Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 05-03-2024

Days are warming up as spring is moving towards summer. Wind is the nemesis of fly fishers and spring in the Eastern Sierra is full of wind. Mornings are the time to be on the waters of the Eastern Sierra as the wind comes up every afternoon. An increase in insect activity is causing an increase in trout feeding. Nymphs continue to be the most successful way for fly fishers to catch trout. Dry fly activity has been sporadic, but will increase as spring approaches summer. Midges, mayflies and caddis are the insects the trout are feeding on.

Nineteen six to 12 year old’s attended the 13th annual Kid’s Fish Camp at Bishop Park on Opening weekend.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Flows have increased to 525 CFS and are anticipated to increase to over 600 CFS. So for now no fly fishing on the lower Owens River until the flows decrease to under 300 CFS. I’m hoping it will drop in mid-summer, but am anticipating it dropping in October.

Knowing that the river was going up from the 175 CFS I got one last afternoon of Euro nymphing on the wild trout section of the lower Owens River.

Owens River Gorge

Upper Gorge Power Plant:

With the lower Owens River flows above safe wading it’s time to turn to the Owens River Gorge. I will fish the gorge through May. By June the walk out of the gorge is too hot, the stinging nettles are in full growth and there are rattle snakes that need to be avoided. The gorge is a tail water fishery that fishes opportunistically. A dry and dropper is the method to fish in the gorge. On the surface fish with a blue wing olive parachute, Adams parachute, mini Chernobyl ant or stimulator. For the nymphs fish with tiger midges, zebra midges, bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears and bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs. I fish my nymph on three feet of 5X fluorocarbon.

Sierra Bright Dot Guide Richard Lancaster getting ready to net Luong Tam’s, from Tekara Tunki , wild brown trout that took a dry fly.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Windy afternoons make mornings the perfect time to be on the creek. The trout are not coming to the surface for the few hatching insects. Nymphing under a dry fly is a successful approach. The dry fly lands on the water softer than an indicator and does not spook trout. For the dry fly use something that floats well like a stimulator, micro Chernobyl ant or Adams parachute and is highly visible. For nymphs use olive quilldigons, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, Frenchie’s, blue perdigons, tiger midges and zebra midges.  

Earl Slack showing the success of learning how to fish a dry and dropper rig in the canyon section of Hot Creek.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

With a steeper gradient in the canyon than the Interpretive site the trout feed more reactionary than selectively making the fish in the canyon a bit easier to catch. A dry and dropper is the perfect technique to fly fish in the creek. I use three feet of 5X fluorocarbon tied to the bend of the dry fly with a clinch knot. I tie a blue wing olive nymph to the fluorocarbon tippet with a nonslip loop knot. If the fly is not bouncing off the substrate add a split shot. For the dry fly try a stimulator, mini Chernobyl ant, elk hair caddis or Adams Parachute. For the nymphs use olive quilldigons, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, Frenchie’s, blue perdigons, tiger midges and zebra midges. The fish have been actively feeding on nymphs mid-day from 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M.

Earl Slack from Ventura indicator nymphing on the upper Owens River hooked up to a juvenile rainbow trout.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Eight to 12 inch wild brown and rainbow trout are feeding on nymphs and dries. On the surface fish with elk hair caddis, Adams parachutes, blue wing olive parachutes and Griffiths gnats. On the substrate fish with bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, tiger midges and zebra midges. The trophy cutthroat trout are just starting to enter the upper Owens River to spawn. For now they are few and far between. This should change in the next five to 10 days. I like to use larger nymphs to fool the trophy trout. Fish with size 12 stoner nymphs, copper Johns, green/gold Prince nymphs and variations of gold ribbed hare’s ears. Starting next week I will start checking for the cutthroats in the Owens River above Crowley Lake.

Bishop Creek Canal produces big brown trout for fly fishers who work nymphs on the substrate.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

The canal has lots of rainbows willing to take nymphs. Opening weekend brought lots of anglers to the river looking to catch trout. Give the canal a few days to recover from all the fishing pressure of opening weekend and week. Indicator nymphing or Euro nymphing is the most successful method of fly fishing in the canal right now. Bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears nymphs, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, olive quilldigons, Frenchie’s, tiger midges, zebra midges and tan scuds are the fly patterns that are fooling the trout. The canal has been very productive for both stocked rainbows and wild brown trout.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 04-26-2024

Opening weekend use to represent the opportunity to get out and fly fish waters that had been closed since October 31st of the previous year. These days most moving waters and some still waters are open to year round fishing. Where I use to get excited to go fly fish the opening of these waters it no longer holds that special excitement. Spring means snow will start melting in upper elevations allowing fly fishers access to waters that have been buried in snow since the snow started falling in late Fall or early Winter. These waters are now the waters I get excited about fly fishing. My routine for opener has been to attend the Bishop Chamber of Commerce Press Reception Dinner on the Friday night before opener. It’s an opportunity to meet with writers, fishing show promoters, fishing personalities and locals. For the last 13 years I’ve been a part of Fish Camp put on by Bishop Park and Recreation. This is a fly fishing school for six to 12 year old’s to learn to cast a fly rod, tie a fly, fly fishing etiquette and the chance to fly fish Bishop Park Pond. So this opening weekend like the last 18 years I will be at Bishop Park teaching 21 six to 12 year old’s about fly fishing.

