Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 08-18-2023

A week of afternoon showers in Mono County has made it nice to fish upper elevation waters. I’ve been rained on. Seen lightning. Been hot in the sunshine. Typical Eastern Sierra weather. We have had a little bit of everything. As waters recede and lakes stabilize fly fishing is getting better every day. Mayflies, caddis and midges are hatching. Hoppers are around, but the trout are not seeing them blown onto the water so they are not feeding on them.

Afternoon rain showers has cooled off upper elevation waters like the upper Owens river .

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Flows have jumped back up to 400 CFS which is too high to safely wade. Nymphing is the most productive method of fly fishing the lower Owens River right now. I’m fishing the Euro rod right above Five Bridges and finding wild brown trout willing to take olive burlap caddis, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, stoner nymphs and green/gold Prince nymphs. Access is still closed at Pleasant Valley Campground and at the chalk bluff on Chalk Bluff Road..

Lower Owens River flows are back up to 400 CFS and fly fishers fishing the banks are catching trout on nymphs.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

There are hatches of trico mayflies and caddis which are bringing a few trout to the surface. Action is starting around 8:30 in the morning and lasting to early afternoon. I’ve been doing best Euro nymphing and fishing nymphs under an indicator. Pheasant tail nymphs, gold ribbed hares ears, midges, and olive burlap caddis are fooling wild brown trout. On the surface blue wing olive parachutes, trico parachutes, trico spinners and gray caddis are bring trout to the surface to sip these flies.

With sporadic dry fly activity nymphing on Hot Creek has been the most successful method.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

Water levels have receded to the point that fly fishers nymphing in the canyon are catching trout. Euro nymphing has been my preferred method of fly fishing in the canyon. I’m using hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, stoner nymphs, green/gold Prince nymphs, Frenchie’s and olive burlap caddis. Fishing the slower flats below Hot Creek Ranch and behind instream obstacles like weed beds and rocks is producing most of the fish. Dry fly fishing is tough in the canyon with very little surface activity from the trout,

John Cary from Apple Valley is hooked up to wild brown trout that took one of his three nymphs on the Euro rig.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

The cloud cover and rain has made it pleasant to fish all day on the river. Caddis and mayflies are hatching and the trout are feeding on the emergers as well as the adults. Brown or olive elk hair caddis, blue wing olive parachutes, black ant patterns and beetles are getting hit by the rising trout. Nymphing under an indicator or with the Euro rig is producing five to 14 inch wild brown trout and rainbow trout. Hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, Frenchie’s, olive quilldigons, stoners and green/gold Prince nymphs are producing wild trout.

Float tubing McGee bay with a damsel fly nymph of callibaetis nymph is proving to be a successful method of fly fishing the lake.

Crowley Lake:

Los Angeles Department of Water and Power have filled Crowley Lake to its highest level. With the increased volume of water in the lake the trout have spread out and are harder to find. McGee Bay is known for its abundance of midges. The midges have not repopulated the areas of the lake that were high and dry just a few weeks back. With the lack of midges, fly fishers throwing damsel fly nymphs and callibaetis nymphs are finding a few trout to take their flies. The key to midging is finding areas of the lake that has hatching midges. Tiger midges, zebra midges, gray midges and albino midges continue to produce trout for fly fishers midging in Crowley Lake.

Bishop Creek Canal continues to produce trout for fly fishers nymphing under an indicator or with the Euro rig.

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Old Ford Dealer:

Overnight rain showers have caused the canal to rise and get off color. With the increased flows it’s been tough to get the trout to take flies. I’ve been working the Euro rod with a hot spot pheasant tail nymph, stoner nymph and green/gold Prince nymph. I’ve been working hard to get a few fish. Key to success for me has been to cover lots of water with the nymphs.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 08-11-2023

With peak runoff behind us fly fishing opportunities on Eastern Sierra waters are improving every day. Freestone creeks are still flowing above normal, but fly fishers are finding more safe spots on the creeks to fish. Nymphing continues to be the most productive method of fly fish right now. Hatches are intensifying and trout are just starting to come to the surface to feed on emerging insects. Mayflies, caddis, midges, and the occasional hopper are what the trout are feeding on. Lakes are full and stabilizing offering fly fishers great opportunities to fly fish their favorite still water. With the receding water mosquitoes have lighten up on most waters.

Flows on McGee Creek are still above normal for this time of the year and require anglers to fish with cation while fishing from the banks .

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Mayfly nymphs and hydropsyche caddis are what the trout are feeding on. With flows just under 300 CFS the lower Owens River is fly fishing well right now. I’m fly fishing it with the Euro rig and finding six to 10 inch wild browns willing to take my hot spot pheasant tail nymph, stoner nymph and green/gold Prince nymph. Under an indicator I use bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and olive burlap caddis. I’m cautious where I’m walking on the banks as they are still unstable from the high flows.

