A weeks plus of above normal temperatures was a nice departure from our normal February weather. Mosquitoes were out to play and definitely were leaving their marks on fly fishers. Now we are back to a normal weather pattern. Minor storms are moving through the Eastern Sierra and are leaving a little precipitation this week. With another storm front moving through the area next week look for more precipitation. Hatches of midges, stoneflies, caddisflies and mayflies are feeding the trout of the Eastern Sierra. Sierra Bright Dot guides are available to teach fly fishers the techniques that produce trout in Eastern Sierra waters.
Winter weather is still impacting Eastern Serra waters particularly above 7,000 feet .
Lower Owens River
Wild Trout Section:
With the nice weather came an influx of fly fishers plying the waters of the wild trout section of the lower Owens River particularly over the weekend. The increased fly fishing pressure has slowed down the catch rate. There are fish to be caught for fly fishers willing to work dries and nymphs in places other fly fishers will not venture. Getting in the river bed and exploring sections of the river where the banks are lined with tulles and willows will get you into spots most fly fishers avoid. During the mid-day blue wing olive hatch you can fish dry flies if you are on the right section of the river during the hatch. If you’re not in the right place during the hatch move and find a spot on the river where the trout are consistently feeding on the hatching blue wing olive duns. To imitate the hatching blue wing olive duns fish with a size 18 blue wing olive parachute, size 18 Adams parachute and a size 18 olive sparkle dun. Nymphing under an indicator or with a Euro rig is the most consistent method of fly fishing the river during the blue wing olive hatch. Nymph with a size 18 olive quilldigon, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph, size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymph, size 18 Frenchie and a size 18 Jedi Master Baetis.
At flows of 75 CFS fly fishers can explore sections of the river that are lined with willows and tulle that cannot be accessed from the banks.
Hot Creek
Interpretive Site:
The snow from the last storm has melted enough to allow vehicle access. There has been a big increase in fly fishing pressure with the opening of the road into the Interpretive Site. There is a mid-day hatch of midges with a sprinkling of blue wing olive mayflies. Using a size 22 Griffiths gnat or size 24 gray midge adult will fool a few of the surface feeding trout. Nymphing has been the most productive method on the creek. Fishing with size 18 SOS nymphs, size 12 stoner nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons and size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs is fooling rainbow trout, brown trout and Owens River suckers.
The berm at the end of the plowed section of Hot Creek Hatchery Road is making vehicle access impossible.
Hot Creek
Canyon Section:
Vehicles are parking at the end of the plowed section of Hot Creek Hatchery road. Fly fishers are walking the mile plus into the three sections of Hot Creek Canyon. Fishing with nymphs is the most productive method of fly fishing in the canyon. Dry and dropper rigs and Euro nymph rigs are how fly fishers are presenting their nymphs to the trout. Getting a drag free drift is necessary to fool the wild trout in the canyon section. Nymph with size 20 tiger midges, size 20 zebra midges, size 20 soft hackle brassie, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 Jedi Master Baetis and size 16 SOS nymphs to fool the wild trout in the canyon section.
Storms moving through Long Valley may temporarily impact vehicle access to the dirt roads leading into the upper Owens River.
Upper Owens River
Above Benton Crossing Bridge:
The dirt roads accessing the Owens River above Benton Crossing Road are covered in snow, mud puddles and ice. Four wheel drives with good clearance are making it as far up river as they want to drive. There has been a mid-day blue wing olive hatch that has the resident brown and rainbow trout feeding on the nymphs and the hatching duns. On the surface of the river fish with size 18 Adams parachutes, size 18 blue wing olive parachutes and size 18 olive sparkle duns. Nymphing use size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymph, size 18 Frenchie and a size 18 Jedi Master Baetis. There are still a few trophy rainbow trout in the system and fly fishers willing to cover a lot of water are finding a few of the rainbows willing to take flies. Nymph with a size 12 stoner nymph, size 12 green/gold Prince nymph and size 12 gold ribbed hare’s ears variations in the deep holes, deep runs and cut banks.
If you do not spook the trout in the clear low water of Bishop Creek Canal they will take a well-placed nymph.
Bishop Creek Canal
Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:
There are trout willing to take flies in Bishop Creek Canal. The fish are supper spooky in the low clear water of the canal. Successful fly fishers are presenting nymphs to the trout without spooking them in deep holes and fast riffle sections. Fishing the slow moving flat sections of the canal is almost impossible to do without spooking trout. Nymph with size 18 tiger midges and size 18 zebra midges, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 SOS nymphs and size 18 olive quilldigons.