Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 11-23-2023

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. This fishing season has just flown by. Just a reminder that resort lakes and a few moving waters like the East Walker River, part of the upper Owens River and part of Rush Creek are closed to fishing. Otherwise there are lots of winter fly fishing catch and release options available. With daylight getting shorter and daytime temperatures in the 70’s there are few insects hatching. There are a few mayflies and midges hatching.

November is Thanksgiving, fall fly fishing and cleaning up fallen leaves around the house.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

For now with flows just under 600 CFS the lower Owens River is unfishable with the fly rod.

At 575 CFS the lower Owens River is offering little to no fly fishing opportunities.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Nymphing with midges and mayflies is the most productive method of fly fishing the creek. There are a few fish working on the surface, but they’re not taking dries with any consistency. I would throw a size 20 blue wing olive parachute if you find a hole with consistently rising trout. Size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 tiger midges or zebra midges are producing wild brown and rainbow trout. There is little to no fly fishing pressure on the creek right now.

No fishing pressure in Hot Creek Canyon makes it easier for a wild trout to take your nymph fished under an indicator or with a Euro rig.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

There is little fishing pressure in the canyon as most anglers are not putting in the effort to walk in and out of the canyon. Nymphing with a Euro rig or under an indicator with olive quilldigons, Frenchie’s, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, tiger midges and zebra midges are fooling the wild trout. Key to success is working the riffles and holes with multiple casts as the fish will not move very far for your flies.

Working nymphs in the deep pools, deep holes and cut banks is producing trophy trout for fly fishers.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Fall fly fishers are looking for trophy rainbows and brown trout in the upper Owens River. Stoner nymphs, green/gold Prince nymphs, gold ribbed hare’s ears, red San Juan worms and copper John’s in copper, red or green/gold worked on the substrate where the trout are feeding is how to be successful. Covering lots of water looking for deep holes, deep runs and cut banks where there are concentrations of trophy trout.

This wild brown trout clobbered a size 14 black mini leech in Bishop Creek Canal.

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Old Ford Dealer:

With winter regulations in effect there is little fly fishing pressure on Bishop Creek Canal. The trout are feeding on mayfly nymphs. Use a size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph, tiger midge or zebra midge. Middle of the day, 10:00 A.M to 2:00 P.M, is the perfect time to be fly fishing on the canal.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 11-17-2023

Fishing season closed on Wednesday November 15, 2023. Winter fishing season, primarily for moving waters, opened on Thursday November 16, 2023. So what’s open to winter fishing? Any lake that does not have an associated resort with it. So up Bishop Creek Canyon Sabrina and South Lake have resorts and are closed. North Lake and Intake Two do not have resorts and are open to year round fishing with no gear restrictions and a five fish limit. All three forks of Bishop Creek are open to catch and release fishing with barbless flies or lures. For specific moving waters that are closed check out section 7.50 in the California Department of Fish and Wildlife fishing regulations. Who is going to fly fish the Eastern Sierra for Thanksgiving weekend? Richard and I have availability in November.

Fall in the Owens Valley is just about over as winter is quickly approaching.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Flows in the lower Owens River are just under 600 CFS. The river is flowing bank to bank and not offering much in the way of fly fishing. If you feel you have to fish the lower Owens River you can try fishing in the spawning channel section where it flows through Pleasant Valley Campground. There is a section of the river right above Five Bridges that got rechanneled and the old channel at high flows does offer some fly fishing opportunities. For now this is not a good option for fly fishing. Maybe flows will recede first of the year.

The lower Owens River is flowing bank to bank at just under 600 CFS offering little to no fly fishing opportunities this fall and early winter.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Things are slowing down on the creek as the hatches of blue wing olives will soon be over. Middle of the day there are blue wing olive mayflies hatching and the trout are coming to the surface to feed on the emerging mayflies. Size 20 blue wing olive parachutes and Adams parachutes are producing fish on drag free drifts.

