It’s fall in the Eastern Sierra. The days are warm, but not too hot. The wind is a breeze if there is any wind. Mornings and evenings are cool enough that fly fishers will want an extra layer like your favorite sweat shirt that has been hanging up in the closet all summer. Fall colors have started at the upper elevations and are working their way down the canyons. Mayflies and caddis flies are hatching and have the trout feeding on nymphs and dries. Fall spawning trout like brown trout and brook trout are just starting their annual runs up the streams from the lakes. Be aware of several creeks and river that have closed to protect fall spawning trout.
Float tubing on North Lake on a fall day with the leaves changing color and the trout were taking dries, nymphs, and streamers.
Freestone Streams:
Rock Creek:
Water flows in the creek are at their lowest of the year. Fly fishers need to be stealthy when approaching the creek. The slow flat runs in the creek are almost impossible to fly fish as the trout spook as you approach the creek. I like fishing a dry and dropper rig in the areas of the creek that have some gradient, but are not supper steep. I’m fishing an Adams parachute in size 16 with a weightless gold ribbed hares ear in size 16 two feet below the Adams.
David Downs is working his dry fly in the pocket water of Rock Creek .
Bishop Creek
South Fork:
The weather and trees have made Bishop Creek Canyon the place to be fly fishing. The trout are taking dry flies and nymphs in the riffles and pocket water. Elk hair caddis and gold ribbed hare’s ears have been a great combo in the creek. Fall brook trout in full spawning colors is just an added bonus to a great fall fishing experience.
Fishing dry flies with a nymph suspended under is a great way to work the pools, pocket water and riffles of the south fork of Bishop Creek.
Lower Owens River:
Wild Trout Section:
The lower Owens River flows have been holding around 150 CFS. Expect them to drop during the month of October. I’m expecting them to be as low as 85 CFS during peak winter months if we don’t have a good snowpack this winter. There is a morning hatch of blue wing olive mayflies that is hatching from 10:00 to about noon. The hatch is sporadic in the afternoon. I’m nymphing with my Euro rod and landing eight to 12 inch wild brown trout on olive quilldigons, Frenchie’s, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, and pheasant tail nymphs. Clients have been fishing size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs under an indicator and landing wild brown trout to 12 inches.
Mike Pohl’s of La Quinta fishing a size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph under an indicator and catching wild brown trout to 10 inches.
Hot Creek:
Interpretive Site:
Fly fishing on Hot Creek continues to be tough. Weed beds and lower water flows are hampering fly fishers efforts to catch trout. A morning caddis hatch have the trout coming to the surface for a size 20 gray caddis. I’m fishing with size 20 partridge spent caddis, X-caddis, and parachute caddis. The hatch is over by 1:00 P.M. and the winds come up. It is time to go home or find another water to fly fish.
Grandpa watching his son and grandson fly fish on Hot Creek Ranch.
Hot Creek:
Canyon Section:
Nymph fishing has been the most productive method to fly fish in Hot Creek Canyon. If you are going to be nymphing you are going to be hanging up on the weeds. Where you can get your nymphs to drift in the narrow runs between the weeds or in open pools the trout are feeding on pheasant tail nymphs, gray caddis emergers, and scuds.
Upper Owens River:
Above Benton Crossing Bridge:
There are a few trophy trout that have entered the upper Owens River offering fly fishers a chance at catching a once in a life time trout. In the confluence of Hot Creek area there are spawners that will take flies presented down on the substrate where the trout are hanging out. These fished have been fished hard for a couple of weeks and fly fishers need to be stealthy with their approach and casts. I’m fishing the Euro rod with size 12 stoner nymphs and size 12 green/gold Prince nymphs. I’m working hard for just a couple of fish per outing.
Charles Canter of Pasadena working the Euro rig through the deep holes in the monument section of the upper Owens River looking for trophy trout.
Below Benton Crossing Bridge:
In this section the trout move through quickly on their trip up river to their spawning grounds. Deep holes or runs that hold fish today are devoid of fish tomorrow. Successful anglers in the monument area are covering lots of water and only fishing their nymphs in the deep pools, slots, or cutbanks. From Benton Crossing Bridge to Crowley Lake is open to fishing through November 15. It’s two fish 18 inches or bigger artificial lures or flies. No scented baits like mice tails.
Emmet Broughton of Corona caught three rainbows fishing a size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph under an indicator while fly fishing Bishop Creek Canal.
Bishop Creek Canal:
Behind the Ford Dealer:
This area has been stocked with rainbow trout that are willing to take flies. I like to fish my Euro rod in the canal with stoner nymphs and green/gold Prince nymphs. Fishing a size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph five feet under an indicator is producing several trout. I’ve been fishing this area in the morning and quitting by noon or 1:00 P.M. just because the air temperatures are hot.