Happy New Years. As we move into a new year, I’m looking back at a great year for Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Guide Service. Had the busiest year in the 40 years I’ve been guiding. I did a lot of guide trips, Euro Nymphing seminars, and introduction to fly fishing. I’m looking forward to expanding the guide service in 2023 by bringing on a guide or two. I will be announcing dates for fly fishing classes, hosted trips, and seminars in January.
Even though were are in the coldest part of the year there are waters that are consistently producing trout middle of the day. Midges and mayflies are the abundant insects keeping the fish actively feeding. While I’m seeing some rising trout that fly fishers can throw dry flies at, it’s definitely a nymphing game right now. Winter storms have been moving through the Eastern Sierra leaving snow at the upper elevations. This accumulation of snow will be next year’s water in streams and lakes. We are not out of the drought situation yet, but it’s shaping up to be a good winter if we can keep the storm doors open and put snow on the ground at upper elevations.
Emmy Kidd of Bishop is my last casting lesson of the 2022 fly fishing season.
Lower Owens River:
Wild Trout Section:
While the dry fly activity is spotty at best, midges and mayflies have the trout feeding on nymphs. I’m fishing with my Euro rig and having 10 to 20 fish days on wild brown trout and the occasional rainbow trout. I’m using olive quilldigons, stoner nymphs, and hot spot pheasant tail nymphs in my three fly Euro rig. Under the indicator I’m using bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, and midge patterns. For midges I’m tying up and using midge nymphs and midge pupae patterns in tiger midge, zebra midge, and olive colorations.
Rainbow trout only make up 20 percent of the trout population, but represent the biggest trout caught in the lower Owens River.
Hot Creek:
Interpretive Site:
Access to the interpretive site before this weekend’s storms was questionable to drive in. If you have a high clearance four wheel drive vehicle you can probably drive in and out. If not, I would park on the side of the road and walk in. There are few fly fishers working this area. If there is a hatch I would throw dry flies, but nymphing is your best bet in this area. I’m primarily using midge nymph and midge pupae patterns in sizes 20 and 22 in tiger midge or zebra midge coloration. This is definitely a mid-morning 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. fishery.
The road in to Hot Creek interpretive site is full of snow and I would recommend walking in rather than driving your vehicle in.
Hot Creek:
Canyon Section:
There are vehicle tracks into the canyon area prior to this weekends storms. I would only drive in if you are comfortable in driving off road snow conditions. Walking in from Hot Creek Ranch, end of the plowed road, is a little more than a mile to the geological site. Most fly fishers avoid this area in the winter as they are not willing to put in the effort required to get to the creek. This decrease in fly fishing pressure makes for better fly fishing for the few anglers willing to put in the effort to fish the creek in the winter time. With the weed beds being at their lowest point of growth fly fishers can nymph fish the open water areas. Nymphing with midges and mayfly nymphs is producing fish.
The first few hundred yards of the upper Owens River above Benton Crossing Bridge gets lots of fishing pressure as fly fishers are not willing to walk an hour upstream to the better trophy trout spots.
Upper Owens River:
Above Benton Crossing Bridge:
While fly fishers are waiting for the big run of winter trophy rainbows that should show up in January there just are not many fish in the river system right now. The snow prior to this weekend’s storms is packed down allowing fly fishers to walk in. Fishing is tough and fly fishers need to cover a lot of water for one or two fish. I’m fishing the Euro rod with stoner nymphs and two tone green/gold wire Prince nymphs. I’m fishing these flies right on the bottom in the deep holes, runs, and cutbanks where the trophy trout are resting and feeding. These spawning fish are the future of wild trout in the Owens. I chose not to fly fish to actively spawning trout.
Spooky trout in low water conditions in making fly fishing on Bishop Creek Canal tough.
Bishop Creek Canal:
Behind the Ford Dealer:
Low water levels is making the fly fishing tough on the canal. I’ve tried Euro nymphing and just can’t get a cast to the fish with out spooking them. I’m waiting for the water levels to come up some. The best way to fish the canal right now is to fish a bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph or midge pattern under a dry fly. I’m casting this rig 40 to 50 feet in front of me and it’s still spooking fish.