Hot Creek has some big browns willing to take your nymph fished under an indicator or with a Euro rig.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

Nymphing with mayfly nymphs and midges is producing trout for fly fishers fishing under an indicator or with a Euro rig. Size 16 olive quilldigons, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, Frenchie’s, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, tiger midges and zebra midges are producing wild trout to 14 inches.

Trophy trout like this rainbow are what fall fly fishers are looking to catch out of the upper Owens River.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

This section of the river is open to year round fishing with barbless lures or flies. The trophy trout have started to show up. They are scattered throughout the upper Owens River and fly fishers need to put some distance on their wading boots to find the few pods of trophy trout that are in this area. Fishing with stoner nymphs, green/gold Prince nymphs, gold ribbed hare’s ears and copper John’s in copper, red or green/gold in the deep holes, deep runs and cutbanks are fooling the trophy trout.

Brent Johnson from Camarillo with a rainbow trout he caught on the upper Owens River while being guide by Richard Lancaster.

Upper Owens River

Below Benton Crossing Bridge:

This section of the river closed to fishing for the season on Wednesday November 15, 2023. Water levels were perfect for fly fishing with the Euro rig and the deep holes were producing trophy trout. Gold ribbed hare’s ears, stoner nymphs and green/gold wire prince nymphs were the flies that were producing the trophy trout.

Whiskey Bay on Crowley Lake is as full as I’ve seen it in my 45 years of visiting and living in the Eastern Sierra.

Crowley Lake:

Crowley Lake closed to fishing on Wednesday November 15, 2023. With the lake so full the trout are not concentrated like they have been in recent years. Fly fishing with streamers from the shore was tough. Already looking forward to fly fishing the lake next year.

Weekends have been busy with fly fishers and spin fishers vying for the wild brown trout in the canal.

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Old Ford Dealer:

Bishop Creek Canal went to winter fly fishing regulations on Thursday November 16, 2023. The canal is now catch and release fishing with barbless lures or flies. This area got a lot of nonfly fishing pressure the last six weeks of the regular season. It will be a few weeks to a month before this section produces consistently good fly fishing. Nymphing with size 12 stoner nymphs, green/gold Prince nymphs, and size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, Frenchie’s and olive quilldigons are fooling the trout. Thoroughly covering the water and moving upstream overlapping your casts is the technique that is going to produce trout.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 11-10-2023

Summer is over and fall is quickly disappearing. Regular fishing season ends on Wednesday November 15, 2023. The start of the third year of winter fishing season is on Thursday November 16, 2023.. Non resort lakes are open to year round fishing with no gear restrictions. Most moving waters in the Eastern Sierra are open to catch and release barbless lures or flies fishing. For specific water closures check out regulation 7.50 in the 2023 California Department of Fishing and Wildlife fishing regulations. Spawning brook and brown trout are still being targeted by fly fishers. Remember to leave actively spawning fish alone by not trying to catch them. Mayflies, midges and caddis hatches are still providing nymphing and dry fly fishing opportunities. Dry fly fishing should be over by the end of November.

Trout Unlimited was just one of several organizations that had booths at the lower Owens Annual Cleanup on Saturday November 4, 2023.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Flows at the time of writing this was at 475 and climbing. Department of Water and Power put out a warning that flows could increase to 700 CFS. At these levels I stay away from the river as it's easy to get into trouble if you find yourself in the river. Fly fishing with nymphs continued to be good right up until the flows increased on Sunday November 5th. I will be staying off of the lower Owens River until the flows recede. Flow levels for this winter will be determined by this winter’s snow pack. High flows require lots of weight to get the flies down on the substrate. Problem is there is lots of willows on the substrate from the big beaver population.

Dan Johnson from Reno with a seven foot wild wood salmon he caught on a size 16 nymph fished under an indicator in the wild trout section of the lower Owens River.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Dry fly hatches have fish coming to the surface, but it will not last much longer as winter is quickly approaching. The mountains got there first dusting of snow this week. Gray caddis and blue wing olive mayflies are hatching and the trout are feeding on the hatching insects on the surface and on the nymphs on the substrate. For dry flies fish with size 20 gray parachute caddis, X-caddis, elk hair caddis, blue wing olive parachutes, olive sparkle duns and Adams parachutes. For the nymphs fish with size 20 gray Brid’s nests, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, Frenchie’s and olive quilldigons.

