Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 11-04-2022

A storm has pushed through the Eastern Sierra leaving the peaks of the mountains frosted in Snow. Mammoth Mountain will be opening this Saturday November 5, 2022. Higher elevation waters are done for the season or one storm away from being inaccessible by vehicle due to snow on the ground. Resort lakes will be closing on Tuesday November 15, 2022. Most moving waters will become catch and release barbless flies and lures starting Wednesday November 16. Be sure to check the California Department of Fish and Wildlife regulations section 7.50 for specific water closures. Caddis and mayfly hatches have the trout feeding and taking flies that imitate the hatch that is on the water.

Fall colors are starting to show in the Owens Valley and the mountains are frosted with the first snow of the season.

Lower Owens River:

Wild Trout Section:

Blue wing olive mayfly hatches have the trout of the lower Owens River in the wild trout section feeding consistently on blue wing olive nymphs. Euro nymphing and under an indicator is producing the best action. If you’re in the right spot you can catch a few wild trout on a size 20 blue wing olive parachute at the peak of the hatch. I’m success with size 16 or 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, olive quilldigons, Frenchie’s and, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs. Fly fishing has been consistent from mid-morning to sunset.

Andy Gregg from Huntington Beach showing the results of learning to nymph fish under an indicator on the wild trout section of the lower Owens River.

Hot Creek:

Interpretive Site:

Weeds are starting to deteriorate allowing fly fishers more room to work their flies around the weed beds. A mid-morning to early afternoon caddis hatch has the wild trout feeding on emergers and dry flies. Size 20 gray X-caddis, elk hair caddis, and partridge spent caddis are fooling the selectively feeding trout.

Hot Creek Canyon water levels are low, but there are enough spots to fish in between the weed beds to allow fly fishers to catch a few wild trout.

Hot Creek:

Canyon Section:

Water levels are low and weed beds are dominating the stream bed. There are enough open slots and holes to allow fly fishers to fish dries and nymphs in Hot Creek Canyon. A mid-day caddis hatch is responsible for the selectively feeding trout to be feeding on pupae and dries. I’m fishing with size 20 gray X-caddis, elk hair caddis, and partridge spent caddis cast and dead drifted in between the weeds. I’m also nymphing with size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and olive quilldigons. There has been very little fly fishing pressure as fishing is tough at its best.

Working size 12 stoner nymphs and green/gold Prince nymphs in the deep holes, runs, and cutbanks is producing trophy rainbow trout.

Upper Owens River:

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

With the storm that came through the Eastern Sierra we now have some new trophy trout in the upper Owens River. These fish are resting and feeding in the deep holes, runs and cutbanks. They are looking for a big morsel like wooly buggers, matukas, slumpbusters, stoner nymphs, and green/gold Prince nymphs. Key to successfully fly fishing in this section is finding the pods of trout and casting to them without spooking them.

The upper Owens between Benton Crossing Bridge and Crowley Lake closes to fishing on Tuesday November 15, 2022.

Below Benton Crossing Bridge:

This section is open for just a little while longer. It’s worth fishing down here as the fish have to move through here on their way upstream to the spawning gravels. I’m looking for trout in the deeper holes and cutbanks. I’m making minimum casts with stoner nymphs and green/gold Prince nymphs on my Euro rod. If I don’t get hit or don’t see fish I’m moving to the next spot. Covering lots of water finding the fish is key to success in this section.

Bishop Creek Canal is a great spot to teach fly fishing to beginners.

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Ford Dealer:

Stocker rainbows and wild brown trout are taking nymphs cast with stealth and drifted drag free. Olive quilldigons, Frenchie’s, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, Prince nymphs, and stoner nymphs are fooling the trout. These flies need to be fished down on the substrate. Weeds make it hard to get a good drift in some spots. The trout are feeding on top of the weeds or hiding in the weeds and darting out to feed on nymphs passing by them.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 10-28-2022

Well I’ve put away the flip flops and the shorts for another year. Cool mornings and evenings give way to perfect warm fall days. Fall colors are starting to show up on the floor of the Owens Valley. The mountain resorts are closing up in preparation for winter. The freestone creeks are at their lowest and I’m done fishing them in the mountain sections for the season. Brook trout and brown trout are finishing up their spawning seasons at elevations. At lower elevations the brown spawning season has not begun. Dry flies, nymphs, and meat streamer patterns are all producing fish for fly fishers. There have been two fires in the lower Owens River area. The last one was on Sunday October 23, 2022 across from the turnoff to the Pleasant Valley Dam from Hwy 395.

On Sunday afternoon October 23, 2022 there was a fire at the corner of HWY 395 and Sawmill Road.

Freestone Streams:

Rock Creek:

The creek is running at its lowest just before winter sets in. Fish are supper spooky and tough to catch right now. Dry flies are producing a few trout. I’m throwing elk hair caddis and Adams parachutes in size 14 and 16. I’m casting them as far upstream as I can to avoid spooking fish.

Alonso Parker-Martin from San Francisco Tenkara fly fishing Rock Creek on a fall morning on Rock Creek.

Bishop Creek

South Fork Bishop Creek at Weir Pond:

Low water is making fly fishing on south fork of Bishop Creek tough. Brook trout are congregating in preparation for spawning. These brook trout and the occasional brown trout are still taking dry flies like an Adams parachute or an elk hair caddis. I’m done up in Bishop Canyon until spring time. I might fish Bishop Creek in the Owens Valley this winter.

Spawning brook trout in the Fall are fun to catch and I’m done fishing for these fish until next Spring.

