Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 01-14-2022

Weather impacts the winter fly fishing in the Eastern Sierra. We are in for a week of sunny days with no big weather fronts anticipated. The increased day light is helping to warm up the streams so the insects and trout are more active middle of the day from 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. We are in the middle of winter and it is midge time. This is the trout’s stable food source when other aquatic insects are inactive. Midges in size 16 to 20 cover the range of midges found in the streams and rivers of the Eastern Sierra.

Fly fishers are hooking up middle of the day when the trout and insects are most active. Photo by Embry Rucker

Lower Owens River:

Wild Trout Section:

The wild trout section of the lower Owens River is offering consistent mid-day fly fishing with nymphs for wild brown trout. Fly fishers can expect to hook up using mayfly nymphs and midges. Euro nymphing and fishing under an indicator is the most productive way to fly fish the lower Owens River. There are a few fish rising in the middle of the day to emerging midges if you are in the right  spot. Pheasant tail nymphs, peeking caddis, tiger midges, zebra midges, and blood midges are fooling the brown trout. Key to success is having the right amount of weight on the rig to get a drag free drift of the nymphs on the substrate.

Embry Rucker from Encinitas working a size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph under an indicator on one of the riffles in the catch and release section of the lower Owens River.

Hot Creek:

Interpretive Site:

Fly fishers have been accessing the interpretive site by walking in from Hot Creek Hatchery Road. Enough fly fishers, along with warmer weather, have packed down the snow to make for easier access into Hot Creek. Fishing has been slow with nymphing under an indicator or under a dry fly producing a few wild brown trout. Conditions remind me of the dogs days of summer. What we have now are the frozen days of winter. Fly fishers willing to work hard are landing a few wild brown and rainbow trout in the middle of the day. 

 Hot Creek:

Canyon Section:

To fly fish the canyon section of Hot Creek fly fishers have to put in extra effort to access the three parking lots. Walking, snowshoeing, or cross country skiing in from Hot Creek Hatchery Road where they stop plowing is required to get to the canyon. Fly fishing has been tough as there is not much insect activity going on for the trout to feed on. The primary insect in the canyon has been midges. Black and red bodied midges are your best patterns right now. I fish with tiger midges, zebra midges, blood midges, two tone brassies, and Manhattan midges in sizes 16 to 20. 

Fly fishers trekking into the upper Owens River need to be prepared for the days conditions. Photo by Embry Rucker

Upper Owens River:

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Mornings have been cold with temperatures in the negative range. Fly fishers heading a mile or two upstream from Benton Crossing Bridge need to be prepared for adverse conditions. The trophy trout are on the bite and can be found feeding in the deeper holes and runs. Stoner nymphs, green/gold wire Prince nymphs, gold ribbed hare’s ears, and copper John’s are the fly patterns that I have the best luck with. These flies need to be fished down deep in the pools and runs. Don’t be afraid to add additional weight to get the flies down on the substrate where the trophy trout are feeding.

Bishop Creek Canal Behind the Ford Dealer:

This area continues to be under-utilized by fly fishers and offers good mid-day fly fishing nymphing under an indicator, using the dry and dropper method, or Euro nymphing. The wild brown trout are taking midge nymphs, midge pupae, and mayfly nymphs. For the dry fly in the dry and dropper rig I’m using a size 16 Adams parachute. For the nymphs under an indicator or the dry fly I’m fishing with size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 20 tiger midges, zebra midges, blood midges, two tone brassies, and Manhattan midges. On the Euro rig I’m fishing with a size 16 or 18 olive quilldigon, size 18 tiger midge, size 12 stoner nymph, size 16 Butano nymph, size 16 thread Frenchie, and a size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymph.

Peter Moglia from Hermosa Beach nymphing Bishop Creek Canal on a sunny day in the Owens Valley.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 01-07-2022

We’ve gotten a break from the storms. The days have been sunny, but not overly warm. Not much in the way of hatching insects. This is nymphing time on most Eastern Sierra waters. Midges are king this time of year on most waters. Black and red are the most common color of midges in Eastern Sierra Waters. The lower Owens River occasionally gets an olive midge. There are a few little fish feeding on the surface of the waters on midge clusters.

Carrying a rod set up to fish a dry fly while fishing a nymph set up is a great way to be prepared for the sporadic hatches found in the winter time.

Lower Owens River:

Wild Trout Section:

Nymphing with midges and mayfly nymphs is what’s needed this time of year. There are a few trout rising to midges, but the bulk of the trout are feeding on nymphs right on the bottom of the river. Mating swarms of midges are on the water early in the morning and a few fish can be fooled fishing with a Griffith’s gnat. I like to nymph under an indicator with a size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph and a size 18 or 20 tiger midge, zebra midges, blood midge, or a two tone brassie. 

The Sierra Mountains covered in their winter whites are the perfect back drop for fly fishing on the lower Owens River.

Hot Creek:

Interpretive Site:

Access is on Hot Creek Hatchery Road. Fly fishers have to walk in on the snow. Fly fishing has been slow. There are wild browns and rainbows willing to take a well placed midge fished under a dry fly or an indicator. There are lots of midge nymph patterns that will work. I like to fish the tried and true tiger midge, zebra midge and a blood midge in sizes 18 or 20.