An eight inch wild brown trout that took the stoner nymph fished in a pool just upstream from Five Bridges Road.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

The creek is in good shape if you want to fish nymphs. There is a morning trico mayfly hatch, but the trout are not coming to the surface to feed on the duns and spinners. Bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, bead hear flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, Frenchie’s and olive quilldigons are fooling the wild trout. Fishing has been steady all day with enough trophy trout to make it a fun day on the creek fly fishing.

Roman Saroyan cast a size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph under an indicator to this 16 inch wild brown trout and watched it take the fly.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

Receding flows and clear water is allowing fly fisher in Hot Creek Canyon to catch wild trout on nymphs. Most of the canyon section is still too fast. Fly fishers working their nymphs behind structure like weed beds and rocks or fishing the slower sections in the canyon are catching trout. Conditions right now are perfect for Euro nymphing in the canyon with hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, stoner nymphs, scuds and olive burlap caddis. Dry fly fishing in the canyon is pretty much nonexistent right now.

Right now is the perfect time to be learning how to Euro nymph on the upper Owens River like Bill Chappelear from Scotts Valley and Troy Depuyot from Santa Cruz did.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Water levels are at 90 CFS above the confluence of Hot Creek. The river is in perfect shape and is producing trout on nymphs, dries and streamers. I’ve been teaching Euro nymphing to clients. In the morning they’re learning to lead the flies, take in slack and elevate or lower the rod tip to keep the rig, sighter, taught. In the afternoons when the fly fisher can keep the line taught they are catching five inch to 20 inch rainbows and browns on hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, stoner nymphs and green/gold Prince nymphs. There are a few hoppers around, but the trout are not keying in on hoppers yet. Horse flies are prevalent at the parking areas and mosquitoes middle of the day are few and far between. Using elk hair caddis and trico spinners are producing trout for fly fishers wanting to dry fly fish.

The flotilla of boats is fishing 10 to 15 feet of water in the north west corner of McGee Bay.

 Crowley Lake:

The lake is at full pool. Highest I’ve seen it in my 44 years in the Eastern Sierra. The lake has stabilized and fly fishers are finding trout in the north west corner of McGee Bay. The fish are in 10 to 15 feet of water and are taking tiger midges, zebra midges, gray midges and albino midges. As the day progresses the midges move high up in the water column as they begin their ascent to the surface to hatch. I start off the morning working my midges within six inches of the substrate. By the time the wind comes up around 11:00 A.M. I’m fishing my nymphs as much as four feet off the substrate. Key to success is finding areas where there is an abundance of midges hatching.

Euro nymphing has been the most productive method to fly fish Bishop Creek Canal.

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Old Ford Dealer:

Mid-day temperatures in the mid 90’s has made fly fishing Bishop Creek Canal tolerable. I’m Euro nymphing with a hot spot pheasant tail nymph, stoner nymph and green/gold Prince nymph. The stocked rainbows like flashier flies like the two tone Prince, rainbow warriors, lightning bugs and orange scuds. The trout are not in the normal spots that usually produce. They are concentrated in the slower runs or on the edges of the very fast water sections.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 08-04-2023

I made a prediction back in April that snow runoff would be over by August first. With peak runoff behind us the streams and creeks are slowly receding offering good fly fishing opportunities. From now until November we should have great fly fishing. This does not mean the streams are at normal flows, but they are receding. I would still be very careful when fly fishing the freestone streams. Hatches of little yellow stones, caddis, trico mayflies, blue wing olive mayflies and midges have the trout taking nymphs and dries. The hordes of mosquitoes have receded with the water flows particularly in the Long Valley area.

The San Joaquin River in the Reds Meadow area  is still flowing too high to safely wade and fly fish .

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Flows are down to 300 CFS which is the upper end of wadable flows. I can wade at these flows, but most clients find these flows to high to safely wade. Five Bridges is the only vehicle access to the river right now. Chalk Bluff Road is closed to vehicle travel from the bluff to Pleasant Valley Campground. Nymphing at these flows is still the most productive method of fly fishing the river. I’m using the Euro nymph rod and finding wild brown trout willing to take my nymphs. Be careful walking on the banks as there are lots of eroded banks that should be avoided.

The lower Owens River at 300 CFS is wadable if you’re a strong wader..

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Clearing water, receding flows and hatches of trico mayflies and blue wing olive mayflies have trout feeding on the surface. If you are looking to fish dry flies you will need to move around the creek to find spots where the trout are rising. Most of the river is producing with nymphs. I’ve been working a hot spot pheasant tail nymph, stoner nymph, and green/gold prince nymph with great success. I have openings in August for fly fishers who want to learn how to fly fish Hot Creek successfully.

Bob Rusitto worked  a Euro rig from the ranch to the Interpretive parking lot as all the fly fishers left the creek by 11:30 when the hatch was over.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

Flows in the canyon are now conducive to nymphing with an indicator or with a Euro rig. The trout are taking bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, olive quilldigons, Frenchie’s, scuds, stoner nymphs and green/gold Prince nymphs. There are a few spots in the canyon where trout are feeding on the hatching insects.

Euro nymphing the upper Owens River is producing six to 20 inch wild brown trout and rainbow trout..

