Fall is in the air as temperatures are starting to drop. Streams, rivers and creeks are receding to levels that are safe to fly fish. Waters are clearing and the trout are taking nymphs and dries Lakes are at their fullest with some Eastern Sierra lakes spilling over the lakes dams. Fly fishers on the lakes that are exploring the newly rewatered areas are finding trout willing to take streamers, midge nymphs, and dry flies. Backcountry waters are accessible and brook trout, golden trout, brown trout and rainbow trout are feeding on nymphs and dries. Richard Lancaster is offering daily fly fishing trips into the backcountry through Rainbow Pack Station. https://www.rainbowpackoutfitters.com/guidedfishingtrips
The advantage of Euro nymphing is the chance to land a double of wild brown trout from the lower Owens River.
Lower Owens River
Wild Trout Section:
Fly fishing in the lower Owens River in the wild trout section is primarily nymph fly fishing from the bank. At flows of 300 CFS fly fishers are limited to where they can wade the river. Getting to the river through the overgrown riparian vegetation zone takes a lot of effort in some places. The riffles and runs are fast and require more weight on the line then I find fun to fish with. The wider, slower, deeper holes and runs have 10 to 12 inch wild browns willing to take your flies. I used the Euro rig with a hot spot pheasant tail nymph, stoner nymph and olive burlap caddis to get a double on brown trout. The trout are feeding on black fly larvae, midges and mayfly nymphs. Check out the Stomach Pump Sample page on sierrabrightdot.com to see what a nine inch brown trout ate on Tuesday September 5, 2023. Mosquitoes are on the water and taking advantage of unsuspecting fly fishers.
Sierra Bright Dot guide Richard Lancaster landing a wild brown trout in the wild trout section of the lower Owens River.
Hot Creek
Interpretive Site:
Water levels are still higher than normal forcing most fly fishers to nymph fish in the creek. Nymphing with olive quilldigons, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, olive burlap caddis and gray caddis emergers are producing some quality rainbow and brown trout up to 18 inches. Key to success is to have the right amount of weight to allow the flies to bounce on the substrate and to get a drag free drift.
Hooked up with a trophy trout on the interpretive site of Hot Creek while indicator nymphing.
Hot Creek
Canyon Section:
Water levels are allowing nymphing with the Euro rig or under an indicator to finally produce wild brown and rainbow trout. The fish are feeding on scuds, olive burlap caddis, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, and tiger midges. It takes a fair amount of weight to get the flies down on the substrate where the trout are feeding on hatching aquatic insects.
Fall is comping to the upper Owens River and it will not be long before the trophy trout migrate up from Crowley Lake.
Upper Owens River
Above Benton Crossing Bridge:
Water flows are down to 80 CFS with the bigger trophy trout now inhabiting the deep pools, runs and cutbanks. If your targeting trophy trout be sure to cover lots of water looking for that one trophy trout willing to take you stoner nymph, green/gold prince nymph or copper John. Juvenile brown trout and rainbow trout are feeding on nymphs and dries. For nymphs fish with bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, tiger midges, and olive or rust colored caddis emergers. For dry flies fish with olive or brown elk hair caddis, Adams parachutes, blue wing olive parachutes, ants, or beetles. Horse flies and mosquitoes are still tormenting fly fishers particularly early and late in the day.
With Crowley Lake at full pool it’s hard to find the trout some days.
Crowley Lake:
Fly fishing continues to be sporadic at best on the lake. A lot of fly fishers are finding the lack of hatching midges and decreased fish concentration due to the high levels of the lake very frustrating right now. Fly fishers who are successful are finding areas of the lake with a concentration of food, midges, callibaetis mayflies, or perch fry. Jansen’s damsel fly nymph, olive marabou damsels, olive bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, and balanced perch are working for fly fishers stripping flies or under an indicator. Try working the flies around the developing weed beds.
Indicator nymphing produced a trophy trout on Bishop Creek Canal for Orange County resident Paymon.
Bishop Creek Canal:
Behind the Old Ford Dealer:
California Department of Fish and Wildlife has been planting some big rainbows in the canal. Working hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, stoner nymphs, green/gold Prince nymphs, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and tiger midges have been fooling the rainbows. Thoroughly covering the water with your flies and slowly moving upstream is the most productive way of fly fishing the canal with nymphs. Game wardens were out on the canal this week. No citations issued as all fisherman were following the laws.
I'm at Mahogany Smoked Meats on Tuesdays from 9 to 11 to discuss Eastern Sierra fly fishing opportunities.
Tuesday Talks with Fred
At Mahogany Smoked Meats:
Every Tuesday from 9:00 to 11:00 I go to Mahogany Smoked Meats to eat a burrito and to discuss Eastern Sierra fly fishing with fly fishers, anglers, Facebook followers and Instagram followers. This is an opportunity to spend a couple of hours talking to Richard Lancaster, Sierra Bright Dot guide, Tom Paulson, competitive fly fisher and Tenkara fly fisher, and myself. Come ask the fly fishing questions you’ve been wanting answers to.