Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 09-15-2023

Weather is cooling, nights are getting longer and I’m seeing leaves in the street. Fall is here in the Eastern Sierra. Rivers, streams and creeks are now at safe fishable levels. Freestone creeks in particular are finally offering good fly fishing with dry flies. Lakes continue to produce fish for fly fishers particularly fishing high elevation lakes. Trout are finally coming to the surface to feed on hatching mayflies and caddis. Nymphing under an indicator or with a Euro rod continues to be the most productive method of fly fishing in the Eastern Sierra right now.

Summer was short and fall color on North lake is quickly approaching.

San Joaquin River

Reds Meadow – Agnew Meadows:

Just as the water levels are perfect for fly fishing Inyo National Forest announced they are closing access to the San Joaquin River Monday through Friday starting Monday September 18, 2023 for much needed road repair work. This is my favorite freestone river to fly fish with a dry and dropper rig. Fishing with a stimulator, Royal Wulff, Adams parachute and elk hair caddis on the surface is producing rainbows and browns. For the dropper I’m using bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and red copper John’s. The nymph is being taken by fish with certainty. The dry flies are being attacked by the trout and only about 50% of the time are the trout being hooked. Lots of mosquitoes in the parking lots and on the river. Use insect repellent if you don’t want to be bit.

San Joaquin River is fly fishing perfectly with a dry and dropper rig.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Flows on the Lower Owens River are fluctuating from 300 to 400 CFS. At 300 CFS the river is wadable, but at 400 CFS the river is unwadable. Fly fishers need to check the flows of the lower Owens River before heading out to the river to fly fish. There is a mid-day mayfly hatch that the trout are feeding on the nymph. Olive quilldigons, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs and bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs in size 16 or 18 are the perfect imitation of the hatching mayfly nymphs. At 400 CFS it is requiring more weight than I care to fly fish with and it’s just not fun to fish that much weight.

The wild trout section of the lower Owens River is wadable at 300 CFS not at its current 400 CFS.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Caddis are finally hatching in big numbers, but only the smallest of trout are coming to the surface to feed on them. A size 20 gray caddis emerger will fool the bigger trout when the caddis are hatching. There are some trico mayflies hatching with a size 22 trico spinner producing a few trout on the surface. Nymphing continues to be the most productive method of fly fishing Hot Creek. I prefer using my Euro rig with a hot spot pheasant tail nymph, stoner nymph and olive quilldigon.

The slower pools on Hot Creek Ranch produced a few juvenile trout in the morning on trico spinners and gray spent partridge caddis.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

With only small fish taking dries off the surface it’s purely a nymphing situation in the canyon. Working the slower pools and behind obstacles in the creek is producing trout under an indicator or with the Euro rig. Hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, olive quilldigons, stoner nymphs, scuds, olive burlap caddis, gray caddis emergers and bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs. Be sure you are using enough weight to keep the nymphs bouncing on the substrate.

Working the deep pools, runs and cutbanks is where you will find the trophy trout in the upper Owens River.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

It’s time to start looking for trophy trout that are migrating out of Crowley Lake into the tributaries. I expect to see these fish in the next few weeks. Juvenile trout are producing lots of actions on using elk hair caddis, Adams parachutes, flying ants and trico spinners. For the trophy trout I’m fishing with stoner nymphs and green/gold prince nymphs in the deep pools, deep runs and cutbanks. Cover lots of water to find the few trophy trout in the Owens River.

Float tubers and boats are working the inlets in McGee Bay where the trout are feeding .

Crowley Lake:

The fly fishing flotilla is fishing mouth of McGee, little Hilton Bay and Crooked Creek. All these areas are offering the trout cooler water to feed in. Perch fry are showing up in numbers and size that the trout are feeding on them. Pulling streamer patterns that imitate the young of the year perch on a sinking line is producing trout. The perch like the safety of the growing weed beds. The trout tend to hang out in these areas feeding on the perch fry that wander away from the security of the weed beds.

Bishop Creek Canal is a great place to teach anglers how to fly fish.

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Old Ford Dealer:

Nymphing with a Euro rig or under an indicator with bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, olive quilldigons, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears and green/gold Prince nymphs are the productive fly patterns. Afternoon winds are blowing hoppers into the canal and the trout are feeding on them.

I'm at Mahogany Smoked Meats on Tuesdays from 9 to 11 to discuss Eastern Sierra fly fishing opportunities.