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

While hatches of little yellow stone flies, caddis and trico mayflies have trout feeding on the surface, nymphing with the Euro rig has been producing six to 20 inch wild trout on hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, stoner nymphs and green/gold Prince nymphs. The river is in prime shape and the hordes of mosquitoes that were horrendous a few weeks are mostly gone. I’m teaching lot of fly fishers to Euro nymph the river as this method is perfect for the conditions right now. Using elk hair caddis, little yellow stones, and trico spinners are producing trout for fly fishers wanting to dry fly fish.

Crowley Lake:

The lake is at the highest levels I’ve seen in years. With the lake level stabilized fly fishers are able to pattern the trout’s feeding habits. The flotilla of boats has been in 10 to 15 feet of water in the north west corner of McGee Bay. There are a few fly fishers who are separating themselves from the pack and finding trout to catch in areas of the lake with no other fly fishers around. Tiger midges, zebra midges, blood midges, gray midges and albino Barron’s fished from three inches off the substrate to four feet off the substrate are producing lots of trophy brown, rainbow and cutthroat trout.

Alina Olivarri from Baldwin Park learning to fly cast before indicator nymphing on Bishop Creek Canal.

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Old Ford Dealer:

It’s been hot in the Owens Valley with daytime temperatures in the high 90’s to low 100’s. If you can put up with the heat there are trout to be caught in the canal. Nymphing is producing for me under an indicator or with a Euro Rig. I’m using a hot spot pheasant tail nymph, stoner nymph and green/gold Prince nymph on the Euro rig. Under the indicator I’m using bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears. I’m catching wild brown trout and stocked rainbows. Key to success here is moving upstream three steps at a time and completely covering all the water before moving another three steps up the canal.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 07-28-2023

Hooked Up!!! Snow runoff has peaked and trout are taking flies. Fly fishers are finally consistently hooking up with trout. Freestone creeks should still be fly fished with caution as they are still flowing at high levels. My clients and I are finding trout willing to bend are rods as they take nymphs and dries. Mayflies, caddis and midges are hatching and bringing trout to the surface. Mosquitoes are receding as the water around the creeks and rivers are drying up.

With peak runoff behind us, fly fishers are hooking up on Eastern Sierra waters like Scott Carlson from Eugene, Oregon on the upper Owens River.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

With the peak of snow runoff behind us the flows in the lower Owens River are down to 350 CFS. I will wade clients in the river when the flows drop below 300 CFS. I fished the river at 450 CFS from the bank with my Euro rig. I caught brown trout up to 14 inches with hot spot pheasant tail nymphs and stoner nymphs. The banks are unstable from the high runoff and fly fishers should be aware of where they are standing on the rivers banks. Access is limited as Chalk Bluff Road is closed at the bluff and at Pleasant Valley Campground.

With flows of 350 CFS fly fishers are catching wild brown trout from the banks of the lower Owens River.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Water levels are receding, water clarity is good and the trout are feeding. Euro nymphing with a hot spot pheasant tail nymph, stoner nymph and green/gold Prince nymph produced trout during the morning mayfly hatch. Once the hatch was over the fishing shut down. Some trout were taking the mayflies off the surface, but the nymphs were producing big trout. Fly fishing here will just get better as waterflows recede. Now is the time to learn how to fly fish the creek. Key to success here is imitating the stage of the aquatic insect the trout are feeding on and getting a drag free drift.

Bob Rusitto hooked up to a trophy brown trout on Hot Creek while nymphing with a Euro rig.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

With receding water levels fly fishers can fish sections of the canyon and find trout willing to take their flies. Nymphing is the most productive methods of fly fishing the canyon right now. There are a few spots in the canyon where trout are feeding on the hatching mayflies on the surface. Best flies are bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, copper John’s, scuds, burlap caddis and olive quilldigons. Key to success is having the right amount of weight on the line.

Twenty one inch wild brown trout caught by Eugene, Oregon fly fisher Scott Carlson on a hot spot pheasant tail nymph. Photo by Scott Carlson..

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Water levels are dropping and the upper Owens River is fishing as good as I’ve seen. Nymphing is producing trophy rainbow trout and brown trout. The pale morning dun hatch is pretty much over. The caddis hatch is just starting. Nymphing with hot spot pheasant tail nymph, stoner nymphs, green/gold Prince nymphs, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears are fooling pan sized trout and trophy trout Mosquitoes and black flies are still present, but  are not out of control like they have been,

Hooked up on Crowley lake while fishing a midge under an indicator in 15 feet of water.

Crowley Lake:

Lake is pretty much at full level. The fishing has stabilized as the trout are now on a feeding pattern fly fishers can anticipate. The north west corner of McGee Bay is where the bulk of the boat flotilla is fly fishing. The trout have been feeding mid-morning in five to 15 feet of water. Fly fishers are using zebra midges, tiger midges, gray midges and albino Barron’s.

Patricia Souza from Winters hooked up to the first trout she’s landed all by herself while Euro nymphing on Bishop Creek Canal.

