of November.

Rainbow trout are showing up in the catches of Eastern Sierra fly fishers.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Flows are down to 125 CFS which is perfect flows to allow fly fishers to access the waters of the lower Owens River with waders that are not accessible from the banks due to the heavy growth of tulles and willows. With no cows and very little fly fishing pressure the big buildup of summer vegetation growth is hindering access along the banks. Rainbow and brown trout are feeding on midges, mayflies, hydropsyche caddis nymphs and adult caddis. There is limited dry fly opportunities with size 20 blue wing olive parachutes, size 20 Adams parachutes and size 18 elk hair caddis. Euro nymphing or indicator nymphing with size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, size 12 olive burlap caddis and size 20 tiger or zebra midge are the flies that imitate the insects the trout are feeding on. Key to success is have the right weight to get your flies slowly bouncing on the substrate where the trout are feeding.

Pat Brady learning to indicator nymph on the lower Owens River on a beautiful Fall day.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Hatches of blue wing olive mayflies are bringing wild rainbows and brown trout to the surface late morning. Getting a drag free drift with size 20 blue wing olive mayflies, size 20 blue wing olive sparkle dun and size 20 Adams parachutes is the way to get the trout to take your dry fly. Nymphing with a dry fly on top with a nymph under the dry fly with size 18 olive quilldigon, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph and size 20 tiger, blood and zebra midges is producing trout.

Hot Creek Canyon is offering good nymphing opportunities with blue wing olive mayfly nymphs and midge nymphs.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

I learned to fly fish by nymphing and dry fly fishing the Canyon section of Hot Creek. This section is great water to nymph fish. With the low water and spooky trout fly fishing with a dry and dropper rig is the most successful way to fly fish the canyon. To imitate the blue wing olive nymphs use a size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph, size 18 olive quilldigon, size 18 SOS nymph and size 18 olive WD40.  Other nymphs that are producing in the canyon section are size 12 olive burlap caddis, size 12 olive scuds and size 20 tiger or zebra midge.

No more float tubing on Crowley Lake until the lake opens up on Saturday April  25th, 2025.

Crowley Lake:

Crowley Lake and the Owens River from Crowley Lake to Benton Crossing Bridge is closed for the season. Crowley Lake will open to fishing on Saturday April 26th, 2025.

Fly rods and trophy trout make a great day on the upper Owens River.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Fly fishers are catching trophy trout with consistency nymphing and pulling streamers through the deep holes, deep runs and cutbanks where the trophy trout are resting and feeding. Covering lots of water is producing a trophy trout or two for fly fisher. Fish stoner nymphs in size 12, green/gold wire Prince nymphs in size 12, gold ribbed hare’s ears in size 12 and copper John’s in size 14 are producing the trophy trout. Fish streamers down streams pulling them upstream through deep holes or next to cutbanks. If you do not get hit after three or four drifts with your streamer move on to the next piece of water to fly fish. Good streamers to pull through the water on the upper Owens River are olive slumpbusters in size 10, black wooly buggers in size 10 and Hornbergs in size 8.

Low clear water is making the trout spooky and hard to cast a fly to in Bishop Creek Canal.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

Nymphing is producing trout if you can keep from spooking the trout. Using a dry and dropper is a good technique to present nymphs to the trout without spooking the wary trout. For the dry fly use a size 16 Adams parachute, size 14 olive stimulators and size 14 elk hair caddis. For the nymphs fish with size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, size 16 SOS nymphs and zebra or tiger midges in size 18.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 11-15-2024

The regular fishing season comes to an end on Friday November 15th, 2024 on waters of the Eastern Sierra. This primarily effects the lakes that have a marina or business on the lake. Starting Saturday November 16th, 2024 most moving waters go to catch and release with barbless lures or flies. To check the status of a water you want to fish check out the CDFW alphabetical list of waters with special fishing regulations. Nice days are interrupted by a day or two of stormy weather. Most of are storms come in with the wind and go out with the wind. The storms are bringing in snow that is slowly covering the peaks of the mountains. Mayflies, midges and caddis are the insects that the trout are feeding on the surface and on the substrate. Streamers are producing trophy trout in still waters and streams.

