Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 12-11-2025

Unprecedented warm weather has descended on the Eastern Sierra in mid-December. Mid-day temperatures are perfect for insects to hatch. Hatches of mayflies and midges have the trout feeding on the surface and on the substrate. Dirt roads are drying out, but there are still a few mud puddles on the dirt roads that fly fishers should be avoiding. Dry fly fishing in December is a treat and is happening on Eastern Sierra waters middle of the day.

Fall like weather is making fly fishing in the Eastern Sierra fun with midges and mayflies fished on the surface and on the substrate.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Mid-day temperatures in the upper 60’s has fly fishers wearing T-shirts and sun shirts. Cold weather creeps back in as the sun goes down. Then it’s time to put the jacket back on. Mid-morning to mid-afternoon the trout are feeding on blue wing olive mayflies and midges. For nymphs fish with size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 Frenchies, size 18 midges in tiger, zebra and blood coloration and size 18 green/gold brassies. If you’re in the right spot when the mayfly hatch goes off and the trout are consistently feeding on the surface it’s time to fish with size 18 blue wing olive parachutes, size 18 Adam parachutes and size 18 olive sparkle duns. Dry flies are consistently producing five to eight inch wild browns and rainbows. Nymphs are producing five inch to 16 inch trout

Indicator nymphing with a size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph fooled a wild brown trout for Matt Roosen on the lower Owens River .

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

The mid-day warm weather is bringing trout to the surface for blue wing olive mayflies. Making an accurate cast and getting a drag free drift is how to fool the picky trout of Hot Creek. If the trout are refusing your dry fly try going down a size on your tippet. Start with 5X tippet and drop down to 6X tippet if the fish are not taking your flies. Fish with size 20 olive sparkle duns, size 20 Adams parachutes, size 20 blue wing olive parachutes, size 20 Griffith’s gnats, and size 20 CDC midges.

This Hot Creek rainbow took a size 16 pink Frenchie fished as part of a three fly Euro Rig fished at Hot Creek Interpretive site.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

Weed beds are still present in Hot Creek Canyon making it hard to drift flies to the trout. Dry flies are easier to cast into the narrow lanes between the weed beds. Nymphs are easier to fish in the riffles and pools devoid of weed beds. When nymphing use size 18 olive quilldigons, size 12 stoner nymphs, size 16 pink Frenchie’s, size 18 brassies, size 18 green/gold brassies, size 18 tiger and zebra midges, size 18 pheasant tail paranymphs and size 18 olive quill RS2’s. Fish with size 20 CDC midge, size 20 Adams midge, size 20 Griffiths gnats size 20 Adams parachutes, size 20 blue wing olive parachutes and size 20 olive sparkle duns on the surface.

The upper Owens River is missing its coat of snow and looks more like October than December.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

With the warm weather the dirt roads accessing the upper Owens River above Benton Crossing Bridge are slowly drying out. Fly fishers still need to avoid the few remaining muddy patches on the spur roads leading out to the river. Trophy rainbows are resting and feeding in the deep holes, deep pools and cut banks. Success is covering the water with enough cast to get your flies and the trout in the same space in the water. The trophy trout move around in the holes so that your flies may not be drifting where the trout are. Hence lots of casts are required to get the flies where the trout are. Nymph under an indicator or with a Euro rig with size 12 green/gold prince nymphs, size 12 stoner nymphs, size 12 gold ribbed hare’s ears variations and size 14 copper John’s. There are resident six to 12 inch rainbows and browns that will take size 18 blue wing olive parachutes, size 18 Adams parachutes, size 18 olive quilldigons and size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs.

