Sierra Bright dot Fly Fishing Report 01-16-2024

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

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

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

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

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

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

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

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

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

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

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

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

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

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

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

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

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

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 01-09-2025

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

Winter storms move through the Eastern Sierra. After the storms comes periods of sunshine and warming days. Its predicted that the Eastern Sierra will have a week to 10 days of sunshine and warm days. Right now we are in what I call the winter doldrums, December 15, through mid to late January. The shortest sunshine day has come and gone. As daylight increase so will the insect activity. For now midge and mayfly nymphs are what the trout are feeding on. With the cold water temperatures the trout’s need for calories is at its lowest. Nymphing is the most successful method of fly fishing. Proper weight is what is needed along with multiple drifts through the area that the fly fisher thinks the trout are holding to catch the trout.

Sometimes you run into unexpected wildlife as you wander the Eastern Sierra fly fishing.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

There are rainbows and browns to be caught in the lower Owens River on nymphs. Present your nymphs with an indicator rig or a Euro nymph rig. Key to success is to thoroughly cover the water with lots of casts. The trout will not move to take your nymphs. You need to put the nymphs right in front of the trout’s nose. This is not a guarantee the trout will take your nymph pattern. Be sure you have the proper weight on your tippet or in your flies to allow the nymphs to slowly bounce over the substate. Midges are the trout’s main diet this time of the year. Use size 20 midge nymph and midge pupae in blood, zebra and tiger coloration. Trout are taking blue wing olive nymph patterns like bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs in size 18, olive quilldigons in size 18, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs in size 16 and Jedi Master baetis in size 18.

Ryan Haggerty from Woodbridge learned how to Euro nymph and managed to land a pretty rainbow before the day was over.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

As the weather warms up it will be easier to access the Interpretive Site. On the right days there will be trout feeding on the surface mostly on midges. There will be the occasional blue wing olive mayfly hatching. Fish with size 20 Griffith gnats, size 20 mosquitoes and gray midges on the surface during the hatch. Nymphing with midge nymphs, midge pupae and blue wing olive nymphs is the most productive way of fishing the creek. Use size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 20 midge and pupae nymphs in zebra, tiger and blood coloration.

The most recent storm left a little bit of snow on the banks of Hot Creek at the Interpretive Site.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

It requires a little more effort to get into the Canyon Section of Hot Creek. It’s a great area to be nymphing in the winter time. Use a dry and dropper rig to present the nymph to the trout without spooking them in the low clear water. For the dry fly use a size 16 Adams parachute, a size 12 mini Chernobyl Ant and a size 14 stimulator. For the nymphs use size 20 blood, zebra and tiger coloration midge patterns, size 18 slim shady, size 18 Jedi Master baetis, size 12 olive scuds, size 12 olive burlap caddis, size 18 olive quilldigons and size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs

Trophy rainbow trout are what fly fishers are looking to catch on nymphs in the upper Owens River.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

The roads are muddy, full of snow and have frozen mud puddles requiring fly fishers wanting to access the river above Benton Crossing Bridge to use four wheel drive vehicles if you want to drive beyond the parking area at the old bridge abutments. There are trophy rainbow trout in the river. The key is covering lots of water to find them. Successful fly fishers are making 40 to 80 casts into deep runs, deep pools and alongside cutbanks. Size 12 stoner nymphs, size 12 green/gold wire Prince nymphs, size 12 gold ribbed hare’s ears variations, size 14 copper John’s and size 12 rainbow warriors are the flies fooling the trophy rainbow trout when fished on a Euro nymphing rig or indicator rig.

Low clear water in Bishop Creek Canal means fly fisher need to find deeper holes and riffle sections where they will not spook trout.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

Approaching the trout in the canal is tough as the water is low and clear. Try fishing the deeper holes and faster riffle sections. Fly fishers are less likely to spook fish in these spots. Success here is nymphing with size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 20 midges in blood, zebra and tiger coloration, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 12 stoner nymphs and size 16 SOS nymphs. Wild browns and holdover rainbow trout are taking a properly fished nymph pattern.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 12-26-2024

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

It’s that time of the year when quick moving storms are coming through the Eastern Sierra and laying a few inches to a foot of snow. Roads in the Long Valley area are muddy, snowy and have icy mud puddles. I would use high clearance vehicles with four wheel drive on these  roads. In between storms the weather has been nice by winter standards. Mayflies, midges and caddis are providing the food for the winter feeding trout. There is limited dry fly opportunities for the die hard dry fly angler.

