I made a prediction back in April that snow runoff would be over by August first. With peak runoff behind us the streams and creeks are slowly receding offering good fly fishing opportunities. From now until November we should have great fly fishing. This does not mean the streams are at normal flows, but they are receding. I would still be very careful when fly fishing the freestone streams. Hatches of little yellow stones, caddis, trico mayflies, blue wing olive mayflies and midges have the trout taking nymphs and dries. The hordes of mosquitoes have receded with the water flows particularly in the Long Valley area.
The San Joaquin River in the Reds Meadow area is still flowing too high to safely wade and fly fish .
Lower Owens River
Wild Trout Section:
Flows are down to 300 CFS which is the upper end of wadable flows. I can wade at these flows, but most clients find these flows to high to safely wade. Five Bridges is the only vehicle access to the river right now. Chalk Bluff Road is closed to vehicle travel from the bluff to Pleasant Valley Campground. Nymphing at these flows is still the most productive method of fly fishing the river. I’m using the Euro nymph rod and finding wild brown trout willing to take my nymphs. Be careful walking on the banks as there are lots of eroded banks that should be avoided.
The lower Owens River at 300 CFS is wadable if you’re a strong wader..
Hot Creek
Interpretive Site:
Clearing water, receding flows and hatches of trico mayflies and blue wing olive mayflies have trout feeding on the surface. If you are looking to fish dry flies you will need to move around the creek to find spots where the trout are rising. Most of the river is producing with nymphs. I’ve been working a hot spot pheasant tail nymph, stoner nymph, and green/gold prince nymph with great success. I have openings in August for fly fishers who want to learn how to fly fish Hot Creek successfully.
Bob Rusitto worked a Euro rig from the ranch to the Interpretive parking lot as all the fly fishers left the creek by 11:30 when the hatch was over.
Hot Creek
Canyon Section:
Flows in the canyon are now conducive to nymphing with an indicator or with a Euro rig. The trout are taking bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, olive quilldigons, Frenchie’s, scuds, stoner nymphs and green/gold Prince nymphs. There are a few spots in the canyon where trout are feeding on the hatching insects.
Euro nymphing the upper Owens River is producing six to 20 inch wild brown trout and rainbow trout..
Upper Owens River
Above Benton Crossing Bridge:
While hatches of little yellow stone flies, caddis and trico mayflies have trout feeding on the surface, nymphing with the Euro rig has been producing six to 20 inch wild trout on hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, stoner nymphs and green/gold Prince nymphs. The river is in prime shape and the hordes of mosquitoes that were horrendous a few weeks are mostly gone. I’m teaching lot of fly fishers to Euro nymph the river as this method is perfect for the conditions right now. Using elk hair caddis, little yellow stones, and trico spinners are producing trout for fly fishers wanting to dry fly fish.
Crowley Lake:
The lake is at the highest levels I’ve seen in years. With the lake level stabilized fly fishers are able to pattern the trout’s feeding habits. The flotilla of boats has been in 10 to 15 feet of water in the north west corner of McGee Bay. There are a few fly fishers who are separating themselves from the pack and finding trout to catch in areas of the lake with no other fly fishers around. Tiger midges, zebra midges, blood midges, gray midges and albino Barron’s fished from three inches off the substrate to four feet off the substrate are producing lots of trophy brown, rainbow and cutthroat trout.
Alina Olivarri from Baldwin Park learning to fly cast before indicator nymphing on Bishop Creek Canal.
Bishop Creek Canal:
Behind the Old Ford Dealer:
It’s been hot in the Owens Valley with daytime temperatures in the high 90’s to low 100’s. If you can put up with the heat there are trout to be caught in the canal. Nymphing is producing for me under an indicator or with a Euro Rig. I’m using a hot spot pheasant tail nymph, stoner nymph and green/gold Prince nymph on the Euro rig. Under the indicator I’m using bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears. I’m catching wild brown trout and stocked rainbows. Key to success here is moving upstream three steps at a time and completely covering all the water before moving another three steps up the canal.