Spring in the Sierra is a time of things starting a new like this hen mallard on Bishop Creek Canal with her ducklings.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

The increase in flows on the lower Owens River was put off by three or four weeks while the City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP ) finished repair work on Haiwee Dam. Time is up and by Monday April 29th, 2024 flows on the lower Owens River are scheduled to be at 325 CFS. Safe wading is at 300 CFS or less. Flows are expected to increase to 500 to 600 CFS. Now we wait for the flows in the lower Owens River to decrease to under 200 CFS. This normally happens in October when DWP decrees the summer flows. See you on the lower Owens in October.

Rick Delmas working a deep hole on the wild trout section of the lower Owens River in the afternoon before the flows start increasing.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

The trout are looking up and taking dry flies and feeding on nymphs under the surface. Fly fishing with a dry and dropper is a great way to produce trout on Hot Creek. For the dry fly try size 16 Adams parachutes, size 12 mini Chernobyl ants and size 14 stimulators. For nymphs fish with olive quilldigons, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, tiger midges and zebra midges. Best fishing has been from 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M.

Systematically working the creek from the near bank to the far bank and then move up three steps and repeat is how you successfully fish Hot Creek.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

This is a great place to fly fish with a dry and dropper or with a Euro rig. The trout are actively feeding on mayflies and midges. For the dry and dropper use a size 16 Adams parachute, a size 14 elk hair caddis, a size 14 foam caddis and a size 14 stimulator for dry pattern. When nymphing under a dry fly or with a Euro rig fish with olive scuds, olive burlap caddis, tiger midges, zebra midges, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs and olive quilldigons. Cover lots of water being sure to concentrate on the holes and obstructions in the creek.

An olive quill RS2  nose pierced cutthroat trout from the upper Owens River in May when the trophy cutthroat trout migrate into the upper Owens River.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

The river is in between the trophy rainbow trout of winter and the spring run of trophy cutthroat trout. While there are a few trophy rainbows and browns being caught most fly fishers are catching juvenile rainbows and browns to 10 inches. For the trophy trout use size 12 stoner nymphs, green/gold wire Prince nymphs, copper Johns and gold ribbed hare’s ears. For the juvenile trout fish with Adams parachutes, blue wing olive parachutes, elk hair caddis and foam caddis in size 16. For nymphing use size 16 gold ribbed hares ears, size 18 tiger or zebra midges, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and size 18 olive quilldigons.

Flows in Bishop Creek Canal are low, but high enough to allow fly fishers to fish the canal without spooking the trout.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

Water levels are low but very fishable for wild brown trout and stocked rainbow trout. Working nymphs on a Euro rod is very productive. Working the deeper holes, runs and fast riffle sections is where the trout are hanging out looking for food. Mayfly nymphs, scuds and midges are the insects the trout are feeding on. Use olive quilldigons, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, pheasant tail nymphs, tiger midges, zebra midges and tan scuds.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing

So far we’re having a typical Eastern Sierra Spring. Lots of wind and cold days with some warm days in between. Right now were getting several warm windless or slightly breezy days on the water. With the warm weather the water is warming up and the trout are starting to feed actively on caddis, mayflies and midges. Nymphing continues to be the best producer of trout, but the right water on the right day your will find surface feeding trout.

Wild trout are the quarry fly fishers are chasing in the Eastern Sierra.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Water flows in the lower Owens River are maintaining at 175 CFS. Expect these flows for at least another week, but it is no guarantee so I would be checking the DWP flow rates daily. You can find these on my webpage. Mid-day blue wing olive mayflies are hatching. There is some surface activity, but the bulk of the action is coming on nymphs. Late afternoon there is a caddis hatch on the water that the trout are feeding on. The trout are keying in on the caddis pupae as they swim through the water column heading to the surface to hatch. With the increase in water flows increase the size of beads on your Euro nymphs or increase the split shot size on your indicator rig. For nymphs fish with bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, olive quilldigons, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, dark brown La Fontaine’s caddis pupae, dark brown caddis pupae and Duracell nymphs. For dry flies use Adams parachutes, blue wing olive parachutes, olive sparkle duns, dark brown elk hair caddis, dark brown X-caddis and dark brown CDC caddis.

