Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 04-21-2023

Warm weather is settling into the Eastern Sierra as we approach opening of Fishing Season. Most high elevation waters continues to have snow and little to no vehicle access. Runoff has not affected the freestone creeks yet. They’re continuing to produce trout for fly fishers fishing with nymphs. Midges and blue wing olive mayflies are hatching on some Eastern Sierra waters.

Fishing the weir at plant 6 on Bishop Creek is producing wild brown trout in the clear water on nymphs.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

The lower Owen River is up to 750 CFS and is unsafe and too high to fish right now. Chalk Bluff Road continues to be closed. Pleasant Valley Reservoir is closed for repair work to the access road along the reservoir.

Unstable banks and high flows makes the lower Owens River in the wild trout section unsafe to fly fish.

Hot Creek:

Interpretive Site:

For fly fishers willing to hike out to the creek a mid-day blue wing olive hatch is bringing trout to the surface. There is still a lot of snow to contend with. This is one of the few classic fly fishing spots accessible to fly fishers right now.

Fly fishers can drive out Hot Creek Hatchery Road to access Hot Creek at the interpretive site and park at the end of the plowed section of the road.

Hot Creek:

Canyon Section:

This is the longer hike to get to the creek, but it’s the easier hike. A mid-day blue wing olive hatch has the trout actively feeding on dries and nymphs. I like to use size 20 blue wing olive parachutes or olive sparkle duns. For nymphs I’m using olive quilldigons and bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs.

Vehicles no longer have to stop at the Green Church, but now have access to the dump.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Benton Crossing Road is closed at the dump. Fly fishers I finding few trophy trout as the bulk of the rainbow run is over for the season. The cutthroats should be in the river starting in early May. I start looking for the run around the 5thof May. Once the snow has melted the dirt roads will be muddy and I would drive with caution out there. I don’t want to get stuck out there again.

Mike Kavanaugh of Fullerton learned how to fish nymphs under an indicator on Bishop Creek Canal.

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Ford Dealer:

The water is high and off color. There are a few trout rising in the afternoons to blue wing olive mayflies. I’m fishing with nymphs on the Euro rod and I have clients fishing nymphs under an indicator. The trout are taking hot spot pheasant tail nymphs and olive quilldigons. I expect this section of the canal to get stocked between now and opening weekend.

Nymphing under an indicator on Pine Creek is producing wild brown trout.  

Pine Creek Weir:

Pine Creek is flowing clear and the trout are feeding on midges and blue wing olive nymphs. Fishing under and indicator or with the Euro nymph is producing lots of fish for anglers fishing middle of the day.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 04-14-2021

Spring has sprung in the Owens Valley. Upper Elevation waters are slowly unthawing. Predictions are just that, a best guess of what is to come. Crowley Lake, Convict Lake and June Lake loop are snowed in and slowly melting. From past experience the lakes are one or two good windstorms away from being fully open. The next two weeks will be the deciding factor. I’ll be updating the waters as things open up. For now the freestones, canals and Owens River Gorge are offering fly fishing opportunities. Midges and blue wing olive mayflies are hatching and the trout are feeding on them. Section 5.85 in the fresh water regulations allows for catch and release lures or flies in almost all moving waters from November 16, 2022 to Friday April 28, 2023. Check sections 7.40 and 7.50 for specific closed waters.

Widgeon ducks are still in Bishop Park waters which means spring is not yet hear as the ducks always leave in the spring.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Flows of 725 CFS and Chalk Bluff Road being closed on both ends rules out fly fishing on the lower Owens River. Pleasant Valley Reservoir is closed for repair work on the access road along the reservoir.

Lower Owens flows will stay in the 700 CFS range for summer as runoff continues.

Hot Creek:

Interpretive Site:

Still the tougher spot to access the creek. Getting over the berm and through the snow is tough. There is a blue wing olive hatch in the early afternoon that is worth fly fishing. I’m using size 20 blue wing olive parachutes and olive sparkle duns.

There is still a lot of snow that needs to melt off before fly fishers can  access Hot Creek with their vehicles.