Hot Creek:

Canyon Section:

Fly fishers can only drive as far as the road has been plowed. From there fly fishers need to walk, snowshoe, ski, or snowmobile into the three canyon access points. Getting into the canyon can be a little tricky with all the snow and ice on the trail. Fishing is all nymphing with midges and I like to fish a size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph in tandem. It represents the mayfly nymphs living in the substrate. Your favorite midge nymph with a black body fished under an indicator or a dry fly will produce a few wild trout.

Upper Owens River:

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

The snow has settled after the storm and is easier to travel across to reach the deep pools and holes that are holding trophy trout. Fly fishers need to ski, snowshoe, or snowmobile in to the upper Owens River. There are trophy trout hanging in the deeper pools and runs willing to feed on a well-placed nymph or streamer. Stoner nymphs, green/gold wire Prince nymphs, gold ribbed hare’s ears, and copper John’s are fooling the trout.

Bishop Creek Canal Behind the Ford Dealer:

The fly fishing has slowed down as the trout are feeding on nymphs in the deeper pools. Fishing nymphs is the method that is producing trout. I’ve fished under an indicator, under a dry fly and with the Euro rig. The fish are feeding on midges, and mayfly nymphs. I’m using tiger midges, zebra midges, and bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs. The trout are skittish as the water is clear and low. My shadows on the water is spooking trout.

Nymphing Bishop Creek Canal middle of the day is a fun way to catch wild brown trout.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 12-31-2021

We wanted snow and we got it. The upper elevations got pounded the last two weeks. It will be a few more days for crews to clean up the snow in the towns and on the roads. Most upper elevation waters are inaccessible due to the heavy snow pack. Most roads accessing upper elevation lakes and streams are closed for the winter. The Owens Valley is snow free and the fly fishing has been good with nymphs. We are heading into midge season on Eastern Sierra waters.

The Owens Valley got a dusting of snow and the Sierra got dumped on.

Lower Owens River:

Wild Trout Section:

There is a dusting of snow on the ground and lots of water puddles on the drive out Chalk Bluff Road to access the lower Owens River in the wild trout section. Fly fishing pressure has been at a minimum and the wild brown trout are feeding on midges and caddis. Stick caddis have been the most abundant insect in stomach samples from trout in the wild trout section. There are a few trout feeding on midges on the surface, but nymphing is the most productive method of fishing the lower river right now. I’ve been successful with size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 olive quilldigons, size 12 stoner nymphs, and size 16 Butano nymphs.

Michael Palmer from San Diego had a great day Euro nymphing and catching wild brown trout.

Hot Creek:

Interpretive Site:

Access is hampered by the amount of snow the area got out of the last series of storms. Roads are slowly getting cleaned up. There is two to four feet of fresh snow to wade through or post hole through to reach the creek. It’s a lot of work to reach the creek. Fly fishing is slow and there is little to no surface activity. Midges make up the bulk of the trout’s diet this time of the year. There are lots of midge patterns that will work on the creek as long as there in sizes 16 to 20. I use tiger midges, zebra midges, soft hackle brassies, and secret midges.

Hot Creek:

Canyon Section:

The road is only plowed to Hot Creek Ranch. From there fly fishers will need to snow shoes, ski, or snowmobile into the canyon section. Nymphing is the only game here with a Euro rig, under an indicator, or with a dry and dropper set up. Midges are the insects most available to the trout right now. I use tiger midges, zebra midges, soft hackle brassies, two tone brassies and secret midges.

Upper Owens River:

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Access is to the Benton Bridge. Fly fishers will have to park off Benton Crossing Road at the river and snow shoe, ski, or snowmobile in to the river. The snow is fresh and soft making it hard to get around. In a few days the snow will firm up making accessing the river easier for fly fishers willing to put in the effort to get out on the upper Owens River to fly fish. Nymphing the deep holes and runs where the trophy trout are stacked up will produce trout. Fly fishers will need to cover a lot of river to find pods of trophy trout willing to take there imitations. Larger nymphs like stoner nymphs, green/gold wire Prince nymphs, gold ribbed hare’s ears, and copper John’s are fooling the trout.

Bishop Creek Canal Behind the Ford Dealer:

There is very little fly fishing pressure in this section. There are a few trout feeding on midges middle of the day on the surface. Nymphing has been the most productive method on the canal. Olive quilldigons, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, tiger midges, zebra midges, and blood midges have been fooling the wild brown trout and the occasional hold over rainbow trout.

Middle of the day the trout will take a nymph fished under a dry fly or on a Euro rig in Bishop Creek Canal.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 12-24-2021

It’s Christmas eve!!! I hope everyone finds the present they want under the tree this year. We got are present in the Eastern Sierra a day or two early.

