Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone. This is a time to reflect on my relationships, new and old. I’ve had a great year fly fishing and have enjoyed the time I’ve spent on the water with everyone. I am looking forward to developing new relationships and rekindling old relationships as we move into the new year.
Winter solstice is now behind us. I’m tempted to say that the days are going to get longer, but I know that a day is 24 hours. It is the amount of sunlight we get each day that is now increasing. I find that it takes mid to late January for the fly fishing to pick up again. With the day light at its least the insects are not very active and neither are the trout. While there will be some surface activity, nymphing will be the most productive method of fly fishing for the next four to six weeks. I find Euro nymphing techniques to be the most productive nymphing method on Eastern Sierra moving waters in the winter time. Snow will be the limiting factors for fly fishers plying waters at elevations above 6,500 feet.
The best part of a snow storm is when the sun comes out and the snow is on the peaks of the Eastern Sierra and the lower Owens River is fishing good middle of the day.
Lower Owens River:
Wild Trout Section:
Mornings and late afternoon fly fishing is cold and the trout are not very active. Mid-day from 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. offers good fly fishing with nymphs and the occasional opportunity to fish dry flies. I spend most of winter time Euro nymphing the lower Owens River with size 18 olive quildigons, size 12 stoner nymphs, and size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs. Trout are starting to feed on midges as they are an active aquatic insect that is hatching right now. The trout are taking midge nymphs and midge pupae patterns. I’m midging with zebra midges, tiger midges, Manhattan midges, and blood midges in sizes 22 and 24. There is still a blue wing olive mayfly hatch middle of the day.
Wild brown trout are the dominate species in the lower Owens River.
Hot Creek:
Interpretive Site:
The interpretive site is easier to access than the canyon section. This area is getting more fly fishing pressure than the canyon, but fly fishing pressure is lite. Middle of the day, 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. is the best time to be on the water. Nymphing with midges and blue wing olive nymphs is producing the best right now as there is little insect hatching activity.
There are days in the winter will you can be the only fly fisher on the water like Rod Humphrey.
Hot Creek:
Canyon Section:
Accessing the canyon requires fly fishers to walk in from Hot Creek Ranch on the road, snowmobile, or cross country ski in. Hiking in and out of the canyon is tricky with all this snow on the ground. This extra effort keeps most fly fishers off the creek. With the decrease in fly fishing pressure anglers that are fly fishing in the canyon are catching fish with an opportunity to catch a trophy trout. Nymphing is the primary method of fly fishing in the canyon in the winter time. I’m fishing with midge nymphs and blue wing olive nymph patterns.
Are we going to have to wait tell march to see trophy trout in the upper Owens River like this rainbow displayed by Napa fly fisher Alex Cukui from March of 2021.
Upper Owens River:
Above Benton Crossing Bridge:
Most fly fishers are going with guides that have snowmobiles if they don’t have their own snowmobiles. From Benton Crossing Bridge it takes about an hour to walk into the areas that offer the best fly fishing. The trophy trout have not showed up into the upper Owens River in big concentrations yet. I’m covering lots of water looking for the few trophy trout that are in the river and not spawning. I’m fishing with jigged stoner nymphs and green/gold Prince nymphs in size 12.
Overcast days are usually good for blue wing olive hatches, but with the low flows the canal is fishing tough right now.
Bishop Creek Canal:
Behind the Ford Dealer:
Water levels are at their lowest and the fly fishing is tough as it is hard to approach the trout without spooking them. I’m nymphing with zebra midges, tiger midges, blood midges, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, and olive quilldigons. I’m fishing with my Euro rod and I’m spooking trout. I’m fishing with a dry and dropper rig and casting 40 to 50 feet in front of me. Even at these distances I’m still spooking trout.