A warm trend this week makes it enjoyable to be out on the waters in the Owens Valley middle of the day. As daylight becomes less the waters get colder and the trout, being cold blooded, are not actively feeding. At this time of the year I put a lot more casts into the water to guarantee the trout will take my flies. Midges and mayflies are feeding the trout.
This time of year everyone is chasing trophy trout, but it’s the average sized trout taking dry flies that can turn a slow day into a great December day.
Lower Owens River
Wild Trout Section:
Flows have dropped to 450 CFS which is still too high to safely wade. Flows make it to 300 CFS and I will be out fly fishing.
If the river gets to 300 CFS it will be time to fly fish, but for now the flows are too high to safely wade..
Hot Creek
Interpretive Site:
Flows are perfect for nymphing. Hatches are sporadic so nymphing is the productive method. If you see consistent rising trout I would switch to a dry fly. Nymphing under a dry fly, indicator or a Euro rig is working when the flies bounce on the substrate. I’m using size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, Frenchie’s and olive quilldigons. Midges are a staple food source for trout in the winter. Use size 18 or 20 tiger midges, zebra midges and brassies. An old favorite pattern is a two tone brassie. Try them in silver/black, copper/black or green/gold.
An afternoon on Hot Creek by yourself is a treat not often accomplished.
Hot Creek
Canyon Section:
Fly fishers are taking advantage of vehicle access to the canyon section as there is no snow on the ground yet. Nymphing is producing wild brown and rainbow trout with midge and mayfly nymph patterns. For mayfly patterns use bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, Frenchie’s and olive quilldigons. For midges use size 18 or 20 tiger midges, zebra midges and brassies. Another favorite pattern that is no longer in vogue is the soft hackle brassie.
Working nymphs in the deep holes of the upper Owens River is what will produce trophy trout.
Upper Owens River
Above Benton Crossing Bridge:
Lots of fly fishers are taking advantage of no snow on the ground and being able to drive up the left bank of the Owens River above Benton Crossing Bridge. Fishing pressure is intense on some days because fly fishers are looking for that opportunity to catch a personal best trophy trout. The best way to get a trophy is to nymph with larger nymphs like gold ribbed hare’s ears, stoner nymphs and green/gold Prince nymphs. There is a good mid-day blue wing olive mayfly hatch going off. Fly fishers fishing with smaller blue wing olive mayfly nymphs patterns like bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, olive quilldigons and Frenchie’s in size 18 or 20 are producing rainbow and brown trout up to 12 inches. For surface feeding trout use a size 18 or 20 blue wing olive parachute, olive sparkle dun and Adams parachute.
Spawning brown trout in Bishop Creek Canal are looking for gravels like where cows have crossed the creek exposing the gravel:
Bishop Creek Canal
Behind the Old Ford Dealer:
Water levels have receded and cleared up. With the warm weather there are a few trout feeding on hatching mayflies and midges. Mid-day use a size 18 blue wing olive parachutes, olive sparkle duns and Adams parachutes. Nymphing with bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, olive quilldigons, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs and Frenchie’s. There is a lot of debris in the water to snag your nymphs on.