Nymphing Bishop Creek Canal with a size 18 olive quilldigon and size 12 stoner nymph is producing wild brown trout and hold over stocked rainbow trout.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

Bishop Creek Canal is easier to fish after DWP dredge the canal. The trout are feeding mid-day on mayflies and midges. Smaller fish are feeding on size 20 blue wing olive parachutes, size 20 Adams parachutes, size 18 Griffith’s gnats and size 20 CDC midges. Nymphing with size 12 stoner nymphs and size 18 olive quilldigons is fooling wild and hold over stocked trout fished in the slow flat sections of the canal.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 12-04-2025

Fall is quickly looking like winter. Amazing how the trees leaves turned bright yellows and reds and how quickly the leaves are gone. Time to pick up all the leaves around the yard. It’s quickly looking like winter in the Eastern Sierra. Best fly fishing is in the middle of the day when insects are most active and trout are feeding on mayflies and midges. Brown trout spawning is coming to an end. Rainbows and browns are feeding on nymphs and dries and providing action for those taking the time to fly fish in the Eastern Sierra in December.

The trees have lost their leaves, winter is knocking on the door and the trout continue to feed on midges and mayflies on the substrate and on the surface.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Suns out, but day time temperatures are not going much over 60 degrees. It’s time to wear a sweat shirt or jacket when fly fishing on the river. With the low flows fly fishers can access all the waters that are not fishable from the banks by getting in the river and wading upstream presenting dries and nymphs. Fishing nymphs with a Euro rig or under an indicator is producing five inch to 16 inch rainbows and browns with size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 Frenchies, size 18 green/gold brassies and zebra and tiger midges in size 18. If there are enough fish feeding on the surface switch to a size 18 blue wing olive parachute, size 18 Adams parachute and size 18 olive sparkle duns.

Middle of the day is the perfect time to nymph the lower Owens River with baetis nymph patterns.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Mid-day mayfly and midge hatches have the Interpretive Site trout feeding on the surface. A will placed dry fly that gets a drag free drift will fool the selectively feeding trout. Fish with size 20 Adams parachutes, size 20 blue wing olive parachutes, size 20 olive sparkle duns, size 20 Griffiths gnats, size 20 Adams midges and size 20 CDC midges. Nymphing with size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 Frenchie’s, size 18 green/gold brassies, size 18 brassies, size 18 tiger and zebra midges, size 18 pheasant tail paranymphs, size 18 olive quill RS2 and size 16 Duracell will produce trout feeding on the substrate on nymphs and in the water column for emergers.

The deep holes and riffles in the Interpretive site is where you will find the trout feeding on blue wing olive mayflies and midge mid-day.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

Weed beds and low water flows makes nymphing in the Canyon Section of Hot Creek tough. The trout are there if you can get your flies to the trout. Working the deeper holes and riffles are easier with nymphs than the weed beds. Fish with size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 Frenchies, size 18 green/gold brassies, size 18 brassies, size 18 tiger and zebra midges, size 18 pheasant tail paranymphs, size 18 olive quill RS2 and size 16 Duracell will fool the trout feeding on emergers and nymphs. Dry flies are easier to fish in and around the weed beds with minimal snagging of the weeds. Fish with size 20 Adams parachutes, size 20 blue wing olive parachutes, size 20 olive sparkle duns, size 20 Griffiths gnats, size 20 Adams midges and size 20 CDC midge.

The dirt roads to access the upper Owens River are drivable and the trophy trout are in the deep holes, deep runs and cut banks resting and feeding.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

The main dirt road above Benton Crossing Bridge is in fine shape. The spur roads off the main road leading out to the river have lots of mud and the occasional pool of water. It’s slippery driving and if you’re not careful it’s easy to mess up and get stuck in the mud. Trophy rainbows and the occasional brown trout continue to be the trout sought after by fly fishers. Nymphing up stream of Benton Crossing Bridge is good particularly the farther upstream you go. Fish with size 12 stone nymphs, size 12 green/gold wire prince nymphs, size 12 gold ribbed hare’s ears variations and size 14 copper John’s for the trophy trout. Fishing with eggs, San Juan worms and mop flies are producing trophy trout for some anglers. Fishing for the resident trout use size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and size 16 bead head flash  back gold ribbed hare’s ears. For anglers moving down stream fishing with streamers cover lots of water to offer your streamer to those trophy fish wanting a bigger meal. Fish with size 6 or 10 slumpbusters, wooly buggers, matukas and balanced leeches.