Fishing with two or three flies gives fly fishers the opportunities to land doubles like this brown and rainbow trout from the lower Owens River that took an olive quilldigon and SOS nymph on a three fly Euro Rig.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Fly fishing on the lower Owens River wild trout section is now open. Yes I know that the river is open to year round fishing, but once the flows drop from their summer high flows it’s like an opening day on the River. With little to no fishing pressure all summer the trout are eagerly taking flies presented to them. Flows on the lower Owens River in the wild trout section are at 200 CFS and dropping. Mid-day hatches of blue wing olive mayflies are feeding the trout. Nymphing with SOS nymphs, olive quilldigons, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and hot spot pheasant tail nymphs in sizes 16 and 18 are producing wild brown and rainbow trout. If you’re on the right hole when the hatch brings the trout to the surface to feed on the mayfly duns fish with a size 20 blue wing olive parachute, size 20 blue wing olive sparkle dun and a size 20 Adams parachute.

Fly fishing season has begun on the lower Owens River as flows are now at safe wading levels and fish are taking nymphs.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Mid-morning hatches of blue wing olive mayflies are bringing the trout to the surface. Success here is having a drag free drift with an imitation of the stage the trout are feeding on. On the interpretive Site fish a size 20 blue wing olive parachute, size 20 blue wing olive sparkle dun and size 20 Adams parachutes. I like to fish a dry and dry fly rig to allow the fly fisher the ability to see an indicator fly when they cannot see the tiny fly patterns that are imitating the hatching insects. For the indicator fly I like a size 16 Adams parachute. It’s highly visible on the water and some trout will take it off the surface.

It’s that time of the year when the crowds are gone from Hot Creek despite a good hatch of blue wing olive mayflies.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

The canyon section lends its self to nymphing. Nymphing with an indicator, Euro rig or dry and dropper rig will produce trout. I find that the dry and dropper rig is the most successful way to fly fish the canyon section. I use a size 16 Adams parachute on the surface with two feet of 5X fluorocarbon tied to the bend of the hook on the Adams parachute. For the nymph use size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 16 SOS nymphs and size 18 tiger and zebra midges.

Whiskey Bay and all of Crowley Lake will close an hour after sunset on Friday November 15th, 2024.

Crowley Lake

Whiskey Bay:

Crowley Lake and the Owens River from Crowley Lake to Benton Crossing Bridge closes on Friday November 15th, 2024. Pulling streamers from shore or from a float tube is producing trophy brown and rainbow trout. Winds and snow makes it miserable to fly fish on the lake. Fishing streamers on a full sink line allows fly fishers to work different depths to determine where the trout are holding in the water column. I use different retrieve until I can find the retrieve the trout want to take. I fish olive or black size 6 or 10 wooly buggers, slumpbusters and size 10 perch colored balanced leeches

Trophy brown trout are always special when you get the opportunity to land one in the Owens River in the fall.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Trophy trout numbers in the upper Owens River are increasing. Fly fishing with size 12 stoner nymphs, size 12 green/gold wire Prince nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons and size 14 copper John’s in the deep holes, deep runs and cut banks are producing trophy brown and rainbow trout. An early afternoon blue wing olive mayfly hatch is bringing fish to the surface to feed on the hatching duns. Fish with a size 20 blue wing olive parachute, size 20 sparkle dun and size 20 Adams parachute. Throwing size 6 or 10 olive slumpbusters, black wooly buggers and size 10 hornbergs is fooling the trophy rainbows and browns.

Fall colors and low flows are typical fall fly fishing conditions on Bishop Creek Canal.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

There are lots of trout visible in the low clear water in Bishop Creek Canal. The trout are supper spooky and hard to get to take a fly. I like to stay way back and make 30 to 50 foot casts upstream with a dry and dropper rig. For the dry fly I use a simulator or an Adams parachute. For the nymphs fish with size 18 blood, zebra and tiger midges, size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ear, size 18 olive quilldigons, and size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 11-08-2024

The first week of November came in cold. The highest of peaks have a fresh layer of snow. Been wearing a jacket more than I want to admit. Insect activity has been most active middle of the day and nymphing has been the most successful method to fool the trout. Midges, mayflies and caddis continue to hatch. Pulling streamers is a great way to catch a trophy trout in the Fall.