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Old Ford Dealer:

With mid-day temperatures in the high 90’s fly fishers are finding it most comfortable to fish early or late in the day. Trout are feeding all day long for those fly fishers willing to brave the heat. Fly fishers are catching wild brown trout and stocker rainbows on nymphs under an indicator or with a Euro rig. Bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, stoner nymphs and green/gold Prince nymphs are what the trout are taking.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 07-21-2023

Hot weather continues to heat up the Owens Valley with the occasional afternoon rain shower. Upper elevations are feeling the heat too. I’m thinking we’ve turned the corner on runoff, but I’m going to wait one more week to be sure we’ve seen the peak of runoff. Moving water is still raging and fly fishers need to be careful when fly fishing around the streams, creeks and canal in the Eastern Sierra. Mosquitoes are everywhere and fly fishers should be using lots of repellent if they don’t want to be scratching bites days after they were fly fishing their favorite water. Nymphing continues to be the most productive method of fly fishing in the Eastern Sierra. Midges, pale morning dun mayflies, blue wing olive mayflies, scuds and stoneflies are what the trout are feeding on. Hatches are taking place on a number of waters, but few trout are coming to the surface to feed on the newly hatched adults.

Weir Pond on the south fork of Bishop Creek is one of the few safe places fly fishers can fish on Bishop Creek.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Looking at the flows on the Department of Water and Power Los Angeles Aqueduct webpage show flows are down to 450 CFS coming out of Pleasant Valley Reservoir. At these levels fly fishers can work the banks looking for the wild brown trout that call the wild trout section home. Access is from Five Bridges upstream by foot. There is no parking allowed off of Chalk Bluff Road at this time. Nymphing is the most productive way of fly fishing the river at these flows. Fly fishers should be cautious as the banks are still unstable from the high flows during runoff.

At 450 CFS the lower Owens River is fishable from the banks, but eroded banks should be avoided.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

This continues to be the spot to be nymphing on Hot Creek. Working the slower shallower spots, and behind instream obstacles like boulders and weed beds is producing wild trout up to 18 inches. This has become a quality fishery as fly fishers are working hard for a few trout. The good news is the few fish being landed are trophy sized trout in the 16 to 20 inch range. These fish are taking bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, midge pupae and scuds. Be sure to fish with enough weight to bounce the flies of the substrate. I’m fishing an indicator six feet above the bottom nymph with on to two BB shot on the line. Water is flowing high and clear.

Hot Creek Canyon with it steeper gradient is a hard place to fish in the high flows that are moving through Hot Creek right now.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

With the steeper gradient in the canyon it’s tough to find spots to drift nymphs that the trout can take. Fishing behind obstacles like weed beds and rocks is going to result in fish. Fishing the slow water sections at the top and bottom of the canyon is the other spot that is producing trout. I’ve been using my Euro rod with a hot spot pheasant tail nymph, stoner and gold ribbed hare’s ear with success. The fish are few and far between making it necessary to cover lots of water for that one or two trophy trout.

Philip Gold from Redlands hooked up to a trophy brown trout on the Upper Owens River that took a well drifted bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ear.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Horse flies and mosquitoes are the negative factor to an otherwise great fly fishing experience on the upper Owens River. I’m seeing nesting mallard ducks, hatching mayflies, flower, clouds and lots of green grass. Every once in a while, I just look up from my fly fishing to enjoy the scenery around me. The trout are feeding throughout the river despite the high off color water running in the river. The fish are primarily taking blue wing olive mayfly nymphs, pale morning dun mayfly nymphs, midge pupae and stonefly nymphs. I’ve had my best success with the Euro rod fishing with a hot spot pheasant tail nymph, stoner nymph and gold ribbed hare’s ears. Under an indicator I’m fishing with bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears. I’m finding fish in the shallow riffles and the slow deep holes. I’m making sure I’m covering all the water with my nymphs.

I seem to only check the hook points of my Crowley midges when I’ve missed several trout.

Crowley Lake:

As lake levels stabilize and water begins to warm up the midges are hatching again. Fly fishing on the lake from boats, kayaks and float tubes is picking up as fly fishers are able to take advantage of a predictable trout feeding pattern. Finding a weed free bottom is where you will have your best success. Trout are being caught in 15 to 25 feet of water. McGee Bay, Sandy Point and the north arm of the lake are seeing concentrations of fly fishers. While the standard patterns of tiger midges, zebra midges, gray midges and albino Barron’s are producing fish, a few anglers are have success with bright colored midge patterns.

Bishop Creek Canal swollen from an afternoon rain shower that came through the Eastern Sierra.