The Eastern Sierra is getting storms. This means we will have water to fish in next season. The Eastern Sierra is in for a week’s worth of storms with rain in the Owens Valley and snow at the upper elevations. These systems are hard to predict what we will get out of them. We will know when it’s on the ground. Access to the upper elevation waters is limited to snow shoeing, skiing, or snowmobiling. The Owens Valley dirt roads will have dirt, mud, and puddles. Fishing is in winter mode with most anglers fly fishing with nymphs and the occasional streamer. 

The lower Owens River while a winter storm is coming to the Eastern Sierra.

Lower Owens River:

Wild Trout Section:

Chalk Bluff Road is wet, muddy and has puddles, but it’s drivable. The blue wing olive mayfly and caddis hatch are over. You will find a few hatching, but the trout are coming to the surface for the midges. Nymphs under an indicator or using a Euro rig is what’s producing trout. Size 20 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 to 20 tiger midges, zebra midges, and blood midges, size 12 stoner nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, and Frenchies are producing wild trout. This time of the year the trout are not feeding heavily and require lots more casts than in the summer time to properly drift the fly to the trout. I’m casting two to three times as many casts in the winter time than I do in the summer time.

Fly fishing an underutilized section of the catch and release section of the lower Owens River.

Hot Creek:

Interpretive Site:

Access to Hot Creek at the interpretive site is a hike in from the Hot Creek Hatchery Road. It’s a short walk in, but with the snow drifts snow shoes makes it easier. Midges mid-day are offering some surface activity. Nymphing is the most productive method of fishing the creek right now. Midge nymphs and midge pupae patterns fished under a dry fly or an indicator is what is producing right now. I keep a few dry flies in the bag to fish if the hatch is enough to bring the trout to the surface.

Winter access to Hot Creek Canyon is by foot, snowshoes, skis, or snowmobiles.

Hot Creek:

Canyon Section:

Access to the Hot Creek Canyon section starts where the road is no longer plowed. It’s a mile to two mile trek in depending on where you access the creek. Walking, snowshoeing, skiing or snowmobiling is required to access the creek. Nymphing is the most productive method to fish in the canyon and it’s been tough. Fish with size 20 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs or size 16 to 18 tiger midges, zebra midges, or blood midges.

Upper Owens River:

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Access to the upper Owens River starts at Benton Crossing Bridge. Fly fishers need to walk, snowshoe, ski or snowmobile to access the river. Parking at Benton Crossing Bridge is limited. Fly fishers willing to trek through the snow looking for trophy trout will have to cover a lot of ground to find pods of trophy trout feeding in the deeper pools and runs. Fishing with larger nymphs is producing fish for the hardy fly fisher willing to expend the energy to fly fish the upper Owens River.

Getting stuck is the results of trying to drive the dirt roads on the upper Owens River when the roads are full of sno

Bishop Creek Canal Behind the Ford Dealer:

There are sporadic hatches of mayflies and caddis mid-day. Nymphing under a dry fly, indicator, or Euro rig is the most productive method of fishing the canal right now. Bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, thread Frenchie’s, bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, tiger midges, zebra midges, and blood midges are the nymphs that are producing trout. This is a fun easily accessible spot to fly fish with no fishing pressure in the winter time.

Milo Kim from Topanga with a wild brown trout that took a caddis pupae fished under a dry fly.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 12-17-2021

We got snow this week at the upper elevations and a few inches of snow in the Owens Valley. Which is a good start to a much needed snow pack for this winter to refill the streams and lakes of the Eastern Sierra. While most streams and a few lakes are open to winter fly fishing, freezing weather, accumulated snow fall, and frozen lakes makes most upper elevation waters inaccessible. Waters in the Owens Valley are accessible and not frozen. Owens Valley snow only lasts for a few days at most. It’s time to dress warm as cold weather is finally showing up in the Eastern Sierra. Fly fishers trying to access higher elevation waters like Hot Creek and the upper Owens River need to be prepared as these roads are now covered in snow.

Cardinal Village Pond provided ice skaters an opportunity not often available in the Eastern Sierra, but no fishing for now.

Lower Owens River:

Wild Trout Section:

Cold weather has slowed the caddis and blue wing olive mayfly hatch. Trout have not stopped feeding and fishing nymphs under and indicator or on a Euro rig is producing fish mid-day. Size 20 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, tiger midges, and zebra midges in sizes 18 and 20, size 16 Butano nymphs, size 18 Frenchies, and size 18 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs are fooling wild brown trout to 10 inches. The big fish have been absent from the catch as they are spawning.

David Sutton from Las Vegas landing a brown trout that took a size 20 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph under an indicator in the wild trout section of the lower Owens River.

Hot Creek:

Interpretive Site:

Winter storms have left up to two feet of fresh snow on the road to Hot Creek Interpretive site. Drive with caution on the road. Parking and walking in is probably the safest way to access Hot Creek right now. Fishing has slowed down with few insects hatching for the fish to feed on. Midges are providing most of the action in this area. Fish with size 16 to 20 tiger midges, zebra midges, and blood midges.

Hydropsyche caddis make up the bulk of this stomach sample from a 10 inch brown trout caught in the upper section of Hot Creek Canyon.