Lower Owens River:

Wild Trout Section:

This area is producing the most consistent fly fishing for me and my clients. Nymphing with an indicator rig or a Euro nymph rig is consistently producing wild brown trout to 12 inches. These fish are taking size 18 blue wing olive mayfly nymph patterns like olive quilldigon, Frenchie’s, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, and bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs. The bite is starting mid-morning and lasting until dark. There are a few caddis pupae hatching and the trout are chasing them down and grabbing them right at the rivers surface. There is an abundance of grass hoppers on the river, but the trout are not feeding on them as they are not getting blown into the river.

Pat Everett from Calabasas nymphing under an indicator with a size 18 olive quilldigon on the lower Owens River.

Hot Creek:

Interpretive Site:

Weed beds are still going strong and lack of hatches is making it tough to fish this section of the creek. Fly fishers working the water hard with caddis dries or blue wing olive dries are landing a trout or two. Three seasons of drought are having a negative effect on the fly fishing in Hot Creek.

Hot Creek Canyon is still a tough spot to fish with low water and weed beds at full majority.

Hot Creek:

Canyon Section:

I was hoping that cold weather would decrease the weed beds in this section of the creek. It’s not been cold enough for the weeds to die off. Hard core fly fishers working nymphs in and around the weeds are managing to fool a few trout. It’s tough to get a drag free drift in this section with snagging the weeds. I’m throwing bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, zebra midges, and tiger midges.

A cold windy afternoon on the upper Owens River all to ourselves and no trophy trout took on nymphs.

Upper Owens River:

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

There are a few trophy trout hanging out in the deep pools. These fish are aware of anglers and their offerings. Working flies over these fish will occasionally get a hit. For the trophy trout I’m using size 12 jigged green/gold Prince nymphs and stoner nymphs. Juvenile rainbow and brown trout to 12 inches are taking olive quilldigons, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, and parachute mayfly patterns. We need a storm or an increase in water flows to get the trout to migrate up from  Crowley Lake to spawn.

I’m exploring the Monument section of the upper Owens River looking for migrant trophy trout that have just entered the Owens River system from Crowley Lake.

Below Benton Crossing Bridge:

I’m spending some time in this section from the monument to the lake. I’m covering the deeper holes, pools, and cutbanks with stoner nymphs, and green/gold Prince nymphs. I’m searching this area looking for migrants working their way upstream to spawn. I’m only making a few casts to each spot. If I don’t see fish or don’t get hit, I’m moving upstream looking for the next spot to cast my flies to. So far, no fish in this section. This section closes on November 15th.

Home Street Middle School fly fishing club working Bishop Creek Canal with nymphs under an indicator.

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Ford Dealer:

Nymphing with  blue wing olive nymph patterns is producing a combination of wild brown trout and stocked rainbows. A drag free drift and a stealthy approach will increase your odds of fooling trout in this section. I’m fishing with the Tenkara rod, Euro outfit, and under an indicator with olive quilldigons, stoner nymphs, and bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 10-21-2022

This weekend were supposed to get the first hint of winter with snow expected at the upper elevations. Mountain tops are expecting a couple of inches of snow. We are in the midst of one of the nicest Falls I can remember. Fishing for spawning brook trout and browns is peaking in the high country. Mayflies, caddis, and midges are providing lots of opportunities for fly fishers to fish with nymphs and dry flies. This is prime time to be throwing meat streamer patterns in those waters that have trophy trout.

Enjoy the Fall colors in Bishop Canyon and taking advantage of the fall fishing on the forks of Bishop Creek.

Freestone Streams:

Rock Creek:

Fishing here has gotten tough. The trout are there, they are just hard to sneak up on and present a fly to. For anglers wanting to fish these waters I would throw dry flies. Use your favorite dry fly as you will fish it with more confidence. I’m using Adams parachutes, elk hair caddis, and Royal Wulff’s in sizes 14 and 16.

Alonso Parker-Martin from San Francisco is exploring Rock Creek in the fall when the trees are changing color after a morning of Tenkara fishing.

Bishop Creek

South Fork Bishop Creek at Weir Pond:

This is a favorite spot of fly fishers in Bishop Creek Canyon. Brook trout and brown trout are feeding on dry flies. When the sun goes behind the mountains the midges are hatching. Using a Griffiths gnat or a midge adult is taking trout of the surface. I’m fishing Adams parachutes and elk hair caddis. There are hatches of mayflies and caddis coming of starting around noon. The fall colors in this area are wanning. If the storm has lots of wind it will be the end of fall colors up high in the area of South Lake.

In the Fall I’m targeting spawning brook trout on south Fork Bishop Creek and Weir Pond.

Lower Owens River:

Wild Trout Section:

Best fly fishing spot in the Eastern Sierra right now. Mayfly and caddis hatches are keeping the trout active. I’m Euro nymphing the river with olive quilldigons, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, Frenchie’s, pheasant tail nymphs, and stoner nymphs. For those that don’t Euro nymph, fishing these flies under an indicator is fooling lots of wild brown trout to 12 inches. Catching lots of juvenile brown trout. This should equate to a strong year class of trout. I expect next season to offer lots of 12 to 16 inch brown trout.

Jae Lee from Camarillo caught this rainbow while nymphing under an indicator with a size 18 olive quilldigon on the lower Owens River.

Hot Creek:

Interpretive Site:

Tough fly fishing, but if you’re going to fly fish Hot Creek this is your best opportunity. Most of the action has been in the morning with gray caddis. I’m using partridge spent caddis, elk hair caddis, and X-caddis in a size 20. There are a few trico mayflies and blue wing olive mayflies around, but the trout are not keying in on them. I’m hoping this change in weather might improve the hatches on Hot Creek.

With low water and weed beds at full maturity Hot Creek Canyon is one of the hardest to fish spots in the Eastern Sierra right now.

Hot Creek:

Canyon Section:

I’m hoping that the cooler weather will start the decline of the weed beds in Hot Creek Canyon. For those willing to tough out fly fishing around the weeds, there are trout to be caught. Dry flies are easier to float in and around the weed beds. Nymphing is producing more trout and lots of weeds. Nymphing is tough, but for those willing to work nymphs you will catch trout.

Emmet Broughton of Corona plying the waters of the upper Owens River in the Monument area looking for trophy trout.

Upper Owens River:

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

We need an influx of new trophy trout into the upper Owens River. I’m hoping this change in weather might bring in some new trout. Euro nymphing or indicator nymphing is producing rainbows and browns to 14 inches. These trout are taking bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, olive quilldigons, Frenchie’s, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, stoner nymphs, and green/gold wire Prince nymphs.

Below Benton Crossing Bridge:

With this section being opened through November 15th I’m searching this section from time to time for trophy trout. The trout migrating up the river have to pass through this section. Good place to work nymphs and streamers is in the deep pools that the trout are using as resting places on their journey upstream to their spawning grounds. Best way to fly fish this section is to make a few cast to the pools you think might hold trout. If you don’t get a grab in three to five casts move on to the next spot. The trout are migrating through this section and fly fishers just have to find a pod of trout to be successful.

First time fly fisher Connie Snyder from Bishop hooked up to a rainbow trout on Bishop Creek Canal.

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Ford Dealer:

Weekends have been packed with anglers fishing the canal. Mid-week crowds are a lot less dense. Fishing nymphs on the Euro rod or under an indicator is working for wild brown trout and stocked rainbow trout. I’m fly fishing with green/gold Prince nymphs, stoner nymphs, olive quilldigons, and bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 10-14-2022

Fall is in full swing in the Eastern Sierra. The trees are turning colors, the trout are starting their fall spawning runs and caddis and mayflies are hatching. Temperatures during the day are perfect. Still wearing my shorts! Trout are feeding and taking nymphs and dries most of the day throughout the Eastern Sierra.

Fall colors is the perfect back drop on the drive into the fly fishing spots in Bishop Canyon.

Freestone Streams:

Rock Creek:

Water flows are at their lowest and the trout are spooky. A stealthy approach is needed to catch the wild brown trout in the creek. Using a Tenkara rod is a fun way to fish Rock Creek. The drawback is that you will spook trout because you are so close to the trout. The trout continue to take Adams Parachutes, elk hair caddis, and Royal Wulff’s.

Alonso Parker-Martin from San Francisco is exploring Rock Creek with his Tenkara rod.

Bishop Creek

South Fork:

Fall colors in the canyon greet fly fishers as you drive up to your favorite fly fishing hole. Low water levels is making the fishing tough as the trout have few places to hide. A stealth approach is required to fool these wary trout. Fishing dries flies 20 to 40 feet Infront of me is how I get a stealthy approach. I hate sneaking. Particularly on my hands and knees. For fly fishers willing to crawl or sneak into the holes you will catch wild brown and brook trout.

The outlet of North Lake and the north fork of Bishop Creek are just fun to fly fish with the gorgeous background of fall color.

Lower Owens River:

Wild Trout Section:

This has been my most productive spot to be fly fishing in the Eastern Sierra. Weekend crowds mean if you’re not on the water early you will not have first pick of the spots you want to fish. Nymphing with quilldigons, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, Frenchies, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs under an indicator or Euro nymphing is producing lots of juvenile trout and the occasional 10 to 12 inch trout. The trout are feeding on nymphs all day long.

Jeffery Buckingham from Huntington Beach is learning to Euro nymph on the lower Owens River.

Hot Creek:

Interpretive Site:

Fly fishing on Hot Creek continues to be tough. Gray caddis in the morning are getting the fish to come to surface and feed. I’m using X-caddis, elk hair caddis and partridge spent caddis with gray bodies in size 20 to catch a few trout. Surface activity is over by noon.

Low water flows and weed beds that are at full majority make it tough to fly fish in Hot Creek Canyon.

Hot Creek:

Canyon Section:

Toughest place to fish in the Eastern Sierra right now. Fully mature weed beds and reduced flows is making it tough to get a drag free drift in the canyon section of Hot Creek. For the hearty anglers willing to work hard for a few trout nymphing in between the weeds and in the open pools will produce a few trout. Be prepared to hang up on almost every cast. I’m fishing with bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, olive quilldigons, midges, and scuds.

Charles Canter of Pasadena hooked up while drifting nymphs on the Euro rig through the deep holes in the upper Owens River.

Upper Owens River:

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Fishing for trophy trout has been tough as the fish in the river have been there for a while and have been fly fished over by everyone including me. The river needs a new batch of trophy trout to enter the system and offer fly fishers the chance at new trophy trout. I’m Euro nymphing this section with stoner nymphs and green/gold wire Prince nymphs tied on jig hooks in size 12. For those that tie flies the stoner nymph fly tying video is on my YouTube channel Sierra Bright Dot. Juvenile trout are taking Adams parachutes, elk hair caddis, bead head flash back pheasant tails, and bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears. These fish are offering fly fishers a few trout to catch.

Below Benton Crossing Bridge:

Below Benton Crossing Bridge is now open to fishing through November 15 with a two fish 18 inches or bigger limit and artificial lures or flies. This is a great section to fish in the evenings. It seems the trout like to travel up the river under low light conditions. The fish are moving through this area so successful fly fishers need to be moving looking for trophy trout in the deep holes, runs and cutbanks. These trout do not stay in this section very long. They are on the move trying to get up river to their spawning grounds.

Byron Gustie from the Home Street Middle School fly fishing club is learning to fly fish on Bishop Creek Canal.

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Ford Dealer:

This area is getting a lot of fishing pressure. There are wild brown trout that are taking nymphs fished under an indicator or with the Euro rig. I’m fishing with olive quilldigons, stoner nymphs, green/gold Prince nymphs, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, Prince nymphs, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, frenchies, and gold ribbed hare’s ears. Fishing has been good all day long.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 10-06-2022

It’s fall in the Eastern Sierra. The days are warm, but not too hot. The wind is a breeze if there is any wind. Mornings and evenings are cool enough that fly fishers will want an extra layer like your favorite sweat shirt that has been hanging up in the closet all summer. Fall colors have started at the upper elevations and are working their way down the canyons. Mayflies and caddis flies are hatching and have the trout feeding on nymphs and dries. Fall spawning trout like brown trout and brook trout are just starting their annual runs up the streams from the lakes. Be aware of several creeks and river that have closed to protect fall spawning trout.

Float tubing on North Lake on a fall day with the leaves changing color and the trout were taking dries, nymphs, and streamers.

Freestone Streams:

Rock Creek:

Water flows in the creek are at their lowest of the year. Fly fishers need to be stealthy when approaching the creek. The slow flat runs in the creek are almost impossible to fly fish as the trout spook as you approach the creek. I like fishing a dry and dropper rig in the areas of the creek that have some gradient, but are not supper steep. I’m fishing an Adams parachute in size 16 with a weightless gold ribbed hares ear in size 16 two feet below the Adams.

David Downs is working his dry fly in the pocket water of Rock Creek .

Bishop Creek

South Fork:

The weather and trees have made Bishop Creek Canyon the place to be fly fishing. The trout are taking dry flies and nymphs in the riffles and pocket water. Elk hair caddis and gold ribbed hare’s ears have been a great combo in the creek. Fall brook trout in full spawning colors is just an added bonus to a great fall fishing experience.

Fishing dry flies with a nymph suspended under is a great way to work the pools, pocket water and riffles of the south fork of Bishop Creek.

Lower Owens River:

Wild Trout Section:

The lower Owens River flows have been holding around 150 CFS. Expect them to drop during the month of October. I’m expecting them to be as low as 85 CFS during peak winter months if we don’t have a good snowpack this winter. There is a morning hatch of blue wing olive mayflies that is hatching from 10:00 to about noon. The hatch is sporadic in the afternoon. I’m nymphing with my Euro rod and landing eight to 12 inch wild brown trout on olive quilldigons, Frenchie’s, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, and pheasant tail nymphs. Clients have been fishing size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs under an indicator and landing wild brown trout to 12 inches.

Mike Pohl’s of La Quinta fishing a size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph under an indicator and catching wild brown trout to 10 inches.

Hot Creek:

Interpretive Site:

 Fly fishing on Hot Creek continues to be tough. Weed beds and lower water flows are hampering fly fishers efforts to catch trout. A morning caddis hatch have the trout coming to the surface for a size 20 gray caddis. I’m fishing with size 20 partridge spent caddis, X-caddis, and parachute caddis. The hatch is over by 1:00 P.M. and the winds come up. It is time to go home or find another water to fly fish.

Grandpa watching his son and grandson fly fish on Hot Creek Ranch.

Hot Creek:

Canyon Section:

Nymph fishing has been the most productive method to fly fish in Hot Creek Canyon. If you are going to be nymphing you are going to be hanging up on the weeds. Where you can get your nymphs to drift in the narrow runs between the weeds or in open pools the trout are feeding on pheasant tail nymphs, gray caddis emergers, and scuds.

Upper Owens River:

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

There are a few trophy trout that have entered the upper Owens River offering fly fishers a chance at catching a once in a life time trout. In the confluence of Hot Creek area there are spawners that will take flies presented down on the substrate where the trout are hanging out. These fished have been fished hard for a couple of weeks and fly fishers need to be stealthy with their approach and casts. I’m fishing the Euro rod with size 12 stoner nymphs and size 12 green/gold Prince nymphs. I’m working hard for just a couple of fish per outing.

Charles Canter of Pasadena working the Euro rig through the deep holes in the monument section of the upper Owens River looking for trophy trout.

Below Benton Crossing Bridge:

In this section the trout move through quickly on their trip up river to their spawning grounds. Deep holes or runs that hold fish today are devoid of fish tomorrow. Successful anglers in the monument area are covering lots of water and only fishing their nymphs in the deep pools, slots, or cutbanks. From Benton Crossing Bridge to Crowley Lake is open to fishing through November 15. It’s two fish 18 inches or bigger artificial lures or flies. No scented baits like mice tails.

Emmet Broughton of Corona caught three rainbows fishing a size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph under an indicator while fly fishing Bishop Creek Canal.

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Ford Dealer:

This area has been stocked with rainbow trout that are willing to take flies. I like to fish my Euro rod in the canal with stoner nymphs and green/gold Prince nymphs. Fishing a size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph five feet under an indicator is producing several trout. I’ve been fishing this area in the morning and quitting by noon or 1:00 P.M. just because the air temperatures are hot.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 09-30-2022

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 09-30-2022

Winter is on the horizon, and summer is behind us. Fall is my favorite time of the year to be on the waters in the Eastern Sierra fly fishing. Trophy trout are running up into the tributaries to spawn. Trout seem to know winter is coming and go on a feeding frenzy. I’m still monitoring water temperatures in the Owens Valley. Temperatures are favorable in the waters I’m monitoring. Be aware of several waters closing on Saturday October 1st to protect fall spawning trout. Nymphing is the most productive method of fly fishing the Eastern Sierra waters. There are still hatches of mayflies and caddis bringing trout to the surface. 

Fall colors are peeking the first weekend of October up in Bishop Canyon.

Freestone Streams:

Rock Creek:

Low water flows are typical of the creek this time of year. I’m fishing a dry and dropper in the creek. With the low flows I’m fishing nymphs with no weight or just a brass bead. The slow water pools are tough to fly fish without spooking the trout. Water with some gradient is where I’m fly fishing and hooking wild brown trout and brook trout. Fall brook trout in full spawning colors is one of my favorite trout to catch.

Casting a dry fly upstream to the head of the riffle or pool is producing wild brown trout in Rock Creek .

Bishop Creek

South Fork:

Fall colors of aspens is the perfect backdrop to fall fly fishing on Bishop Creek. I’m fishing the pocket water and pools with Adams parachutes and gold ribbed hare’s ears. I’m fly fishing high up in the creeks pursing areas that I know have good populations of brook trout. Catching brook trout in the fall is a tradition I look forward to!

Now is the time to enjoy fall fly fishing on Bishop Creek as the trees are peaking and the trout are feeding on dry flies.

Lower Owens River:

Wild Trout Section:

Flows are down to 150 CFS which is a perfect flow to fish the river. Hatches of small blue wing olives have the trout feeding on nymphs. I’m Euro nymphing the river with hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, frenchies, olive quilldigons, stoner nymphs, and Butano nymphs. Fishing has been steady all day for six to 12inch browns. Nymphing under an indicator is producing browns on bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs. Mid-week is empty of fly fishers, but weekends have been crowded.

Peter Veasey of Martnies wet wading the lower Owens River while refreshing his Euro nymphing skills.

Hot Creek:

Interpretive Site:

Ova posting caddis are producing surface feeding trout that will take a size 20 gray caddis pattern. There are trico mayflies hatching and a small spinner fall. There are a few trout feeding on the tricos, but they have been ignoring my trico imitations. The caddis activity is over by 11:30 A.M. and the winds been coming up at about that time. There are grass hoppers in the grass adjacent to the creek. I’ve tried throwing hopper patterns but the fish have not been interested in them.

Mid-morning caddis activity have the trout of Hot Creek coming to the surface to take a size 20 gray spent partridge caddis.

Hot Creek:

Canyon Section:

Fly fishers are still battling the weeds in the canyon. Nymphing is tough, but is the most productive method of fly fishing in the canyon. If you’re going to nymph you will hang up on the weeds. I’m using gray caddis emergers, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph, and black AP nymphs.

Nate Ostrander of Bishop used is Euro rod to entice the trophy trout that have just entered the upper Owens River.

Upper Owens River:

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

It’s the beginning of trophy trout season on the upper Owens River. Euro nymphing is my preferred method for working nymphs down on the substrate in the deep pools, runs, and cutbanks. Rainbows and brown trout are in the river taking stoner nymphs, green/gold Prince nymphs, and gold ribbed hare’s ears. The trophy trout are spread out from Crowley Lake to Longyears. Successful anglers are moving around looking for trophy trout.

Bishop Creek Canal get a lot of angling pressure on the weekends.

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Ford Dealer:

There are still a lot of anglers fishing the canal. Nymphing with the Euro rig is producing wild brown trout and stocker rainbows. I’m using green/gold Princes nymphs, stoner nymphs, pheasant tail nymphs, and bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears. I’m fishing in the mornings and quitting by noon because the air temps are to hot.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 09-23-2022

I know Fall is here when I have the heater on during my morning commute out to the water. The air conditioner on middle of the day. In the evening if I’m cold the heater is on. If I’m hot the air conditioner is on. This week I wet wadded on Rock Creek while wearing a sweatshirt. Wet wading season is over for me. Trico mayfly hatches are wanning. Caddis are still hatching and ovipositing which have the trout feeding on them on the surface. Fall spawning is starting on a number of waters and in particular on the tributaries to Crowley Lake. Pay attention to the regulations on Eastern Sierra waters as several creeks and rivers will close to fishing starting October 1. Traditionally this is the time of year to throw meat fly patterns. Those patterns that offer trophy trout a big mouthful of calories. I think the voluntary hoot owl is over for another hot summer season.

Fall is in the air, but the foliage has not turned yet.

Freestone Streams:

Rock Creek:

As is normal in fall, water levels have dropped and fly fishers need to approach the creek with stealth. Dry flies are still producing trout. Nymphing has been hit and miss. I need to lighten up a couple of my nymph patterns because the ones I have tied up are just too heavy for these reduced flows. I’m using Adams parachutes, elk hair caddis, and gold ribbed hare’s ears. Rock Creek is a great place to fly fish when the wind is whipping through Long Valley or the Owens Valley.

Bush whacking, boulder hopping and dabbling flies is what it takes to successfully fly fish on Rock Creek.

Bishop Creek

South Fork:

Mornings have been cold and I’ve been fly fishing here once things warm up a bit. A dry and dropper is still my preferred method of fly fishing the creek.  I’m using Adams parachutes, elk hair caddis, flash back pheasant tail nymphs and gold ribbed hare’s ears. I start out on Weir Pond and work my way down stream. I drive down canyon looking for a spot that has no angling pressure and fish that spot. Then I drive farther down canyon fly fishing spots until I run out of spots or run out of time to fly fish.

Fall colors in Bishop Canyon are just getting started and the wild brown and brook trout are feeding on properly presented dry flies.

Lower Owens River:

Wild Trout Section:

Water flows are dropping and I expect the flows to reach 100 CFS for this winter. Flows are perfect for wading the river. Mornings have been good for nymphing. I’m Euro nymphing with olive burlap caddis, stoner nymphs, gold ribbed hare’s ears, olive quilldigons, and Butano nymphs. I’m concentrating my efforts in the wild trout section of the lower Owens River. I’m carrying blue wing olive parachutes and brown caddis patterns in anticipation of these hatches which will appear end of September to middle of October.

Wild brown trout are taking nymphs in the mornings on the lower Owens River in the wild trout section.

Hot Creek:

Interpretive Site:

Morning caddis hatches have the trout feeding up on the surface. I’m using size 20 gray X-caddis, elk hair caddis, and spent wing partridge caddis. There are a few tricos mixed in with the caddis, but the trout have not been interested in them. Once the hatch is over around 11:30 try throwing terrestrial patterns like beetles and hoppers. I’m off the water by noon or 1:00 P.M. looking for a different water to fly fish.

Getting a ride on dads shoulders out to the fly fishing spot on Hot Creek Ranch.

Hot Creek:

Canyon Section:

Fly fishing here is just down right tough. The weed beds have taken over most of the stream making it hard for fly fishers to get a drag free drift. Getting a drag free drift is easier with a dry fly than a nymph. If you’re going to nymph, be prepared to get tangled up in the weeds. I would fish this in the morning with a size 20 gray caddis pattern and leave as soon as the trout quit rising to the naturals or my fly pattern.

The fall spawning trout from Crowley Lake are just starting their migration into the upper Owens River.

Upper Owens River:

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Trophy trout are just starting to show up in the system and are staging in the deep holes, runs and cut banks. These fish are feeding and will take bigger nymphs dead drifted on the substrate. For the trophy trout I like nymphing with my Euro rig using size 12 stoner nymphs and size 12 gold/green wire Prince nymphs. The trico hatch is waning and the juvenile trout are taking size 20 blue wing olive parachutes and size 16 and 18 Adams parachutes.

The fall spawning trout from Crowley Lake are just starting their migration into the upper Owens River.

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Ford Dealer:

Cooler temperatures and the canal has settled down from Department of Water and Powers dredging project has led to an increase in the catch rate. The wild brown trout and stocked rainbows are taking stoner nymphs, green/gold Prince nymphs, olive quilldigons, Butano nymphs, bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, and bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs. There are a few trico hatching, but this hatch is pretty much over for the year.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 09-16-2022

We are starting to have fall like weather in the Eastern Sierra. It will not be long when the trees will be turning colors. Experienced the first cool morning when I came back from my southern California PowerPoint presentation tour. Fall spawning trout are starting to show up in some of the creeks and rivers of the Eastern Sierra. Mayflies and caddis are providing most of the action in the area. I’m still checking water temperatures in a few Eastern Sierra waters like Crowley Lake, lower and upper Owens River, and Bishop Creek Canal. Water temperatures over 70 degrees, fly fishers should not be catch and release fly fishing.

Fall colors are just starting to pop in the upper elevations of the Eastern Sierra like Weir Pond on south fork of Bishop Creek.

Freestone Streams:

Rock Creek:

Early mornings are finally cold. Don’t need to show up early to fish Rock Creek. Mid-morning fishing with Adams Parachute and gold ribbed hare’s ears is a fun way to spend a morning on the creek. Water flows are starting to recede as we head into Fall. As water flows drop the trout are getting spookier and require fly fishers to make a stealthy approach on the trout.

The slow flat pool sections of Rock Creek are tough to fish as the wild brown trout are very spooky.

Bishop Creek

South Fork:

It’s cold enough to be wearing a sweatshirt first thing in the morning. Weir Pond on the south fork of Bishop Creek is full of wild brown trout and brook trout. These trout are taking both dries and nymphs. The fish are spooky in the area of Weir Pond, but in the creek above and below the pond It’s easier to fish as the trout are feeding opportunistically and not spooky. 

Jason Fleenor from Murrieta is hooked up on a wild brook trout in the run of south fork Bishop Creek directly above Weir Pond.

Lower Owens River:

Wild Trout Section:

Flows are continuing to drop as they decrease from the flushing flows in the Owens River Gorge. The flows are down to 225 CFS and when they get to 200 CFS or less the fishing and wading will pick up. I like the flows around 200 CFS. It provides deeper holes and runs which protects the wild brown trout from predation from animals and birds from above. I’m fishing the Euro rig in this water with olive burlap caddis, stoner nymphs, bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, and Butano nymphs. I’m still monitoring water temperatures and am not fly fishing when the water temperature gets above 70 degrees.

Stream side vegetation of tulles and willows makes it hard to fish from the banks.

Hot Creek:

Interpretive Site:
Caddis activity is providing most of the action at the interpretive site. By mid-morning throwing a foam hopper is producing a few trout. The decreased water flows and the increase weed bed growth is making fly fishing tough on the creek. Fly fishing the deeper holes and the slots between the weeds is were to work your flies. Fly fishing here is tough!

