Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 04-24-2025

So for now the forecast for upper elevation waters is for snow on Saturday April 26, 2025. If it does snow I will be right once again with my prediction of snow for opening weekend of the Eastern Sierra fishing season. Opener use to be exciting as all the waters in the Eastern Sierra except for the lower Owens River were closed to fishing on November 1st and did not open until the last Saturday in April. Now with so many of the Eastern Sierra waters open to year round fishing opportunities it’s hard to get excited about fishing waters I’ve been fly fishing all winter. Two waters I’m excited to fish that will be opening this Saturday are Crowley Lake and the East Walker River. What I’m most excited to fly fish are waters that are still covered in snow and will become fishable as the snow melts and the lakes ice out. As spring turns to summer, fly fishing will be in full swing and there will be mayfly, stonefly and caddis fly hatches to imitate with dries and nymphs.

Will the miracle mile section of the East Walker River continue to produce trophy rainbow and brown trout after last year’s fish die off.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Middle of the day nymphing continues to produce wild brown and rainbow trout with a Euro rig and under an indicator. There is lots to learn about nymphing when fly fishing the lower Owens River especially when you go with someone who understands how to nymph fish properly. Flows are expected to go up by the end of April or early May. Now is your chance to learn the intricacies of fly fishing the lower Owens River. Nymph patterns that imitate mayflies and midges are the flies that are producing the wild trout. Fish with a size 18 olive quilldigon, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph, size 20 zebra midge and size 20 tiger midges. On the surface fish with a size 18 blue wing olive parachute, size 18 Adams parachute and size 18 sparkle dun. To stay up with the changing flows check out Eastern Sierra water flows on my webpage at https://www.sierrabrightdot.com/water-flows-owens-river-east-walker-river.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Javier Guzman from Bellflower showing the techniques he learned from a Sierra Bright Dot Guide trip work as he fights a nymph feeding trout.

This area gets lots of fly fishing pressure and the trout see a lot of fly patterns. The key to success can be fishing a fly pattern that is out of vogue or not very popular on the Creek. Right now the trout are keying in on midges and blue wing olive mayflies. Disco midges and soft hackle brassies are midge patterns that use to produce lots of trout on Hot Creek that are rarely fished these days on the creek. On the surface fish with Griffiths gnats in size 22, blue wing olive parachutes in size 20 and Adams parachutes in size 20. The interpretive site will continue to get lots of fishing pressure this fishing season.

Hot Creek Canyon is devoid of anglers during the winter, but with Saturday’s fishing opener the crowds of Hot Creek will return.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

Easter break brought crowds to the canyon section of Hot Creek. Even with the increased fly fishing pressure this area is seeing good fly fishing opportunities especially with nymphs. Midges and mayflies are hatching and the trout are feeding on the nymphs and dries. Concentrate on imitating the blue wing olive mayflies in the canyon. On the surface fish with size 20 sparkle duns, size 20 Adams parachutes and size 20 blue wing olive parachutes. Under the surface fish with a size 18 olive quilldigon, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph and a size 22 midge in tiger or zebra coloration. Throwing streamers like an olive wooly bugger will produce some big fish if fished in and around the obstructions formed around the weed beds, rocks and deep holes in the creek.

Until the trophy cutthroat trout are in the river in concentrated numbers fly fishers are catching resident rainbows and browns from six to 12 inches.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

The upper Owens River is in between the winter trophy rainbow trout run and the spring run of cutthroat trout. The cutthroat season peaks between the 10th and 20th of May. Start looking for the start of the cutthroat run around the 6th of May. For now fly fishers are targeting the resident rainbow and brown trout that are feeding on mayflies, caddis and midges mid-day. On the surface fish with size 18 elk hair caddis, size 18 Adams parachutes and size 18 blue wing olive parachutes. On a Euro rig or under an indicator fish with a size 18 olive quilldigon, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph, size 16 SOS nymph and size 20 midges in zebra or tiger coloration.

Little guys need two hands to handle a big fly rod on Bishop Creek Canal.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

Water levels have come up a little bit and the fishing is easier as the trout are not as spooky. Juvenile brown trout are feeding on midges on the surface of Bishop Creek canal. Nymphing under an indicator or a Euro rig is the most productive method of fly fishing the canal right now. On the surface fish with a size 20 Griffiths gnat, size 18 blue wing olive parachute and size 20 elk hair caddis. For nymphs fish with size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons and size 20 midges in tiger, blood or zebra colorations.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 04-17-2024

I spent 15 years in Mammoth Lakes. Every fall the talk around town centered on when it would snow. I always answered with the last Saturday in April, trout opener. April 26, 2025 is the general trout opener in the Eastern Sierra. Time will tell if it will snow on Saturday April 26, 2025, but I’ve been right a lot more times than I’ve been wrong. For now the Eastern Sierra is having a great spring with warm weather and very little wind. Nymphing and dry fly fishing imitating hatching midges, mayflies and caddisflies are producing trout for fly fishers fishing the waters of the Eastern Sierra.