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Old Ford Dealer:

Afternoon rains have swollen an already full Bishop Creek Canal. As the flows subside the fishing will pick back up. Though the river is high and off color the trout continue to take bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, olive quilldigons, stoner nymphs and green/gold Prince nymphs. I’m methodically covering the water moving three steps upstream once I’ve thoroughly worked each spot. This tactic is producing lots of trout for me. I’m finding trout in all but the fastest sections of the canal. This continues to be a very productive spot for me to fish when I only have an hour or two to fly fish. Starting to see a few trout feeding on the surface.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 07-14-2023

Hot weather continues to bake the Owens Valley and keep temperatures above freezing in the upper elevations. The snow pack above 9,000 feet continues to slowly melt. Some waters have stabilized at high flows. Other waters are increasing flows and pushing outside of their banks. Pale morning duns, blue wing olives and callibaetis mayflies are hatching and the trout are feeding on the nymphs and a few trout are coming to the surface for the adults. Mosquitoes are in force throughout most of the Eastern Sierra and in particular in Long Valley. Still waters are a great alternative to fly fishing the moving waters. Backcountry streams and lakes are slowly opening up. A lot of these waters still have considerable amounts of snow around them. All of the freestone creeks draining the east side of the Sierra are at abnormally high flows and should be approached with the utmost caution.

Rock Creek should be approached with the utmost caution as only the slower water flats are safe to fish at this point in the fishing season.

 Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Flows in the lower Owens River have stabilized at 550 CFS. The flows here could go up over 1,000 CFS depending on how much snow is melting at higher elevations with temperatures in the Owens Valley in the upper 90’s to low 100’s. Banks are unstable and fly fishers should use extreme caution when fly fishing from the banks. There are a few caddis hatching in the evening providing action for fly fishers if you can put up with the mosquitoes. Nymphing is the most productive method of fly fishing the river. The only access is from Five Bridges as there is no parking beyond the gravel plant off of Chalk Bluff Road. Pleasant Valley Campground continues to be closed.

A few fly fishers are fly fishing the lower Owens River particularly in the evenings for the caddis hatch.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Flows have stabilized over the last 10 days. Water is clear, high and running fast. There are a few select spots where the trout are coming to the surface to feed on hatching adults. Nymphing with lots of weight on the tippet or heavy tungsten beads on the Euro flies is needed to get the nymphs down on the substrate where the trout are feeding. This has become a quality fishery not it’s normal quantity fishery. Fly fishers are working hard for a few trout, but the trout that are taking flies are in the 16 to 20 inch range. The trout are taking blue wing olive nymphs, midges, gray caddis and scuds. Mosquitoes are letting up a bit and are worse at twilight.

This is the highest flows I’ve seen in the canyon since I’ve been fishing it in the mid-70’s.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

With the steeper gradient in the canyon it’s tough to find spots to drift nymphs that the trout can take. Fishing behind obstacles like weed beds and rocks is going to result in fish. Fishing the slow water sections at the top and bottom of the canyon is the other spot that is producing trout. I’ve been using my Euro rod with a hot spot pheasant tail nymph, stoner and gold ribbed hare’s ear with success. The fish are few and far between making it necessary to cover lots of water for that one or two trophy trout.

Steven Needham from Thousand Oaks fooled this 12 inch wild brown trout with a hot spot pheasant tail nymph.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Armed with Cutters repellant and head nets I fended off the mosquitoes on the upper Owens River. Hatches of pale morning duns, callibaetis nymphs and midges have the cutthroat, brown and rainbow trout feeding on nymphs. A bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph fished six feet below an indicator with a BB shot or a hot spot pheasant tail nymph on the point of a three fly Euro nymph rig is producing six to 18 inch wild trout. The trout are in the deep holes and margins of the fast water. A lot of the trout are in the shallow water next to the runs that they normally inhabit. I’m catching rainbows, browns and cutthroats.

Trout are spread out all over Crowley Lake from the Owens River arm of the lake to McGee Bay and in the Crooked Cree arm of the lake.

Crowley Lake:

Fishing has slowed down as the lake is filling up from the record snow fall in the Eastern Sierra. With the increase in the lakes size the trout have spread out in search of food. Midges are the primary food source of the Crowley Lake trout. Key to success is moving around looking for feeding trout. Boat electronics is what is making the difference between catching trout and just staring at a bobber. Tiger midges, zebra midges, gray midges and albino Barron’s in size 18 are the productive flies. Fly fishers in boats, kayaks and float tubes are searching the lake for todays hot spot. Successful anglers are trying multiple spots before finding that one productive location. As they say in real estate location, location and location.

Elsie Minichiello from Ventura is nymphing a pheasant tail nymph under an indicator for the wild brown trout that inhabit the canal.

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Old Ford Dealer:

It’s hot middle of the day making it uncomfortable for anglers to be on the water fly fishing. If you can put up with the heat the trout are feeding all day. The canal has had lots of fishing pressure and successful fly fishers are covering lots of water with bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears. There is not a selective hatch going on at the canal, but there is a fish here and there taking adult aquatic insects of the surface. Wild brown trout are averaging eight to 12 inches. Stocked rainbows have been up to 18 inches.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 07-07-2023

We’ve had a week of hot weather in the Owens Valley. Snow is melting at the higher elevations which is causing snow runoff. So far, it’s not overpowering the water ways. In fact it’s opening up waters for us to fly fish. Creeks running out of the Sierra are fishable in the flat sections. These creeks should be approached with caution as one slip will put you into the icy cold water and could spell disaster. High elevation lakes and roads to them are icing out and offering additional waters to fly fish. Backcountry lakes and streams are just starting to thaw out. With all the standing water throughout the Owens Valley and the Eastern Sierra there is an abundance of mosquitoes everywhere.

