We wanted snow and we got it. The upper elevations got pounded the last two weeks. It will be a few more days for crews to clean up the snow in the towns and on the roads. Most upper elevation waters are inaccessible due to the heavy snow pack. Most roads accessing upper elevation lakes and streams are closed for the winter. The Owens Valley is snow free and the fly fishing has been good with nymphs. We are heading into midge season on Eastern Sierra waters.
The Owens Valley got a dusting of snow and the Sierra got dumped on.
Lower Owens River:
Wild Trout Section:
There is a dusting of snow on the ground and lots of water puddles on the drive out Chalk Bluff Road to access the lower Owens River in the wild trout section. Fly fishing pressure has been at a minimum and the wild brown trout are feeding on midges and caddis. Stick caddis have been the most abundant insect in stomach samples from trout in the wild trout section. There are a few trout feeding on midges on the surface, but nymphing is the most productive method of fishing the lower river right now. I’ve been successful with size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 olive quilldigons, size 12 stoner nymphs, and size 16 Butano nymphs.
Michael Palmer from San Diego had a great day Euro nymphing and catching wild brown trout.
Hot Creek:
Interpretive Site:
Access is hampered by the amount of snow the area got out of the last series of storms. Roads are slowly getting cleaned up. There is two to four feet of fresh snow to wade through or post hole through to reach the creek. It’s a lot of work to reach the creek. Fly fishing is slow and there is little to no surface activity. Midges make up the bulk of the trout’s diet this time of the year. There are lots of midge patterns that will work on the creek as long as there in sizes 16 to 20. I use tiger midges, zebra midges, soft hackle brassies, and secret midges.
Hot Creek:
Canyon Section:
The road is only plowed to Hot Creek Ranch. From there fly fishers will need to snow shoes, ski, or snowmobile into the canyon section. Nymphing is the only game here with a Euro rig, under an indicator, or with a dry and dropper set up. Midges are the insects most available to the trout right now. I use tiger midges, zebra midges, soft hackle brassies, two tone brassies and secret midges.
Upper Owens River:
Above Benton Crossing Bridge:
Access is to the Benton Bridge. Fly fishers will have to park off Benton Crossing Road at the river and snow shoe, ski, or snowmobile in to the river. The snow is fresh and soft making it hard to get around. In a few days the snow will firm up making accessing the river easier for fly fishers willing to put in the effort to get out on the upper Owens River to fly fish. Nymphing the deep holes and runs where the trophy trout are stacked up will produce trout. Fly fishers will need to cover a lot of river to find pods of trophy trout willing to take there imitations. Larger nymphs like stoner nymphs, green/gold wire Prince nymphs, gold ribbed hare’s ears, and copper John’s are fooling the trout.
Bishop Creek Canal Behind the Ford Dealer:
There is very little fly fishing pressure in this section. There are a few trout feeding on midges middle of the day on the surface. Nymphing has been the most productive method on the canal. Olive quilldigons, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, tiger midges, zebra midges, and blood midges have been fooling the wild brown trout and the occasional hold over rainbow trout.
Middle of the day the trout will take a nymph fished under a dry fly or on a Euro rig in Bishop Creek Canal.