As of Wednesday November 16, 2022 Eastern Sierra waters are under winter regulations. Non resort lakes like Intake Two, North Lake, and backcountry lakes are open to year round fishing with no gear restrictions. Resort lakes like Crowley Lake, South Lake, and Sabrina are closed to fishing for the winter. Most moving waters, rivers, streams and canals are under catch and release regulations with barbless lures or flies through the Friday preceding the last Saturday in April. Be sure to check the California Department of Fish and Wildlife fishing regulations PDF section 7.50 for specific water closures.
Twelve to 24 inches of snow can be found at upper elevation waters. The snow is soft and it’s tough waking through it with just boots or waders. Snow shoes, cross country skis, or snowmobiles are the easier way to get around. Cold windy days are for staying home tying flies and getting caught up on paper work. Warm windless days are for being out on the waters of the Eastern Sierra fly fishing. Hatches of mayflies and caddis are keeping the trout actively feeding. It’s cold out there and fly fishers should be adequately dressed for winter conditions.
With snow on the ground at upper elevations fly fishers need to be careful where they drive and park their vehicles.
Lower Owens River:
Wild Trout Section:
There is a good mid-day blue wing olive hatch that is keeping the trout actively feeding on dries and nymphs. The closer you are to Five Bridges Road you will find trout actively feeding on the freshly hatching blue wing olive mayflies. The key to fishing dry flies is to find pods of surface selectively feeding trout and presenting your dry fly with a drag free drift. I’m consistently doing well with blue wing olive nymph patterns under an indicator or on the Euro nymph rig. On the surface I’m using size 20 olive sparkle duns and size 20 blue wing olive parachutes. On the Euro rig I’m using olive quilldigons, stoner nymphs, and hot spot pheasant tail nymphs. Under the indicator I’m using size 18 olive quilldigons and size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs.
Elise Minichiello from Ventura with a wild brown trout from the catch and release section of the lower Owens River that took a size 18 olive quilldigon.
Hot Creek:
Interpretive Site:
The interpretive site is covered in a blanket of snow from 12 to 24 inches deep. Fly fishers are making tracks in the snow which is making getting around in the snow easier. Vehicles can be driven up to the Kiosk. A late morning very early afternoon blue wing olive hatch has the trout actively fishing on the surface. Size 20 blue wing olive parachutes trailed three feet behind a size 16 Adams parachute is the rig that is producing trout for me and my clients. The fishing shuts down by 1:00 P.M.
Hot Creek Canyon has just enough snow to make the trek in and out of the canyon an adventure.
Hot Creek:
Canyon Section:
This area is harder to access. You will need a four wheel drive with clearance to get through the snow on the road which will not be plowed. The parking lots are tricky to park in as few vehicles have driven into them packing the snow down. Access up and down the trials into the canyon is tough with wind drifts up to two feet deep. Going down is easier then coming out. Coming out is much slippery then going down. Nymphing and dry flies are producing wild trout in this section. Nymphing with an Adams dry fly 18 to 24 inches above a size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph or size 18 olive quilldigon is producing fish most of the day. During the hatch I’ve been throwing size 20 blue wing olive parachutes at the rising trout. This is an area for very fit fly fishers to be fishing.
The upper Owens River has a blanket of snow that fly fishers need to negotiate to reach the trout’s spawning grounds upstream of Benton Crossing Bridge.
Upper Owens River:
Above Benton Crossing Bridge:
There is lots of snow on the ground here. I would only drive out the roads above Benton Crossing Bridge if there are lots of tire tracks. It’s pretty easy to get your vehicle stuck on the snow covered dirt roads. Fly fishers parking at Benton Crossing Bridge and walking upstream are finding trophy trout willing to take nymphs and steamers. I’ve been fishing with size 12 stoner nymphs and size 12 green/gold Prince nymphs on the Euro rig. Best fishing has been 30 minutes to an hours walk above the bridge. I’m working the nymphs in the deep holes, runs, and cutbanks that the trophy trout are resting and feeding in. I avoid actively spawning fish on redds. These reproducing trout are the future of our wild trout population in the upper Owens River.
Below Benton Crossing Bridge:
This section is closed to fishing as of Wednesday November 16, 2022.
With winter regulations in effect few fly fishers fish Bishop Creek Canal in the winter time.
Bishop Creek Canal:
Behind the Ford Dealer:
Bishop Creek Canal is now under winter fishing regulations which is catch and release barbless flies or lures only. I’m Euro nymphing with olive quilldigons, stoner nymphs, and hot spot pheasant tail nymphs. Under an indicator I’m using bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and olive quilldigons. There are a few stocker rainbows left in this area. Wild brown trout will be the most commonly caught trout during the winter months in the canal.