Hot Creek:

Canyon Section:

Access is limited to the canyon from the snow from the recent storms. Walking in is the safest way to access the creek at this point in time. With few insects hatching fly fishers need to fish with nymphs or streamers. A recent stomach pump sample yielded lots of hydropsyche caddis. Nymphing with size 12 or 14 burlap caddis, size 18 or 20 tiger midge and zebra midge, and size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph is fooling wild brown trout to 14 inches.

Upper Owens River:

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Recent storms have left the dirt roads into the upper Owens River full of fresh soft snow. For now, fly fishers are safest walking in from Benton Crossing Bridge. For the brave soles willing to drive in I would go only where there are tracks in the snow. There are trophy trout in the system that are available to fly fishers willing to walk through the snow to access the deep holes and runs that the trophy trout are resting and feeding in. Fishing with streamers and nymphs is producing a trout or two for anglers. Streamers are producing a few fish for fly fishers fishing with wooly buggers, hornbergs, sex dungeons, or dirty hippies. Nymphs that produce trophy trout are size 12 gold ribbed hare’s ears, green/gold wire Prince nymphs, and stoner nymphs.

Trophy trout from the Owens River need to be left in the water in these cold conditions.

Bishop Creek Canal Behind the Ford Dealer:

A week ago I was complaining it was too hot to fish middle of the day. This week I’m all bundle up fly fishing on Bishop Creek Canal with frozen hands. Euro nymphing and fishing a dry and dropper rig is producing wild brown trout to 10 inches. The mid-day hatches are sporadic and most of the fish are coming on the nymphs. Fishing with size 20 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, and size 18 or 20 tiger midges and zebra midges are fooling the wild brown trout. I finally have seen a couple of other fly fishers fishing on the canal. Fishing pressure is minimal.

Fresh snow on the White Mountains is the perfect back drop for Bishop Creek Canal with no fly fishing pressure on the creek.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 12-10-2021

Warm weather continues to dominate late Fall in the Eastern Sierra. We’re on a storm track for some weather. We are in need of a snow pack to fill the streams and reservoirs for next summer. Hatches of mayflies and caddis are feeding the trout with both dries and nymphs producing wild trout. Non typical flowing fly fishing waters like Bishop Creek, Pine Creek, and Rock Creek are getting little to no fishing pressure. With the change in the regulations opening up most moving waters to catch and release barbless lures or flies there are lots of waters with trout just waiting to take a fly. As always be sure to consult with California Fish and Wildlife regulations for the water you plan on fly fishing. https://wildlife.ca.gov/Regulations.

Bishop Creek Canal is one of the waters that is open to year round fishing with catch and release fishing from November 16 to through the Friday preceding the last Saturday in April.

Lower Owens River:

Wild Trout Section:

Low flows are allowing fly fishers to access the entire river from Pleasant Valley Dam to Five Bridges Road. Hatches of mayflies and caddis are keeping the trout active from 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. each day. After 2:00 P.M. fishing gets tough, but fly fishers wanting to fly fish tell the day light is gone are landing a few fish nymphing in the late afternoon. Exploring the water at the gate your fishing will allow the fly fisher to determine where the trout are nymphing and where they are taking the emerging blue wing olive mayflies and caddis. For dries I’m using size 20 blue wing olive parachutes, sparkle duns, compara duns, elk hair caddis, and X-caddis. Nymphing I’m using size 18 olive quilldigons, size 20 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, and in sizes 18 and 20 tiger midges, and zebra midges. 

Mike Neal from Los Gatos Euro nymphing the lower Owens River in the late afternoon fishing for those last few trout before the sun sets.

Hot Creek:

Interpretive Site:

The water is slow and clear and the trout are feeding on the few mayflies and midges that are hatching. This is the slow time of the year for the interpretive site on Hot Creek. Your drifts have to be perfect. The fly selection has to be a perfect imitation of the hatching insects. The drift has to float the fly right over the fish as they will not move to take a fly this time of year. Best technique is to fly fish with a dry and dropper. I like using a size 16 Adams parachute for my dry fly. For the nymph I’m using tiger midges, zebra midges, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and perdigons. I’m fishing with size 20 Griffith’s gnats, size 20 blue wing olive parachutes, and size 20 olive sparkle duns when I see the fish rising with consistency.

Fly fishing in the Canyon section of Hot Creek has been tough as there are few insects hatching for the fly fisher to imitate.

Hot Creek:

Canyon Section:

The upper section of Hot Creek Canyon is offering the best fly fishing on the creek, but it’s very tough fishing. Nymphing with an indicator or a dry and dropper is producing a few fish with a bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph. Stripping streamers or wet flies is the most productive way to fish the creek right now. For nymphs fish with perdigons, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, burlap caddis, tiger midges, and zebra midges. For streamers I like the standard pattern of an olive wooly bugger in size 6. Strip this fly through the water with finesse so that the fly moves in and around the pockets holding the larger trout.