Bishop Creek Canal got dredged last week, but trout this week are taking nymphs like an olive quilldigon and stoner nymph.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

Bishop Creek Canal was dredged last week by the Department of Water and Power. This has opened up the canal making it easier to nymph now that the weeds and tulles have been removed. Nymphing on a Tenkara rod, Euro nymphing and indicator nymphing with size 12 stoner nymphs, size 16 Frenchie’s, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 Duracell nymphs, size 18 green/gold brassies and size 18 midges in zebra and tiger coloration are the nymphs that are producing trout. Best fishing has been mid-day from 10:00 to 2:00. Nymphing is producing wild and stocked brown and rainbow trout from seven to 12 inches.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 11-27-2025

Thanksgiving weekend will be a great time to be in the Eastern Sierra fly fishing. Thanksgiving day and Friday will be great fall weather. Look for slightly cooler days and maybe precipitation next week. Warm days and good fishing is in store for Thanksgiving fly fishers visiting the Eastern Sierra. Trophy trout, resident trout and juvenile trout are feeding on dry flies, nymphs and streamers. Mayflies and midges are the primary insects that are feeding the trout. Still seeing a few caddis on Eastern Sierra Waters.

Sunny days and fall weather, jackets in the morning and evening, two light layers during the day, and trout feeding on dries and nymphs makes this the perfect time to be fly fishing in the Eastern Sierra.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Mornings are cold enough to wear a sweat shirt. Mid-day is warm enough for a T-shirt and a wicking layer. A mid-day mayfly hatch has the trout feeding on the surface and on the substrate. On the surface fish with a size 18 Adams parachute, size 18 blue wing olive parachute and a size 18 olive sparkle dun. On the substrate fish with a size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph, size 18 olive quilldigon, size 18 Frenchies, size 16 Duracell, size 18 olive quill RS2 and size 12 stoner nymph. Rainbows and browns from 17 inches to four inches are the trout fly fishers are catching in the lower Owens River. Roads are drying out with one or two deep puddles to drive through on Chalk Bluff Road.

Trout from four to 17 inches have been feeding all day on mayfly nymphs and dries.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

The warm weather has melted most of the snow at the Interpretive sight. Fishing with nymphs and dries is producing trout for the fly fisher fishing mid-morning. Nymphing with size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 Frenchies, size 18 brassies, size 18 green/gold brassies and midge nymphs in size 18 in zebra and tiger coloration is fooling wild brown and rainbow trout to 14 inches.

It does not take long for the warm weather to melt the snow on Hot Creek in the fall.

 Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

The weed beds are breaking up making it easier to nymph fish in the Canyon Section of Hot Creek. Look for the openings in the weed beds, the riffle sections and deeper pools to fish you nymphs in. Fish with size 18 midges in zebra and tiger colorations, size 18 brassies, size 18 green/gold brassies, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and size 12 olive scuds. If there is enough trout feeding on the surface use size 20 blue wing olive parachutes, size 20 Adams parachutes and size 18 Griffiths gnats.

Sometimes it’s better to fish the inside bend instead of the outside bend of the river on the Upper Owens River.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Dirt roads above Benton Crossing Bridge are drying out from the melting snow. Watch out for the mud as its slippery and easy to get stuck in with your vehicle. Trophy rainbows continue to offer the best opportunity for catching trophy trout. There are a few trophy brown trout still in the system being caught. Fish with size 12 stoner nymphs, size 12 green/gold wire Prince nymphs, size 12 gold ribbed hare’s ear variations, size 14 copper John’s, size 12 Duracell’s and size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs in the deep holes, deep runs and cut banks where the trophy trout are resting and feeding. Fishing with streamers is producing trophy trout for fly fishers fishing with size 6 and 10 wooly buggers, size 10 balanced leeches, size 6 and 10 olive slumpbusters and size 6 and 10 olive or yellow matukas. The Owens River below Benton Crossing Bridge is closed.