With summer fly fishing pressure gone fly fishers can find the creek all to themselves.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

This area is offering good nymphing and some dry fly fishing opportunities. Euro nymphing and under an indicator is producing wild brown trout and rainbow trout to 16 inches. Working the riffles and the pocket water is producing trout. Bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, olive quilldigons and copper John’s are the nymphs that are producing. For dry flies fish with size 20 gray parachute caddis, X-caddis, elk hair caddis, blue wing olive parachutes, and olive sparkle duns. It’s time to get on the creek before the snows of winter hamper access to the creek.

Deep runs are a great place to fish nymphs in the upper Owens River looking for trophy trout.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Trophy trout have moved into the upper Owens River above Benton Crossing Bridge. Its been a combination of rainbows and brown trout to 24 inches being caught on streamers and big nymphs. Deep holes, deep runs and cutbanks is where  you can find the trophy trout resting and feeding. Spawning trout represent the future of the trout fisheries in the upper Owens River. By not fly fishing to actively spawning trout you are protecting the future trout populations in the upper Owens River. For nymphs fish with stoner nymphs, green/gold Prince nymphs, gold ribbed hare’s ears and copper John’s in copper, red or green and gold. For streamers you can try classics like wooly buggers, marabou muddlers and zonkers. Black or black and white are good streamer colors for the upper Owens River. Articulated streamers will produce some big fish when fished downstream and stripped up stream. For articulated streamers fish with game changers, dungeons and baby gonga.

While not the trophy brown trout fly fishers are looking for in the upper Owens River this is still a good sized brown.

Upper Owens River

Below Benton Crossing Bridge:

This section of the upper Owens River closes to fishing on Wednesday November 15, 2023. This area has been good all fall and continues to produce trophy trout for fly fishers fishing nymphs and streamers in the deep holes. The trout are migrating through this section and key to success is finding the pods of trout that are resting and feeding in the deep holes and deep runs. Covering lots of water and concentrating casts into the pools and runs is what’s going to produce trout for fly fishers. Nymphing with a Euro rig has been consistently producing trout when fishing with gold ribbed hare’s ears, stoner nymphs and green/gold wire prince nymphs.

Fly fishers wanting to float tube in Hilton Bay have to walk in from the closed gate at the Crowley Lake Marina.

Crowley Lake:

The lake closes to fishing on Wednesday November 15, 2023. Fly fishers are using float tubes, kayaks and pontoon boats to access the lake. Best method of fishing the lake right now is to pull streamers on a full sink line. Try fishing with olive matukas, olive wooly buggers, balanced perch, olive zonkers and olive marabou muddlers. Fishing in and around the weed beds is producing some trophy trout.

This is a typical looking day on Bishop Creek Canal during the winter season as few fly fishers try fly fishing the canal in the winter time.

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Old Ford Dealer:

With flows in the lower Owens River unwadeable it’s time to put the effort into fly fishing the canal. Nymphing under an indicator or with a Euro rod is producing 8 to 16 inch wild brown trout. The canal does not get stocked in the winter time so rainbows will become the most rare trout to catch this winter. Size 12 stoner nymphs, green/gold Prince nymphs, and size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, Frenchie’s and olive quilldigons are fooling the trout. Most fly fishers don’t throw streamers in the canal. Fishing streamers in the fall can produce trophy brown trout. I like to cast my streamer quartered up stream. I then throw in an upstream mend to allow the streamer to sink towards the bottom on a dead drift. When the drag of the line pulls the streamer away from the bank be prepared for a trophy trout to attack your streamer. For canal streamer patterns use black and gold, black and silver or brown and yellow colored matukas, zonkers and slump busters.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 11-03-2023

November is here and Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Nights and morning are cold. Middle of the day is just perfect. Not to hot not to cold! Resort Lakes will be closing to fishing on November 15. Fall spawning browns and brookies are in full swing. Upper elevation lakes are starting to freeze over. Mayflies, caddis flies and midges are hatching and the trout are feeding on the nymphs and the adults.