Tuesday Talks with Fred

At Mahogany Smoked Meats:

Every Tuesday from 9:00 to 11:00 I go to Mahogany Smoked Meats to eat a burrito and to discuss Eastern Sierra fly fishing with fly fishers, anglers, Facebook followers and Instagram followers. This is an opportunity to spend a couple of hours talking to Richard Lancaster, Sierra Bright Dot guide, Tom Paulson, competitive fly fisher and Tenkara fly fisher, and myself. Come ask the fly fishing questions you’ve been wanting answers to.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 09-08-2023

Fall is in the air as temperatures are starting to drop. Streams, rivers and creeks are receding to levels that are safe to fly fish. Waters are clearing and the trout are taking nymphs and dries Lakes are at their fullest with some Eastern Sierra lakes spilling over the lakes dams. Fly fishers on the lakes that are exploring the newly rewatered areas are finding trout willing to take streamers, midge nymphs, and dry flies. Backcountry waters are accessible and brook trout, golden trout, brown trout and rainbow trout are feeding on nymphs and dries. Richard Lancaster is offering daily fly fishing trips into the backcountry through Rainbow Pack Station. https://www.rainbowpackoutfitters.com/guidedfishingtrips

The advantage of Euro nymphing is the chance to land a double of wild brown trout from the lower Owens River.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Fly fishing in the lower Owens River in the wild trout section is primarily nymph fly fishing from the bank. At flows of 300 CFS fly fishers are limited to where they can wade the river. Getting to the river through the overgrown riparian vegetation zone takes a lot of effort in some places. The riffles and runs are fast and require more weight on the line then I find fun to fish with. The wider, slower, deeper holes and runs have 10 to 12 inch wild browns willing to take your flies. I used the Euro rig with a hot spot pheasant tail nymph, stoner nymph and olive burlap caddis to get a double on brown trout. The trout are feeding on black fly larvae, midges and mayfly nymphs. Check out the Stomach Pump Sample page on sierrabrightdot.com to see what a nine inch brown trout ate on Tuesday September 5, 2023. Mosquitoes are on the water and taking advantage of unsuspecting fly fishers.

Sierra Bright Dot guide Richard Lancaster landing a wild brown trout in the wild trout section of the lower Owens River.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Water levels are still higher than normal forcing most fly fishers to nymph fish in the creek. Nymphing with olive quilldigons, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, olive burlap caddis and gray caddis emergers are producing some quality rainbow and brown trout up to 18 inches. Key to success is to have the right amount of weight to allow the flies to bounce on the substrate and to get a drag free drift.

Hooked up with a trophy trout on the interpretive site of Hot Creek while indicator nymphing.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

Water levels are allowing nymphing with the Euro rig or under an indicator to finally produce wild brown and rainbow trout. The fish are feeding on scuds, olive burlap caddis, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, and tiger midges. It takes a fair amount of weight to get the flies down on the substrate where the trout are feeding on hatching aquatic insects.

Fall is comping to the upper Owens River and it will not be long before the trophy trout migrate up from Crowley Lake.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Water flows are down to 80 CFS with the bigger trophy trout now inhabiting the deep pools, runs and cutbanks. If your targeting trophy trout be sure to cover lots of water looking for that one trophy trout willing to take you stoner nymph, green/gold prince nymph or copper John. Juvenile brown trout and rainbow trout are feeding on nymphs and dries. For nymphs fish with bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, tiger midges, and olive or rust colored caddis emergers. For dry flies fish with olive or brown elk hair caddis, Adams parachutes, blue wing olive parachutes, ants, or beetles. Horse flies and mosquitoes are still tormenting fly fishers particularly early and late in the day.

With Crowley Lake at full pool it’s hard to find the trout some days.

Crowley Lake:

Fly fishing continues to be sporadic at best on the lake. A lot of fly fishers are finding the lack of hatching midges and decreased fish concentration due to the high levels of the lake very frustrating right now. Fly fishers who are successful are finding areas of the lake with a concentration of food, midges, callibaetis mayflies, or perch fry. Jansen’s damsel fly nymph, olive marabou damsels, olive bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, and balanced perch are working for fly fishers stripping flies or under an indicator. Try working the flies around the developing weed beds.

Indicator nymphing produced a trophy trout on Bishop Creek Canal for Orange County resident Paymon.

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Old Ford Dealer:

California Department of Fish and Wildlife has been planting some big rainbows in the canal. Working hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, stoner nymphs, green/gold Prince nymphs, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and tiger midges have been fooling the rainbows. Thoroughly covering the water with your flies and slowly moving upstream is the most productive way of fly fishing the canal with nymphs. Game wardens were out on the canal this week. No citations issued as all fisherman were following the laws.