Sierra Bright Dot guide Richard Lancaster casting Adams parachutes to rising brookies at the inlet of North Lake.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Flows in the lower Owens River are fluctuating around 550 CFS. The river can be fished at these flows, but it is not wadable. I would use extreme caution fishing along the banks as they are still unstable from the previous high flows. Access is limited to the aera of Five Bridges as Chalk Bluff Road is closed at the bluff and there is no parking from the gravel plant to the bluff. Nymphing with lots of weight and mayfly nymphs or caddis pupae are producing a few trout for the diehard fly fishers plying the waters of the lower Owens River.

With flows in the lower Owens River down to 550 CFS fly fishers are exploring the wild trout section in the area of Five Bridges.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

If you can put up with the mosquitoes the trout are biting on Hot Creek. This is quickly becoming one of the most consistent waters to fish in the Mammoth Lakes area. There are hatches, but few trout are coming to the surface to feed. Successful anglers are nymphing under an indicator, using a Euro rig, or pulling streamers. Bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs,  bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, midges and scuds are fooling a few wild trout.

Hot Creek is flowing high and clear and is offering consistent nymph fishing in the interpretive site and the canyon.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

The canyon is my favorite spot to fly fish. High flows are making it tough for a lot of anglers to successfully fly fish. I’m using nymphs on my Euro rig or fishing nymphs under an indicator with lots of weight to keep the flies in touch with the substrate. The fish need to eat and with the rich aquatic diet offered to them by the insects in the creek the trout are feeding on blue wing olive nymphs, caddis nymphs and pupae, scuds and midge nymphs. I like throwing a size 6 olive wooly bugger particularly during runoff. I fish it around obstacles in the stream like weed beds and rocks.

Young  fly fisher Knox Trucksess from San Clemente is casting his indicator rig upstream and watching the indicator for any movement to know when to set the hook as he fly fishes off the bank on the upper Owens River.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Mosquitoes are taking the fun out of fly fishing the upper Owens River. I’m going to buy enough head nets for my customers and myself to keep the pesky biting bugs off my face and neck. Fishing is tough as the trophy fish are no longer in the river system and juvenile trout are feeding if you can find where there calling home out of the fast current. Nymphing is the best method of fly fishing the river right now. I’m using stoner nymphs, green/gold Prince nymphs, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs and bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears. Work these flies in the slower pools and runs where the trout are feeding out of the main current. Cover lots of water to find the few spots that have consistently feeding trout.

Working midges three inches to three feet of the substrate is producing trout for fly fishers who move around Crowley Lake to find schools of feeding trout.

Crowley Lake:

Fishing is up and down as water levels are changing. Successful fly fishers are fishing in 15 to 25 feet of water in McGee Bay. With rapidly changing water levels fly fishers are searching for the trout every day. Good electronics or your boat, float tube or kayak makes it easier to find the trout. The same flies have been doing the job. The trout are taking tiger midges, zebra midges, gray midges and albino Barron’s.

Las Vegas fly fisher Randy Meservey nymph fished under an indicator in Bishop Creek Canal with a gold ribbed hare’s ear nymph.

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Old Ford Dealer:\

Mid-day temperatures in the low 100’s makes it hot to be out fishing middle of the day. My schedule has me out fishing middle of the day and catching trout. I’m getting a mixed bag of 14 to 18 inch stocked rainbows and eight to 12 inch wild brown trout. I like fishing my Euro rig in the canal and the trout are taking my hot spot pheasant tail nymph, stoner nymph and green/gold Prince nymph. Under the indicator the trout are taking bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, copper and red copper John’s and red San Juan worms.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 06-30-2023

Looks like July is going to come in hot with the Owens Valley seeing are first temperatures of the summer in the high 90’s to low 100’s. This should start melting the snow in the 9,000 to 13,000 foot range. If these temperatures persist there will be peak runoff in most streams and creeks in the Eastern Sierra in the next week or two. Backcountry is snowed in and there have been avalanche warnings. Long Valley, from Crowley Lake to the head waters on the Owens River, is inundated with mosquitoes and no see ums. I can’t believe I got two mosquitoes bites through my hair into my scalp. Nymphing is the primary method of fly fishing right now as few trout are feeding on the surface of Eastern Sierra streams.

Now is a great time of the year to learn how to fly fish like the Trucksess family leaning to fly cast at Browns on the River Campground.

 Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

The flows have dropped from 750 CFS to 550 CFS. Fly fishers have been fishing in the wild trout section. It’s still too high to safely wade. I don’t wade customers over 300 CFS. Fly fishers fishing from the banks need to careful as a lot of the banks are unstable from the high flows. Nymphing has been the successful way of fishing the wild trout section. Be sure to us enough weight in the flies or on the leader to get the flies to bounce the substrate where the trout are feeding.

