Well I’ve put away the flip flops and the shorts for another year. Cool mornings and evenings give way to perfect warm fall days. Fall colors are starting to show up on the floor of the Owens Valley. The mountain resorts are closing up in preparation for winter. The freestone creeks are at their lowest and I’m done fishing them in the mountain sections for the season. Brook trout and brown trout are finishing up their spawning seasons at elevations. At lower elevations the brown spawning season has not begun. Dry flies, nymphs, and meat streamer patterns are all producing fish for fly fishers. There have been two fires in the lower Owens River area. The last one was on Sunday October 23, 2022 across from the turnoff to the Pleasant Valley Dam from Hwy 395.
On Sunday afternoon October 23, 2022 there was a fire at the corner of HWY 395 and Sawmill Road.
Freestone Streams:
Rock Creek:
The creek is running at its lowest just before winter sets in. Fish are supper spooky and tough to catch right now. Dry flies are producing a few trout. I’m throwing elk hair caddis and Adams parachutes in size 14 and 16. I’m casting them as far upstream as I can to avoid spooking fish.
Alonso Parker-Martin from San Francisco Tenkara fly fishing Rock Creek on a fall morning on Rock Creek.
Bishop Creek
South Fork Bishop Creek at Weir Pond:
Low water is making fly fishing on south fork of Bishop Creek tough. Brook trout are congregating in preparation for spawning. These brook trout and the occasional brown trout are still taking dry flies like an Adams parachute or an elk hair caddis. I’m done up in Bishop Canyon until spring time. I might fish Bishop Creek in the Owens Valley this winter.
Spawning brook trout in the Fall are fun to catch and I’m done fishing for these fish until next Spring.
Lower Owens River:
Wild Trout Section:
This area is producing the most consistent fly fishing for me and my clients. Nymphing with an indicator rig or a Euro nymph rig is consistently producing wild brown trout to 12 inches. These fish are taking size 18 blue wing olive mayfly nymph patterns like olive quilldigon, Frenchie’s, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, and bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs. The bite is starting mid-morning and lasting until dark. There are a few caddis pupae hatching and the trout are chasing them down and grabbing them right at the rivers surface. There is an abundance of grass hoppers on the river, but the trout are not feeding on them as they are not getting blown into the river.
Pat Everett from Calabasas nymphing under an indicator with a size 18 olive quilldigon on the lower Owens River.
Hot Creek:
Interpretive Site:
Weed beds are still going strong and lack of hatches is making it tough to fish this section of the creek. Fly fishers working the water hard with caddis dries or blue wing olive dries are landing a trout or two. Three seasons of drought are having a negative effect on the fly fishing in Hot Creek.
Hot Creek Canyon is still a tough spot to fish with low water and weed beds at full majority.
Hot Creek:
Canyon Section:
I was hoping that cold weather would decrease the weed beds in this section of the creek. It’s not been cold enough for the weeds to die off. Hard core fly fishers working nymphs in and around the weeds are managing to fool a few trout. It’s tough to get a drag free drift in this section with snagging the weeds. I’m throwing bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, zebra midges, and tiger midges.
A cold windy afternoon on the upper Owens River all to ourselves and no trophy trout took on nymphs.
Upper Owens River:
Above Benton Crossing Bridge:
There are a few trophy trout hanging out in the deep pools. These fish are aware of anglers and their offerings. Working flies over these fish will occasionally get a hit. For the trophy trout I’m using size 12 jigged green/gold Prince nymphs and stoner nymphs. Juvenile rainbow and brown trout to 12 inches are taking olive quilldigons, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, and parachute mayfly patterns. We need a storm or an increase in water flows to get the trout to migrate up from Crowley Lake to spawn.
I’m exploring the Monument section of the upper Owens River looking for migrant trophy trout that have just entered the Owens River system from Crowley Lake.
Below Benton Crossing Bridge:
I’m spending some time in this section from the monument to the lake. I’m covering the deeper holes, pools, and cutbanks with stoner nymphs, and green/gold Prince nymphs. I’m searching this area looking for migrants working their way upstream to spawn. I’m only making a few casts to each spot. If I don’t see fish or don’t get hit, I’m moving upstream looking for the next spot to cast my flies to. So far, no fish in this section. This section closes on November 15th.
Home Street Middle School fly fishing club working Bishop Creek Canal with nymphs under an indicator.
Bishop Creek Canal:
Behind the Ford Dealer:
Nymphing with blue wing olive nymph patterns is producing a combination of wild brown trout and stocked rainbows. A drag free drift and a stealthy approach will increase your odds of fooling trout in this section. I’m fishing with the Tenkara rod, Euro outfit, and under an indicator with olive quilldigons, stoner nymphs, and bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs.