Storms are leaving snow in the Eastern Sierra high country this week. We are in need of a lot more snow to keep the streams and lakes full during the summer season. The snow level is down to about the 7,000 foot level. Eastern Sierra streams and creeks are at low fishable levels compared to last summer flows. Midges, mayflies, black flies and stone flies are the insects trout are feeding on. Dry fly activity is pretty much nonexistent right now.
Photographic prove that Fred Rowe gets out and gets hooked up on the lower Owens River.
Lower Owens River
Wild Trout Section:
The river is wadable at 225 CFS. Not all sections of the river are wadable at 225 CFS. Fly fishers need to wade with caution. The river should be at or below 200 CFS by the end of the month if the Eastern Sierra stays dry. Every time the river drops there is an overabundance of hydropsyche caddis nymphs in the river and the trout take advantage of this by feeding on these caddis. Winter skwala stoneflies hatch in late February or early March. These stoneflies are actively moving around the rocks in the riffle sections of the river and getting dislodge making them a target for feeding wild trout. The stoner nymph I developed is to imitate the winter skwala stonefly nymphs. Use bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, tiger midges, zebra midges, olive WD40 nymphs, tan burlap caddis, stoner nymphs, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, Frenchie’s, olive quilldigons, and Barr’s emerger. Check out the stomach pump report on my webpage to see what wild trout in the lower Owens River are feeding on.
Stoner nymphs imitate the winter skwala stones which the lower Owens River wild brown trout are feeding on.
Hot Creek
Interpretive Site:
Hot Creek got snow this week, but access is not limited. Fish are still feeding on mayflies and midges. Nymphing continues to be the most productive method of fly fishing the creek. Fly fishing with size 18 to 22 soft hackle brassies tiger midges, zebra midges, blood midges and size 16 to 20 olive quilldigons, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs Frenchie’s, and bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs are the flies that are imitating the insects the trout are feeding on.
Last week the canyon section of Hot Creek had no snow and if the next storm is small it will look like this again very soon.
Hot Creek
Canyon Section:
The snow on the ground is not going to inhibit access to the canyon. There is little to no fly fishing pressure in the canyon. Euro nymphing or indicator nymphing will be the best method of fly fishing in the canyon. Midge and mayfly nymph patterns are the flies that are producing wild trout in the canyon. I like simple midge nymph and midge pupae nymph patterns like size 18 to 22 tiger midges, zebra midges and blood midges. Size 12 to 14 olive scuds always produce trout in Hot Creek particularly in the canyon. Olive quilldigons and bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs in sizes 18 or 20 are my two primary blue wing olive mayfly nymph patterns.
Trophy trout numbers are increasing in the upper Owens River and the snow is not inhibiting access.
Upper Owens River
Above Benton Crossing Bridge:
Trophy trout numbers are increasing in the upper Owens River above Benton Crossing Bridge. The biggest concentrations of trophy trout are in the pools, runs and cutbanks. Snow is not creating any access problems. Wind and air temperatures in the 30’s and 40’s make for cold days on the water. Offering the trophy trout a big morsel by using a size 12 gold ribbed hare’s ears, stoner nymph and green/gold Prince nymph is how you get these trout to take your fly. Big size 4 or 6 black streamers like wooly buggers and marabou muddlers will also offer the trout a big meal and fool the trophy trout. Best way to present the flies is to get them to bounce on the bottom of the river in the deep holes, deep runs and cut banks.
Water levels in Bishop Creek Canal are at winter levels and the trout are still feeding.
Bishop Creek Canal
Behind the Old Ford Dealer:
Water levels have finally recede to winter levels. The trout are feeding on mayfly nymphs, midge nymphs, black fly larvae and hydropsyche caddis nymphs. The nymphs are tiny and fly fishers should use size 20 to 24 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, olive quill nymphs, olive quilldigons, Frenchie’s, tiger midges, zebra midges, olive midges and cream midges. Use size 12 stoner nymphs and burlap caddis to imitate the skwala stonefly nymphs and hydropsyche caddis nymphs.