Lower Owens River flows have come down to 550 CFS and fly fishers are exploring the wild trout section of the lower Owens River.

Hot Creek:

Interpretive Site:

Mosquitoes and no see ums are taking the fun out of fly fishing on Hot Creek. The mosquitoes are finding any unprotected skin or places where repellant did not get applied. Fishing nymphs with lots of weight down on the substrate is getting hookups for fly fishers. Stoner nymphs, olive quilldigons, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs,  bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears and scuds are fooling the wild trout.

Elise Minichiello showing off a typical brown trout she got in Hot Creek Canyon nymphing a riffle section. Photo from Elise Minichiello.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

The water is clear, high and fishable. The mosquitoes and no see ums are atrocious. Put on lots of clothes and insect repellant. Working your nymphs in the slower sections of the creek is providing the best action. It takes a lot of weight and the right drift to catch fish in the fast riffle sections. When I think of fishing Hot Creek this time of the year, I’m thinking lots of eight to 14 inch wild brown and rainbow trout. Right now I’m only landing a few trout, but they are in the 14 to 18 inch range. I figured out a long time ago that pulling streamers through the creek during runoff is a great way to entice the trout of Hot Creek to take flies. I like throwing a size 6 olive wooly bugger. I fish it around obstacles in the stream like weed beds and rocks.

First time fly fisher Scarlett Trucksess from San Clemente is fly fishing the upper Owens River.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Fishing is tough and the mosquitoes are thick. Walking the banks of the upper Owens River I was pushing up hunderds of mosquitoes. I’m buying a head net just to keep the mosquitoes off my face. Yes, they are that thick up on the river. Success here is working your flies on the bottom with enough weight on the flies or on your tippet to allow your nymphs to work on the substrate. Bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, stoner nymphs and green/gold wire Prince nymphs are fooling a few wild and stocked trout.

A typical Crowley Lake midge eating brown trout.

Crowley Lake:

Water levels are coming up and fly fishers are working hard for their fish. McGee Bay and Sandy Point is where most of the boats, float tubers and kayaks are fishing the lake. Successful fly fishers are moving around finding where the trout are concentrated and feeding. The trout are taking tiger midges, zebra midges, gray midges and albino Barron’s. Fish these midge pupae patterns from three inches above the substrate to several feet.

Randi Pritchard from Eastern Sierra Reality hooked up to a wild brown trout that took a size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph fished under an indicator in Bishop Creek Canal.

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Old Ford Dealer:

This spot is getting a lot of fishing pressure from spin fishermen and fly fishermen. It’s been one of the few consistent spots to catch trout in moving water. This is a great spot for both seasoned and beginner fly fishers. The trout have been taking a variety of nymphs including bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, Prince nymphs, San Juan worms in red and copper John’s six feet under an indicator. The Euro rod is producing lots of fish on stoner nymphs, perdigons, olive quilldigons, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs and green/gold Prince nymphs.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 06-23-2023

It looks like the snow in the 9,000 to 13,000 foot level is starting to melt. The creeks running out of the mountains from Lone Pine to Bridgeport are all swollen with this year’s record snow melt. For now I would stay out of the creeks as they are unsafe to be around and unfishable. Nymphing and pulling streamers is working in the streams and rivers that are at not blown out by the snow runoff. Still waters offers the fly fisher the perfect place to fly fish when their favorite moving water is blown out due to the snow runoff. Eastern Sierra lakes under 9,000 feet that are thawed out are offering fly fishers an alternative fly fishing opportunity. Bass, bluegill and carp are a great fish to fly fish for as they require all of your trout skills and then some to get them to take a fly. Definitely be carrying your insect repellant as the mosquitoes and no see ums are out in force.

Warm, water fish put a bend on typical trout tackle like this five weight set up hooked up to a bluegill.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Unsafe to fish until  flows recede. Maybe flows will be fishable in October.

With expected peak runoff flows of 1,300 CFS Five bridges has been fortified to protect it from being washed out.

Hot Creek:

Interpretive Site:

With clear water and trout needing to feed, fishing nymphs under an indicator or with the Euro rod is producing trout for fly fishers able to work their nymphs on the substrate. With the high water it’s taking two to four AB or BB sized split shots and up to 11 mm of tungsten beads on the Euro rig. The trout are feeding on midges and mayfly nymphs. I’m finding that the slower sections of the creek is where my rig is working the substrate and the trout are taking olive quilldigons, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, stoner nymphs, copper Johns, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs and perdigons in a variety of colors.

I’m finding it tough to nymph my favorite fast runs in Hot Creek Canyon.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

The water in the canyon is running fast and my usual spots are not producing. I’m working my nymphs in the slower water sections where I can get my nymphs to bounce off the substrate. I’m using lots of weight to keep the flies in contact with the substrate. This is a great place to pull streamers like an olive wooly bugger around obstacles in the stream like weed beds and rocks. The trout are not feeding on the streamers, but being territorial and chasing the intruder, your streamer, away from their hangout.  