This is the time of the year that storms start rolling into the Eastern Sierra and it will not be long before the area is blanketed in snow.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Flows are expected to lower starting the middle of November. For now flows in the 400 CFS range makes it unsafe to wade the river. Fly fishers fishing from the few bank accessible spots are catching a few trout on nymphs. Key to success is having enough weight on the leader to allow the nymphs to bounce on the substrate.

With high flows and limited bank access fly fishers are finding it tough to fly fish with nymphs or dries on the lower Owens River.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Colder weather has slowed down the hatches. Blue wing olive mayflies are hatching middle of the morning. Use a size 20 blue wing olive parachute, size 20 olive sparkle dun and size 18 and 20 Adams parachutes. If you have troubles seeing size 20 and smaller dry flies on the surface try fishing with a dry and dry rig. Use a bigger dry fly like a size 16 Adams parachute, size 14 stimulator or size 12 Chernobyl ant as an indicator. Attach three feet of 5X or 6X monofilament with a clinch knot to the bend of the dry fly. This allows the fly fisher to catch surface feeding trout on very small dry flies.

Mark Rafeh casting a dry and dropper rig in the slots in between the weed beds.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

This is a great time to be fly fishing with a dry and dropper rig. I like fishing with a size 16 Adams parachute for the dry and a size 18 olive quilldigon, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph and size 18 zebra and tiger midges. Fishing this rig in the runs between the weed beds and in the deeper holes will produce wild brown and rainbow trout. If you see rising fish use a size 20 blue wing olive parachute, size 20 olive sparkle dun and size 20 Adams parachutes.

An afternoon on Whiskey Bay with no one around is a great time to be throwing streamers from shore.

Crowley Lake

Whiskey Bay:

I like pulling streamers from the banks of Whiskey bay when the marina closes the last Sunday of October. The lake closes to fishing on November 15th, 2024. I fish olive or black size 6 or 10 wooly buggers, slumpbusters and size 10 perch colored balanced leeches. I tie in a size 16 Prince nymph, size 14 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ear and size 14 bead head callibaetis nymph about 20 inches above the streamer. Using an indicator with midges and balanced leeches will produce fish for fly fishers who do not want to pull streamers.

Storms are roiling through the Eastern Sierra and bringing lots of wind which is making it hard to fly fish.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

There is an increase in trophy trout in the upper Owens River, but they are still not in the river system in  big concentration. I like to fish the deep holes, deep runs and cut banks where the trout are resting and feeding on their migration up river. My preferred method of fly fishing for the trophy trout is to Euro nymph with size 12 stoner nymphs, size 12 green/gold wire Prince nymphs and size 18 olive quilldigons. Throwing steamers is a great way to cover lots of water looking for those few trophy trout in the river. I fish streamers downstream and only make four to six casts through each water type before moving on to find the next place to pull my streamers through. Fish with olive or black size 6 or 10 wooly buggers and slumpbusters. Size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hares ears, size 18 tiger, zebra and blood midges on the substrate and size 20 blue wing olive parachutes is producing non trophy trout from three to 12 inches.

Low flows are making the trout in Bishop Creek Canal spooky and hard to present a fly to.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

Low water levels and spooky trout await fly fishers casting flies into Bishop Creek Canal. To keep from spooking trout I’m fishing with a dry fly as the indicator because it does not spook the trout like a foam style indicator will. For the dry fly use a size 14 stimulator or a size 16 Adams parachute. For the nymphs use size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ear and size 18 blood, zebra and tiger midges.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 11-01-2024

October has come to an end and with it our Indian summer weather is coming to an end as well. Freezing mornings with mid-day temperatures barley getting into the 70’s well quickly become the norm. As upper elevations get snow and brown and brook trout wrap up there spawning season it’s time to look towards Owens Valley waters. Browns have not started spawning in Owens Valley waters yet. Creeks, rivers and reservoir in the Owens Valley will be the waters to concentrate on along with waters in Long Valley until the snow keeps fly fishers from accessing their favorite Long Valley waters. Midges, mayflies and caddis are still hatching and providing the food the trout are feeding on. This is prime time to be throwing streamers to trophy trout. I like throwing small, medium and larger streamers. I do this by tying my favorite streamer patterns on size 2, 6 and 10 streamer style hooks.