Upper Owens River:

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

There are trophy trout in the river that are feeding on nymphs and streamers. Successful fly fishers are catching one or two trophy trout per trip to the upper Owens River. Finding pockets of fish is necessary to be successful. This requires covering lots of water to find those few deep holes or runs that have trophy trout feeding in them. For nymphs I like fishing the Euro rig with size 12 gold ribbed hare’s ears, green/gold wire Prince nymphs, and stoner nymphs. Standard and super streamers are producing a few fish for fly fishers willing to cover lots of water. Try fishing with wooly buggers, hornbergs, sex dungeons, or dirty hippies.

Dredging the bottom of deep holes with heavily weighted Euro nymphs is producing a few trophy trout for the persistent fly fisher.

Bishop Creek Canal Behind the Ford Dealer:

Fly fishing pressure or any fishing pressure on Bishop Creek or Bishop Creek Canal has been minimal. Every day I’m out I see no other anglers on the water. A mid-day blue wing olive hatch is keeping the trout actively feeding. A sporadic caddis hatch follows the blue wing olive hatch. I’m fishing nymphs and dry flies with success. For nymphs I’ve been fishing the Euro rig, a dry and dropper rig, and an indicator rig. I’m fishing with size 20 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, quilldigons, perdigons, Frenchies, and tiger midges. For dry flies I’m fishing with X-caddis, blue wing olive parachutes, olive comparaduns, and olive sparkle duns. Six to ten inch wild brown trout are actively feeding middle of the day.

Mike Neal from Los Gatos fishing with a dry and dropper rig to fool the wild brown trout of Bishop Creek Canal in the middle of the day.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 12-03-2021

Warm days with caddis and mayfly hatches makes this a great time to come to the Eastern Sierra fly fishing. Mid-day temperatures are in the mid 70’s making it hot. Mid-day hatches of blue wing olive mayflies and caddis are creating enough activity to keep the trout rising and feeding on nymphs. It’s December and I’m fishing in a T-shirt complaining it’s too hot out for this time of year. Most of the moving waters in Eastern Sierra are open to catch and release fishing with barbless lures or flies. These waters offer all kinds of fly fish opportunities with little to no fly fishing pressure. As always be sure to consult with California Fish and Wildlife regulations for the water you plan on fly fishing. https://wildlife.ca.gov/Regulations.

Elise Minichiello from Ventura enjoying an unseasonably warm afternoon fly fishing in the Eastern Sierra.

Lower Owens River:

Wild Trout Section:

Low flows, warm days, an abundance of hatching mayflies and caddis makes the lower Owens River my top choice of Eastern Sierra waters to fly fish. A mid-day blue wing olive hatch has the wild brown trout on the bite. Before and during the hatch nymphing is producing good numbers of wild trout. If you’re in the right spot during the hatch the trout are coming to the surface to take the hatching mayflies. Size 20 blue wing olive parachutes, comparaduns and sparkle duns are good imitations of the hatching mayflies. Before, during, and after the hatch I’m nymphing with a Euro nymph rig or under an indicator with a size 18 olive quilldigon, size 18 thread Frenchie, and a size 20 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph. The sporadic caddis hatch has been producing fish when I fish elk hair caddis and X-caddis in size 20.

Fly fishers wanting to fish dry flies during the blue wing olive mayfly hatch need to search out those pockets that have trout feeding on the surface.

Hot Creek:

Interpretive Site:

It’s winter hatch time for Hot Creek. Sporadic hatches of mayflies and caddis offer surface action for fly fishers that are on the creek on the right day. Most consistent fly fishing is nymphing with mayfly nymphs and midge nymphs. A size 20 bead head flashback pheasant tail nymph is my go to pattern for imitating mayfly nymphs in Hot Creek. There are a multitude of midge nymphs that produce in the creek. Tiger midges, zebra midges, soft hackle brassies, secret midges, and blood midges in sizes 18 to 22 all produce trout for me.

Hot Creek is in winter mode without its blanket of snow.

Hot Creek:

Canyon Section:

With winter approaching the weed beds in Hot Creek Canyon are slowly disappearing. This is opening up channels and pools that can be nymph fished with a dry and dropper or an indicator. With the low levels in the creek I’m running the nymph about 18 to 24 inches below the fly or indicator. I like using a size 16 Adams parachute as my dry fly. The trout will occasionally take this fly even though the bulk of my takes come on the nymph. For nymphs I’m fishing olive quilldigons, thread Frenchies, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, and midge nymphs. I bring along the size 18 and 20 blue wing olive dry flies and a few size 20 gray midges for those days when there is a hatch and the trout will be feeding on the surface.

Upper Owens River:

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

The upper Owens River is completely accessible as there is no snow or mud from rain on the roads to inhibit fly fishers from accessing the Owens River from Benton Crossing to Longyears. Fly fishers looking for trophy trout, size 18 or bigger rainbows and browns, migrating up from Crowley Lake are finding it tough fly fishing. For the fly fisher dragging nymphs and streamers in the deep pools and runs and covering miles of river to find those few holes that have trophy trout inhabiting them, they are catching a few fish. Fishing bigger nymphs, size 10 or 12, dredged right on the bottom is what is producing trout. I’m fishing with stoner nymphs, green/gold Prince nymphs, gold ribbed hare’s ears, and Rainbow Warriors. For the few fly fishers wanting to  streamer fish the river, fish with standard streamers like wooly buggers, matukas, marabou muddlers, and hornbergs. There is a small group of fly fishers looking for that once in a life time trout that are throwing what I classify as supper streamers. Things like game changers, sex dungeons, baby gonga, dirty hippy, and the boogie man. These flies produce best right at the end of legal fishing time.