Snow at upper elevation waters is quickly melting and allowing fly fishers to fly fish waters like Glacier Lodge Pond.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Warm spring days and hatches of midges and mayflies are offering fly fishers fun days on the lower Owens River. I’ve seen a couple of little yellow stones hatching. If this is the start of the little yellow stone hatch it’s at least a month early. Lower Owens River flows are expected to stay steady at around 100 CFS through the end of April. Nymphing with a Euro rig or under an indicator is the most productive method of fly fishing the river right now. Nymph with a size 18 olive quilldigon, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph, size 16 SOS nymph, size 18 gasolina nymphs and size 20 tiger and zebra midges. Hatches of blue wing olive mayflies are infrequent, but if you are on the right hole when the hatch comes of you can fish with size 18 blue wing olive parachutes, size 18 Adams parachutes and size 18 olive sparkle duns. To stay up with the changing flows check out Eastern Sierra water flows on my webpage at https://www.sierrabrightdot.com/water-flows-owens-river-east-walker-river.

Joe Demarco from Las Vegas hooked up on a perfect spring day on the lower Owens River nymphing with a size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph under an indicator.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Easy access to Hot Creek makes the Interpretive site a busy spot for fly fishers looking to walk right out from the parking area to fly fish. Mid-day hatches of very small midges are bringing the trout to the surface. There are a few blue wing olive mayflies hatching in the middle of the midge hatch. The midges are too small to imitate as an individual midge. Success is fishing a Griffiths gnat in size 22 which imitates a cluster of midges. To imitate the blue wing olive duns fish with a size 20 blue wing olive parachute, size 20 Adams parachute and size 20 olive sparkle dun.

Hot Creek Canyon is offering good nymphing and dry fly action with blue wing olive mayfly and midge patterns mid-day.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

The words gotten out that the fly fishing in the canyon is good right now. The mid-day hatch of blue wing olives is providing the catalyst for the trout to be feeding. Nymphing with size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 SOS nymphs, size 18 gasolina nymphs, size 20 soft hackle brassies, and size 20 zebra and tiger midges are fooling the fish feeding on the substrate. Fly fishers are carrying a second rod rigged with a size 20 blue wing olive parachute, size 20 Adams parachute and size 20 olive sparkle dun to use when the trout start feeding on the surface. Carry a few size 20 gray elk hair caddis and gray parachute caddis to use if you see caddis on the water.

Fly fishers will find lots of fishable water from Benton Crossing Bridge to Howard Arcularius Ranch.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Trophy cutthroat trout will begin their migration up the Owens River at the end of April. The migration starts with a few fish moving into the river from Crowley Lake. Look for the cutthroat run to be in full swing by mid-May. By memorial day the cutthroat trout run is mostly fishing for beat up down streamers. These are the fish that have completed their spawning and are headed back to Crowley Lake. Sierra Bright Dot guides still have openings for fly fishers wanting to catch a trophy cutthroat trout.  Fishing has slowed down as there is little insect activity to entice the resident trout to feed. Nymphing is producing a few fish for fly fishers nymphing with size 18 tiger midges, size 18 zebra midges, size 16 gold ribbed hare’s ears, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and size 18 olive quilldigons. Fishing dry flies has been slow, but fishing with a size 18 olive sparkle duns, size 18 Adams parachutes, size 18 blue wing olive parachutes and size 18 elk hair caddis is producing a few rainbows and brown trout to 12 inches.

Fly fishing the deeper pools and the faster riffle sections are places to fly fish without spooking the trout.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

Low clear water is making the trout spooky in Bishop Creek Canal. Easiest way to catch a few trout in the canal is to fish in the deeper holes and riffle sections where the fish are not as spooky. Nymphing under a dry fly or with a Euro rig is the productive way to fly fish the canal. Nymph with a size 16 SOS nymph, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph, size 18 olive quilldigon and size 20 zebra and tiger midges.