I'm at Mahogany Smoked Meats on Tuesdays from 9 to 11 to discuss Eastern Sierra fly fishing opportunities.

Tuesday Talks with Fred

At Mahogany Smoked Meats:

Every Tuesday from 9:00 to 11:00 I go to Mahogany Smoked Meats to eat a burrito and to discuss Eastern Sierra fly fishing with fly fishers, anglers, Facebook followers and Instagram followers. This is an opportunity to spend a couple of hours talking to Richard Lancaster, Sierra Bright Dot guide, Tom Paulson, competitive fly fisher and Tenkara fly fisher, and myself. Come ask the fly fishing questions you’ve been wanting answers to.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 09-01-2023

A week of consistent warm temperatures was a pleasant surprise to all the afternoon rain showers and the rains from hurricane Hillary. Lakes and streams are getting stocked for the Labor Day Weekend. Wild trout waters continue to recede and offer good fly fishing opportunities. Mayflies, caddis and midges are hatching and the trout are feeding on them. Heading into fall I’m expecting stream and lake fly fishing opportunities to offer the best fly fishing of the year. If you’re looking for a guide trip with Sierra Bright Dot this fall I recommend you book soon as Richard and I are starting to get booked up.

Fall is coming to the Eastern Sierra which is my favorite time of the year to be on the water guiding and fly fishing.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Chalk Bluff Road and Pleasant Valley Campground are now open giving access to the entire Wild Trout section of the lower Owens River. Flows in the river have been hovering right around 300 CFS. Trout are feeding on nymph patterns worked off the substrate under an indicator or on a Euro rig. I’ve been fishing with hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, stoner nymphs, bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, olive burlap caddis and midges. Success here is to have the right amount of weight to keep the flies bouncing on the substrate. Looking forward to flows under 200 CFS and fishing the river all fall and winter.

The gate at the bluff on Chalk Bluff Road is now open giving fly fishers complete access to the wild trout section of the lower Owens River.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Nymphs continue to produce quality fish in the mornings when mayflies and caddis are active. Bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, olive quilldigons, stoner nymphs and La Fontaine caddis emergers are fooling wild trout. There are a few trout in the deeper holes and runs that are coming to the surface for the emerging mayflies and caddis. I’m fishing with trico spinners, blue wing olive parachutes and gray elk hair caddis on the surface.

The lower section of Hot Creek Canyon get the least fly fishing pressure in the canyon section.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

As water levels recede fly fishing is improving in the canyon. This is still primarily a nymph fishing situation with bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, olive quilldigons, bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, scuds and olive burlap caddis. There are some trophy trout in this section just waiting for anglers to properly drift a fly right in front of them.

Juvenile brown trout are taking elk hair caddis off the surface of the river. To see what this trout ate check out the stomach pump report page on my webpage..

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

There are lots of juvenile brown trout and rainbow trout feeding on the surface on mayflies and caddis flies. I’ve been using Adams parachutes, elk hair caddis, beetles and ant patterns to catch trout up to 10 inches on the surface. Nymphing and covering lots of water is producing a few trophy rainbow and brown trout on hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, stoner nymphs and green/gold Prince nymphs. Horse flies are biting me in the parking areas and there are still a few mosquitoes around the stream banks.

A trophy rainbow trout that took an olive balanced leech stripped in five to 10 feet of water at the inlet of McGee Creek. Photo by Shane Dishion.

Crowley Lake:

There has been a lack of midges hatching this year as the midges have not established themselves in the shallow areas of the lake that have just recently been flooded with the lake being at maximum pool for the first time in years. With the absence of midges, damsel fly nymphs, callibaetis nymphs and perch fry are what the trout are feeding on. Stripping woolybuggers, olive marabou damsels, matukas, and balanced perch are producing trout when stripped around the inlet of McGee Creek and along the developing weed beds. I like to fish a Prince nymph or abbreviated Prince nymph 18 to 24 inches above the fly patterns I’m stripping. Working midges under an indicator is producing a few trout in areas of the lake that have hatching midges.

Bishop Creek Canal has been my go to water this summer with the Euro rig.