Fly fishers plying the waters of the upper Owens River need to cover lots of ground to find the few trophy trout that are in the river right now.

Upper Owens River:

Below Benton Crossing Bridge:

Crowley Lake and the upper Owens River from Crowley Lake to Benton Bridge are closed to fishing. They will open on the last Saturday in April, 2022.

Bishop Creek Canal Behind the Ford Dealer: 

With the new regulations in play the canal is open to catch and release fly fishing from November 16 to the Friday preceding the last Saturday in April. There has been very little fishing pressure on the canal. A mid-day blue wing olive hatch has the trout feeding on nymphs and dries. There are caddis on the water and the trout are reacting to them. Nymphing in the mornings is good with bead head pheasant tail nymphs and olive quilldigons. I’ve been concentrating my effort with dry flies through the peak of the hatch. Fishing with size 16 Adams parachutes, size 20 blue wing olive parachutes, size 20 comparaduns, size 20 sparkle duns and size 20 olive X-caddis is producing wild brown trout to 10 inches. I’ve been fly fishing the canal from 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.

Chris Bowman and Bob Semerau fly fishing the Bishop Creek Canal which is still open with catch and release regulations.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 11-19-2021

The general fishing season ended on Monday November 15, 2021. I rarely close out the season on a water that is closing. I don’t want to be stuck with a bad memory until the season opens the end of April. This year found me fly fishing Crowley Lake. I decided to pull streamers all day. Shane and I started out at six bays. Nothing, nada for us and three other anglers working the bays with indicators. Took a quick lunch break at Crowley Lake Store. Had to have a piece of peperoni pizza and a Dr. Pepper. Fishing the south end of Whiskey Bay paid off. Shane hooked up with the indicator. I got three follow ups to the shore by trophy browns that attacked the balanced perch pattern right at my feet. Managed one nice brown. This was a great day to end the season on.

Sierra Bright Dot owner Fred Rowe with a trophy brown trout that took a balanced perch minnow imitation in Crowley Lake’s Whiskey Bay.

Starting on Tuesday most of the Eastern Sierra moving waters are going to catch and release barbless flies or lures. The resort lakes like Crowley Lake, South Lake, Sabrina Lake, the Mammoth Lakes, and June Lakes are closed tell the last Saturday in April. All other still waters that are not associated with a resort are open to year round fishing. In Bishop Canyon that would be Intake Two and North Lake. As always be sure to consult with California Fish and Wildlife regulations for the water you plan on fly fishing. https://wildlife.ca.gov/Regulations.

Lower Owens River:

Wild Trout Section:

As of Tuesday November 16, 2021 the wild trout section of the lower Owens River went to catch and release barbless lures or flies. Fly fishing on the river has been outstanding with easy access to the entire river and hatches of blue wing olive mayflies and micro caddis. Best fly fishing has been middle of the day with dry flies and nymphs. Blue wing olive nymphs like olive quilldigons and bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs in size 18 or 20 are producing lots of brown trout before and during the hatch. The fish are not feeding on the surface during the hatch in all locations. Dry fly enthusiasts need to search out those area where the trout are actively feeding on the surface. Late afternoon after the hatch the fly fishing slows way down. Casting a dry fly to rising trout is producing a few trout. Working nymphs under an indicator or on a Euro rig are producing a few wild brown trout after the hatch. 

Cheyne Skasick from Long Beach working a Euro rig in the late afternoon trying to add a few more trout to the days catch.

Hot Creek:

Interpretive Site:

Dry fly activity is slowing down. Midges, blue wing olive mayflies, and gray caddis are offering sporadic hatches. Mid-morning to early afternoon is the best time to be throwing dry flies for the selectively feeding trout of Hot Creek. Midges and blue wing olives are offering the most consistent hatches. Drag free drifts, the correct imitation of the stage of the insect that is hatching, and 6X tippets are required to fool these selectively feeding trout.

A drag free drift with the right fly pattern is needed to fool the selectively feeding trout of Hot Creek.

Hot Creek:

Canyon Section:

The weed beds are breaking up and there is more available water for nymph fishers to drift their nymphs through. Fishing with tiger midges, zebra midges, and bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs is producing lots of wild trout for fly fishers fishing a dry and dropper or under an indicator. Mid-day a blue wing olive parachute or a Griffiths gnat are fooling the surface feeding trout.

Upper Owens River:

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Trophy trout are in the river and have the attention of fly fishers. Trophy trout are in the Owens River system from Benton Crossing Bridge to Howard Arcularius Cabin on the River. The fish are spread out and successful fly fishers are covering lots of water to find concentrations of the trophy trout. The trophy trout that are actively spawning on redds should be left alone. The deep pools and runs are where fly fishers will find they have the best luck fly fishing with nymphs and streamers. I prefer to fish nymphs on a Euro rig for the trophy trout. I fish with stoner nymphs, green/gold wire Prince nymphs, Butano nymphs, rainbow warrior, and hot spot pheasant tail nymphs. 