Nymphing under an indicator or with a Euro rig is producing wild brown trout to 16 inches in the wild trout section of the lower Owens River as long as the flows do not increase above 300 CFS.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Blue wing olive mayflies continue to hatch and the trout are feeding on the hatching adults. For the dry flies use Adams parachutes, blue wing olive parachutes and olive sparkle duns in size 20. For the nymphs use bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, olive quilldigons and olive quill RS2 nymphs. Other nymphs that produce on Hot Creek are olive scuds, tiger midges, zebra midges and olive burlap caddis. The most productive time to be on the creek is from 10:00 to 2:00 when the insects are most active.

Once opening weekend happens Hot Creek will become crowded with fly fishers pursuing wild trout .

Canyon Section:

The canyon offers slightly easier to catch wild brown and rainbow trout. The canyon has a stepper gradient which makes the fish more likely to react to your fly pattern then stare at it and refuse it. There are some great dry fly runs in the canyon, but it is a great place to nymph. Bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, olive quilldigons, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, olive burlap caddis, olive scuds, tiger midges and zebra midges are producing trout for fly fishers fishing with a Euro rig or under an indicator. Key to success is covering all the water with your nymphs as the trout are located all through the creek. If the creek is not crowded I like to slowly cover all the water moving three steps at a time.

The stone fly nymph is a cutthroat trophy trout producing fly pattern in the upper Owens River.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Juvenile rainbow trout and brown trout are the fish to catch right now. These fish are taking nymphs and dries. Bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, olive quilldigons and hot spot pheasant tail nymph are the nymphs that are producing. Adams parachutes, elk hair caddis and blue wing olive parachutes are fooling the juvenile trout on the surface. There are a few trophy trout in the river that are taking large nymphs like the stoner nymph and the green/gold Prince nymph.

 Mallards did not mine that Bishop Creek Canal was flowing off color and the trout were not feeding.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

There was a day last week when the canal blew out with dirty water coming from both forks of Bishop Creek. The flows are up and clearing allowing fly fishers to nymph with indicators or Euro nymph rigs. The trout are feeding on mayfly nymphs, tan scuds and midges. There has been few to no surface feeding trout. Fish with tan scuds, olive quilldigons, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, tiger midges and zebra midges. Be sure you use a split shot heavy enough to keep your nymphs bouncing along the substrate where the trout are looking for nymphs.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 04-12-2024

Warm days are a hint of summer to come. With the warm weather comes more insect activity particularly hatches and trout feeding on the surface. Unfortunately with the warm weather comes mosquitoes. The trout are feeding on mayflies, caddis flies and midges. When the winds are not blowing spring in the Eastern Sierra is great. Nymphing continues to be the productive method of fly fishing Eastern Sierra waters.

Bishop Veterinary Hospital is now open in the old Ford Dealer on HWY 6 just north of Bishop. It will now be behind the Bishop Veterinary Hospital for fly fishing in Bishop Creek Canal.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Due to problems with Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Haiwee Dam project increases in lower Owens River flows will be pushed back to the end of April. This is subject to change so I would recommend checking the DWP flows on sierrabrightdot.com before heading out to the lower Owens River. Blue wing olive mayflies and caddis are hatching and the trout are feeding on the nymphs and the adults. For dry flies fish with dark brown elk hair caddis in size 18, dark brown X-caddis in size 18, dark brown CDC caddis in size 18, Adams parachutes in size 18, blue wing olive parachutes in size 18 and olive sparkle duns in size 18. For nymphs use size 16 or 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, olive quildigons, Frenchie’s, dark brown caddis pupae, La Fontaine’s caddis pupae and Duracell nymphs.

Michael Woodfield from Las Vegas indicator nymphing the lower Owens River at 170 CFS in the afternoon after spending the morning skiing on Mammoth Mountain.  

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Warm weather has blue wing olive mayflies hatching and the trout are reacting by feeding on the nymphs and the adults. On the right days a size 20 Adams parachute, blue wing olive parachute and olive sparkle dun will fool the surface feeding trout. On the days where dry flies are not producing size 18 or 20 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, olive quilldigons, Frenchie’s, tiger midges and zebra midges are producing the nymph feeding trout.

Mayflies hatching on Hot Creek are bringing the trout to the surface to feed on the hatching blue wing olive  duns.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

Spring storms can leave snow on the ground, but as soon as the sun comes out the snow melts fast. All three parking areas are vehicle accessible and offering good fishing. The blue wing olive mayflies are feeding the trout and fly fishing with nymphs and dries is producing wild browns and rainbows to 16 inches. Hot Creek is shallow and working your flies around the weed beds or in the deeper depressions or holes is going to produce trout. With a dry and dropper or indicator rig I like to be three feet above the bottom fly. To imitate the blue wing olive mayflies fish with size 20 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 20 olive quilldigons and size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs for the nymphs. For the dry flies use size 20 Adams parachutes, size 20 blue wing olive parachutes and size 20 olive sparkle duns.