City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has dredged the canal and has slowed down fly fishing.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

City of Los Angels Department of Water and Power has dredged Bishop Creek Canal. This has temporarily slowed down the fly fishing in the canal. The trout are still there, but with most of the weed beds gone the trout are wary as they have no ware to hide. Prior to the dredging the trout were feeding on small mayfly nymphs and dries. On the surface the trout were taking size 20 Adams parachutes, size 20 blue wing olive parachutes and size 20 olive sparkle duns. Under the surface a size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph, size 18 olive quilldigon, size 16 Duracell and size 16 Frenchie’s have been fooling the canal trout. Bishop Creek Canal is under winter regulations catch and release with barbless lures and flies through the Friday preceding the last Saturday in April.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 11-20-2025

Winter has come to the Eastern Sierra this week. Owens Valley got snow that did not last more than one morning. Upper elevations waters have snow on the ground and limited access. Backcountry waters are frozen up for the winter and will not thaw until late spring or early summer. Expect warming over the weekend. Rain and snow has kept most fly fishers off the water. For those fly fishers equipped to handle the weather are being rewarded with fish. This weekend should see the Eastern Sierra dry out and offer good fall days on the water. Eastern Sierra waters are now under winter regulations. Most moving waters are now catch and release barbless lures and flies. Resort lakes are closed tell April. All other lakes are open to year round fishing. Mayflies and midges are the insects trout will be feeding on all winter. Time to stock up on midge nymphs, blue wing olive dry flies and baetis nymphs.

The best part of a winter storm in the Eastern Sierra is when the sun comes out and the trout are feeding.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Rain and snow during the week has slowed down the fly fishers fishing on the wild trout section of the lower Owens River. Those dressed for the conditions are finding trout taking their nymphs. Weekend is supposed to dry out and fly fishing should be good with both nymphs and dries. Mid-day mayfly hatches have the trout feeding on the substrate and on the surface. For nymphs fish with size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 Frenchie’s and size 18 olive quill RS2. On the surface fish size 18 Adams parachutes, size 18 blue wing olive parachutes and size 18 olive sparkle duns. Fly fishers are landing four inch to 16 inch wild rainbows and browns.

An afternoon of fly fishing the lower Owens River as the storm brews up in the mountains..

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

We are heading into winter and midges and baetis mayflies will be the active insects the trout will be feeding on. The key to success as we head into winter will be placing the flies right in front of the trout. As the water temperatures drop the trout’s calorie intake decreases. Make lots of casts with your flies to areas you know are holding fish. Fish with size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 brassies, size 18 green/gold brassies, size 18 tiger midges, size 18 zebra midges and size 18 blood midges. Carry size 20 Adams parachutes, size 20 blue wing olive parachutes and size 20 Griffiths gnats for those times the trout are feeding on the surface.

Snow on the ground in Hot Creek Canyon has slowed access to the creek, but the trout continue to feed on nymphs and dries..

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

The cold weather and lack of daylight is helping to break up the weed beds in the canyon section of Hot Creek. Nymphing with size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 Frenchie’s, size 18 green/gold brassies and size 20 midges in tiger and zebra coloration is producing eight to 10 inch wild rainbows and browns. On overcast days look for hatching blue wing olive mayflies and midges. On the surface fish with size 20 Adams parachutes, size 20 blue wing olive parachutes, size 20 olive sparkle duns.

Nymphing with size 12 stoner nymphs are fooling trophy rainbow trout in the upper Owens River like this one laying in the river in the net.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Access is limited with the snow on the roads leading out to the upper Owens River. Highly suggest using four wheel drive vehicles to access the upper Owens River. Remember if you get stuck you will need to call Frosty4Wheeler at (760) 625-4537. Trophy rainbows are providing most of the action for fly fishers. Fishing the deep runs, deep pools and cut banks with size 12 green/gold Prince nymphs, size 12 stoner nymphs, size 12 gold ribbed hare’s ears variations, size 14 copper John’s and size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs are fooling the trophy trout that are resting and feeding on their journey up the river. The Owens River below Benton Crossing Bridge is closed.

Hold over rainbow trout are taking size 18 pheasant tail nymphs and size 12 stoner nymphs..

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

Drizzle and rain has slowed down the mid-day hatch of mayflies that have juvenile rainbows and  brown trout coming to the surface. Dry fly fishing should be good over the weekend as the Owens Valley dries out from the week’s storms. On the surface fish with a size 20 Adams parachute, size 20 blue wing olive parachute and a size 16 Adams parachute, as your indicator fly. Nymphing under an indicator or with a Euro nymph rig is producing wild brown trout and stocked rainbow trout. Nymph with size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 Frenchie’s, size 18 olive quill RS2’s and midges in size 20 in zebra and tiger coloration. Bishop Creek Canal is under winter regulations catch and release with barbless lures and flies through the Friday preceding the last Saturday in April.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 11-13-2025

Is this the end of Indian summer in the Eastern Sierra as a storm is expected to hit the Eastern Sierra this weekend? This storm is expected to leave snow on the ground above 7,000 feet. The real question, is the weather going to warm up again after the storm? Great weather, good fly fishing and the last full weekend of the regular fishing season saw lots of fly fishers taking advantage of Eastern Sierra fly fishing opportunities last weekend. Some waters were crowded for this time of the year. Spawning fish moving up the tributaries from lakes are offering good fall fly fishing for brook trout and brown trout. Midges, mayflies and caddisflies continue to feed trout on the surface and the substrate. Be aware that Saturday November 15th, 2025 is the last day of the regular fishing season. Winter regulations go into effect on Sunday November 16th, 2025.

 If you want firsthand information on Eastern Sierra fly fishing join locals and visitors every Tuesday at Mahogany Smoked Meats for Tuesday Talks with Fred from 9:00 to 11:00 A.M.

Fall in the Eastern Sierra is the perfect time to be fly fishing especially the upper Owens River looking for trophy trout.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Mayflies are hatching mid-day and the trout are feeding on the nymphs and the adults. There are lots of five to 15 inch wild brown and rainbow trout feeding in the riffles and pools. The words out that the fly fishing on the lower Owens River is good and there are lots of fly fishers taking advantage of the current fly fishing conditions and warm weather on the weekend. Nymphing with size 18 olive quill nymph, size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 Frenchies, size 18 olive quilldigon and size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph are the nymphs that are fooling the trout. On the surface fish with size 18 olive sparkle duns, size 18 Adams parachutes and size 18 blue wing olive parachutes to fool six to 12 inch rainbows and browns. Whether fishing with dries or nymphs an upstream cast with a drag free drift is going to produce more fish.

Fall is the perfect time to enjoy the lower Owens River with warm days and trout feeding on nymphs and dries.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Snow this weekend could hamper access to the Interpretive Site. Snow and cloudy days make the blue wing olive hatch more intense. Be on the creek by nine with a size 20 olive sparkle dun, size 20 Adams parachute and size 20 blue wing olive parachute on the end of a size 6X tippet attached to nine foot 5X or 6X leader. Caddis hatches are starting to disappear, but size 20 elk hair caddis patterns should be in the fly boxes of fly fishers for those days that the caddis hatch.

Snow is expected to lightly blanket Hot Creek this weekend as a storm moves through the Eastern Sierra.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

Snow on the ground, weed beds are breaking up and most fly fishers are off the creek. This is the perfect time to be fly fishing in the canyon. Working nymphs in between the weed beds, in the open riffles and deeper holes is producing wild rainbows and browns to 15 inches. Fish with size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and size 18 tiger and zebra midges. Fishing with dries is the best way to fly fish. When the trout come to the surface to feed on hatching insects it’s time to switch from nymphs to dries. When the blue wing olive mayfly hatch starts fish with size 20 Adams parachutes, size 20 olive sparkle duns and size 20 blue wing olive parachutes. When the hatch is over switch back to nymphs or head off the creek in search of other waters to fly fish. The upper Owens is only 20 minutes away.

Upper Owens River trophy rainbow trout are feeding on size 12 stoner nymphs in the deep holes, deep runs and cutbanks.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Below Benton Crossing Bridge the upper Owens River closes to fishing on Saturday November 15th an hour after sunset. Fishing last weekend on the upper Owens River was crowded with fly fishers enjoying great weather, the last weekend of the regular season and fly fishing for trophy trout. Rainbows are providing most of the action for trophy trout. Occasionally a trophy brown trout will take a nymph or streamer. With all the fly fishing pressure successful fly fishers are covering lots of water looking for pods of trophy trout. With the fly fishing pressure the trout are spookier than normal. In these conditions fly fishers who can present nymphs and streamers gently on the water are more likely to catch fish. Size 12 stoner nymphs, size 12 green/gold wire Prince nymphs, size 12 gold ribbed hare’s ear variations, size 14 copper John’s and size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs are fooling the trophy trout and the occasional juvenile trout.

Working this deep hole behind the Bishop Veterinary Hospital is producing juvenile rainbows and brown on the surface with size 20 blue wing olive parachutes middle of the day.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

Fly fishers looking to catch wild juvenile trout on dry flies should fish the canal from 11:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. daily with size 20 Adams parachutes, size 20 blue wing olive parachutes, size 20 Griffith’s gnats and size 20 elk hair caddis. Fishing dries in the faster riffle sections and pools below are where the juvenile trout are feeding on the hatching mayflies, caddis and midges. Nymphing with size 12 stoner nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 12 green/gold prince nymphs, size 18 midges in tiger and zebra coloration and size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs are producing stocked rainbows from 12 to 16 inches. The stockers are spread throughout the canal. Fishing the sandy areas between the weed beds is where the nymphs are producing the bigger stocked rainbows. Starting on Sunday November 16th, 2025 the canal goes to catch and release fishing with barbless lures and flies.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 11-06-2025

As fall fades into winter there are a few warm days left to spend on the waters of the Eastern Sierra. Fall colors are in full swing in the Owens Valley. Storms moving through the Eastern Sierra are leaving snow at the tops of the mountains. Winter is right around the corner and soon there will be snow on the ground from 8,000 feet and above. Brown and brook trout are spawning in the streams. Trophy trout can be found in the tributaries to the major Eastern Sierra Lakes. Hatches, nymphs and bait fish are feeding the trout before winter sets in. Midges, mayflies and caddisflies are the insects the trout are feeding on. If you want firsthand information on Eastern Sierra fly fishing join locals and visitors every Tuesday at Mahogany Smoked Meats for Tuesday Talks with Fred from 9:00 to 11:00 A.M.

Fall is in full swing in the Owens Valley and trout in Bishop Creek Canal are taking nymphs and dries.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Mid-day hatches of mayflies are bringing a few trout to the surface, but the bulk of the trout are feeding on the emerging mayflies. A size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph, size 18 olive quilldigon, size 18 Frenchies, size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs and size 18 olive quill nymph are fooling wild rainbow and brown trout from six inches to the occasional 16 incher. For the dry fly fisher fish with size 18 blue wing olive parachutes, size 18 Adams parachutes and size 18 olive sparkle duns. Key to success is to wade in the river fishing up stream thoroughly covering the water from one bank to the other. Where there is a riffle leading into a pool cast your flies a foot or so into the riffle and let the water present the flies to the fish in the pool.

Working nymphs off the riffle into a pool is how the fly fishers imitates the action of the larval insects .

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Blue wing olive mayflies are now the predominate hatch in the Interpretive Site of Hot Creek. Start the morning casting size 20 blue wing olive parachutes, size 20 Adams parachutes and size 20 olive sparkle duns upstream with a drag free drift. Mid-morning switch to a size 20 gray elk hair caddis, size 20 parachute caddis and size 20 X-caddis. Key to success is seeing your flies and getting a drag free drift.

