Unseasonably hot weather during the week will turn into nice, but more seasonable temperatures for next week. Upper altitude waters to about the 7,500 foot level should be accessible by vehicle and foot. Afternoon winds is a daily event that can make afternoon fly fishing tough. The trout are feeding on the nymphs and dries of mayflies, midges and caddisflies. Look for dry fly activity in the early afternoon. Sierra Bright Dot guides are available to teach fly fishers the techniques that produce trout in Eastern Sierra waters.
The Blake Jone’s Tournament brings in a lot of anglers looking to fish Pleasant Valley Reservoir and there is an increasing number of anglers participating in the catch and release category.
Lower Owens River
Wild Trout Section:
Flows are up to 125 CFS and the river will need a few days of consistent flows for the trout and insects to acclimate. To find out the flows on the lower Owens River go to https://www.sierrabrightdot.com/water-flows-owens-river-east-walker-river and click on the lower Owens River. The increase in flows and warm sunny days have slowed down the blue wing olive mayfly hatch. There are a few blue wing olive mayflies and caddisflies on the water, but the trout are not consistently rising to them. Nymphing under an indicator or with a Euro rig is the most productive method of fly fishing the wild trout section of the lower Owens River right now. Nymph with size 16 gold ribbed hare’s ears, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons and size 16 SOS nymphs. Carry a few size 18 Adams parachutes, size 18 olive sparkle duns, size 18 blue wing olive parachutes and size 16 or 20 elk hair caddis to imitate the hatching insects if the trout are consistently rising to the surface to feed on the hatching caddisflies and mayflies.
Flows of 125 CFS are still allowing fly fishers access to the river in spots that cannot be fished from the banks.
Hot Creek
Interpretive Site:
The snow is gone and it’s hard to believe that a few weeks back this area was not accessible by vehicles. Nymphing continues to be the most consistent method of fly fishing in the Interpretive site of Hot Creek. There is a tiny midge hatching, but it is so small there are no hooks small enough to imitate the midges. Fishing size 20 Griffiths gnats and size 24 midge adults is fooling a few trout feeding on the surface. There are a few blue wing olive mayflies hatching with the midges. A size 20 Adams parachute, size 20 blue wing olive parachute and a size 20 sparkle dun will fool a few trout during the early afternoon hatch. Nymphing with size 20 tiger and zebra midges, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 SOS nymphs and size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs are producing wild rainbows and browns.
The Interpretive site of Hot Creek is just about snow free and fly fishers can access all Hot Creek parking area with their vehicles.
Hot Creek
Canyon Section:
The road to the parking lots is open to all vehicle accessing the road. There are a few snow drifts – ice patches on the north facing trails into the canyon. Nymphing the flats and holes with a dry and dropper or a Euro rig is producing wild trout to 16 inches. These wild trout are taking size 18 Jedi Master Baetis, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 SOS nymphs, size 20 soft hackle brassie, size 20 zebra midges and size 20 tiger midges. Thoroughly cover the flats particularly the area behind obstructions like weed beds and rocks. The deep holes and pockets always produce trout if you keep your nymphs tumbling on the substrate.
The river is full and juvenile rainbows and brown trout are feeding on the mid-day blue wing olive hatch.
Upper Owens River
Above Benton Crossing Bridge:
Mud puddles and mud on the dirt roads leading into the upper Owens River above Benton Crossing Bridge mean fly fishers need to have high clearance vehicles and be careful where you are driving. It’s easy to get stuck in the mud if you’re not paying attention to where you’re driving. Best fishing is mid-day to early afternoon when the juvenile eight to 12 inch wild brown and rainbow trout are feeding on hatching mayflies and caddis flies. On the surface use size 18 elk hair caddis, size 18 olive sparkle duns, size 18 blue wing olive parachutes and size 18 Adams parachutes. Nymphing with size 16 SOS nymphs, size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons and size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs. The trophy rainbow trout run is just about done for the season, but if you fish bigger nymphs in the deep holes, deep runs and cut banks you might find a trophy or two willing to take your flies. Cover lots of water looking for trophy trout. The cutthroat season will be starting in May. Most consistent fishing for the cutthroats is in the middle of May. Now is the time to be booking guide trips for the trophy cutthroats.
Fishing the riffle sections into to a deep hole is a great place to nymph fish without spooking the wary trout of Bishop Creek Canal.
Bishop Creek Canal
Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:
Water levels continue to be low and clear making it hard to approach the trout without spooking them. Easiest way to fly fish the canal right now is to nymph in the deeper holes and faster riffle sections. Fishing with olive quilldigons in size 18, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs in size 18, SOS nymphs in size 16 and tiger and zebra midges in size 18 are fooling the wild brown trout and hold over stocked rainbow trout.