A low messed up the weather with cooler temperatures and lots of winds with some gusts in the 30 to 40 mph range. When the winds not blowing the fishing has been good. I’ve been doing my best fly fishing on freestone streams like Bishop Creek and Rock Creek. Nymphing, particularly with the Euro rod has been the most productive. Have had some good dry fly days on the mountain creeks
The wildflowers in the Easter Sierra are so fragile. Four days after this photo the iris froze and were gone for the year.
Freestone Streams:
Rock Creek:
The creek is definitely seeing the effects of runoff even if there is not much of a runoff this year. I’ve been concentrating my efforts on the edges and slow water sections about half way up the canyon. We’re catching rainbows and browns. Fly fishers fishing above the lake are finding brook trout willing to take their dry flies. I’m fishing with elk hair caddis, Adams parachutes, bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, and bead head Prince nymphs.
Brown trout in Rock Creek were willing to take an Adams parachute on a drag free drift for Garrett McEllhannon from Leona Valley.
Bishop Creek South Fork:
The cold front slowed down the surface bite. The browns, rainbows, and brook trout were taking pheasant tail nymphs, and bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears. I’m fishing the pocket water with a dry and dropper technique. I’m suspending the nymph on three feet of 5X fluorocarbon under an Adams parachute or an elk hair caddis. The water is cold and I would wear thermals under the waders if you want to stay warm. I froze up there last weekend.
Fishing the pools and pockets of the south fork of Bishop Creek with a dry and dropper produced rainbow, brown, and brook trout for Daniel Manzer of Somis.
Lower Owens River:
Wild Trout Section:
Weather has cooled down making it enjoyable to be on the river mid-day. Nymphing particularly with the Euro rig has been productive. I’m fishing with stoner nymphs, Butano nymphs, Frenchie’s, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, and bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears. Success is getting the flies down on the bottom. With the Euro rig I’m using size 3.5 mm and 4.0 mm beads. With an indicator system I’m using one to two BB split shot to get the flies on the bottom of the river. Fly fishing pressure has been light.
Alyce Saito of Seal Beach use a nymph on her Tenkara rod to fool the wild trout of the lower Owens River.
Hot Creek:
Interpretive Site:
When the winds not blowing hatching gray bodied caddis and blue wing olive mayflies are bringing the trout to the surface. The key to success is to find pods of selectively rising trout and cast your flies over them with a drag free drift. Using 5X or 6X tippet will increase your success.
A well placed elk hair caddis under the bank provided a nice rainbow for Matt O’Brian of Los Angeles.
Hot Creek:
Canyon Section:
Fishing in the canyon has been tough as the hatches of caddis and mayflies have been sporadic. Working lots of water to find the few fish that want to feed has been my method of success. I’m working a dry and dropper rig with a size 14 mini Chernobyl ant or Adams parachute on top. For the nymphs I’ve been fishing with bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, olive scuds, and midges. Winds have been hampering the fishing in the canyon.
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Hatches of caddis and pale morning duns are just starting on the upper Owens River.
Upper Owens River:
Above Benton Crossing Bridge:
Pale morning dun mayflies and caddis are emerging and have the trout on the bite. Nymphing has been more consistent than fishing dry flies. Wind and gusts have been limiting the amount of time I’ve been able to fly fish on the upper Owens River. Pan sized rainbows and brown trout are providing the action. I’ve been fly fishing with bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, caddis nymphs, and caddis pupae.
Standing and staring at the mountains will not allow the fly fisher to know that his indicator has gone down.
Crowley Lake:
The fishing has been better on the nonwind days. The trout have moved into deeper water and are in the 15 to 30 foot range. Black and silver, black and copper, gray, and Albino Barron’s have been the colors of preference for the midges. Fish these midges from three inches to three feet of the bottom. The boat flotilla has been in McGee Bay.
Teaching John Sacco of Las Vegas, NV how to Euro nymph on Bishop Creek Canal.
Bishop Creek Canal:
Behind the Ford Dealer:
Euro nymphing has been very productive for me. I’m fishing with green/gold Prince nymphs, stoner nymphs, gold ribbed hare’s ears, Frenchie’s, and Butano Nymphs. I like to work my nymphs through the faster riffle sections that can be found in a few spots along the canal. Brown trout to 14 inches continue to offer lots of fun for fly fishers plying the waters of the canal.