Working the deep holes, deep runs and cutbanks will provide resident brown trout and juvenile trout.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

We’re in between the trophy rainbow trout run of winter and the spring run of cutthroat trout. There are a few resident brown trout that are taking large nymphs like the size 12 stoner nymphs and the green/gold Prince nymph. There are a good number of juvenile rainbows and browns willing to take nymphs and dries. For the nymphs use bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, olive quilldigons and hot spot pheasant tail nymphs in sizes 16 or 18. For the dries fish with Adams parachutes, elk hair caddis and blue wing olive parachutes. From Benton Crossing Road to Crowley Lake this section will open on Saturday April 27, 2024.

Steve Ebersold fly fishing Bishop Creek Canal in the afternoon with nymphs.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

With increased flows in the lower Owens River the flows in the canal have increased. The trout are feeding on tan scuds, blue wing olive mayflies and midges. There has not been enough surface activity to warrant fishing with dries. Wild brown trout and the rare hold over rainbow trout are taking tan scuds, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, olive quilldigons, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, tiger midges and zebra midges. Nymphing with an indicator or a Euro rig is the most productive technique of fly fishing Bishop Creek Canal.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 04-05-2024

Spring in the Eastern Sierra is a lot of cold windy days with a few sunny windless days sprinkled in. Fly fishers need to take advantage of the warm windless day if they can. A big wind is expected to blow through right before the weekend. Dirt roads in the Long Valley area are drying out after the storms. Fly fishers should drive with caution as there are a few mud puddles that could cause you to get stuck. Getting stuck can ruin a day’s fly fishing. Hatches of mayflies, caddis flies and midges are feeding the trout. While there is some good dry fly activity most of the trout are feeding on the nymphs. Traditional opening weekend is three weeks away.

Cutthroat season is from early May through Memorial day.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Flows are staring to increase and are up to 175 CFS as of this writhing. There is a week or so of good fly fishing left. Mid-day mayfly hatches continue to make it the best time of the day to be on the water. While some spots are offering good dry fly activity, nymphing is the best method of fly fishing the hatch. Adams parachutes, blue wing olive parachutes and olive sparkle duns in size 18 are fooling the surface feeding trout. For nymphing under an indicator or with a Euro rod fish with size 16 or 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, olive quilldigons, hot spot pheasant tails and Frenchie’s.

Waders are necessary to fish the spots on the lower Owens River that are not accessible from the banks.  

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

For the most part Hot Creek is totally dried out and easy for fly fishers to access. Midges and mayflies are hatching late morning to early afternoon. Nymphing is more productive than dry flies. Surface activity is just not consistent yet. Nymphing with a dry and dropper or with a Euro rig is producing trout when fishing with size 18 or 20 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, olive quilldigons, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, Frenchie’s and olive perdigons.

Hot Creek is a combination of wild rainbow trout and wild brown trout willing to take nymphs and dry flies.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

All three parking area are accessible to fly fishers. Fishing nymphs in the canyon is producing trout for fly fishers using a dry and dropper or an indicator. Dry fly fishing is inconsistent. Bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, olive quilldigons, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, Frenchie’s, olive perdigons, tiger midges, zebra midges and brassies in size 18 or 20 are the productive nymph patterns to fool the wild rainbow and brown trout. Working the holes and around the weed beds is where you are going to find the trout hanging out. With the shallow water of Hot Creek I run the dry fly or indicator three feet above the fly.

If you’re looking for a trophy cutthroat trout in May now is the time to book your trip with Sierra Bright Dot Guides.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

For the most part the dirt roads into the upper Owens River are drying out. Be aware of mud puddles as these can cause your vehicle to get stuck. Getting stuck can ruin a day of fly fishing. Fly fishers covering lots of deep holes, deep runs and cutbanks will find a trophy trout or two willing to take your flies. I offer the trophy trout a big calorie filled morsel by offering them nymphs in size 12. My two favorite patterns for the upper Owens River trophy trout are the stoner nymph and the green/gold wire Prince nymph. A lot of fly fishers catch trophy trout on egg patterns, San Juan worms and squirmy wormies. Cutthroat trout season on the upper Owens River is short lived. It runs from about May 5 to Memorial weekend. Weekends will book up quick so book now if you want a chance at a once in a life time trophy cutthroat trout from the upper Owens River.

Steve Harper Euro nymphing on Bishop Creek Canal now that the flows have increased enough that fly fishers are no longer spooking trout.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind the Old Ford Dealer:

Water flows in the canal are slowly rising and are at levels that fly fishers walking the banks will not spook trout. The trout are feeding on scuds, mayfly nymphs and midges. Size 14 tan scuds, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, olive quilldigons, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, tiger midges and zebra midges are producing wild brown trout from six to 12 inches.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 03-29-2024

Spring weather is nice days with a few storms moving through the Eastern Sierra. The storms tend to bring lots of wind and little precipitation. Welcome to spring in the Eastern Sierra. If upper elevation waters get snow they will be dried out in a few days of sunny spring weather. We will see what the storm this weekend actually does and how much precipitation we get. Hatches of mayflies, caddis and stoneflies will continue to keep the trout feeding on the nymphs and adults. Dry fly fishing and nymphing continues to offer fly fishers good fly fishing opportunities throughout the Eastern Sierra. The opening weekend festivities in the Eastern Sierra will commence with the traditional opener on Saturday April 27, 2024.

The parking areas on Chalk Bluff Road below the walking bridge at Pleasant Valley Campground are numbered one to 15.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

The lower Owen River will continues to offer great fly fishing for a few more weeks. Expect the lower Owens River flows to increase to levels above safe wading, greater than 300 CFS, by mid-April. In the meantime fly fishers should take advantage of the mid-day mayfly hatch that has the fish feeding heavily for a couple of hours. I’m finding the best places in the river to fish are where a shallow riffle, where the insects live, spills into to a deep hole, where the trout live. Casting your flies a foot or two into the riffle and letting the current naturally carry the flies into the hole presents the dry fly or nymph exactly the way the trout will view a natural insect. For nymphs I’m fly fishing with an indicator or a Euro rig with bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, olive quilldigons, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, Frenchie’s, olive perdigons and stoner nymphs. For the dry flies fish with Adams parachutes, blue wing olive parachutes and olive sparkle duns.

The back drop of the Sierra Mountains with snow on them makes the lower Owens River in Winter a picturesque winter fly fishing spot in the Eastern Sierra..

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Before the storm the road into Hot Creek dried out and fly fishers can drive right into the interpretive site and walk out to the creek. This spot is still a better nymphing spot than a dry fly spot. For dry flies try fly fishing with size 20 Adams parachutes, blue wing olive parachutes, olive sparkle duns, Griffiths gnats and quill bodied midge adults. For the nymph angler using an indicator or a Euro rig try fishing with size 18 or 20 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, olive quilldigons, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, Frenchie’s and olive perdigons. Hot Creek will become the fly fishing spot for nymphing and dry flying as soon as the lower Owens River flows increase to levels unsafe to wade. Guiding on Hot Creek this spring will fill up fast for those looking to learn the proper fly fishing techniques to catch trout in the Eastern Sierra hardest to fish fly fishing water.

After the snow storms the warm weather dries out Hot Creek giving fly fishers complete access to the creek and the wild trout feeding on nymphs.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

Until the flows in the lower Owens increase to unsafe levels fly fishers on Hot Creek will find very little fly fishing pressure. While there are days where the trout consistently take dry flies, nymphing continues to be the most productive method of fly fishing the creek. Nymphing with an indicator or a dry and dropper are the productive methods of nymphing in the canyon. The creek is shallow and having the indicator three feet above the bottom fly is the right placement of the indicator or dry fly. Nymphing with bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, olive quilldigons, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, Frenchie’s, olive perdigons, tiger midges, zebra midges and brassies in size 18 or 20 are the standard productive flies. Other fly patterns that work when nymphing in the canyon would include scuds, olive burlap caddis, olive wooly buggers and mop flies.

In between the storms the upper Owens River is drying out and fly fishers can access the entire river.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Persistent fly fishers covering lots of deep holes, deep runs and cut banks will find a few trophy trout willing to take their size 12 stoner nymphs and green/gold Prince nymphs. The road is dried out and fly fishers will be able to drive right up to their favorite parking areas. The trophy cutthroat trout are expected to be in the upper Owens River from early May through Memorial day. For fly fishers looking to catch a trophy cutthroat trout Sierra Bright Dot Guides have available dates from May 5th through Memorial Day. Weekends will book up quick so book now if you want a chance at a once in life time trophy cutthroat trout from the upper Owens River.

Wild brown trout like to feed on olive quilldigons on the Euro rig in Bishop Creek Canal.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind the Old Ford Dealer:

I expect water flows to increase in Mid-April when flows in the upper Owens River increase to unfishable wading levels. When this happens I switch over from fly fishing in the lower Owens River to fly fishing in Bishop Creek Canal. Nymphing under an indicator or with a Euro rig is the most productive method of fly fishing the canal in spring. Wild brown trout are taking fly fishers olive quilldigons, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, Frenchie’s, and stoner nymphs.

Sierra Bright Dot FlyFishing Report 03-22-2024

Spring in March is normally sunny warm days with some windy afternoons. A few storms will roll through the area. April and May bring cold windy days. So fly fishers should enjoy the warm sunny days of March by getting out on the water and fly fishing. Warm sunny days and hatching mayflies, caddis flies and midges is offering great fly fishing opportunities in the Eastern Sierra right now. Dry flies and nymphing is producing trout. Streamers always produce bigger trout because you are offering the trout a bigger meal.

Every Tuesday at Mahogany Smoked Meats is an opportunity to meet with Fred Rowe and talk about Eastern Sierra fly fishing..

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Fly fishing on the lower Owens River with nymphs and dry flies continues to make the lower Owens River one of the best waters to fly fish right now in the Eastern Sierra. Mid-day hatches of mayflies and caddis have the trout nymphing and coming to the surface to feed on the hatching insects. Early in the day the trout are feeding on midge pupae and stick caddis. Middle of the day the trout are keying in on the hatching blue wing olive nymphs and the dark bodied caddis pupae. For imitating the blue wing olive mayfly nymphs use bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, olive quilldigons, Frenchie’s, olive quill nymphs and hot spot pheasant tail nymphs. For imitating the blue wing olive adults use Adams parachutes, blue wing olive parachutes and olive sparkle duns. For the caddis pupae use brown La Fontaine sparkle nymphs, tungsten Duracell nymph and gold ribbed hare’s ears. For the adult caddis use X-caddis, elk hair caddis and CDC caddis. For the stick caddis use pheasant tail nymphs or gold ribbed hare’s ears.

Don Sabatino casting an indicator rig on the wild trout section of the lower Owens River in the afternoon.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Warm weather has made the road into the Interpretive site vehicle accessible. The trout are feeding on nymphs and dries of mayflies, caddis and midges. Fly fishing pressure is increasing in the afternoon as skiers leave the slopes and head to the creek to fly fish after their ski day. Late mornings have been the time to be on the water as there is little fly fishing pressure and the midges and mayflies are hatching. The caddis are hatching mid-day. This is the other spot in the Eastern Sierra that is offering good fly fishing right now. Adams parachutes, blue wing olive parachutes, X-caddis, elk hair caddis, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, olive quilldigons, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, Frenchie’s, tiger midges and zebra midges are the fly patterns that are producing.

Most of the snow is melted off the creek allowing fly fishers to nymph in the canyon section of Hot Creek.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

Warm weather has melted the snow making all three parking areas into the canyon accessible to vehicles. Fly fishing in the canyon has been good with nymphs. Midge pupae and nymphs, blue wing olive nymphs and gray caddis pupae are hatching late morning through early afternoon. Nymphing with a dry and dropper, indicator rig or a Euro nymphing rig is producing trout for nymphing fly fishers. The key is to allow the flies to work the substrate and the indicator working on the surface. The shallow water is requiring the indictor or dry fly to be 18 inches to two feet above the substrate. Adams parachutes, olive sparkle duns, blue wing olive parachutes, gray X-caddis and gray spent partridge caddis are working on the surface. Bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, olive quill nymphs, olive quilldigons, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, Frenchie’s, Lafontaine sparkle emergers, Butano nymphs and olive burlap caddis are the productive nymphs.

Fly fishers looking for trophy trout in the upper Owens River need to cover lots of deep holes, deep runs and cut banks to find the few trophy rainbow trout still in the river system.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Persistent fly fishers are catching a few trophy rainbow trout as the migration is coming to an end. Covering lots of water looking for the few trout that are in the river is the way to be successful. Larger nymphs are offering the trout a big meal and is why I like fishing with size 12 stoner nymphs and green/gold Prince nymphs. I fish these flies in the deep holes, deep runs and cut banks.

Flows in Bishop Creek Canal have increased just enough to allow fly fishers to catch the wild brown trout that live in the canal without spooking them.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind the Old Ford Dealer:

The water flows have not increased significantly, but have risen enough to allow fly fishers to catch wild brown trout without spooking them. Euro nymphing or nymphing with an indicator in the faster deeper runs is where you can cast your flies to catch trout without spooking them. Olive quilldigons, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, Frenchie’s, and stoner nymphs are fooling the trout.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 03-15-2024

The Eastern Sierra is experiencing spring like weather with precipitation in upper elevations and lots of wind throughout the region. In between the storms is good weather and great fly fishing opportunities. Fly fishers driving out to upper elevation waters need to watch out for mud on the dirt roads. You don’t want to spend your fly fishing time digging out of the mud. Every week we head out of winter, hatches of mayflies, caddis flies and midges are increasing. With daylight savings hatches are now in the early afternoon. Nymphing continues to be the most productive method of fly fishing Eastern Sierra waters in winter.

With daylight savings it’s time to take advantage of evening fly fishing on Eastern Sierra waters.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Warm weather and hatches of mayflies and caddis flies makes fly fishing on the lower Owens River as good as it gets in winter time. Indicator nymphing and Euro nymphing is consistently providing trout with mayfly and caddis fly nymph imitations. Indicator nymphing with one or two flies a size 1 split shot and the indicator one and half to times the average depth of water above the bottom fly is the rig that is producing. I prefer to use 5X fluorocarbon for the tippet. Bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, olive quilldigons, olive perdigons, Frenchie’s, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, Butano nymphs and Lafontaine sparkle emergers are the nymphs that are producing trout. For dry flies fish with X-caddis, sparkle caddis, elk hair caddis, blue wing olive parachutes and Adams Parachutes.