The trees are just starting to turn in the Owens Valley as Fall is here, the weather has cooled off and the trout are feeding on dries, nymphs and streamers.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Flows on the lower Owens River are back up to 400 CFS. I’m looking for flows to reduce to 250 CFS to safely wade customers in the river. Once the flows recede it will be time to hit the river as there has been little to no fly fishing pressure on the river this summer and fall. Midge nymphs, blue wing olive nymphs, pale morning duns and hydropsyche caddis are the insects that fly fishers should be imitating with their flies.

Flows on the lower Owens River are up to 400 CFS as fly fishers are waiting on the flows to drop under 250 CFS which allows fly fishers to safely wade the river and access spots not accessible from the river bank.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Storms this week have slowed down the hatches of insects on the creek. Trico may flies, blue wing olive mayflies and caddis are bringing the trout to the surface in between the storms. With the cold weather you need to be on the creek middle of the day when the insects are hatching. On the surface fish with size 22 trico parachutes in male and female colors, size 22 trico spinners, size 20 blue wing olive parachutes, size 20 olive sparkle dun and size 20 gray elk hair caddis. If you’re looking for that once in a life time Hot Creek trout try throwing size 6 or 10 olive or black, wooly buggers, stumpbusters and balanced leeches.

Wild rainbow and brown trout are taking dries and nymphs in Hot Creek Canyon on a dry and dropper rig.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

This cold weather will help break down the weed beds in the canyon section. Fishing with a dry and a dropper allows fly fishers to fish with nymphs without spooking trout like an indicator will. Fishing nymphs in and around the weed beds means not only will you catch trout, but you will get snagged on the weeds a lot. Look to fish the deeper holes and bigger pockets between the weeds. For the dry fly fish with a size 16 Adams parachute, size 12 Chernobyl ant and size 14 stimulator. These are all high floating very visible dry flies. For the nymphs fish with a size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph, size 18 olive quilldigon, size 20 tiger, zebra or blood midge and a size 12 olive burlap caddis. For the dry flies fish with size 20 blue wing olive parachutes, size 22 trico male and female parachutes, size 22 trico spinners and size 20 gray parachute caddis.

Shane Dishion casting streamers from the bank on Whiskey Bay for trophy brown trout.

Crowley Lake

Whiskey Bay:

Crowley Lake closed to boating on Sunday October 27th, 2024. The lake closes to fishing on Friday November 15th, 2024. Fly fishing with float tubes and kayaks is still allowed. I like to fish a streamer on a full sink line from shore or from a float tube. Try using size 6 or 10 streamers in olive, purple, black or perch fry color using wooly buggers, matukas, slumpbusters and balanced leeches. I like to fish a nymph 20 inches above my streamer. I use size 16 Prince nymphs, size 16 gold ribbed hares ears and a size 14 callibaetis nymph above the streamer. Midging under an indicator with Albino Barron’s, blood midges, gray midges, zebra midges and tiger midges in 10 to 15 feet of water in the north arm of the lake.

Nymphing or pulling streamers in deep holes, deep runs and cut banks is where trophy trout are resting and feeding.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

The wind has been ripping through Long Valley with nothing to slow it down. Morning temperatures have been below freezing. Trophy trout are being caught, but they are not in the river in any kind of concentration. Streamers and nymphs are what is producing the big trout. For nymphs use size 14 cooper Johns, size 12 stoner nymphs, size 12 green/gold wire Prince nymphs and size 14 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears. For streamers use black or olive, wooly buggers, slumpbusters and matuka’s in size 6 and 10. Rainbows and browns from three inches to 12 inches are taking size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hares ears, size 18 tiger, zebra and blood midges on the substrate and size 20 blue wing olive parachutes and size 18 brown caddis on the surface.