Low water and increased weed beds makes it very tough to fly fish in Hot Creek Canyon.

Hot Creek:

Canyon Section:

Fly fishing in the canyon is for the brave and expert fly fisher. There is very little open water for fly fishers to properly drift their flies. Size 20 gray caddis patterns like spent partridge caddis, X-caddis, and elk hair caddis are producing a few wild trout. Nymphing in these conditions is tough, but for fly fishers willing to work their nymphs in and around the weed beds there are a few trout willing to take nymph patterns. 

Early morning trio mayfly hatches have been fun to fish during the spinner fall for juvenile rainbow and brown trout on the upper Owens River.

Upper Owens River:

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Early morning trico mayflies and caddis hatches are getting the juvenile trout to come to the surface to feed. The trico spinner fall has been producing the best action in the mornings. After the spinner fall the trout start feeding on the caddis. There are a few trophy trout starting to show up in the river system as fall spawning trout start their migration. For the trophy trout I like to Euro nymph with size 12 stoner nymphs and size 12 green/gold wire Prince nymphs. These are my two most productive trophy trout flies. 

Early morning trico mayfly hatches have been sporadic at best on Bishop Creek Canal. 

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Ford Dealer:

Euro nymphing mid-morning has been producing stocked rainbow trout and wild brown trout. I’m using size 12 stoner nymphs and two tone green/gold wire Prince nymphs. The trico hatch has been sporadic at best. Water flows have been fluctuating and this has slowed down the bite.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 09-09-2022

The heat wave continues, but it’s supposed to break this weekend. We might even get some rain particularly in the higher altitudes. Flushing flows in the gorge are over, but the lower Owens continues to flow above safe wading at 325 CFS. Volunteer hoot owl restrictions are still in effect. A hoot owl is a voluntary stopping of catch and release fly fishing when water temperature exceed 70 degrees.

Every day I’m on the water I pick up any all trash that I see around the water I’m fly fishing. This is from Bishop Creek Canal.

Bishop markets its self as the little town with the big back yard. If visitors and locals will not clean up after themselves than I will. I found a Rite Aid bag out along one of the streams and now use it to collect the trash I pick up. I empty the bag twice a week or every other week depending on how much trash I pick up. I pick up everything from little too big.

Freestone Streams:

Rock Creek:

This heat wave warming up California has me searching out cool waters of high country creeks. Rock Creek is the perfect spot to fish in the afternoon when other favorite spots get too warm to safely practice catch and release fly fishing. Dry and a dropper is my preferred method to fish the creek. I recommend fly fishing with your favorite dry fly and nymph. For me my favorite dry flies for opportunistic feeding trout is an Adams Parachute, elk hair caddis, or a Royal Wulff. I fish these in size 14 or 16. For the nymphs I like bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, and bead head Prince nymphs in size 16 or 18.

Working a dry and dropper in sections that have some gradient to them is producing more fish than the flat slow water sections of Rock Creek.

Bishop Creek

South Fork:

Lots of pan sized browns and brook trout are hanging out in Weir Pond happy to take a dry fly or a nymph. After playing around with these trout I like to work my way down stream and find a pull out to park my truck at that has few if any anglers fishing the creek. I like to work my way up stream fishing the pools and pocket water that is holding rainbows and browns. I’m fishing a dry and dropper rig in this area.

Jared Rogers from Palm Springs missed several brook trout before being able to land this wild brown trout on a size 16 Adams Parachute.

Lower Owens River:

Wild Trout Section:

I would check the DWP site at https://wsoweb.ladwp.com/Aqueduct/realtime/norealtime.htm for up to the minute flows. Right now the flows are at 325 CFS and slowly coming down. I’m waiting until the flows get to 200 CFS before I start fly fishing it again. If these hot temperatures persist, I will be fly fishing early and getting off the water by noon for the safety of the trout in the lower Owens River.

I’m waiting for the lower Owens River flows to drop back down to wadable levels of 200 CFS or less.

Hot Creek:

Interpretive Site:

Low water and weed beds that are fully mature are making fly fishing on Hot Creek tough. The interpretive site has some open water areas that the fly fisher can get their fly to drift through. Trico mayfly hatches in the morning have been consistent. I’m fishing the female trico parachute and the trico spinner pattern. After the trico hatch look for hatches of blue wing olive mayflies, and gray caddis. The hatches are over by noon.

Because the weed beds are at full majority it is tough to find a spot you can drift you flies through in Hot Creek Canyon.

Hot Creek:

Canyon Section:

Fly fishing in the canyon section is tough. There is little open water areas for fly fishers to drift their flies. Weeds are thick and everywhere. Trico mayflies in the morning followed by gray caddis are providing action for fly fishers fishing on the surface. Nymph fly fishers willing to put up with getting tangled in the weeds are pulling out a few fish if they are covering lots of water to find the few places, they can get their flies down to the trout.

The Tenkara rod and a size 24 trico spinner fooled this wild brown trout from the upper Owens River.

Upper Owens River:

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Trico mayflies are hatching in the mornings. Morning temperatures are cool and the trout are feeding once the air temperature gets up into the 70s. There is a caddis hatch after the trico hatch. By noon the insect activity comes to a standstill. I’ve been quitting by noon and heading home or heading up high to fish one of the cooler creeks like Convict Creek or Rock Creek. I’m seeing a few trophy trout that are starting to migrate up into the upper Owens River system.

City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power have been dredging Bishop Creek and Bishop Creek Canal East of Hwy 6.