Eric Sechrist from Montclair getting ready to land a lower Owens River wild brown trout he caught on a size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph under an indicator.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

When this current storm moves out it looks the Eastern Sierra will get a warm dry period. The snow on the road into Hot Creek should melt enough to allow fly fishers to drive in. For now no one has laid tracks in to the Interpretive site. Fly fishers fishing in the morning pretty much have the creek to themselves. Mayflies and caddis are providing the insects the trout are feeding on. There are fish coming to the surface offering dry fly activity for those anglers looking to fish dry flies. The dry fly activity is not consistent yet. Bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, olive quilldigons, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs and Frenchie’s are the patterns that imitate the blue wing olive mayfly nymphs. Adams parachutes, blue wing olive parachutes, X-caddis and elk hair caddis are the patterns that are working on the surface on the days that the hatch is strong enough to get the trout to consistently feed on the emerging insects.

With warmer weather the snow on Hot Creek is quickly receding and the trout are feeding on mayflies and caddis flies.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

Fly fishers can drive out to the three canyon parking areas as there are tracks in the snow making this area accessible. If we get the warm weather we are supposed to the snow should melt quickly. This is a great area to fly fish with a Euro rig, dry and dropper or with an indicator. Mornings to early afternoon is the best time to be on the water as this is when the insects are most active and the trout are consistently feeding. Bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, olive quill nymphs, olive quilldigons, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, Frenchie’s, Lafontaine sparkle emergers, Butano nymphs and olive burlap caddis are the productive nymphs. Dry fly anglers fishing with Adams parachutes, olive sparkle duns, blue wing olive parachutes, gray X-caddis and gray spent partridge caddis are the productive flies.

Warm weather is making access to the upper Owns River good just beware of mud on the spur roads to the river.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Trophy trout season is still holding on as persistent fly fishers are finding a few trophy rainbow trout still in the river. There are a few resident trophy brown trout still being caught. Fly fishers need to be aware of the mud on the spur roads out to the river from the main dirt roads. It’s easy to misjudge the mud and get your vehicle stuck. Fishing the deep holes, deep runs and cut banks with stoner nymphs, green/gold Prince nymphs, Richard’s gold ribbed hare’s ear variation, egg patterns, squirmy wormies, mop flies and San Juan worms are producing one to three trout per fly fisher per fly fishing session.

With low clear water fly fishers are spooking trout and the fly fishing is as tough as it gets..

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind the Old Ford Dealer:

Bishop Creek Canal is in desperate need of an increase in water flows. At present water flows It’s almost impossible to approach the trout in the canal without spooking them. This water is not worth the effort to fish it until the flows increase.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 03-08-2024

Sunny days in the 60’s are in store for the Eastern Sierra for the next week. Most of the snow fell above the 7,500 foot level. Dirt roads in the Long Valley area are drying out, but fly fishers need to drive with caution as the mud can easily cause vehicles to get stuck. Blue wing olive mayflies, caddis, midge and stoneflies continue to provide the food to trout that fly fishers are imitating. Peak insect activity has been mid-day which means the best fly fishing of the day is from 11 to 3. Dry fly activity is increasing, but nymphing continues to be the most productive method on Eastern Sierra waters.

Snow in the mountains and warm days in the Owens Valley makes now the time to fly fish the Eastern Sierra.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Blue wing olive mayflies are providing the most consistent insect activity in the river. Mid-day hatches have the trout coming to the surface if you are in the right spots. If you’re looking to catch trout on dries during the hatch move around looking for areas of the river that have lots of trout feeding on the surface. Nymphing with an indicator or on a Euro rig is still the most productive method of fly fishing the river. Size 16 or 18 Frenchie’s, olive quilldigons, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, olive quill nymphs and bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs are imitating the blue wing olive mayfly nymphs. For imitating the emerging blue wing olive mayflies fish with size 18 Adams parachutes, blue wing olive parachutes and olive sparkle duns. If you own two fly rods have one rigged for nymphs and one rigged for dry flies. Richard Lancaster ties a foot of red fluorescent flagging tape on his rods when setting them in stream side vegetation so he can find his rod when he comes back for it.

Nymphing on the lower Owens River is producing good numbers of wild trout.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Time and forecasted warm days will melt the snow so fly fishers can drive into the interpretive site. Until the snow melts or someone else leaves first tracks fly fishers should walk into the interpretive site. The warm weather is increasing dry fly activity on the creek mid-day. Hatches of mayflies and caddis have the wild trout coming to the surface to feed on the hatching insects. Try fishing with Adams parachutes, blue wing olive parachutes, X-caddis and elk hair caddis. Nymphing continues to be the most productive method of fly fishing the creek. Fish with bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, olive quilldigons, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs and Frenchie’s.