Hot Creek:

Canyon Section:

It’s a longer walk into the canyon than the Interpretive Site, but snowmobile tracks makes it an easier walk in. Easiest access point is at the Forest Service bathrooms by walking down the paved road. Due to thermal activity along the creek there are several spots without snow. Working the pools and open water during the hatch with size 20 blue wing olive parachutes and olive sparkle duns is fooling the wild trout. Nymphing before or during the hatch with size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and size 18 olive quilldigons is producing wild brown and rainbow trout. If you’re looking for a trophy Hot Creek trout try throwing big articulated streamers that imitate small brown or rainbow trout.

Vehicles no longer have to stop at the Green Church, but now have access to the dump.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

The road is now open to the dump. A few anglers have been walking into the upper Owens River and catching a few trophy rainbow trout. I do not target actively spawning trout on their redds. I like to target the trout resting and feeding in the deep pools, runs and cutbanks. I occasionally fish egg patterns, but I find that size 12 stoner nymphs and green/gold Prince nymphs fished on the Euro rig or under an indicator produce a lot of trophy trout for me. I will start looking for the cutthroat trout run in the upper Owens River starting around the 5th of May. This run is usually over by Memorial Day.

I’m finding it difficult to catch wild and stocked trout in the fast water sections of Bishop Creek Canal.

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Ford Dealer:

I’ve been doing well fishing the slower sections of Bishop Creek and Bishop Creek Canal. There is a blue wing olive hatch going on in the early afternoon that the trout are feeding on. Have not seen enough rising trout to get me to fish a dry fly for these trout. Using the Euro rig with an olive quilldigon, stoner nymph and hot spot pheasant tail nymph, my normal winter rig, has been catching me wild and stocked trout. Best time to be on the water is from 11:00 A.M. to about 3:00 P.M. Key to success is having enough weight to bounce the flies off the substrate where the trout are feeding.

Wild Brown trout in the Owens River Gorge are taking nymphs and dry flies.

Owens River Gorge

Upper and Middle Gorge:

The upper and middle gorge is now open and nymphing or dry and a dropper is producing wild trout. The road into Control Power Plant remains closed as Department of water and Power continues to repair the access road along Pleasant Valley Reservoir. I think the walk out of upper Gorge Power Plant is easier than middle gorge. Water is flowing around 75 CFS. Wadding and working upstream casting nymphs is the most productive method of fly fishing the gorge right now. I’m using blue wing olive parachutes in size 18, Adams parachutes in size 16 for the dry fly. I’m using bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs in size 18 and bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears in size 16.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 04-07-2023

We are finally having a week without a storm. This weekend the Owens Valley is going to warm up with temperatures reaching into the high 60’s. Great time to get out on the water and fly fish. We are already seeing high flows on the Owens River. It will not be long when all the freestone streams rise due to runoff. For now freestone creeks in the foothills and Owens Valley are offering good fly fishing in clear waters. Fishmas will be on Saturday April 29th. Remember that the Crowley Lake Tributaries, except for the upper Owens River, do not open until the Saturday before Memorial Day.

I cleaned up trash from the banks of Bishop Creek Canal.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Chalk Bluff Road continues to be closed from Pleasant Valley Campground to Five Bridges Road. Flows in the river are over 700 CFS. Way too high for me to be out on the river fly fishing. I might fish the river this summer in the evenings with a caddis adult if the trout will come to the surface.

At 700 CFS the lower Owens River is running bank to bank to make way for the runoff in Crowley Lake.

Hot Creek:

Interpretive Site:

Fly fishers are beginning to access the creek now that there have been several days without snow. There is a good trail to the creek from Hot Creek Hatchery Road. The blue wing olive hatch mid-day is bringing trout to the surface. Olive quilldigons and bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs are producing trout before the hatch. Size 20 blue wing olive parachutes and olive sparkle duns are producing trout on the surface.

Not very much parking available where the road is not plowed in front of Hot Creek Ranch turn off.

Hot Creek:

Canyon Section:

Snowmobile tracks into the canyon section is making it easy to walk out from the end of the plowed section of Hot Creek Hatchery Road. A mid-day blue wing olive hatch has the trout feeding. Nymphs and dries are catching trout. It requires a lot of physical effort to make the hike into the canyon.

Benton Crossing Road continues to be closed to traffic.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

The road to Benton Crossing Bridge is expected to be opening soon as crews have made headway in clearing the snow from the road. No fly fishing report yet until access into the upper Owens opens up.

The canal is running bank to bank and slightly off color, but is still producing trout that are taking blue wing olive nymph patterns.

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Ford Dealer:

The creek is running bank to bank with slightly off color water. The trout are feeding on blue wing olive nymphs. There are a few blue wing olives hatching, but the trout are not coming to the surface to feed. Nymphing with olive quilldigons and bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs is producing rainbow and brown trout. The Euro rod continues to be producing trout for me in the slower stretches. The fast water sections I just don’t think I’m getting the flies down on the substrate where the trout are feeding. Thursday afternoon I fire broke out east of the canal and west of the airport. It was contained rather quickly.

Access is closed to the Control Gorge Power Plant at the top of Gorge Road.

Owens River Gorge

Upper and Middle Gorge:

The gorge will be opening up on April 7th. Gorge Control Power Plant, north of Pleasant Valley Reservoir continues to be closed. Pleasant Valley Reservoir is closed until Department of Water and Power can repair the access road.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 03-31-2023

The Eastern Sierra has been getting snow storms at upper elevations and rain in the Owens Valley since the beginning of November. Mammoth Mountain is reporting a record snow pack of 695 inches at Main Lodge. There is a ton of water up in the mountains. It’s just waiting for it to warm up so that it can turn in to water and fill up the streams and lakes. It’s going to be a huge runoff this year. Road crews throughout Inyo and Mono counties are working on getting all of the snow cleared up. It’s a slow process that gets slowed down every time there is another snow storm. The freestone creeks are running clear and offering good fly fishing opportunities in the foothills and the Owens Valley.

This lake is flowing over Pleasant Valley Dam Road on the way into Pleasant Valley Campground.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Pleasant Valley Dam Road is now open to Pleasant Valley Reservoir. Chalk Bluff Road is open to the cattle grate at the bottom end of Pleasant Valley Campground. City of Los Angeles is pumping water down the Owens River. The spawning channel is flowing like a river once again. Fly fishers can try fishing with streamers or lots of weight on their nymph rigs. Fishing right now is tough and I’m not going to fish in these high flows.

This is the spawning channel at the intersection of Pleasant Valley Dam Road and Chalk Bluff Road.

Hot Creek:

Interpretive Site:

Hot Creek Hatchery Road is now open to Hot Creek Ranch. There is enough parking at the end of Hot Creek Hatchery Road, end of plowing, for four vehicles. There are no tracks into the interpretive site and there is a four to five foot wall of snow to scale to get on top of the snow to walk out. It is not doable without snowshoes. I’m rating this as inaccessible at this time.

Way out in the background at the base of the hill is the interpretive site buried in four to five feet of snow with a layer of fresh powder on top.

Hot Creek:

Canyon Section:

The walk into the canyon section had a trail and was easier then accessing the interpretive site. I saw a number of tourist walking out the trail without snowshoes. I think getting in and out of the canyon is going to require lots of work. Access to the canyon is only for the energetic angler willing to work to get into the canyon to fly fish.

There was one lane plowed as far as I could see on Benton Crossing Road which continues to be closed.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

No access to the upper Owens River as Benton Crossing Road continues to be closed at the Green Church. Road crews are continuing to work on the road, snow storms allowing.

I took advantage of clearing water on the canal to work my trio of Euro nymphs to fool a few browns and this pretty rainbow trout that took a perdigon.

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Ford Dealer:

Flows are up and the water was clear enough for me to try fishing for a couple of hours. The faster water sections did not produce any fish. Working the slower pools and flats in the canal produced a nice rainbow on a perdigon. Rainbow trout seem to be suckers for brightly colored flies. Bishop Creek above the canal produced three wild brown trout that took the stoner and the pheasant tail nymph.

Gorge Road is closed to accessing the gorge and control power plant.  

Owens River Gorge

Upper and Middle Gorge:

The road to the gorge is closed and there is no access for fly fishers at this time. Flows in the gorge are running above 500 CFS which is making it unsafe to fly fish in the gorge at this time.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 03-24-2023

Spring is here. Doesn’t look like it. Snowed in Bishop this week, but did not stick. As the weather warms up the snow will melt and we will be dealing with record snow runoff.  State, County and City road crews are trying to stay up with the snow and deal with all the erosion  damage. The freestone creeks have cleared up and are offering some fly fishing opportunities. Closed roads and high muddy water are effecting a lot of the Eastern Sierra Waters.

I will be at the Fly Fishing Bart Hall Show Friday March 31 and Saturday and Sunday April 1 and 2 at the Long Beach Convention Center. I will have flies tied by me including Sierra bright dots and stoner nymphs for sale for those that have been asking for flies from me. I will be doing two presentations, Bishop: The Southern Gateway to Eastern Sierra Fly Fishing, Friday at 6:30, Saturday at 3:30 and Nymphing; Fishing Flies on the Substrate Friday at 3:30, Saturday at 11:30 and Sunday at 10:30. Tuesday Talks with Fred will be presented on Saturday at 5:30 and Sunday at 1:30.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Chalk Bluff Road and Pleasant Valley Dam Road are still closed. The lower end of the wild trout section is accessible at Five Bridges. City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power needs to make room for all the water that is now locked up in the snow at upper elevations. They will be starting to lower Crowley Lake to make room for the spring runoff. The lower Owens River outflow at Pleasant Valley Dam will be increasing to at least 500 CFS. There may be a day or two where the river clears enough before flows increase for fly fishers to try nymphing or throwing a black wooly bugger.

The lower Owens River is up and expected to rise to 500 to 600 CFS.

Hot Creek:

Interpretive Site:

Hot Creek Hatchery Road is still closed at School Road. Fly fishers will have to snow shoe or walk in. This walk in is doable for most fly fishers. Midges and blue wing olive nymphs are flies to be fishing. Fishing pressure is way down right now if you’re willing to hike in.

Hot Creek Hatchery Road at School Road continues to be closed to vehicle access.

Hot Creek:

Canyon Section:

Fly fishers wanting to access the canyon section have a long snowshoe in from School Road on Hot Creek Hatchery Road. I’m not sure it’s worth the effort.

Benton Crossing Road continues to be closed as the snow has not been removed and there are three stranded vehicles that need to be removed.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

No fishing on the upper Owens River as Benton Crossing Road continues to be  closed at the Green Church. Road crews have not been able to complete the snow removal and there are three vehicles still stranded on the road. The winter-spring run of rainbows should be just about over for the year.

Flows in Bishop Creek Canal are perfect, but the water will fish better once it clears up a little bit more.

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Ford Dealer:

Increased water flows are helping the canal, but the dirty water is not helping the canal. The canal needs to clear up just a bit to make the fly fishing good. Working nymphs on the substrate in the riffle hole transition will produce a fish or two for the fly fisher that diligently covers the water. I’m fishing with the Euro rig with olive quilldigons, stoner nymphs and hot spot pheasant tail nymphs. This set of flies works for me on the canal all winter long.

Once Gorge Road opens up fly fishers will be able to catch lots of these guy on dries and nymphs..

Owens River Gorge

Upper and Middle Gorge:

The road to the gorge is closed and there is no access for fly fishers at this time.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 03-17-2023

Last weekend’s rain storms on top of the snow pack at lower elevations played havoc with roads, infrastructure and waterways. Snow at upper elevations added to an already to big snow pack particularly for towns like Mammoth and June Lakes. Department of Water and Power had to deal with an eroded section of the aqueduct south of Olancha. There are several roads closed due to snow pack or sections of dirt roads that eroded away. With all the snow and water runoff from the storms Eastern Sierra waters are slowly recovering from the deluge of last weekend’s Atmospheric River.

The suns out and the mountains have enough snow to fill the lakes and keep the streams flowing all summer.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Flows in the lower Owens River in the wild trout section over the weekend hit 1,000 CFS. Pleasant Valley Reservoir spilled over the dam contributing to the increased water flows in the river. Pleasant Valley Dam Road is closed at HYW 395, but is expected to open. Chalk Bluff Road is closed at both ends of the road due to a washed out sections of the road. No time frame for opening of the road. Fly Fishers wanting to fish the wild trout section will have to walk in. Flows for the weekend are expected to be in the 300 CFS range, but DWP is expecting to increase flows starting on Sunday. Fishing with nymphs in the Five Bridges area will probably produce a few fish for fly fishers working the river from the bank if the river clears by the weekend. Midges, blue wing olive nymphs and black streamers is what I’m planning on trying in the river.

Chalk Bluff Road is closed on both ends due to a section of the road that washed out.

Hot Creek:

Interpretive Site:

Access to Hot Creek is parking at the intersection of Hot Creek Hatchery Road and Airport Road and walking or snowshoeing in. There are lots of foot prints in the snow down Hot Creek Hatchery Road suggesting fly fishers are walking into the creek. The interpretive site is the easier spot to access and fly fish the creek. Nymphing is the most productive method of fly fishing Hot Creek. There are few if any hatches going on. But, I still carry midge and blue wing olive dry flies on the off chance I can fish dries to rising trout.

Foot access only on Hot Creek Hatchery Road to access the Interpretive Site and the canyon.

Hot Creek:

Canyon Section:

This section of the creek is going to require maximum effort from fly fishers wanting to fly fish in the canyon. Nymphing with midges, blue wing olive nymphs and throwing streamers will produce trout. With the trout seeing minimal fly fishing pressure this would be a great time to throw an articulated streamer like a gonga, game changers and dungeons for a trophy brown trout in the few deep holes.

Mono County road crews are working on clearing up the roads including Benton Crossing Road.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

The Road is stilled closed at the Green Church, HWY 395 and Benton Crossing Road. Mono County road crews are doing their best to clean up the roads from the Atmospheric River that left  snow in Mono County. For the time being no fishing on the upper Owens River. Probably a good thing for the spawning fish to get a break from all the fishing pressure.

Bishop Creek Canal is flowing high and muddy after this last Atmospheric River blasted the Owens Valley.

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Ford Dealer:

The Atmospheric River that deluged the Owens Valley swelled and turned the canal waters off color. I’m hoping that by the weekend the water will clear up giving fly fishers one water to fly fish this weekend with vehicle access. Midge nymphs, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, and olive quilldigons should produce trout once the water begins to clear.

Fly fishers wanting to fish the gorge need to wait until flows drop and access is safe.

Owens River Gorge

Upper and Middle Gorge:

At this time the gorge is unsafe to fish due to access and high water flows.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 03-10-2023

Winter storms continue to move through the Eastern Sierra. The Blake Jones fishing tournament at Pleasant Valley Reservoir this Saturday March 11th has been postponed tell May due to impending storms this weekend and increased water flows in the lower Owens River. Spring runoff is going to be massive this year and fly fishers coming to the Eastern Sierra need to know that snow runoff can take place from June to July depending on the temperatures in the upper elevations.

I have hired fly fishing guide Richard Lancaster to teach and guide fly fishers in the Eastern Sierra. Richard moved to the Eastern Sierra from the San Luis Obispo area in 2018 to work for Cal Fire and have time to explore the fly fishing in the Eastern Sierra. He loves to Euro nymph and likes to stalk carp in the Owens River and Tinemaha Reservoir.

Richard Lancaster fly fishing guide for Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Guides.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

At flows of 330 CFS trout have been taking nymphs fished on the substrate in the slower waters on the edges and in the eddies. Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is expected to complete their repair work on Pleasanton Valley Reservoir Dam site by early next week. Upon completion of the repair work the river will be going up to 500 CFS or higher. At these flows fly fishers will have to fish from the banks. Spots with bank access are limited to a few areas in the wild trout section. At these flows I’m pretty much done with fishing the lower Owens River until summer hatches of caddis will bring trout to the surface.

Newly hired Sierra Bright Dot Guide Richard Lancaster about to net a trout on the lower Owens River.

 Hot Creek:

Interpretive Site:

Fly fishers still have to walk in from Airport Drive. It’s a lot of effort to the creek. For those fly fishers willing to put in the effort to snowshoe into the Interpretive site the wild trout have been feeding on nymphs. I use midges and pheasant tail nymphs on the creek in winter time.

There is still no vehicle access beyond the intersection of Airport Road and Hot Creek Hatchery Road .

Hot Creek:

Canyon Section:

I’m going to say that this area is out for fly fishing for at least another week. It’s too long of a snowshoe hike in to the creek for the average fly fisher. For the energetic outdoors man willing to snowshoe into Hot Creek Canyon I would try fishing nymphs under a dry fly. I would fish with midges and blue wing olive nymphs like an olive quilldigon or pheasant tail nymph.

Benton Crossing Road continues to be closed to vehicle traffic at the Green Church.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

With a pending storm and the road still closed from last week’s storms there is no access to the upper Owens River for fly fishers. The spawning trout definitely need a break from fly fishers during their spawning time.  

Last week’s snow will be replaced by this week’s rain storms on Bishop Cree Canal.

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Ford Dealer:

The canal has stabilized from the last storm, but is expected to get one to two inches from this next storm. The storms and snow melt seems to be making the canal rise and flow with dirty water. It’s taking several days for the canal water to stabilize after the storms. I’m Euro nymphing the canal with olive quilldigons, stoner nymphs and hot spot pheasant tail nymphs.

No fly fishing in the gorge until this next storm passes through the Eastern Sierra.

Owens River Gorge

Upper and Middle Gorge:

Access is limited to due to the amounts of snow in the gorge. With the next storm expected to hit the Eastern Sierra on Thursday night and last through Saturday I think it will be late next week at the earliest to explore fly fishing in the Owens River Gorge.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 03-03-2023

Every once in a while even Bishop gets a good dump of snow. Once the sun comes out the snow will melt fast. Mono County got buried and there were a few avalanches across HWY 395. Give the town of Mammoth Lakes, Cal Trans and Mono County plow crews a chance to get the snow cleaned up off the roads. I would wait until early to middle of next week to check out upper elevation waters to fly fish.

Bishop covered in a blanket of white from the latest storm..

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

The river is up to 330 CFS and then will be down to 250 the weekend of March 11th for the Blake Jones Tournament. After the tournament expect to see the flows increase to 350 CFS. Fishing in the river is very limited right now and tough. Even getting nymphs down on the substrate is no guarantee of catching trout. Work your fly patterns in the seams and slower shallow sections. Now is a good time to throw black streamers like a wooly bugger.

Lower Owens River at 300 CFS and with snow on the banks.

Hot Creek:

Interpretive Site:

This area got hammered from the last series of storms. I would give Mono County plow drivers at least three or four days to clean up Hot Creek Hatchery road before driving out to fish the Interpretive site.

No vehicle access beyond the intersection of Airport Road and Hot Creek Hatchery Road .

Hot Creek:

Canyon Section:

This area got hammered from the last series of storms that went through the Eastern Sierra. I would give Mono County plow drivers at least three or four days to clean up Hot Creek Hatchery Road before trying to park and access the canyon section of Hot Creek. Fly fishers will need snowshoes to access this area. Fishing with nymphs will produce fish for the few fly fishers willing to exert the effort.

Benton Crossing Road is closed to vehicle traffic at the Green Church.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

This area got hammered from the last series of storms that went through the Eastern Sierra. I would give Mono County plow drivers at least three or four days to clean up. Don’t be the like the 17 people that got trapped in their cars during the storm on Saturday February 25, 2023. Trophy trout are in the river, but I would wait tell access to the river via vehicles is open. Nymphing with the Euro rig is my preferred method of fly fishing the river. At times streamers can be very effective.

Dirty high flows are what fly fishers can expect in Bishop Creek Canal until the flows stabilize in four to six days..

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Ford Dealer:

When the river flows increase over 300 CFS it’s time for me to fly fish the canal. From its start at gate 13, the Happy Boulders area, to Big Pine Canal offers good fly fishing with dries, nymphs and streamers. I like fishing my Euro rod or Tenkara rod with euro nymphs. I’ve been fishing the deep holes and the riffle water into the deeper holes with fair success. It’s going to take a few more days for the canal to stabilize. I’m fishing olive quilldigons, stoner nymphs and hot spot pheasant tail nymphs on the Euro rod.

Fly fishers will have to wait for the snow to melt to gain access to Owens River Gorge brown trout.

Owens River Gorge

Upper and Middle Gorge:

Like the rest of the Eastern Sierra the Owens River Gorge got snow and it’s tough to access right now. It will be awhile before fly fishers can access this area through Gorge Road. For now I would  take this off the list of accessible fly fishing spots until the snow melts in the next week or so.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 02-24-2022

Winter weather always has an effect on Eastern Sierra fly fishing. A winter storm from Wednesday to Saturday is going to make fishing tough and cold with lots of snow in both the Owens Valley and upper elevation waters. Good time to stay away from the Eastern Sierra. The snow pack has dropped below the wettest year and I’m curious to see if this snow storm puts us back in the lead for the wettest year recorded in the Eastern Sierra. As we move forward with this massive snow pack fly fishers will need to seek out alternative fly fishing spots. Bishop Creek in Bishop and Owens River Gorge are worth checking out for winter fly fishing spots.

Bishop Creek in the Owens Valley is a great alternative spot to fly fish when the lower Owens River flows are unfishable..

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

The water flows in the lower Owens River have been at 200 CFS and are expected to rise to at least 300 CFS by the end of the week. At these flows the river is pretty much unwadable. Fly fishers will be restricted to fishing the few spots in the wild trout section that have accessible banks or shore line. Trout can be caught at these flows. The key to success is fishing nymphs with lots of weight. Three to five AB or BB sized shot will be needed to get the flies down on the substrate where the trout are feeding. There is a lot of willow tree debris on the substrate from the beavers and you will be losing flies to the substrate. For the Euro nymphing rig I’m increasing the size of the tungsten beads on my flies. I’m using 3.0 to 4.0 beads to get the flies down. Tiger midges, zebra midges, olive quilldigons, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs and bead head flashback pheasant tail nymphs are producing trout. Fishing is slow and perseverance in the form of lots of casts is what’s producing a few trout.

With the lower Owens River flows going up to 300 CFS there will be limited spots for fly fishers to wade .

Hot Creek:

Interpretive Site:

New snow from this most recent storm (taking place as I write this) should not affect fly fishers accessing the creek, after the storm. Nymphing is still the best method to be fly fishing on the creek. Midge patterns and blue wing olive nymph patterns are what the trout are looking for. Don’t forget to use scuds in the creek as there is a healthy population of scuds that the trout feed on.

Fly fishers accessing Hot Creek canyon need snowshoes and need to watch out for ice going in and out of the canyon .

Hot Creek:

Canyon Section:

Fly fishers accessing the canyon section need to be using snowshoes. Nymphing in the canyon is producing wild brown and rainbow trout. With the decrease in fly fishing pressure fly fishers are finding bigger trout willing to take their nymphs. Olive scuds in size 12 or 14, tiger and zebra midges in sizes 18 or 20 and bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs in size 18 are the fly patterns producing in the canyon.

Nate Ostrander from Bishop hooked up on the indicator on the upper Owens River. Photo Credit Nate Ostrander.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

After the storm, fly fishers will be able to access the upper Owens River again from Benton Crossing Road. It’s about an hour’s hike in on snowshoes to the better fishing spots in the area of the confluence of Hot Creek’s three forks. The trophy trout are in the river in good numbers offering fly fishers an opportunity to catch one of these trophy trout. I like to fish the cutbanks, deep runs and holes that the trophy trout use to rest and feed on their migration through the river. I’m offering the trout a bigger bite of calories by using size 10 or 12 jigged flies like the stoner nymph and the two tone green/gold Prince nymph. Throwing a streamer that you can get under the cutbanks or down deep in the holes is producing trophy trout.

Increase flows in Bishop Creek Canal will allow fly fishers to get closer to the water without spooking trout..

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Ford Dealer:

With increased flows it’s easier to cast to the trout without spooking them. I like to use three different nymphing techniques to fool the canal trout. I use a dry and dropper with an Adams parachute on top and a midge or pheasant tail nymph as the dropper. I use indicators, Airlocks, placed 1.5 to 2 times the average water depth above the bottom fly. I use olive quilldigons, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, tiger midges and zebra midges. Bishop Creek Canal is a great water to Euro nymph. I use the same fly set almost all winter. I use an olive quilldigon on the point, stoner nymph in the middle and hot spot pheasant tail on top.

Fly fishing in the Owens River Gorge is a great alternative spot to fly fish when the wild trout section is unfishable.

