A storm has pushed through the Eastern Sierra leaving the peaks of the mountains frosted in Snow. Mammoth Mountain will be opening this Saturday November 5, 2022. Higher elevation waters are done for the season or one storm away from being inaccessible by vehicle due to snow on the ground. Resort lakes will be closing on Tuesday November 15, 2022. Most moving waters will become catch and release barbless flies and lures starting Wednesday November 16. Be sure to check the California Department of Fish and Wildlife regulations section 7.50 for specific water closures. Caddis and mayfly hatches have the trout feeding and taking flies that imitate the hatch that is on the water.
Fall colors are starting to show in the Owens Valley and the mountains are frosted with the first snow of the season.
Lower Owens River:
Wild Trout Section:
Blue wing olive mayfly hatches have the trout of the lower Owens River in the wild trout section feeding consistently on blue wing olive nymphs. Euro nymphing and under an indicator is producing the best action. If you’re in the right spot you can catch a few wild trout on a size 20 blue wing olive parachute at the peak of the hatch. I’m success with size 16 or 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, olive quilldigons, Frenchie’s and, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs. Fly fishing has been consistent from mid-morning to sunset.
Andy Gregg from Huntington Beach showing the results of learning to nymph fish under an indicator on the wild trout section of the lower Owens River.
Hot Creek:
Interpretive Site:
Weeds are starting to deteriorate allowing fly fishers more room to work their flies around the weed beds. A mid-morning to early afternoon caddis hatch has the wild trout feeding on emergers and dry flies. Size 20 gray X-caddis, elk hair caddis, and partridge spent caddis are fooling the selectively feeding trout.
Hot Creek Canyon water levels are low, but there are enough spots to fish in between the weed beds to allow fly fishers to catch a few wild trout.
Hot Creek:
Canyon Section:
Water levels are low and weed beds are dominating the stream bed. There are enough open slots and holes to allow fly fishers to fish dries and nymphs in Hot Creek Canyon. A mid-day caddis hatch is responsible for the selectively feeding trout to be feeding on pupae and dries. I’m fishing with size 20 gray X-caddis, elk hair caddis, and partridge spent caddis cast and dead drifted in between the weeds. I’m also nymphing with size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and olive quilldigons. There has been very little fly fishing pressure as fishing is tough at its best.
Working size 12 stoner nymphs and green/gold Prince nymphs in the deep holes, runs, and cutbanks is producing trophy rainbow trout.
Upper Owens River:
Above Benton Crossing Bridge:
With the storm that came through the Eastern Sierra we now have some new trophy trout in the upper Owens River. These fish are resting and feeding in the deep holes, runs and cutbanks. They are looking for a big morsel like wooly buggers, matukas, slumpbusters, stoner nymphs, and green/gold Prince nymphs. Key to successfully fly fishing in this section is finding the pods of trout and casting to them without spooking them.
The upper Owens between Benton Crossing Bridge and Crowley Lake closes to fishing on Tuesday November 15, 2022.
Below Benton Crossing Bridge:
This section is open for just a little while longer. It’s worth fishing down here as the fish have to move through here on their way upstream to the spawning gravels. I’m looking for trout in the deeper holes and cutbanks. I’m making minimum casts with stoner nymphs and green/gold Prince nymphs on my Euro rod. If I don’t get hit or don’t see fish I’m moving to the next spot. Covering lots of water finding the fish is key to success in this section.
Bishop Creek Canal is a great spot to teach fly fishing to beginners.
Bishop Creek Canal:
Behind the Ford Dealer:
Stocker rainbows and wild brown trout are taking nymphs cast with stealth and drifted drag free. Olive quilldigons, Frenchie’s, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, Prince nymphs, and stoner nymphs are fooling the trout. These flies need to be fished down on the substrate. Weeds make it hard to get a good drift in some spots. The trout are feeding on top of the weeds or hiding in the weeds and darting out to feed on nymphs passing by them.