With high water, wind and mosquitoes the upper Owens River is a tough place to fly fish .

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

High, cold, clear water is making it hard to get trout in the upper Owens River to take flies. Afternoon or all day winds are hindering fly fishers. This adds up to tough fly fishing conditions on the upper Owens River. Nymphs and streamers are producing for fly fishers putting in the effort. Lots of casts and covering lots of water is yielding a few trout. The trout being landed have been in the 16 to 20 inch range. These fish are just few and far apart. Continue to show caution driving the dirt roads around the upper Owens River as vehicles are still getting stuck in the mud. This place is inundated with mosquitoes.

A typical Crowley Lake midge eating rainbow trout.

Crowley Lake:

The trout are still in 15 to 25 feet of water and feeding on midges. The fleet of guide boats is targeting the north arm of Crowley Lake from Sandy Point to Green Banks. A few boats are starting to show up in Hilton Bay and McGee Bay. The trout are taking the usual suspects of tiger midges, zebra midges, gray midges and albino Barron’s. Sacramento perch have moved into the shallows to spawn and are a fun fish on the fly rod. They make great eating. I like to eat mine as beer battered, tempura fried, fish tacos and ceviche.

The green/gold Prince nymph fooling a typical wild 8 inch brown trout on Bishop Creek Canal fished on a Euro rig.

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Old Ford Dealer:

This continues to be my go to spot to fly fish for trout as the trout are feeding on nymphs. I’ve been fishing with both an indicator and my Euro rig. Olive quilldigons, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, stoner nymphs, copper Johns, green/gold Prince nymphs and hot spot pheasant tail nymph are what’s working for me. Running into a number of fly fishers working the canal and learning how to properly fly fish it.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 06-16-2023

It must be summer! I ran into mosquitoes on Hot Creek today. When the afternoon clouds rolled in the mosquitoes came out of the grass. The afternoon rain showers are slowing down the snow runoff which means some of the rivers and creeks are starting to run clear, but still high. Water is cold and fish are not feeding voraciously like they should at this time of the year. I’m seeing hatching caddis, mayflies and midges, but for the most part the trout are feeding on the larvae not the hatching adults. Bass, bluegill and carp offer a fun alternative to the blown out stream fly fishing. Still waters that are iced out are another alternative for fly fishing.

Bluegill are a fun fish on the fly rod and the Buckley Ponds is a great spot to fly fish in the afternoon after chasing trout.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Unsafe to fish until  flows recede. Maybe flows will be fishable in October.

Lower Owens River at 750 CFS is unfishable and not safe to be around.

Hot Creek:

Interpretive Site:

Water is high and flowing clear. A mayfly hatch has a few trout coming to the surface. Most of the trout are feeding on nymphs. I’m fishing a heavy Euro nymph rig with 10.5 mm of tungsten beads. I’m using a pheasant tail, stoner nymph and Mark’s UV hare’s ear. This has been a quality fishery not a quantity fishery right now. I’m hooking rainbows and browns in the 16 to 20 inch range, but only a few of them.

Upper Hot Creek Canyon flats offers slower water for fly fishers to get their nymphs down on the substrate.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

Water is high and fast, but at least its clear. Lots of weight in the nymphs or on the line in the form of split shot. Two size BB split shot was not enough to keep my pheasant tail nymph on the substrate under the indicator. I’ve been fishing the slower water sections like the flats below Hot Creek Ranch. Brown trout to 16 inches have been taking my nymphs on the Euro rig. Bright colored flies like rainbow warriors, eggs and San Juan worms are fooling a few trout. Success is hanging up on the bottom and covering lots of water to find that one or two trout that are willing to take the flies you are fishing.

Upper Owens is flowing high, cold and clear, but is not producing many trout .

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

The water is still up but it is no longer running muddy. The roads are slowly drying out and most roads are accessible. I would still use the utmost caution where you are driving on the dirt roads. A few cutthroats are in the system, but they never showed up in fishable quantities this spring. For fly fishers nymphing on the substrate a few large resident trout are taking bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, stoners, bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears and green/gold Prince nymphs. Successful anglers are covering lots of water for a few trout.

Fishing from Alligator Point to the mouth of the upper Owens River is where most fly fishers are concentrating their efforts.

Crowley Lake:

The north arm of the lake is where most of the fly fishers are midging. The fish are in 15 to 20 feet of water and are taking midges three inches to four feet off of the substrate. As the sun gets higher over the water the midge bite seems to move up off  the bottom. Tiger midges, zebra midges, albino Barron’s and balanced leeches in pearl, black and blue and perch are fooling rainbows, browns, cutthroats and Sacramento Perch. A couple of 2.8 pound perch have been landed in the last week or two.

Wild brown trout are taking size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs fished under an indicator.

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Old Ford Dealer:

Water is still high and dirty. Despite the way the water looks nymphs fished on the substrate are producing browns and stocked rainbow trout. Green/gold Prince nymphs, stoner nymphs, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, olive quilldigons and rainbow warriors are producing wild brown trout and stocked rainbow trout.