Hot Creek Canyon is easiest fished with a dry fly in and around the narrow lanes in between the weed beds.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

As the amount of day light shortens the weed beds in Hot Creek Canyon begin to break up. Fly fishers still have to contend with the narrow lanes between the weed beds and drift their flies in those narrow lanes. Nymphing is tough with all the weeds in the creek. Look for spots without weeds, next to the banks and the deep holes. For nymphs fish with size 18 tiger and zebra midges, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and size 18 olive quilldigons. Dry flies drift over the weed beds better than the nymphs. Fish with size 20 blue wing olive parachutes, size 20 Adams parachutes and size 20 olive sparkle duns. For those anglers that can’t see the tiny size 20 dry flies fish with a dry and dry rig. I like to use a size 16 Adams parachute as my indicator fly.

Rusty Echeverria used a small white streamer to fool this upper Owens River rainbow.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Fly fishers nymphing and stripping streamers continue to find trophy brown and rainbow trout willing to take their flies. The fish are spread out from Crowley Lake to Arcularius Ranch. The key to success is covering lots of water looking for pods of trophy trout in the deep holes, deep runs and cut banks. Fish nymphs under an indicator or with a Euro rig. Nymph with size 12 stoner nymphs, size 12 green/gold wire Prince nymphs, size 12 gold ribbed hare’s ear variations, size 14 copper John’s and size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs. Cast streamers downstream and stirp them up stream. Work them at different levels in the water column and strip them in with different types of retrieves. Streamer with matukas, wooly buggers, slumpbusters, balanced leeches and marabou muddlers in sizes 6 and 10.

Hatchery rainbow trout put up a good fight on the Tenkara rod rigged with a two fly nymph rig on Bishop Creek Canal.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

This is the perfect time of year to be fishing on Bishop Creek Canal as the trees are in prime fall colors and the trout are feeding on nymphs and adults. Nymphing with size 12 stoner nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 12 green/gold wire Prince nymphs, size 18 midges in tiger and zebra coloration and size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs are producing stocked rainbows and wild brown trout. The afternoon mayfly hatch is bringing only a few fish to the surface.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 10-30-2025

Perfect fall weather will be welcoming fly fishers to the Eastern Sierra over the next week or so. Warm days, no wind, rising fish and trophy trout make it a perfect time to come fly fish the Eastern Sierra. It will not be long before upper elevation waters will be covered with snow. So now is the time to fly fish high country lakes and streams for spawning brown and brook trout. Trophy trout are migrating out of the lakes into the streams to spawn. Hatches of mayflies, midges and caddisflies are feeding trout on the substrate and on the surface.

Fall in the Eastern Sierra is the time to be looking for trophy trout like this rainbow trout from the upper Owens River.

East Walker River:

Flows are back up to 60 CFS which is low, but fishable. Season ends in two weeks on November 15th.

Fly fishers have two weeks to explore the fly fishing opportunities of the East Walker River before it closes on November 15, 2025.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Fly fishers looking for a quantity fishery will find the lower Owens River will produce good numbers of wild brown and rainbow trout nymphing. Wading upstream and casting to the riffles so your nymphs drop into the holes is where you will find the trout taking your nymphs. The key to success is having the right amount of weight in the flies or on the tippet so the flies are slowly flowing over the substrate where the trout are feeding on nymphs. For an indicator rig use a size one split shot 12 to 18 inches above the fly and the indicator six feet above the fly. Indicators go 1.5 to 2 times the average depth of water above the fly. For nymphs fish with size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 SOS nymphs and size 18 midges in tiger and zebra coloration. A size 20 blue wing olive parachute, size 20 Adams parachute and size 20 sparkle dun will produce a few trout on the surface mid-day.

New fly fisher Luca Burns with a nice lower Owens River rainbow that took a size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph under an indicator.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

The Interpretive Site is the place to fly fish with dry flies in the morning. Look for the trico hatch in the morning followed by a blue wing olive hatch and a caddis hatch. Start the morning with a size 22 trico female parachute. Then switch to a size 20 blue wing olive parachute. Finish the morning session with a size 20 gray elk hair caddis. Fish the dry flies on a nine foot 5X leader and three feet of 6X tippet. When the hatch is over it’s time to find a new water to fly fish like head over to the upper Owens River.