Winter storms are moving through the Sierra leaving snow at upper elevations.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Middle of the day is providing good nymph fishing opportunities with an indicator rig or a Euro nymph rig. Key to success is getting the nymphs to bounce on the substrate like the naturals do. Accomplish this with using the right combination of flies and split shot to allow your flies to bounce along the substrate just like the naturals do. Nymphing  with size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 slim shadies, size 18 Jedi Master baetis, size 12 stoner nymphs, size 14 copper John’s, and size 20 midges in tiger, zebra and blood colorations are producing the wild trout of the lower Owens River. There has been limited dry fly action with size 20 blue wing olive parachutes. If you are in the right hole when the hatch takes place and the trout are feeding on the surface emerger mayflies then switch to a dry fly and enjoy some late season dry fly action.

Rainbow trout have been making up 30 to 50 % of the catch in the lower Owens River on nymphs like this size 12 stoner nymph that fooled this chunky rainbow..

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Snow and ice are on the dirt road leading into the interpretive site. For fly fishers looking for some dry fly action this section of the creek is providing top water action with mayfly and midge hatches. Size 20 blue wing olive parachutes, size 20 olive sparkle duns and size 20 Griffith’s gnats are fooling the surface feeding trout. The action has been during the middle of the day from 10:00 to 2:00. A drag free drift, the right dry fly pattern and lots of hatching insects is what is going to produce a great dry fly day on the creek in winter time.

Warm days after the snow storms is melting the snow on the south side of Hot Creek in the canyon section which is a great place to fish with a dry and dropper rig..

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

Snow and mud puddles are the obstacles fly fishers will encounter on the dirt road leading into the Canyon Section of Hot Creek. This is a great time to be nymph fishing with a dry and dropper rig or a Euro nymph rig. Size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 slim shady, size 18 Jedi Master baetis, size 12 olive scuds, size 12 olive burlap caddis and size 20 blood, zebra and tiger coloration midge patterns are producing wild brown and rainbow trout in the canyon section of Hot Creek.

A size 12 stoner nymph is my number one producing trophy trout pattern in the upper Owens River.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

The dirt roads accessing the upper Owens River above Benton Crossing Bridge are full of snow, frozen mud puddles and lots of squishy mud. Four wheel drive high clearance vehicles are what is needed to access the sections of the upper Owens River holding trophy rainbow trout. Two to four trophy rainbow trout per fly fisher per session is what the river is producing for fly fishers. Euro nymphing or indicator nymphing with size 12 stoner nymphs, size 12 green/gold wire Prince nymphs, size 12 gold ribbed hare’s ears variations, size 14 copper John’s and size 12 rainbow warriors are the flies fooling the trophy rainbow trout. Key to success is getting the flies on the substrate in the deep holes, deep runs and cut banks where the rainbows are resting and feeding. When using an indicator be sure the indicator is six feet above the bottom fly. Using the right combination of weight and flies is what is needed to allow the flies to bounce along the substrate where the trout are feeding. Size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 16 SOS nymphs, and size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs are fooling the resident browns and rainbows.

Suckers are not every ones preferred species to catch on the fly, but suckers put up the best fights of fish I catch in Bishop Creek Canal.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

Nymphing in deep holes and riffles is producing suckers, rainbows and brown trout. Dry and dropper, Euro nymphing and indicator nymphing are the methods to get your nymphs down on the substrate where the fish are feeding. Size 18 olive quilldigons, size 12 stoner nymphs, size 16 SOS nymphs, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and size 20 midges in blood, zebra and tiger coloration are producing wild rainbows, browns and suckers. The fish are supper spooky and fly fishers need to present their flies in a manner that they’re not spooking the fish.

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.