The trees on Bishop Creek Canal are just starting to turn and low flows is making the fly fishing tough.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

It’s amazing how quick the weather has changed the fly fishing on Bishop Creek Canal. Too hot of weather to fly fish in the afternoon has switched to fly fishing middle of the day when fly fishers are most comfortable on the water and the insects are most active. With extremely low water the trout are spooky and fly fishers will be successful fishing the deeper holes and runs. Nymphing with size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ear and size 18 blood, zebra and tiger midges.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 10-25-2024

October is quickly coming to an end and there is a storm heading towards the Eastern Sierra. Wind is always the problem for fly fishers and unfortunately all of our storms come with lots of wind as they blow into the Eastern Sierra and they blow out. Caddis, midges and mayflies are hatching and the trout are feeding on the nymphs, emergers and adults. Fall colors are over at upper elevations and are slowly coming to the Owens Valley. It’s time to shake off the dust and get out your jackets as we head into winter.

Evenings are coming earlier every day as we head into winter time.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Flows are decreasing. Question is will they continue to drop or will they go back up. Are we are finally seeing the flows on the lower Owens River dropping to their winter levels. Flows under 200 CFS will be optimal. Time will tell if winter fly fishing conditions are upon the lower Owens River.

Is the lower Owens River flows finally decreasing to fishable levels as we head out of Fall.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Cold mornings are slowing up the hatches. At 8:00 A.M. the temperature is hovering in the mid 30’s. No need to get to the creek early. Hatches of mayflies and caddis are starting around 9:00 A.M. and over by early afternoon. Nymphing under an indicator with a size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigon, size 20 tiger midges, zebra midges and blood midges is fooling the wild trout of Hot Creek. For the dry flies fish with a size 22 trico dun, trico female dun and trico spinner, a size 20 blue wing olive parachute and a size 20 gray elk hair caddis. Afternoon winds makes it hard to get a good dry fly drift.

Keeping your nymphs from hanging up on the weed beds is the tough part of nymphing in the canyon.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

With shallow water and lots of weeds nymphing with a dry and dropper is producing wild rainbow and brown trout. A size 16 Adams Parachute is visible enough to see on the water and know when the trout has taken the nymph. The Adams will have a few fish come to the surface to take the fly. For the nymphs fish with a size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph, size 18 olive quilldigon, size 20 tiger, zebra or blood midge and a size 12 olive burlap caddis. Fishing a size 20 blue wing olive parachute and a size 20 elk hair caddis in gray imitates the few insects that have been hatching. If these tiny flies are hard to see on the water fish them as a dry and dry behind the Adams parachute. Afternoon winds and getting caught up in the weed beds is a couple of the obstacles that fly fishers need to overcome when fly fishing in the canyon section of Hot Creek.

John Carlson admiring his trophy rainbow trout before releasing it to fight another day.

Crowley Lake

Mouth of the Owens River:

Afternoon winds has most of the fly fishers calling it a day by noon or early afternoon. Midging with zebra midges, tiger midges, gray midges, blood midges and albino Barron’s in ten to 15 feet of water is fooling the trout. Stripping streamers or trolling them is another productive method to catch trophy trout. Fish with olive and purple wool buggers, olive matukas, olive slumpbusters and perch colored balanced leeches.

Working nymphs and dry flies is producing rainbows and browns from three inches to 20 inches.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Fishing with size 20 blue wing olive parachutes and size 20 female trico duns is fooling rainbows and browns to 12 inches mid-day. Using a dry and dropper is another way to catch the trout. A size 16 Adams parachute and a size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail and a size 20 zebra midge is a good combination to produce trout. Euro nymphing with a size 12 stoner nymph, size 12 green/gold Prince nymph and a size 18 olive quilldigon is producing small to trophy trout when fished in the deep holes and runs. Pulling streamers is a great way to get trophy trout if the fly fisher is willing to cover a lot of water in pursuit of trophy trout. Fishing with size 6 and 10 olive wooly buggers, olive slumpbusters, olive matukas, balance leeches and marabou muddlers is producing trophy brown and rainbow trout to 20 inches.

A float tube allows fly fishers complete access to North Lake to present dries, nymph and streamers to the trout.

North Lake:

The back drop of fall color is gone, but hatchery and wild trout continue to feed on nymphs and dries. Trolling a size 14 olive wooly bugger is a very productive method of fooling the hatchery trout. Fishing with a dry and dropper rig will fool the stocked rainbow trout and the wild brown and brook trout. For the dry fly fish with a size 12 or 14 stimulator, elk hair caddis or Adams parachute. For the nymphs fish with size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs size 16 tiger, zebra and blood midges. Fly fishing out of a float tube gives fly fishers complete access to the lake. Fly fishing the flooded flats in the area of the inlet is a great spot for fly fishers without a water craft to present their flies to the cruising trout.