The snow on the north facing side of Hot Creek Canyon does not melt as fast as the south facing side of the canyon.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

Time and warm weather will open the road up to tourist and fly fishers giving access to the three canyon section parking areas. Fly fishing pressure increases in the afternoons as skiers spend their afternoons on the creek fly fishing. Fly fishers will find the creek almost deserted in the mornings and mid-day when the best fly fishing is taking place. Mayflies and caddis are hatching mid-day and this is when the trout are most active. To imitate the blue wing olive mayflies fish with bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, olive quill nymphs, olive quilldigons, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, and Frenchie’s. For the caddis fish with LaFontaine’s sparkle emerger, olive burlap caddis, bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears and Butano nymphs.

Melting spring snow means off color water and muddy roads.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Warm spring days with fresh snow on the ground means lots of mud for vehicles to get stuck in. I would drive this area with the utmost of care. It’s much better to walk aways to access the river then spend the day digging out of the mud. Trophy rainbow trout season on the upper Owens River is coming to an end. There are still trophy trout to be found, but fly fishers are going to work really hard to find them. Key to success this time of year is thoroughly covering lots of trophy trout holding water in a day. Proven flies are stoner nymphs, green/gold Prince nymphs, Richard’s gold ribbed hare’s ear variation, egg patterns, squirmy wormies, mop flies and San Juan worms. Bishop Creek Canal

Spooky trout and low clear water makes fly fishing the canal tough right now.

Behind the Old Ford Dealer:

This continues to be a tough water to fish as low clear flows have the trout spooking. Fly fishers can try a stealth approach of crawling in to the holes on their hands and knees. Not worth the return for the amount of effort to fish the canal right now. As soon as flows go up fishing with pick up.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 03-01-2024

The Eastern Sierra is expecting a major winter storm this weekend. Speculation is of high winds and lots of snow. For a few days it will be time to hunker down and stay indoors. Perfect time to tie flies, clean fly lines or organize fly fishing tackle. Once the storm blows through we should be back to clear skies and good fly fishing. Increased insect activity is increasing trout activity. Mid-day is prime time to be on the water as this is the peak of the insect activity provided by mayflies, midges and caddis. Nymphing continues to be the most productive method of fly fishing.

Wild brown trout are the most common trout species in the Eastern Sierra wild trout waters.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Warm days, hatching insects and feeding trout is why the lower Owens River was the spot to fish before the storm. I expect the fishing to pick right back up after the storm. The biggest problem of this storm is going to be the wind. Wading the river in spots where both banks are inundated with willows and tulles is a way to get out of the wind. Midges, mayflies and caddis are hatching and the trout are feeding on them. For dry flies fish with blue wing olive parachutes, Adams parachutes and olive sparkle duns. For nymphs use bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs and olive quilldigons.

Warm days and blue wing olive mayfly hatches makes the lower Owens River a great winter fly fishing spot.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

This will be a spot that needs to be checked on to determine if you can access with vehicle or by foot after the storm. Wild brown trout and rainbow trout are feeding on caddis and mayflies. Nymphing is the most productive method as the hatches are not consistent enough to bring the trout to the surface consistently. Trout are taking olive quilldigons, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, gold ribbed hare’s ears and Frenchie’s. If you find consistent rising trout use Adams parachutes, blue wing olive parachutes and Griffiths gnats.

Time will tell if Hot Creek gets a little more snow or will be completely blanketed in snow.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

If we get the snow the weatherman are calling for fly fishers will be walking into the canyon section instead of driving in like they have been all winter. Skiers are heading over to Hot Creek to try the fly fishing or check out the hot springs in the afternoons. Mornings are quiet as few fly fishers are on the water. Dry and a dropper is a great way to fish the canyon section of Hot Creek. Use a size 16 elk hair caddis or an Adams parachute for the dry fly. For the nymph use olive burlap caddis, olive quilldigons, Frenchie’s, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, gold ribbed hare’s ears nymphs and cream caddis.

After this storm we maybe cross country skiing, snowshoeing or snowmobiling into the upper Owens River.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

This could be the end of vehicle access to the upper Owens River. It might be time to dust of the snowshoes, cross country skis or the snowmobile to access the river after this storm. The winter migration run of trophy rainbow trout is coming to an end. Fly fishers are working hard to get one or two trophy trout. Thoroughly covering the deep holes, deep runs and cutbanks with stoner nymphs, green/gold Prince nymphs and Richard’s gold ribbed hare’s ear variation is producing one to three trophy trout per session. Quite often fly fishers use what we call junk flies on the upper Owens River. These would be egg patterns, San Juan worms and squirmy worms.

Tough fly fishing continues on Bishop Creek Canal due to low clear water and spooky trout.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind the Old Ford Dealer:

This might be the only water that could benefit from the storm short term. The water flows in the canal need to increase to allow fly fishers to fish the canal without spooking the trout. Fly fishing here continues to be tough as the water is clear and very low.