Alex Ceji  from Ventura hooked up with a trophy trout on the upper Owens River that was fooled with a nymph on a Euro rig.

Upper Owens River:

Below Benton Crossing Bridge:

Crowley Lake and the upper Owens River from Crowley Lake to Benton Bridge are closed to fishing. They will open on the last Saturday in April, 2022.

Bishop Creek Canal Behind the Ford Dealer:

On Tuesday November 16, 2021 Bishop Creek Canal went to catch and release with barbless flies and lures. A mid-day blue wing olive mayfly hatch is providing all the action for fly fishers fishing nymphs and dries. Before and during the hatch a size 18 olive quilldigon and a size 20 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph fished under and indicator or a dry fly is producing lots of wild brown trout to 12 inches. At the peak of the hatch a size 20 blue wing olive parachute is fooling the brown trout feeding on the surface. The best time to be on the water is from 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M.

John Cary with a wild brown trout from Bishop Creek Canal.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 11-12-2021

The Eastern Sierra weather is perfect right now with cold nights and warm days. Some waters are having lots of fly fishing pressure, while other waters are devoid of fly fishers. Blue wing olive mayflies are hatching and are offering lots of action for fly fishers. Brown trout and rainbow trout are starting to spawn in Eastern Sierra streams. I prefer to leave actively spawning trout on redds alone. All resort lakes including Crowley Lake, the Mammoth Lakes, the June Lake Loop Lakes, and Bridgeport Reservoir close to fishing starting November 16. Streams and rivers in the Eastern Sierra switch to winter regs on November 16. For most waters this is catch and release barbless lures or flies. As always be sure to consult with California Fish and Wildlife regulations for the water you plan on fly fishing. https://wildlife.ca.gov/Regulations.

A warm day on the upper Owens River had no fly fishers close, but the river was crowded with fly fishers.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Low flows, great weather, an abundance of wild brown trout and a blue wing olive hatch is making fly fishing the lower Owens River great. A lack of fly fishing pressure over the summer and early fall mean most of the trout are willing to take a well drifted dry fly or nymph. I’m nymphing with a size 20 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph five feet under an indicator with a size 1 split shot 12 inches above the fly. This rig is producing wild trout before and during the hatch. Once the hatch is over, I leave the river and head home. If you’re in the right stretch of the river during the hatch the trout are taking size 20 blue wing olive parachutes off the rivers surface fished on a nine foot 5X leader. Best fly fishing has been between 10:00 A.M. and 2:00 P.M.

Aaron Broughton from Corona casting an indicator rig with a size 20 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph on the lower Owens River.

Hot Creek:

Interpretive Site:

Morning midge hatches are followed by mid-day blue wing olive mayfly hatches and gray caddis hatches. Cool mornings are delaying the hatches tell mid-morning starting around 10:00 A.M. The fish are keying into different hatches each day depending on which insect is in abundance. One day it will be the blue wing olives. A day or two latter it will be the caddis. Size 20 blue wing olive parachutes are working during the mayfly hatch. For the caddis hatch I’ve been using size 20 parachute caddis in gray and size 20 X-Caddis in gray.

Michael Cooke of Bishop was fishing the caddis hatch when the deer crossed right below him.

Hot Creek:

Canyon Section:

Best fly fishing is from 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. each day. Nymphing before the hatch with gray caddis emergers and bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs is producing wild trout for fly fishers working their nymphs in the lanes between the weed beds and in the open pocket waters. When the hatch is in full swing, I switch to either a gray caddis or a blue wing olive parachute. Fishing slows by early afternoon and it’s worth quitting at that point.

Upper Owens River:

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Nice weather last weekend and trophy rainbow trout and brown trout in the river brought out the fly fishers on the upper Owens River. Fishing nymphs was the most productive method of fishing for the trophy trout. Working nymphs under an indicator or on a Euro rod was producing trophy trout for fly fishers working the deep holes and runs. A lot of fly fishers were nymphing with no success. To be successful fly fishers need to cover lots of water and get a good presentation to the trout. I’m working my Euro nymph rig right on the bottom of the pools and holes that the trophy trout are feeding and resting in. Most holes I’m sight fishing to the trophy trout. Stoner nymphs, green/gold Prince nymphs, Pat’s rubber legs, hothead Frenchie’s, and hot spot pheasant tail nymphs are producing trophy trout.

Alex Ceji  from Ventura fooled this and four other trophy trout while Euro nymphing the upper Owens River.

Upper Owens River:

Below Benton Crossing Bridge:

Crowley Lake and the upper Owens River from Crowley Lake to Benton Bridge will close to fishing at the end of Monday November 15, 2021. This weekend will be fly fishers last chance to fly fish this section of the upper Owens River. Trophy trout continue to migrate out of the lake into the upper Owens River heading up river to their spawning grounds. Fly fishers nymphing from the lake to the monument area are finding trophy trout willing to take stoner nymphs, green/gold Prince nymphs, pheasant tail nymphs, and hot head perdigons. Fly fishers pulling wooly buggers and slump busters are hooking up with the trophy trout.