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Ford Dealer:

City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power have been dredging Bishop Creek and Bishop Creek Canal East of Hwy 6 behind the Ford Dealership. This has effected the trico hatch. There is a trico hatch in the mornings, it’s just a few trico mayflies hatching here and there. I’m producing most of my fish on the Euro rig fishing with Butano nymphs, stoner nymphs, and two tone wire green/gold Prince nymphs. Bishop Creek Canal is under a voluntary hoot owl restriction. Fly fishers practicing catch and release fly fishing should be off the water when temperature exceed 70 degrees.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 09-02-2022

The heat wave continues to assault the Eastern Sierra this week. A hoot owl is a voluntary stopping of catch and release fly fishing when water temperature exceed 70 degrees. A hoot howl refers to fishing early and late in the day when anglers can hear the owls hooting. The Owens River Gorge is closed due to a flushing flow regiment. This will impact the gorge and the lower Owens River from August 29 to September 6, 2022. Trico mayflies and caddis hatches continue to provide action for fly fishers. Midging on the lakes is improving.

The Owens River gorge is closed from August 29, to September 6 for flushing flows.

Freestone Streams:

Rock Creek:

Labor Day weekend is the last hoorah for campers to end out the summer. It will be crowed this weekend. The dry and dropper technique continues to produce trout on the creek. The slow pools and runs require lots of stealth to be successful. Riffles and pocket water in the steeper reaches offer easier fly fishing for trout that are not as wary. I’m fishing with Adams parachutes, elk hair caddis, and Royal Wulff’s for the dry fly. These are my favorites and I fish them with lots of confidence. I use bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, and bead head prince nymphs for the nymphs.

A wild brown trout took a size 16 bed head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ear nymph under a size 16 Adams parachute.

Bishop Creek

Middle Fork:

There will be lots of campers and tourist in Bishop Canyon on Labor Day weekend. It’s the last hoorah for a lot outdoor recreationists. Finding spots that are not crowded with anglers will be the key to success for the weekend. Fly fish the pocket water and pools that require you to bush whack your way into and you will find you have the creek to yourself. Using your favorite dry fly is the best way to fish this creek. You will fish it with more confidence than any other pattern. An Adams parachute and a gold ribbed hare’s ear is my confidence rig.

Fishing the riffles and pocket water in the steeper areas allows fly fishers to get closer to the trout without spooking them.

Lower Owens River:

Wild Trout Section:

This section of the river is blown out due to the flushing flows in the Owens River gorge and will be closed through September 6, 2022. Flushing flows emulate the spring runoff. The technical term for what happens to the river bed is fluffing. It’s like fluffing a comforter on your bed. It creates lots of air pockets in the substrate. This creates habitat for insects and increases spawning habitat. It moves silt around and creates deeper pools which are need for bigger trout to survive. Trout over 12 inches need a carnivorous diet. Trout eat their prey by ambushing them from below the prey. Flushing flows also help distribute vegetation along the riparian zone. I hope it decreases the stinging nettle patches. 

The lower Owens River has gone from 150 CFS in this photo and is expected to peak at over 500 CFS.

Hot Creek:

Interpretive Site:

Trico mayflies, blue wing olive mayflies and gray bodied caddis continue to hatch offering fly fishers three to five hours of good surface fly fishing in the mornings. The trico hatch can be tricky to fish. There are three stages of the trico to imitate. The female trico dun has a greenish olive body and a black thorax. There is an all-black trico dun. Generally the best fly fishing in a trico hatch is during the spinner fall. This is when the tricos die on the water and the trout gorge themselves on the helpless trico spinners. 

Fully mature weed beds in Hot Creek Canyon make it hard for fly fishers to get drag free drift which is needed to catch trout.

Hot Creek:

Canyon Section:

Weed beds continue to make fly fishing tough for all fly fishers. If you can get a drag free drift with a dry fly you will catch fish. It’s tough to get a good drift with the weed beds at full maturity. Trico mayflies, blue wing olive mayflies, and gray bodied caddis are hatching and bring trout to the surface. Nymphing will produce trout but it will take an expert cast to properly present the nymphs to the trout. 

Cows are allowed to graze a small amount of grass inside the riparian zone of the upper Owens River.

Upper Owens River:

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

The upper Owens River is under a voluntary hoot owl restriction. If you do not have a thermometer to monitor the water temperatures then be sure to fly fish early in the morning and late in the day. The times you might hear an owl hoot while you’re on the water. I’m off the water by 10:00 A.M. and back on the water around 6:00 P.M if I’m not monitoring the temperature. There has been a consistent trico hatch on the water that lasts tell about 10:00 A.M. It’s followed by a caddis hatch. I’m using size 22 and 24 trico spinners with success during the trico hatch. After the hatch I switch to a size 16 Adams parachute or a size 18 gray caddis pattern like an elk hair caddis, X-caddis, or parachute caddis.

With the heat wave that is creating air temperatures of over 100 degrees fly fishers practicing catch and release fly fishing need to be off Bishop Creek Canal by 10:00 A.M. or when the water temperature exceeds 70 degrees. 

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Ford Dealer:

Bishop Creek Canal is under a voluntary hoot owl restriction. Fly fishers practicing catch and release fly fishing should be off the water when temperature exceed 70 degrees. If you do not have a thermometer fly fishers should be off the water by 10:00 A.M. and can return to the water after 6:00 P.M. Fishing in the early morning with tricos has been good. I’m using size 24 trico spinners during the spinner fall. The spinner fall has been over by 9:00 A.M. Fishing with green/gold Prince nymphs, and stoner nymphs has been producing hatchery rainbows and wild brown trout.