Weir Pond is a great place to catch spawning brown and brook trout on dry flies and nymphs.

Bishop Creek

South Fork at Weir Pond:

The winds have all but decimated the fall foliage on Weir Pond. Fly fishing with dry flies and nymphs continues to produce rainbow, brown and brook trout. The best dry fly to fish is your favorite dry fly in a size 14 or 16. My favorite dry flies for opportunistically feeding trout are royal Wulff’s, elk hair caddis and Adams parachute. These flies are easy to see on the water as they have very visible wings. For the nymphs fish with size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and size 18 tiger, zebra and blood midges. Waders are a must for fly fishing this area.

Low flows mean the trout in Bishop Creek Canal are spooky and fly fishers need to present their nymphs on the water with stealth.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

Nymphing continues to be the most productive method of fly fishing Bishop Creek Canal. Indicator nymphing and Euro nymphing are both productive ways to fly fish the canal. For the nymphs use size 18 olive quilldigons, size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, size 12 stoner nymphs, size 12 green/gold Prince nymphs, size 16 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and size 18 blood, zebra and tiger midges.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 10-18-2024

The Eastern Sierra is due for a change in the weather. Cooler weather with a chance of snow at upper elevations. Then the question is will it warm up or is winter knocking on the door. I get up every day to see what weather we will have and plan out my day. Spawning brown and brook trout are offering fly fishers the opportunity for trophy brown trout and quantity brook trout. Hatches of mayflies, midges and caddis continue to feed trout on the substrate and on the streams surface. High country fly fishing opportunities are coming to an end as winter snows will be on the ground soon. Fall colors are about over at high elevations and are slowly moving downhill towards the Owens Valley.

Leaves are quickly falling and soon the trees will be bare of leaves and high altitude waters will become inaccessible.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Flows of 450 CFS is too high to safely wade the lower Owens River. Expect the flows to reduce by the end of the month. Flows under 300 CFS are safely wadable. Flows under 200 CFS are very fishable. Once flows reduce down the fly fishing on the lower Owens River will be good with nymphs.

At flows of 450 CFS there is little opportunity to wade or fly fish from the bank.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Caddis, tricos and bluewing olives are the insects the trout are feeding on. The mornings start off with a caddis migration. This is thousands of caddis flying upstream before they reproduce and lay their eggs. Caddis are poor fliers and the caddis that crash onto the water are feed upon by the trout. Use size 14 to 20 elk hair caddis, parachute caddis and October caddis. Following the caddis migration is the trico hatch. It starts with the duns hatching. Use a size 22 parachute trico or female trico parachute. After the dun stage the trico molt into the sexually mature spinner. After mating and laying their eggs the tricos die on the surface of the water. Fly fish with a size 22 trico spinner. Blue wing olive parachutes in size 22 have been producing trout at the end of the trico hatch.

Success on the Interpretive Site is a drag free drift and a fly pattern that imitates the stage of the insect the trout are feeding on.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

With a stepper gradient in the canyon section the trout are not as selective as in the Interpretive Site. Your drifts and fly patterns still need to be accurate, but the trout will accept less then perfection. A dry and dry or dry and dropper are two rigs to fly fish with in the canyon section. For the dry fly use a size 16 Adams parachute, size 14 stimulator and size 12 Chernobyl ant. For the nymph fish with a size 18 tiger midges, size 18 zebra midge, size 18 blood midge, size 18 olive quilldigon, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph and size 18 SOS nymph.

To get out on Crowley Lake fly fishers are using a variety of water craft to pull streamers and midge under an indicator.

Crowley Lake

Mouth of the Owens River:

The flotilla of boats, float tubes, canoes, kayaks and boats is concentrating their effort on the north arm of Crowley Lake. Some fly fishers are using sinking lines and streamers to fish in 10 to 20 feet of water. Pulling size 6 and 10 wooly buggers in olive, black and purple, olive matukas and marabou muddles in olive and black and size 10 balanced leeches in black and in perch fry colors. Midging under an indicator with size 18 tiger midges, zebra midges, blood midges, gray midges and albino Barron’s in 10 to 20 feet of water is producing trout.