Owens River Gorge

Upper and Middle Gorge:

The gorge is a tail water fishery that fishes like a freestone creek. The fish feed opportunistically on what is floating down the river. This is a great spot to fish your favorite dry fly as you will fish it with more confidence. For the dry fly I like an Adams parachute, elk hair caddis, Royal Wulff and blue wing olive parachute. For the nymphs I run bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, tiger midges and zebra midges. Some fly fishers are daunted about the hike in and out of the gorge. Access into middle or upper gorge allows fly fishers to walk in on a paved road. Walking out of the gorge is like walking out of Hot Creek canyon twice. Pace yourself and it’s an easy hike out.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 02-17-2022

Looks like we are in for some good weather for most of the upcoming week. But it is the Eastern Sierra where they say if you don’t like the weather come back in an hour. Upper elevation waters are getting enough fly fishing pressure to develop trails that are navigable. Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is reporting record breaking snow fall so far for this snow season. Be prepared for increased water flows as the snow starts to melt. Spring runoff this year is going to be huge. Might want to plan a trip or two before runoff starts in June.

Nice weather and flow at 200 CFS makes it time for a trip to the lower Owens River.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Los Angeles Department of Water and Power are doing repair work on Pleasant Valley Reservoir. Once this is completed flows in the lower Owens will increase from the 200 CFS to at least 300 CFS. Fishing has been sporadic as water clarity related to the dam work has been an issue some days. Some days are clear water and some days are dirty water. Nymphing has been the way to fish the river. I like Euro nymphing as the method to get my nymphs down on the substrate where the trout are feeding. This is requiring an increase in the bead size on my flies. I’m still fishing my winter trio of an olive quilldigon, stoner nymph and a hot spot pheasant tail nymph.

Working the riffle as it enters a hole on the lower Owens River with nymphs produces wild trout .

Hot Creek:

Interpretive Site:

The trail from Hot Creek Hatchery Road to the creek is well established. Snowshoes are highly recommended for access. This is the easiest place to access Hot Creek. There is not much in the way of hatches right now. I still carry dry flies with me just in case a midge or blue wing olive hatch brings the trout to the surface. Nymphing is the game and I’m using tiger midges, zebra midges, olive quilldigons, and bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs.

Fly fishers have developed trails from the kiosk to Hot Creek Ranch allowing easier access with your snow shoes.

Hot Creek:

Canyon Section:

Accessing the canyon section of Hot Creek is for the adventurous fly fisher. You have to snowshoe in from the end of Hot Creek Hatchery Road where they stop plowing the road which is at Hot Creek Ranch. No parking in front of the ranch. Getting in and out of the canyon is tough due to icy conditions. For the fly fisher that makes it into the canyon fishing with nymphs is producing trout. These fish are feeding on scuds, midges, and blue wing olive nymphs. I like fishing in the open water in between the weed beds.

Snow shoes are required for fly fishers accessing the upper Owens River from Benton Crossing Bridge..

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Snowmobiles from Benton Crossing Bridge have established packed down snow trails that fly fishers with snowshoes can use to access the river. Most fly fishers are fishing with their snowshoes on. Including wading with them. For those that do not own snowshoes they can be rented from Eastside Sports in Bishop. There are enough trophy trout in the river to warrant the effort to access the better fishing areas an hours walk up stream of Benton Crossing Bridge. The trophy trout are in the river to spawn. I do not fish over actively spawning trout as they represent the future trout population of the river. I Euro nymph in the deep holes, runs and cutbanks with stoner nymphs and two tone Prince nymphs in green/gold.

Bishop Creek Canal is getting very little fly fishing pressure as low water levels make it hard not to spook trout..

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Ford Dealer:

Flows continue to be low making fly fishing tough in the canal. When the lower Owens River goes up to 300 CFS the canal will go up and fishing will improve. Working the canal with the indicator, dry and dropper or Euro nymphing is producing a few fish if you can get a cast without spooking the trout. I’m using tiger midge, zebra midges, gold ribbed hares ear’s and pheasant tail nymphs.

Wild brown trout are the dominate trout species in the gorge and feed opportunistically.

Owens River Gorge

Upper and Middle Gorge:

Nymphing under a dry fly is producing wild brown trout on tiger midges, zebra midges, gold ribbed hare’s ears, and pheasant tail nymphs. I access the gorge through the two power plant roads. I walk to the bottom and fish my way upstream until I’m done. Then I hike out. I also take some of the climber trails down into the gorge. Anywhere you fish is going to produce trout as there is very little fishing pressure in the gorge.