Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 10-27-2023

It’s hard to believe that October is coming to an end. Fall colors are in full swing in the Owens Valley. Brown and brook trout are spawning. Fly fishers are catching trophy trout with nymphs and streamers. The general trout fishing season will be coming to an end on Wednesday November 15, 2023. Fish are actively feeding on the nymphs and adults of midges, caddis and mayflies.

Now is a perfect time to learn how to fly fish with fall colors as a backdrop in the Owens Valley.

San Joaquin River

Reds Meadow – Agnew Meadows:

If this area gets snow from this upcoming storm it’s perceivable that the access road will close for the year. If the road stays open fly fishers will have a great opportunity to fly fish for wild trout that are feeding opportunistically. Fly fishing with your favorite dry means you will be fly fishing with more confidence. Royal Wulff’s, stimulators, elk hair caddis and Adams parachutes are a few of the patterns that always produce on the San Joaquin River.

An abundance of six to 10 inch wild brown trout taking dry flies off the surface is one of the reasons to fly fish the San Joaquin River.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Flows are down to 225 CFS which is perfect for wading and fly fishing in the wild trout section of the lower Owens River. There is a mid-day hatch of mayflies that have the trout actively feeding. Nymphing is the preferred method of fly fishing the river as few trout are coming to the surface to feed on the hatching mayflies. Euro nymphing and nymphing under an indicator with hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, olive quilldigons, brown quilldigons, stoner nymphs, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and split case PMD nymphs are fooling the wild brown and rainbow trout.

Flows are allowing fly fishers to wade the lower Owens River before flow increase to 500 CFS and fly fishers will have to fish off the bank.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Hatches of blue wing olives, tricos and caddis have the trout actively feeding. The bigger trout are taking the nymphs on the bottom of the deeper holes. There is a good number of six to 12 inch trout feeding on surface and can be fooled with trico spinners, trico parachutes in male and female versions and gray caddis patterns. Fishing with big articulated streamers are producing a few trophy trout for the patient angler willing to cover a lot of water for a few big grabs.

Hooking up with dry flies on Hot Creek this late in the season is an unexpected bonus.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

This section of Hot Creek is finally fishing well. Nymphing with bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs in size 18, tiger and zebra midges in size 18 or 20, gray caddis pupae in size 20, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, Frenchie’s, and size 12 stoner nymphs is fooling wild brown trout and rainbow trout to 18 inches. The dry fly hatch has been sporadic in the canyon. If you observe good numbers of trout taking the hatching mayflies or caddis definitely switch to a dry fly.

Deep holes is where the trophy trout rest and feed on their migration upstream.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

The trophy trout have moved into this section of the river. Fly fishers fishing in the deep pools, deep runs and cutbanks with large nymphs or streamers are hooking up with trophy brown trout and rainbow trout. Successful fly fishers are covering lots of water to find the pods of trophy trout that are resting and feeding. Actively spawning trout should not be targeted by fly fishers as this is our future trout populations for the upper Owens River and Crowley Lake. Key to successful fly patterns is to offer the trout a fly pattern that looks like a lot of calories like size 12 stoner nymphs, bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears and green/gold Prince nymphs. While most fly fishers are targeting the trophy trout there are a good number of six to 12 inch wild trout willing to take dries and nymphs of mayflies and caddis.

Upper Owens River

Below Benton Crossing Bridge:

Fly fishers have until November 15 to pursue the trophy trout migrating out of  Crowley Lake on their way upstream to reproduce in the gravel sections of the river above Benton Crossing Bridge. Working nymphs and streamer on the substrate in the deep holes can produce the trophy trout of a fly fishers career. Trophy trout expend a lot of energy on their migration upstream. So to replenish the burned up calories the trophy trout are looking for a big meal like a size 12 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, green/gold Prince nymphs, stoner nymphs and copper John’s in copper or red.

Whiskey Bay is a great spot to fly fish from the bank after South Landing closes for the season on Sunday October 29, 2023.

Crowley Lake:

Crowley Lake closes this Sunday October 29, 2023. Well actually the marina is closing and Crowley Lake will stay open to fishing tell Wednesday November 15. Most of the fly fishers have been targeting the north arm of the lake in the vicinity of where the upper Owens River flows into the lake. Fishing with perch young of the year patterns like balanced perch, olive matukas, and olive wooly buggers is producing fish for fly fishers stripping these patterns.

Nymphing in Bishop Creek Canal continues to produces for fly fishers nymphing under an indicator.

 Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Old Ford Dealer:

Mid-day temperatures are perfect for fly fishing on the canal. Nymphing continues to be the most productive method of fly fishing the canal. Key to success is to thoroughly cover the water and then slowly move upstream until covering all the water you can fish in a session. Size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 12 green/gold Prince nymphs, size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs and size 12 stoner nymphs are the productive patterns.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 10-20-2023

Fall colors in the trees are moving down in elevation to the Owens Valley. Trophy trout are showing up in the streams and lakes throughout the Eastern Sierra. Fall weather, cool morning and evenings with warm days is about to change as it’s expected to cool off in the Eastern Sierra next week. Brook trout in upper elevations are in full spawn. Brown trout at upper elevations are starting to spawn. Mayflies, midges and caddis are hatching and the trout are feeding on the nymphs and adults.

Fall foliage is slowly moving down in elevation as the colors on lower Rock Creek Canyon are just starting to turn.

San Joaquin River

Reds Meadow – Agnew Meadows:

This area will stay open until the regular winter seasonal closure when snow comes to the Eastern Sierra. For now this area remains open on Saturdays and Sundays. This is a great spot to throw larger dry flies like size 12 or 14 Royal Wulff’s, stimulators, elk hair caddis and Adams parachutes. This is technical casting to pocket water while wading upstream. This is a quantity fishery with most of the wild trout being less than 10 inches. This is a great spot to use a dry and dropper rig with size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears nymphs or size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs.

Wading up stream in the San Joaquin River throwing a dry and dropper into all the pockets is the technical part of fly fishing the river.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Adam Perez from Los Angeles Department of Water and Power put out a winter forecast for flow rates for the lower Owens River. Flows should reach 225 CFS by the end of October and then increase to 500 CFS for November and December. Winter flows, January through March, will be determined by the Eastern Sierra snowpack. The flows are at 275 CFS and there is a mid-day mayfly hatch that have a few fish feeding on the surface. The hatch has the trout feeding heavily on the nymphs. Fish with a size 16 Frenchie, Hot spot pheasant tail nymph or olive quilldigon on a Euro rig. A size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph or split case PMD nymphs under an indicator is fooling the wild trout. To see a stomach pump sample from a 10 inch wild brown trout check out the Stomach Pump Sample page on my webpage.

As the flows recede on the lower Owens River more wading opportunities will become available.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Hatches of trico mayflies, gray caddis and blue wing olive mayflies have trout coming to the surface to feed. The bulk of the trout feeding on the surface are not trophy trout. The trophy trout of Hot Creek are continuing to feed on nymphs in the deeper slower pools speckled throughout the Interpretive site from the Hatchery to the upstream fence line of Hot Creek Ranch. Fish size 22 male or female parachute trico duns, size 22 trico spinners, size 20 grey parachute caddis, spent partridge caddis or X-caddis, size 20 blue wing olive parachutes or olive sparkle duns. Hoppers in the afternoon are bringing some trout to the surface.

The canyon section is finally offering consistent fly fishing opportunities.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

Nymphing is the most productive method to be fly fishing in the canyon right now. Working nymphs on the substrate in the deeper slow holes is producing bigger trout. With the higher flows and weed beds not overwhelming the stream working nymphs on a Euro rig is a good method of fly fishing in the canyon. Size 18 olive quilldigons, size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, Frenchie’s, and size 12 stoner nymphs are producing on the Euro rig. If you find spots with rising trout switch to a dry fly pattern.

Working upstream covering the deep holes, deep runs and cutbanks is how you will find the trophy trout that are now in the area above the confluence of Hot Creek.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Migrating trophy trout are what fall fly fishers are looking for. The trophy trout are just starting to show up in the river above Benton Crossing Bridge. You will find the trophy trout in the deep holes, deep runs and cutbanks feeding and resting. Success in this area is finding where the trophy trout are and offering them a big meal by nymphing with size 12 stoner nymphs, bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears and green/gold Prince nymphs. Eight to 12 inch trout are providing most of the action with size 16 olive caddis pupas or olive elk hair caddis, size 18  bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs or blue wing olive parachutes.

Alan Kondo from South Pasadena working the deep holes upstream of Crowley Lake with a modified gold ribbed hare’s ear tied by Richard Lancaster. Photo by Richard Lancaster.

Upper Owens River

Below Benton Crossing Bridge:

All the trophy trout migrating up the river to the spawning areas have to come through this area. These trophy trout are resting and feeding in the deep holes or deep runs. Fish bigger nymphs in size 12 including bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, green/gold Prince nymphs and stoner nymphs. Key to success is keeping the flies bouncing on the substrate and covering lots of water.

Fall is showing its colors on McGee Bay of Crowley Lake.

Crowley Lake:

Trophy trout are congregating at the mouths of the tributaries to Crowley Lake. In preparation for their migrating runs up to the spawning grounds. The Owens River arm of the lake has the most fishing pressure. While most fly fishers are fishing the mornings with flies under indicators there are a few fly fishers working perch young of the year imitations on sinking lines in the evenings. Fish balanced perch, olive matukas, and olive wooly buggers in and around the weed beds or over the submerged river channel of the Owens River.

Fall colors are just starting to show on Bishop Creek Canal in the Owens Valley.

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Old Ford Dealer:

Fall is coming to the Owens Valley. Mid-days on the canal are perfect in terms of the weather. Nymphing continues to be the most productive method of fly fishing in the canal. Size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 12 green/gold Prince nymphs, size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs and size 12 stoner nymphs are the productive patterns. Trout are still taking hoppers in the afternoons. Try fishing with Moorish hooper, parachute hopper or a Dave’s hopper in size 12.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 10-13-2023

It’s prime fall fly fishing time. Trees are yellow and red making a great backdrop to a days fly fishing. Brown and brook trout are in the middle of their spawning seasons. Fall fly fishing produces some of the biggest trout of the fishing season. This is the time of year that fly fishers throw what they call meat, big articulated streamers, for trophy brown trout. Hatches of mayflies, caddis and midges are bringing trout to the surface to feed on the emerging trout.

While there was never a great hopper hatch this year there are still a few hoppers around offering some surface hopper opportunities.

San Joaquin River

Reds Meadow – Agnew Meadows:

This is classic freestone pocket water fly fishing for opportunistically feeding trout. The best dry fly you can use on a freestone water is your favorite dry fly because you will fish it with confidence. For dry flies use size 12 or 14 stimulators in orange or yellow, size 14 or 16 Adams parachutes, elk hair caddis and Royal Wulff’s. This is a great water to fish a dry and dropper rig. For nymphs try size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears nymphs or size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs. Access to the San Joaquin River is only open on Saturday and Sunday.

Sierra Bright Dot guide Richard Lancaster making a cast with his dry fly right next to the willows in the San Joaquin River.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Flows are fluctuating and fly fishers are looking for flows of 300 CFS or less to be able to wade the river. Flows are dropping and expected to drop to 225 CFS by the end of October. Flows for November and December will be back up to 500 CFS. Now is the time to fly fish the wild trout section of the lower Owens River. When the flows allow fly fishers to wade, fishing with nymphs under an indicator or with a Euro rig will be the most productive method of fly fishing the lower Owens River in the wild trout section. Best nymphs will be size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, size 16 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 tiger midges, size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 14 or 16 Butano nymphs and size 12 stoner nymphs.

Fly fishing opportunities from the bank is at a minimum on the lower Owens River in the wild trout section.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Hot Creek is finally offering consistent dry fly fishing with trico spinners in size 22 and gray parachute caddis in size 20. Hatches are starting in the morning around 9:00 A.M. and are over by noon. After the hatch there are a few caddis around bringing trout to the surface to feed. When the afternoon winds come up try throwing a hopper pattern or a terrestrial like an ant or beetle.

Fishing the deeper holes in the interpretive site with a size 20 gray parachute caddis is producing wild trout mid-morning.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

The canyon is producing trout on dry flies and nymphs. Euro nymphing or fishing under an indicator with size 18 olive quilldigons, size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, Frenchie’s, stoner nymphs and tiger midges are fooling the nymph feeding trout. Key to success is enough weight to allow the nymphs to bounce along the substrate. Fishing with size 20 gray spent partridge caddis, parachute caddis and X-caddis mid-morning is producing brown and rainbow trout to 14 inches.

Fly fishers looking to be successful on the upper Owens River above Benton Bridge need to cover lots of water looking for rising fish with a dry fly or nymphing the deep holes looking for trophy trout.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

A few trophy rainbow trout are starting to show up in the river. The bulk of the trout being caught up stream of Benton Bridge are in the six to 12 inch range. There is a caddis and mayfly hatch mid-morning that is bringing lots of rainbows and browns to the surface. Size 16 or 18 olive elk hair caddis, parachute blue wing olives or Adams parachutes are fooling the surface feeding trout. The trophy trout are in the deep pools, deep runs and cutbanks resting and feeding. Key to success in this area is covering lots of water to find the few trophy trout that are in this section. Size 12 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, stoner nymphs and green/gold Prince nymphs are the flies that are producing the trophy trout.

Alan Kondo from South Pasadena with a trophy rainbow trout caught on a Tenkara rod up stream of Crowley Lake while being guided by Richard Lancaster. Photo by Richard Lancaster.

Upper Owens River

Below Benton Crossing Bridge:

From Crowley Lake to a half mile above the monument is where there is a concentration of trophy trout willing to take nymphs fished on the substrate in the deep holes or deep runs. These trophy trout are looking for a big meal so offer them a size 12 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, stoner nymphs and green/gold Prince nymphs. The Euro rig or under an indicator is producing trophy trout for fly fishers that cover lots of deep pools and keep their flies on the substrate where the trout are holding and feeding.

McGee Bay is getting most of the fly fishing pressure as fly fishers are working their flies in the inlets to Crowley Lake.

Crowley Lake:

It’s been a tough year for most fly fishers and guides on Crowley Lake this season. This is the time of the year to be on the lake pulling streamers and nymphs for trophy brown trout. Start out fishing under an indicator. Let the flies sit for about five minutes. No take downs of the bobber it’s time to strip in the flies.  A lot of the trophy trout will follow the streamer right into shore or to the boat. Best fly patterns are imitating perch young of the year. Use size 8 or 10 olive wooly buggers, perch balanced leeches and olive matukas. Stripping streamers on a full sink line is a great way to get down where the trout are feeding. For nymphs use size 18 tiger midges, zebra midges, albino Barron’s, size 14 or 16 Prince nymphs, size 10 olive damsel nymphs and size 12 olive gold ribbed hare’s ears.

Beginner fly fisher Steven Monroe learning to indicator nymph on Bishop Creek Canal with a pheasant tail.

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Old Ford Dealer:

The weather middle of the day is perfect for fly fishing on Bishop Creek Canal. Nymphing continues to be the most productive method for fly fishing on the canal. Size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 12 green/gold Prince nymphs, size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs and size 12 stoner nymphs are the productive patterns. Moorish hooper, parachute hopper or a Dave’s hopper in size 12 is producing trout when the wind comes up in the afternoons.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 10-06-2023

To me, Fall is heater in the morning and air conditioner middle of the day when I’m driving out to go fish. Trees are turning yellow and red at upper elevation waters in the Eastern Sierra. This last week the White Mountains and the Sierra Mountains got a dusting of snow on the tops of the peaks. Backcountry lakes and streams are seeing spawning brook trout and brown trout. A brook trout in full spawning colors is another sign of fall to me. Hatches of caddis, mayflies and midges are keeping the trout actively feeding on adults, emergers and nymphs. This is the time of year to hunt big trout with streamers.

Luong Tam from Tenkara Tanuki teaching how to cast a Tenkara rod at the Tri County Fair Grounds where he held Tenkara Boot Camp. Look for Tenkara Boot Camp next Fall.

San Joaquin River

Reds Meadow – Agnew Meadows:

This continues to be a weekend fly fishing opportunity as the road into the San Joaquin River is only open on Saturday and Sunday. My favorite dry flies for this stream are size 14 or 16 Adams parachutes, elk hair caddis and royal Wulff’s. I also like using a size 12 or 14 stimulator. The best dry fly you can use on the San Joaquin River is your favorite dry fly because you will fish it with confidence.

San Joaquin River flows look like June not early October.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Flows of 300 to 500 CFS will continue through the winter and will determine if we will be able to wade and fly fish. For now at flows of 400  CFS the river is not worth fly fishing. If you want to tempt wading the river and fish with lots of weight on the tippet with your nymphs it will  produce a few fish for fly fishers.

With flows of 400 CFS there are few places for fly fishers to fish from the banks.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Even though it’s the end of summer, Hot Creek is finally offering good dry fly fishing opportunities with caddis and trico mayflies. The trico hatch has been scarce as few of the tiny mayflies have been hatching. A size 22 trico spinner first thing in the morning is producing a few trout off the surface. There is mid-morning hatch of size 20 gray caddis that can be fooled with spent partridge caddis, parachute caddis or X-caddis. Afternoons have been slow. Fishing with caddis and hopper imitations is producing a few trout.

Mid-morning hatches of size 20 gray caddis have the wild brown trout and rainbow trout feeding on the surface.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

With decreasing flows and clearing water the canyon is finally offering fly fishers good opportunities with nymphs and dries. Work nymphs under an indicator or with a Euro rig. Fish with hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, olive quilldigons, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and tiger midges. If you’re looking to catch fish on the surface with dry flies look for those areas in the canyon that has an abundance of rising trout. Caddis have been the most productive insect to imitate. This is prime time to work meat type streamers for trophy brown trout.

Fly fishers using nymphs and dries are catching lots eight to 12 inch browns and rainbows.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

This area continues to offer good numbers of wild brown and rainbow trout from 7 to 12 inches. These fish are taking nymphs and dries. Hatches of mayflies and caddis are what the trout are feeding on. Olive caddis pupae and olive elk hair caddis in size 16 are fooling the trout. There is  a mid-day mayfly hatch that using an Adams parachute or a blue wing olive parachute is fooling the trout. Euro nymphing with stoner nymphs, green/gold prince nymph and a hot spot pheasant tail nymph is producing good numbers of juvenile trout and the occasional trophy trout.

Fly fishers are finding trout from Crowley Lake to Benton Crossing Bridge. Photo by Richard Lancaster.

Upper Owens River

Below Benton Crossing Bridge:

Fly fishers looking for trophy trout migrating up from Crowley Lake will find them in deep holes from the lake to the monument. Euro nymphing with green/gold Prince nymphs, Stoner nymphs and Richard’s gold ribbed hare’s ear are fooling trophy brown trout to 20 inches. Key to success is covering water finding the holes thar are holding trophy trout.

Crooked Creek arm of Crowley Lake is green as are a few other spots on the lake.

Crowley Lake:

Fishing with young of the year Sacramento perch streamer patterns in 10 to 15 feet of water in and around the weed beds is producing trout. Fly fishing the lake this year is requiring anglers to find new methods or maybe old methods to consistently produce trout. Pulling streamer patterns around weed beds or in the holes in the weed beds on a full sink line is an old productive method of fly fishing the lake. Wolly buggers in olive, perch balanced leeches and olive matukas are productive fly patterns to strip around the weed beds. Best way to fish in and around the weed beds is from a float tube.

Tenkara Boot Camp participants Ginny Hanawalt and Carol Murphy practicing what they learn from Luong Tam on Bishop Creek Canal.

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Old Ford Dealer:

Weekends on the canal is finding lots of anglers fishing with bait, lures and flies. Nymphing continues to be the most productive method to fly fish the canal. Bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, green/gold Prince nymphs, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs and stoner nymphs continue to produce trout on the Euro rig and under an indicator. If the wind comes up in the afternoons try fishing with a hooper pattern like a Moorish hooper, parachute hopper or a Dave’s hopper.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 09-29-2023

Fall is showing up in the Eastern Sierra as the leaves on the trees in the upper elevations are just starting to turn yellow. Fall to me means brook and brown trout are spawning and it’s a great time to fish for them. Days in the Owens Valley are cool early and late and middle of the day is almost too hot. It’s a great time to throw streamers looking for trophy brown trout. Trout are continuing to feed on hatching mayflies, caddis and midges. The trout and the fly fishers know that winter is around the corner and this is a last chance for trout to feed and fly fishers to catch them.

Trico mayflies like this upper Owens River trico spinner have not been in abundance on Eastern Sierra moving waters this fall.

San Joaquin River

Reds Meadow – Agnew Meadows:

As fall starts to enter the Eastern Sierra the San Joaquin River continues to offer fly fishers great dry fly or dry and dropper fly fishing opportunities for wild brown trout and rainbow trout. Access to the San Joaquin is limited to Saturday and Sunday as the contractor continues to prep the road for future road work.

There are only a few weekends left to fly fish the San Joaquin River with a dry fly or a dry and dropper rig.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Water flow continue to fluctuate around 400 CFS and will continue into winter depending on what kind of winter snow pack the Eastern Sierra gets. Looks like I’ll be doing very little fly fishing this fall and winter until the flows reach 300 CFS or less.

It will be quite a while before the flows in the lower Owens River drop low enough to wade the river safely.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Wild brown trout and rainbow trout are coming to the surface for trico mayflies and gray bodied caddis. It’s fun to throw some dry flies at trout after dealing with all the snow runoff and months of nymphing with indictors and a Euro rig.  A size 20 gray partridge spent caddis, gray parachute caddis, or gray X-caddis are fooling the trout mid-morning. Prior to the caddis hatch there is a sporadic trico hatch.

Diablo Valley Fly Fishers held their annual dry fly clinic on Hot Creek Interpretive site. They held their clinic in one corner of Hot Creek so they did not impact other fly fishers fishing the creek.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

Water flows are finally low enough to offer good fly fishing in the canyon with dry flies. Hatching caddis and tricos are bringing the trout to the surface. Nymphing is still producing a lot of trout in the canyon section. For the fly fisher looking for a trophy brown trout from Hot Creek try pulling an articulated streamer early or late in the day.

Earl Slack from Ventura working a deep run with a nymph under an indicator.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

It’s classic fall fly fishing right now on the upper Owens River. Resident trophy trout are scarce, but if you cover a lot of water throwing bigger nymphs like stoner nymphs, green/gold Prince nymphs, copper Johns and bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears in the deep pools, deep runs and cut banks you will find a few fish willing to take these flies. The juvenile trout are abundant and feeding on caddis nymphs and adults, midges and a mid-day mayfly hatch. Trophy trout from Crowley Lake have not started their migration up the river in any kind of abundance.

Little Hilton Bay on Crowley Lake is full boaters and float tubers working young of the year perch streamer patterns.

Crowley Lake:

Fishing streamers in the shallows in and around the weed beds is producing some huge trout. Perch balanced leeches and olive matukas are producing trout on dry fly lines, sink tips and full sink lines. Work these flies in and around the weed beds where the perch fry hang out avoiding the trout that feed on them. Hilton Creek bay is getting a lot of fly fishing pressure from boaters and float tubers. Midging continues to produce trout when you can find where the trout are in abundance and so are the midges.

Weekends can be crowded on Bishop Creek Canal behind the old Ford Dealer off of HWY 6.