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Old Ford Dealer:

The canal has been getting a lot of pressure from anglers. I’m seeing a lot of trout being handled poorly before being released back into the canal. Try to keep the trout in the water, carefully remove the hook and be sure they are not allowed to flop on the banks of the canal. I like fishing my Euro rig with a hot spot pheasant tail nymph, stoner nymph and green/gold Prince nymph. Have not seen the trico hatch on the canal yet this season. It is usually on the water between 8:00 A.M. and 10:00 A.M.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 08-25-2023

The Eastern Sierra was recovering from a record winter snowpack when hurricane Hillary brought winds and lots of rain to the area at the beginning of the week. Southern Inyo County took the brunt of the storm. Heavy rains caused erosion of roads and road closures. It will be a few days before area steams return to pre storm flows. Before Hillary area streams were receding and offering good fly fishing with nymphs and dry flies. Lakes have been good to tough depending on individual waters. Mayflies, caddis and midges are hatching and keeping trout feeding.

Teaching fly fishing is what I love to do especially for kids.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Flows have receded 100 CFS to 300 CFS. The river fishes best under 300 CFS. Dark mayfly nymphs and hydropsyche caddis are in the river in abundance and that is what the trout are feeding on. Key to success here is using enough weight to get to the flies bouncing on the substrate. I prefer my Euro rod to deliver the flies onto the water and bounce them off the substrate.

At 400 CFS the river is too high to fly fish, but it’s now down to 300 CFS which is fishable.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Dry fly activity is minimal with very few trout coming to the surface for hatching mayflies and caddis. Nymphing under an indicator or with a Euro rod is producing rainbow and brown trout to 18 inches. Pheasant tail nymphs, stoner nymphs, gold ribbed hares ears and burlap caddis are fooling trout. Under an indicator I’m using a BB split shot to get the flies to the bottom.

The confluence of Mammoth Creek and Hot Creek is a great spot to fly fish in the Interpretive Site area of Hot Creek.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

Nymphing is producing in the canyon. I’m covering all water types, but doing my best fishing the nymphs behind rocks and weed beds. I’m using both the indicator nymph style and the Euro nymph rod. I’m using hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, stoner nymphs green/gold prince nymphs, olive burlap caddis, gold ribbed hare’s ears and olive scuds. Not much dry fly action in the canyon.

Euro nymphing the upper Owens River with hot spot pheasant tail nymphs and stoner nymphs is producing juvenile trout and trophy trout.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Caddis, mayflies and terrestrials have juvenile trout coming to the surface. Ants, beetles and wasps are landing on the water and getting fed on by rainbow and brown trout. Mid-afternoon olive caddis hatches are causing trout to chase the pupae to the surface. Pheasant tail nymphs, gold ribbed hare’s ears, Lafontaine sparkle emergers, stoner nymphs, green/gold Prince Nymphs and hot spot pheasant tail nymphs are working under an indicator or with the Euro rig. Horse flies and mosquitoes are still biting me in the parking lot and on the water.

Fly fishing the inlet area of McGee Creek with damsel fly nymphs, callibaetis and balanced perch imitations is producing trout up to 22 inches.

Crowley Lake:

The lake is at full pool and fly fishing is sporadic. Fly fishers are trying to find a consistent pattern to produce trout. Midge hatches are at minimal levels with lots of areas of the lake with no midge hatches. Damsel fly nymphs and callibaetis mayfly nymphs are hatching throughout the lake. Right now fly fishing in five to 10 feet of water with Jansen’s damsel fly nymphs, olive gold ribbed hare’s ears and olive, perch or black and blue balanced leaches is producing a few trophy trout. Striping with olive matukas, balanced leaches and wooly buggers is another method that is producing a few trout.

Bishop Creek Canal was running high and dirty from rains provided from Hurricane Hillary, but that did not keep this brown trout from hitting a stoner nymph with the Euro rig.

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Old Ford Dealer:

The canal runs high and dirty after every rain storm. Despite the dirty water the trout are feeding on hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, stoner nymphs and green/gold Prince nymphs. Once the water recedes the fishing will get back to consistent fishing for six to 16 inch wild brown trout and stocked rainbow trout. Success here is to slowly move upstream casting your nymphs so that you thoroughly cover the water.

I'm at Mahogany Smoked Meats on Tuesdays from 9 to 11 to discuss Eastern Sierra fly fishing opportunities.

Tuesday Talks with Fred

At Mahogany Smoked Meats:

Every Tuesday from 9:00 to 11:00 I go to Mahogany Smoked Meats to eat a burrito and to discuss Eastern Sierra fly fishing with fly fishers, anglers, Facebook followers and Instagram followers. This is an opportunity to spend a couple of hours talking to Richard Lancaster, Sierra Bright Dot guide, Tom Paulson, competitive fly fisher and Tenkara fly fisher, and myself. Come ask the fly fishing questions you’ve been wanting answers to.

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.