Is shorts and T-shirts behind us on when fly fishing the upper Owens River as a storm blows through the Eastern Sierra.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Trophy brown trout are trickling into the upper Owens River and can be found from the mouth of Crowley to the Longyears area. If you want to catch one of these fish you need to fish with bigger flies like a size 12 stoner nymph, size 12 green/gold Prince nymph, size 14 copper John and size 12 gold ribbed hare’s ear in the deeper holes, deeper runs and cutbanks. Rainbows and browns from three inches to 12 inches are willing taking well-presented dries and nymphs. Under an indicator 1.5 to 2 times the average depth of water above the bottom fly is how you want to be nymphing with size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, size 16 tiger or zebra midges and size 16 SOS nymphs. On the surface fish with size 20 trico parachutes, size 16 Adams parachutes, size 18 blue wing olive parachutes and size 16 elk hair caddis.

Trolling a size 14 olive wooly bugger behind the float tube produced lots of stocked rainbow trout for Jordan Souter from Australia.

North Lake:

North Lake got a planting of hatchery rainbows that are all over the lake taking nymphs, dries and streamers. Trolling an olive size 14 wooly bugger behind a float tube proved to be the hot ticket for my client from Australia who had a great day landing over 30 rainbows and one brown trout to 12 inches. Using a dry and dropper with a size 16 Adams parachute and a size 16 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph is fooling the rainbows who are taking the nymph as much as they’re taking the dry. Lots of fall color lookers were all over the lake taking advantage of the fall colors. The colors on North Lake have peaked and should be totally gone by the end of next week.

From the inlet to Weir Pond through Weir Pond rainbows browns and brook trout are taking dries and nymphs.

Bishop Creek

South Fork at Weir Pond:

The leaves are quickly falling from the trees lining Weir Pond. The trout are continuing to take dries and nymph fished to them. For dries try fly fishing with size 16 Adams parachutes, size 14 elk hair caddis and size 14 royal Wulff’s. For the nymphs fish with size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and size 16 tiger and zebra midges. Waders and a jacket are necessary on the creek particularly in the evenings and when the wind is blowing.

Working the flats on Bishop Creek Canal with a nymph under an indicator or a Euro rig is producing wild brown trout and stocked rainbow trout.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

Under an indicator or with a Euro rig fly fishers presenting nymphs to the trout in Bishop Creek Canal are producing trout. On the Euro rig fish with a size 12 green/gold Prince nymph, size 12 stoner nymph, size 18 olive quilldigon and a size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymph. Under the indicator fish with a size 16 tiger or zebra midge, size 16 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph and a size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 10-11-2024

We are coming to the end of my favorite month of the year SeptOct. The weather has been perfect, but it will not last long. Soon winter will be here and there will be snow on the ground. For now take advantage of the good weather and good fly fishing opportunities of fall. Hatches of midges, mayflies and caddis have the trout feeding on nymphs and dry flies. Trophy trout are looking for big meals so throwing big articulated streamers is going to entice that trophy trout to feed on your fly pattern. Fly fishing at upper altitudes is a great way to enjoy the fall colors that will quickly become just a memory.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

The mid-morning trico hatch is what is bringing the trout to the surface to feed on the hatching duns and spinners. Start the morning fishing a gray elk hair caddis in size 20, a gray parachute caddis in size 20 and a size 20 gray X-caddis during the morning caddis migration. The caddis move upstream of where they have lived to lay their eggs. When the caddis migrate most caddis that land or crash on the water are fed upon by the rainbow and brown trout that inhabit the creek. The consistent dry fly hatch takes place when the trico are hatching. Start off with a trico dun parachute in size 22, a female trico dun parachute in size 22 at the beginning of the hatch. When the trico spinner fall happens it is time to be fishing with a size 22 trico spinner pattern. The trout have been taking a size 20 blue wing olive parachute during and directly after the trico hatch.

Hot Creek Interpretive Site is an easy to access hard section of Hot Creek to successfully fly fish..

