Last weekend’s rain storms on top of the snow pack at lower elevations played havoc with roads, infrastructure and waterways. Snow at upper elevations added to an already to big snow pack particularly for towns like Mammoth and June Lakes. Department of Water and Power had to deal with an eroded section of the aqueduct south of Olancha. There are several roads closed due to snow pack or sections of dirt roads that eroded away. With all the snow and water runoff from the storms Eastern Sierra waters are slowly recovering from the deluge of last weekend’s Atmospheric River.
The suns out and the mountains have enough snow to fill the lakes and keep the streams flowing all summer.
Lower Owens River
Wild Trout Section:
Flows in the lower Owens River in the wild trout section over the weekend hit 1,000 CFS. Pleasant Valley Reservoir spilled over the dam contributing to the increased water flows in the river. Pleasant Valley Dam Road is closed at HYW 395, but is expected to open. Chalk Bluff Road is closed at both ends of the road due to a washed out sections of the road. No time frame for opening of the road. Fly Fishers wanting to fish the wild trout section will have to walk in. Flows for the weekend are expected to be in the 300 CFS range, but DWP is expecting to increase flows starting on Sunday. Fishing with nymphs in the Five Bridges area will probably produce a few fish for fly fishers working the river from the bank if the river clears by the weekend. Midges, blue wing olive nymphs and black streamers is what I’m planning on trying in the river.
Chalk Bluff Road is closed on both ends due to a section of the road that washed out.
Hot Creek:
Interpretive Site:
Access to Hot Creek is parking at the intersection of Hot Creek Hatchery Road and Airport Road and walking or snowshoeing in. There are lots of foot prints in the snow down Hot Creek Hatchery Road suggesting fly fishers are walking into the creek. The interpretive site is the easier spot to access and fly fish the creek. Nymphing is the most productive method of fly fishing Hot Creek. There are few if any hatches going on. But, I still carry midge and blue wing olive dry flies on the off chance I can fish dries to rising trout.
Foot access only on Hot Creek Hatchery Road to access the Interpretive Site and the canyon.
Hot Creek:
Canyon Section:
This section of the creek is going to require maximum effort from fly fishers wanting to fly fish in the canyon. Nymphing with midges, blue wing olive nymphs and throwing streamers will produce trout. With the trout seeing minimal fly fishing pressure this would be a great time to throw an articulated streamer like a gonga, game changers and dungeons for a trophy brown trout in the few deep holes.
Mono County road crews are working on clearing up the roads including Benton Crossing Road.
Upper Owens River
Above Benton Crossing Bridge:
The Road is stilled closed at the Green Church, HWY 395 and Benton Crossing Road. Mono County road crews are doing their best to clean up the roads from the Atmospheric River that left snow in Mono County. For the time being no fishing on the upper Owens River. Probably a good thing for the spawning fish to get a break from all the fishing pressure.
Bishop Creek Canal is flowing high and muddy after this last Atmospheric River blasted the Owens Valley.
Bishop Creek Canal:
Behind the Ford Dealer:
The Atmospheric River that deluged the Owens Valley swelled and turned the canal waters off color. I’m hoping that by the weekend the water will clear up giving fly fishers one water to fly fish this weekend with vehicle access. Midge nymphs, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, and olive quilldigons should produce trout once the water begins to clear.
Fly fishers wanting to fish the gorge need to wait until flows drop and access is safe.
Owens River Gorge
Upper and Middle Gorge:
At this time the gorge is unsafe to fish due to access and high water flows.