Finally getting some weather in the Eastern Sierra. Its snowed at upper elevations and rained in the Owens Valley. Waters in the Long Valley area are still accessible by vehicle. Four wheel drive vehicles is recommended. Fly fishers are finding spawning fish in the Owens Valley and Long Valley waters. Mayflies and midges are the insects the trout are feeding on. Nymphing is the most productive method of fly fishing Eastern Sierra waters right now. Key to success is three to four times the cast you would use in summer time to cover the same waters in winter time. Fly fishers need to put the nymphs right on the trout’s nose to get them to feed in winters cold waters.
Merry Christmas to all my friends, clients, and followers. May Santa Claus leave the fly fishing present under your tree you are hoping for. It might even be a gift certificate for a guide trip with Sierra Bright Dot.
Lower Owens River
Wild Trout Section:
Flows are dropping and looks like they will be at or below 300 CFS by the weekend. Fly fishers need to be careful when wading at these flows. The river is best at 200 CFS. Nymphing with an indicator or a Euro rod is the most productive method of fishing the river right now. Use size 18 to 22 tiger midges, zebra midges, blood midges and brassies to imitate the black fly larvae and the midges. Use size 16 or 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, olive quilldigons, Frenchie’s and olive quill nymphs to imitate the blue wing olive nymphs. It will take a lot of weight to keep the nymphs bouncing on the substrate where the trout will be feeding.
Flows are receding and fly fishers should keep an eye on the flows as they will be under 300 CFS soon.
Hot Creek
Interpretive Site:
There are a few fly fishers taking advantage of fly fishing Hot Creek with no crowds. Fishing with midges and mayfly nymphs is what is producing the most fish right now. If you’re on the water when a hatch brings the trout to the surface to feed definitely switch to a dry fly and enjoy some December dry fly fishing. A rarity in the Eastern Sierra. Use size 20 to 22 tiger midges, zebra midges, blood midges, brassies, soft hackle brassies, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and olive quilldigons.
Hot Creek Canyon has little to no fly fishing pressure this time of year.
Hot Creek
Canyon Section:
A few fly fishers are putting in the effort to walk in and out of the canyon to fly fish. This is a nymphing situation in the canyon. Middle of the day is the best time to be on the water as this is when the trout are most active. Euro nymphing, indicator nymphing and dry and dropper are all nymphing techniques that work in Hot Creek Canyon. For midge imitations use size 18 to 22 tiger midges, zebra midges, blood midges and brassies. For blue wing olive nymph imitations use size 16 or 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, olive quilldigons, Frenchie’s and olive quill nymphs to imitate the blue wing olive nymphs.
The upper Owens River is offering fly fishers a chance at trophy trout and solitary fly fishing opportunities.
Upper Owens River
Above Benton Crossing Bridge:
Trophy trout are in the river and can be found in the deep pools, deep runs and cut banks. The trophy trout are not concentrated in the river right now, but there are enough trophy trout in the river that fly fishers will be able to hook up with these fish. Fly fishers will need to work their flies in the spots where the trophy trout like to rest and feed. Moving from spot to spot after thoroughly covering each spot is how to be successful on the river right now. Larger nymphs and bright red flies like gold ribbed hare’s ears, stoner nymphs, green/gold Prince nymphs, egg patterns and squirmy wormies is what is fooling the trophy trout. There is a mid-day mayfly hatch that has the trout feeding on nymphs and dries. Bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, olive quilldigons and hot spot pheasant tail nymphs are fooling these resident trout.
Low flows and no fly fishing pressure makes Bishop Creek Canal a great mid-day fly fishing spot in the Owens Valley.
Bishop Creek Canal
Behind the Old Ford Dealer:
Few anglers are taking advantage of Bishop Creek Canal being open to fishing in the winter time. Fly fishers will find middle of the day to be quit pleasant on the canal. There are mayfly and midges hatching. Few trout are coming to the surface to feed which makes nymphing the best method on the canal right now. Nymphing with midge, black fly larvae and mayfly patterns is producing wild brown trout. Use size 20 and 24 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, olive quilldigons, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, Frenchie’s, tiger midges and zebra midges.