Richard Lancaster and I teaching a Euro Nymphing clinic for the San Fernando Valley based fly fishing Club Sierra Pacific fly fishers on the lower Owens River in the wild trout section.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Flows of 225 are over as the flows in the river will be increasing to 600 CFS starting on Friday November 3rd, 2023.The flows will be going up 50 CFS per day. At 225 CFS wading the river allows fly fishers to access spots that can’t be fished from the banks. An early afternoon mayfly hatch has the trout feeding on the nymphs and on the hatching adults. There are caddis on the water, but the fish are not keying in on them. Fish with bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs in size 20, gray bird’s nest in size 20, Frenchie’s in size 18, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs in size 16 and olive quilldigons in size 18. I don’t recommend wading the river at flows over 300 CFS.

John Emison from Los Angeles with a wild brown trout he caught on a size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph fished under an indicator in the wild trout section of the lower Owens River.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Wild brown and rainbow trout continue to feed on the surface on hatching blue wing olive mayflies and gray bodied caddis. Fish with size 20 blue wing olive parachutes, olive sparkle duns, gray parachute caddis and gray X-caddis. Nymphing is still producing with size 20 gray Brid’s nests, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 Frenchie’s and olive quilldigons.

Hot Creek Ranch offers daily rod fees from November 7 to 18 for $125 per person that allows fly fishers to fish the ranch from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

Nymphing is still the best way to fish in the canyon with a Euro rig, under an indicator or on a dry and dropper rig. Blue wing olive nymph patterns in size 20 like bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, olive quilldigons and copper John’s are fooling the wild brown trout and rainbow trout. Key to success is having enough weight on the line or in the flies to bounce the nymphs on the substrate where the trout are feeding on the emerging nymphs.

Warm afternoons, reduced fly fishing pressure and trophy trout in the river makes the upper Owens River worth fly fishing right now.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Trophy rainbow trout and brown trout are showing up in the river. These fish are feeding and resting in the deep holes, deep runs and cutbanks on their migration upstream to spawn in the upper reaches of the upper Owens River. These fish are looking for big meals so I’m fishing with size 12 stoner nymphs, bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears and green/gold Prince nymphs. Success in this area is getting a drag free drift that allows the nymphs to bounce on the substrate and covering lots of water to find the few pods of trophy trout that are in the area. Eight to 12 inch trout continues to offer good action on mayfly nymphs and caddis adults.

Dustin Hayward from Fountain Valley with a trophy rainbow trout he caught while Euro nymphing with Sierra Bright Dot guide Richard Lancaster. Photo by Richard Lancaster.

Upper Owens River

Below Benton Crossing Bridge:

Trophy trout continue to move through this section of the upper Owens River on their migration up river to the gravels upstream of the confluences of Hot Creek. This section of the river is primarily deep holes and shallow riffles. The trophy trout can be caught in the deep holes using big nymphs drifted on the substrate where the trout are feeding and resting. Offering the trout 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 are enticing the trout to feed. This section of the river will close an hour after sunset on Wednesday November 15, 2023.

Crowley Lake Marina closed on Sunday October 29, 2023, but fly fishers can walk in the gate and fly fish Whiskey Bay from the bank for trophy brown trout.

Crowley Lake:

Crowley Lake Marina closed Sunday October 29, 2023. The lake is still open to fly fishing. Fly fishers can explore the lake from the north end of MaGee Bay from shore, float tube or kayak. The north arm in the area of North Landing or Green Banks is a good spot to fly fish. Walking into Whiskey Bay or Hilton Bay is an option for fly fishers. Fly 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.

Erick Truschke from Oak Park casting an indicator rig in to  Bishop Creek Canal on a perfect fall afternoon.

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Old Ford Dealer:

Day time temperature middle of the day are perfect for fly fishing on Bishop Creek Canal. There is very few trout rising to the surface. Best method to catch trout on the canal continues to be nymphing with an indicator rig or with a Euro rig. 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 10-27-2023

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.