We have what I consider a Fall weather pattern this spring in the Owens Valley. Heater in the morning. Air conditioner middle of the day. Heater in the evening if I’m cold. Air condition in the evening if I’m hot. This warm weather trend is melting snow at upper elevations pretty quick. Is spring runoff right around the corner? Depends on whether spring is cold or hot. April and May are quite often cold and windy prolonging spring runoff tell late May or early June. The increase in sun light per day is activating the aquatic insects. Midges, mayflies and caddisflies are hatching and feeding the trout in lakes and streams. Most consistent way to catch trout right now is to nymph fish under a dry fly, with an indicator or with a Euro rig.

The Silver Fire is 100% contained and has opened up some of the lower Owens River upstream of HWY 6.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Flows are fluctuating from the high 70 CFS to the high 90 CFS. Flows are expected to be around 100 CFS through the end of April. Flows will increase in May when DWP starts shipping water south to fill up reservoirs for summer water use in Los Angeles. Nymphing continues to be the most productive method of fly fishing the wild trout section of the lower Owens River. Nymphing under an indicator or with a Euro rig is the best way to present you nymphs to the trout feeding on the substrate. Use size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 gasolina nymphs, size 18 SOS nymph and size 20 midges in blood, zebra and tiger coloration to fool the larvae feeding trout. On the surface if you are on the right hole on the right day a size 18 Adams parachute, size 18 olive sparkle dun, size 18 blue wing olive parachute and a size 18 elk hair caddis will fool the surface feeding wild trout. To stay up with the changing flows check out Eastern Sierra water flows on my webpage at https://www.sierrabrightdot.com/water-flows-owens-river-east-walker-river.

Lower Owens River flows are going to hover around 100 CFS through April and then will go up as DWP moves water out of Crowley Lake to make room for this seasons snow melt.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

The Interpretive Site offers easy access to a ¼ mile section of Hot Creek between Hot Creek Hatchery and Hot Creek Ranch. This site is getting more fly fishing pressure with its easy access to the water. The mid-day hatch of midges is impossible to imitate with a single midge pattern because they do not make a hook small enough  to imitate the tiny size of the natural midges. The solution is to dry fly fish with a pattern that imitates a cluster of midges like the Griffiths gnat in size 20 to 24. Size 24’s are hard to see on the water. The solution is to fish with a dry and dry fly rig. Tie on a size 16 Adams parachute, size 12 Chernobyl ant or size 14 stimulator and attach three feet of 5X or 6X monofilament tippet with a clinch knot to the bend of the hook of the large dry fly. Any movement in the larger dry fly or any rises within three feet of the big dry fly set the hook. There are hatching blue wing olive mayflies mixed in with the midge hatch. Fish with size 20 blue wing olive parachutes, size 20 Adams parachutes and size 20 olive sparkle duns. Nymphing with size 20 blood midges, zebra midges and tiger midges, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 SOS nymphs and size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs continues to produce trout in the Interpretive site of Hot Creek.

Eight to 12 inch brown trout are taking nymphs and dry flies delivered  by fly fishers fishing in the Canyon Section of Hot Creek.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

There has been little to no fly fishing pressure in the canyon section of Hot Creek. Will the word is out that Hot Creek Canyon is fishing good and there is now a crowd of fly fishers taking advantage of the nymph and dry fly feeding trout. Nymphing before the hatch is producing wild brown trout and rainbow trout. Use size 18 Jedi Master Baetis, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 SOS nymphs, size 18 gasolina nymphs, size 20 soft hackle brassies, size 20 zebra midges, size 20 blood midges and size 20 tiger midges to fool wild brown trout and rainbow trout to 14 inches. The mid-day midge hatch has a few blue wing olive mayflies sprinkled into the hatch. For the dry fly enthusiast use size 20 blue wing olive parachutes, size 20 Adams parachutes and size 20 to 24 Griffiths gnats. Carry a few size 20 gray bodied caddis dry flies to fool the trout during the sporadic caddis hatch.

The upper Owens River is in perfect shape for fly fishers looking to catch eight to 12 inch wild rainbow and brown trout.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

The trophy rainbow trout season is over for the year. The trophy cutthroat migration will start in late April or early May. The peak of the cutthroat run is sometime between the 10th to 20th of May. The run is pretty much over by Memorial day weekend. Sierra Bright Dot guides still have openings for fly fishers wanting to catch a trophy cutthroat trout.  Fly fishers are targeting the six to 12 inch resident browns and rainbows with nymphs and dries mid-day. For the nymphs fish with size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 16 gold ribbed hare’s ears, size 18 blood midges, size 18 tiger midges and size 18 zebra midges. For the dries fish with size 18 elk hair caddis, size 18 Adams parachutes, size 18 blue wing olive parachutes and size 18 olive sparkle duns.