Bishop Creek Canal Behind the Ford Dealer:

From 10:00 to 2:00 the blue wing olive hatch and warm weather, into the upper 70’s, is making the canal one of the best fly fishing spots in the Owens Valley. Lots of wild brown trout to 10 inches are taking nymphs and dries. I’ve been nymphing with a Euro rig, dry and dropper, and an indicator rig. Blue wing olive nymphs like olive quilldigons in size 18, and  bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs in size 20 are fooling these wild brown trout. A size 20 blue wing olive parachute floated over the trout with a drag free drift will fool the browns that are feeding on the surface.

Any size 20 nymph or dry fly that will match the size 20 blue wing olive mayflies hatching on Bishop Creek Canal will produce wild brown trout to 10 inches.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 11-05-2021

Indian summer has taken hold of the Eastern Sierra. Cold nights and early mornings turn to warm days that requires no additional clothes to stay warm like that sweat shirt or jacket you’re wearing at night. Brown trout are in the rivers and streams spawning. There is no law against fishing for actively spawning trout. I prefer to leave the actively spawning trout alone on their spawning beds and fish for them in the deep holes or runs where they are resting and feeding. While San Juan worms and egg patterns produce trophy trout, I find that bigger nymphs like a stoner nymph, gold/green wire nymph, and a cooper John produce as much or more trophy trout than egg and worm patterns.

No jackets needed as fly fishers are still wearing long sleeve shirts to protect them from the sun’s harmful rays.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

The words out and lots of fly fishers are tossing flies on the catch and release section of the lower Owens River. Fly fishing will be good for another week or two until most of the wild trout have been caught and released at least once. Flows on the lower Owens River continue to drop and presently are at 85 CFS. At these flows most fly fishers have complete access to the river channel and hidden spots that are not available at higher flows. A blue wing olive mayfly is offering great fly fishing middle of the day as these insects hatch. Nymphing before and during the hatch with a good match for the emerging mayflies like a size 18 olive quilldigons and size 20 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs. If you’re on the right pool when the hatch comes off you can fish a size 20 blue wing olive parachute.

Noah Fortes from San Diego learning how to get a drag free drift while fishing a gold ribbed hare’s ear under an indicator.

Hot Creek:

Interpretive Site:

Mid-day hatches of caddis and blue wing olive mayflies are offering good fly fishing opportunities for dry fly fishers. Size 20 blue wing olive parachutes and size 20 gray parachute caddis are the flies I’m fishing to fool these finicky trout. A drag free drift with 6X tippet is what is needed to fool these wary wild rainbow and brown trout. It can take a lot of casts to get that one perfect drag free drift that will reward the fly fisher with a finicky wild trout.

Lance Aguilar from Rancho Palos Verdes showing the results of a drag free drift with a size 20 blue wing olive parachute.

Hot Creek Canyon Section:

Freezing nights and less daylight is causing the weed beds to begin their annual break up. This makes fishing with nymphs in the low water of fall easier. Working gray caddis nymphs in size 20 and bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs in size 20 is fooling the wild trout before and during the hatch. Once the hatch is in full swing, I switch to dry flies using size 20 blue wing olive parachutes and gray size 20 partridge spent caddis or gray size 20 parachute caddis.

 Upper Owens River:

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Trophy trout from Crowley Lake have made their way up from Crowley Lake and can now be found in the entire Owens River System. Trophy trout are stacked up in deep holes and runs. They have seen a lot of flies already and a good drift with the right fly is needed to fool these wary trophy trout. I like fishing with size 12 stoner nymphs and size 12 green/gold wire Prince nymphs. Copper Johns in red and copper both work well. There are a few resident trout taking bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears in size 14 and 16.

Bruce Downs from Tehachapi with a typical trophy trout from the upper Owens River.

Upper Owens River:

Below Benton Crossing Bridge:

A school of trophy trout went through this area last week. There are still trophy trout heading up the river from the lake. These migrating fish are moving through this area on their way upstream to their spawning beds. Fly fishers covering water will find schools of migrating fish moving up river. Fishing with stoner nymphs, green/gold wire Prince nymphs is working for Euro nymphers. Fly fishers throwing black wooly buggers, black slump busters, and black zonkers through the deep holes and runs are fooling the trophy trout in the river.

Bishop Creek Canal Behind the Ford Dealer:

A mid-day blue wing olive mayfly hatch is providing action for fly fishers fishing the canal with a dry and dropper rig, a Euro nymph rig, and a dry fly. A size 20 blue wing olive parachute is the pattern of choice during the emergence. Before and after the hatch nymphing is producing lots of wild brown trout. The warm days of fall watching a dry fly get sucked in by a wild trout is what the canal is offering right now. Great time to be on the canal fly fishing.

Michael Pohl of La Quinta working a dry and a dropper rig in Bishop Creek Canal.