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

The weed beds make it tough to fly fish in the canyon right now. A dry and dropper is a good rig to fish with in and around the weed beds. The more open water is easier to fly fish with this rig. Working the narrow channels around the weeds will get you trout, but you will hook up lots of weeds too. Fishing with an Adams parachute in size 16, a stimulator in size 14 or a mini Chernobyl ant in size 12 are good highly visible dry flies to have on the surface. Tie on an 18 to 24 inch section of 5X fluorocarbon tippet to the bend of the dry fly with a clinch knot. To the tippet attach a size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph, size 18 olive quilldigon, size 18 Frenchie and size 18 SOS nymph to imitate the hatching mayflies.

John Carlton went old school and trolled a purple wooly bugger to fool this nice Crowley Lake rainbow trout.

Crowley Lake

Mouth of the Owens River:

The bulk of the boats have been targeting the waters off of Layton Springs. With road closures fly fishers do not have access to the east shore of Crowley Lake. If you have oars it’s a do able trip across the lake from the Green Banks launch area. Coming home in a head wind requires a lot of effort if all you are propelling yourself with is a set of fins. Trolling and casting streamers is working for fly fishers using olive, purple and black wooly buggers. Most fly fishers are doing well with midges in 10 feet of water. Albino Barron’s, blood midges, gray midges, zebra midges and tiger midges in sizes 16 and 18 fished three inches to four feet of the lake bottom are producing rainbows, browns and cutthroats to 24 inches.

Brian Chastain fooled this brown trout with a size 18 olive quilldigon fished on the substrate of the Owens River.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Water flows have increased with water flows coming from Mono Basin through the Grant Lake tunnel (East Portal). These increased flows are improving the trout fishery as the trout are not as spooky as they were at the lower flows. Trophy trout are still not in the river in any concentration. Hopefully these increased flows will jump start the trout migration out of Crowley Lake. Nymphing continues to be the most productive method of fly fishing the river. Three to 12 inch rainbow and brown trout are feeding on size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, size 14 stoner nymphs and size 18 tiger and zebra midges. There is a trico hatch mid-morning that a size 22 trico parachute dun, size 22 female trico parachute dun and size 22 trico spinner will fool the trout feeding on the surface taking the hatching tricos. Mid-afternoon a size 16 elk hair caddis worked on the surface of the river is fooling the trout looking for caddis that get blown off the stream side vegetation and into the river.

Bob Miller from Belvedere Tiburon was successful on North Lake using a dry and dropper rig while fly fishing from Richard Lancaster' s Stealth Craft drift boat on North Lake.

North Lake:

A dry and dropper rig is the way to successfully fly fish North Lake from a flotation device like an inflatable drift boat or float tube. Hatches of midges and mayflies have the fish feeding on nymphs and dry flies. Good dry flies in the dry and dry dropper rig are size 16 Adams parachutes, size 14 olive stimulators and size 14 elk hair caddis. These are all high visible flies on the surface. For the nymphs tiger midges, zebra midges and blood midges in size 16 or 18, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs in size 18 and bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears in size 16 are fooling the wild browns and stocked rainbows. Throwing an olive wooly bugger or trolling it produces good numbers of the stocked rainbows.

The inlet to Weir Pond is a great place to catch trout on a dry and dropper rig.

Bishop Creek

South Fork at Weir Pond:

Fall colors have peaked, but are still a great back drop to fly fishing on south fork of Bishop Creek at Weir Pond. The brook trout are in the pond in good numbers and are willing taking nymphs and dries. I’ve been fly fishing with a size 16 Adams parachute and a size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ear two to three feet under the Adams on 5X fluorocarbon tippet. Browns, rainbows and brook trout are taking both flies. Once the sun goes behind the mountains make sure your jacket is not far away as it’s getting cold at night at the upper elevations.

New fly fisher Sora Shim used a bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph fished under an indicator to hook a few rainbow and brown trout on Bishop Creek Canal.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

Bishop Creek Canal is a great place to learn how to fish nymphs under an indicator. The key to success is setting the hook on any movement in the indicator. You may think you are just bumping the bottom with your fly, but you will be surprised how many of those subtle movements in the indicator are actually a fish. A size 18 olive quilldigon, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph and size 18 tiger or zebra midges fished six feet under an indicator is fooling the stocked rainbow trout and the wild brown trout.