A typical wild brown trout that was fooled by a size 18 olive quilldigon fished on a three fly euro rig in Bishop Creek Canal.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

Increased sunlight during the day has the wild brown trout and hold over rainbows feeding on nymphs in the deeper holes and riffle sections. Euro nymphing with a size 18 olive quilldigon, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph, size 16 SOS nymph and size 20 tiger and zebra midges are fooling the trout. For an indicator rig place the indicator 1.5 to 2 times the average depth of water above the bottom nymph. Use split shot to get your nymphs down on the substrate where the trout are feeding. Right now a size 1 split shot is the right amount of weight. Trout are still spooky and fly fishers should sneak up on the water to keep from spooking the trout.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 04-03-2025

Weather should warm up for the weekend. A spring storm left snow at upper elevations and very little rain in Bishop. With spring comes warmer weather and hatches of mayflies, midges and caddisflies. Dry fly activity will increase as more insects go from nymphs to the adult terrestrial stage. Nymphing will continues to be the most productive method of fly fishing Eastern Sierra waters. There will be a few more winter type storms before spring becomes summer.

Spring weather in the Owens Valley makes fly fishing on the lower Owens River a perfect water to nymph and dry fly fish.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Flows are down to 100 CFS and the trout are taking nymphs. Dry fly activity has been slowed down by the change in water flows. Trout are feeding on mayfly nymphs mid-day. Fish with size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 SOS nymphs, size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymph, size 18 Frenchie’s and size 18 jedi Master Baetis. The fish are feeding on midges and caddis during the day. Fish with size 20 blood midges, tiger midges and zebra midges, size 16 gold ribbed hare’s ears and size 18 Duracell nymphs.

Nymphing holes right below riffles with nymphs under an indicator or with a Euro rig is fooling the wild rainbow trout and brown trout in the wild trout section of the lower Owens River.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Hatches of midges and blue wing olives are bringing trout to the surface. The midges are too small to imitate as an individual. The best way to imitate them is to use a cluster midge pattern like a Griffith’s gnat in size 24. Using size 20 blue wing olive parachutes, size 20 Adams parachutes and size 20 sparkle duns are fooling a few of the rising trout. Nymphing has been producing trout with size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 SOS nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons and size 20 blood midges, zebra midges and tiger midges.

Nymphing the pools in the Interpretive Site with nymphs are fooling the wild rainbow and brown trout..

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

Access into the canyon section of Hot Creek is wide open and the few fly fishers that are taking advantage of the nymphing are finding wild rainbow and brown trout willing to take nymphs bounced along the substrate. Work the nymphs in the flats and through the holes. There are trout all through the waters in the canyon. Fishing with a dry and dropper or a Euro nymph rig is the way to offer the nymph patterns to the trout. Nymph with size 20 tiger midges, size 20 zebra midges, size 20 blood midges, size 20 soft hackle brassies, size 18 SOS nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and size 18 Jedi Master Baetis.

Fly fishers fishing mid-day with blue wing olive dry flies and nymphs are fooling 8 to 12 inch wild brown and rainbow trout in the upper Owens River.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

There are mud puddles and muddy roads to contend with when driving out to the upper Owens River above Benton Crossing Bridge. The winter trophy rainbow trout run has just about finished for the year. There are a few trophy rainbow trout sprinkled throughout the river for the die hard fly fishers looking to catch one of the trophy rainbow trout. Use size 12 gold ribbed hare’s ears variations, size 12 green/gold wire Prince nymphs and size 12 stoner nymphs fished in the deep holes, deep pools and cut banks. Eight to 12 inch wild brown and rainbow trout can be caught mid-day during the blue wing olive hatch. On the surface fish with size 18 blue wing olive parachutes, size 18 olive sparkle duns and size 18 Adams parachutes. A size 18 elk hair caddis will fool a few of the resident trout. Nymphing with size 18 tiger midges, size 18 zebra midges, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and size 18 olive quilldigons on the substrate will fool the trout. Cutthroats will start to appear in the river end of April or beginning of May. Now is the time to plan your trophy cutthroat trip to the upper Owens River.

It's hard not to spook the trout in the flat sections of Bishop Creek Canal with the low clear water.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

Spooky trout are what fly fishers will find in most sections of Bishop Creek Canal due to the clear low water levels in the canal. The best spots to fish are the deeper holes and the faster riffle sections. Holes below DWP weirs are a great place to fish without spooking the trout. Nymphing is producing the bulk of the trout in the canal. Nymph with size 16 SOS nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and size 20 tiger and zebra midges.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 03-27-2024

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.

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.