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Old Ford Dealer:

The water has cleared up from what it was and fly fishers are finding the spots the trout are hanging out in and can cast to the nymph feeding trout. Bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, green/gold Prince nymphs, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs and stoner nymphs continue to produce trout on the Euro rig and under an indicator. Try throwing a hopper pattern in the afternoon winds for some fun afternoon dry fly fishing.

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 09-22-2023

The 15th of September to the 15th of October is the best time of the year to be fly fishing in the Eastern Sierra. Waters have finally receded in the canals, creeks and rivers and are offering good to great fly fishing opportunities. Lakes are stabilizing and the trout are feeding. Fall is the time of year that a lot of fly fishers like to throw large streamers looking for big trout, particularly big brown trout. Hatches of midges, mayflies and caddis are keeping the trout actively feeding on nymphs and dries.

Forest Service put in a monitoring well to monitor the Hot Creek hatchery water.

San Joaquin River

Reds Meadow – Agnew Meadows:

The road into the San Joaquin is closed Monday through Friday for much needed road repair work. The road is going to be open on Saturday and Sundays. The busses are done for the year and fly fishers can drive into the Reds Meadow to Agnew Meadows area. Water levels are like a normal June flow. Trout are taking larger dry flies and standard sized nymphs. I like fishing with size 12 or 14 Adams parachutes, elk hair caddis or Royal Wulff’s for the dry flies. A size 14 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ear is what I’m fishing three feet under my dry fly. A dry and dropper rig is my favorite way of fly fishing on the San Joaquin river.

Fly fishing the pocket water of the San Joaquin River with a dry and dropper outfit will produce lots of wild trout.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

I’m choosing not to fly fish the lower Owens River when the flows exceed 300 CFS. The flows have been up to 400 CFS forcing fly fishers to fish from the few bank accessible spots on the wild trout section. When the flows drop back down to 300 CFS or less I will be back out on the river fly fishing.

This lower Owens River brown trout survived an attack from something.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Water levels have receded to the point that caddis and mayflies are hatching and trout are coming to the surface to feed on them. A size 20 gray partridge spent caddis, gray parachute caddis, or gray X-caddis are fooling the trout mid-morning. There are some trico hatching and the trout have been taking a size 22 trico spinner. Nymphing with a size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph under an indicator is catching wild brown and rainbow trout. Hoopers fished delicately on the surface in the afternoons when the wind comes up is producing trout.

Peter Veasey from Martinez hooked up on Hot Creek Interpretive Site with a brown trout that took a size 20 gray partridge spent caddis.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

Size 20 gray caddis are bringing trout to the surface in the mornings from 9:30 tell early afternoon. First thing in the morning there are a few  Trico’s on the water that the trout are feeding on the spinners. Nymphing continues to be the most productive method of fly fishing in the canyon section. Hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, tiger midges, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and scuds are fooling the trout.

Earl Slack from Ventura learning to indicator nymph the upper Owens River with a green/gold Prince nymph.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Midges, mayflies and caddis flies are hatching and the trout are feeding on both the adults and the nymphs. A lot of juvenile trout are taking bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, olive quilldigons, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, olive caddis emergers and tiger midges. The trophy trout have not made it up the river yet. There are some resident trophy trout that are taking green/gold Prince nymphs and stoner nymphs. It’s perfect fall weather days on the upper Owens River right now. Cool in the morning. Nice middle of the day. Cools off in the evening

The Crooked Creek arm of Crowley Lake is full and fly fishers are working perch young of the year patterns.

Crowley Lake:

The tributaries to the lake is where the boats, float tubers and kayaks are concentrating there effort. Perch young of the year imitations like perch balanced leeches and olive matukas are producing trout. Work these flies around structure particularly around the weed beds. Fish a size 12 or 14 Prince nymph above your streamer. The trout take both flies when they are stripped.

Indicator nymphing on Bishop Creek Canal is producing wild brown trout and stocked rainbow trout.

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Old Ford Dealer:

No sign of the fall trico hatch in the canal. Trout are taking nymphs fished under an indicator or with a Euro rig. 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. Working a hopper pattern in the afternoons is producing trout.

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 09-15-2023

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.