Hot Creek Canyon is offering nymphing and dry fly fishing opportunities in the mornings.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

The weed beds are slowly starting to break up. Before and after the hatch try nymphing in the lanes between the weed beds and in the holes. Use size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quill RS2 and size 18 tiger and zebra midges to fool the wild rainbows and brown trout feeding on the substrate. In the morning there are hatches of mayflies and caddis. Fish with size 20 blue wing olive parachutes, size 20 gray elk hair caddis and size 22 female trico parachutes on the surface to fool the trout taking dries.

A rare photo of Fred Rowe catching trophy rainbow trout on the upper Owens River. Photo by Brian Chastain

 Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

This is the time of year when trophy brown and rainbow trout from Crowley Lake migrate up the Owens River. The fish are in the river and taking nymphs and streamers. Nymph with size 12 stoner nymphs, size 12 green/gold Prince nymphs, size 12 gold ribbed hare’s ear variations, size 14 copper John’s and size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs in the deep holes, deep runs and cut banks. For streamers use size 6 or 10 matukas, wooly buggers, slumpbusters and marabou muddlers stripped upstream in the deep holes, deep runs and cut banks where the trophy trout are resting and feeding. When streamer fishing fish downstream and strip upstream and cover lots of water looking for those few trout wanting to feed on your streamer. There is a morning mayfly hatch and mid-day caddis hatch that resident six to 12 inch trout are feeding on. In the morning fish with size 20 trico female parachutes, size 20 Adams Parachutes, size 20 blue wing olive parachutes and size 20 blue wing olive sparkle duns. Mid-day fish with size 18 or 20 elk hair caddis. There is very little water left from the storm two weeks ago on the dirt roads.

Figuring out what the trout were feeding on and putting on a size 20 blue wing olive parachute produced several juvenile rainbows and browns on Bishop Creek Canal.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

This time of the year is perfect to be on the waters of the Owens Valley. Bishop Creek Canal is a perfect water to fish mid-day during the fall. Mornings fish with nymphs like size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 Frenchies, size 18 green/gold brassies and size 16 midges in tiger and zebra coloration. Mid-day there is a midge and mayfly hatch bringing juvenile rainbows and brown trout to the surface. Fish with size 18 blue wing olive parachutes, size 18 Adams parachutes, size 20 Griffith’s gnat and size 20 olive midge adults.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 10-23-2025

The first winter storm has come and gone leaving lots of snow on the Sierra peaks. Dirt roads with snow have dried out for the most part. Days have warmed up and the fish are feeding on nymphs, dries and carnivorous meals like trout, crayfish and Sacramento perch. SeptOct has come and gone. If you did not make it up to the Eastern Sierra yet there is still time to take advantage of warm days, feeding fish and trophy trout willing to take the flies of fly fishers.

Fall colors are showing up in the Owens Valley and trout are feeding on mayfly adults in the early afternoon on Bishop Creek Canal.

East Walker River:

Flows are down to 20 CFS which is too low to fly fish without harming the trout. Time to quit fly fishing the East Walker tell next spring.

Low water flows concentrate the trout in the pools and pockets making them vulnerable to fly fishers and predators.

Owens River Gorge

Upper Power Plant:

October to April is prime time to fly fish the Owens River Gorge as temperatures are not the heat of summer. The Owens River Gorge fishes like a freestone creek. A dry and dropper is a great way to fly fish the gorge. Right now the fish are ignoring the dry flies and feeding on nymphs. Fish with size 16 midges in zebra and tiger coloration, size 16 green/gold brassies, size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, size 18 bead head flash back peasant tail nymphs and size 18 olive quilldigons to catch wild brown trout to 14 inches.

Wild brown trout are taking nymphs drifted under a dry fly cast into the pockets and pools of the Owens River Gorge.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Winter time fly fishing is ongoing on the lower Owens River. Fly fishers can access areas of the river that are unwadeable at the high flows of summer time. Five inch to 18 inch trout are feeding on mayfly nymphs fished on the substrate. Use size 18 olive quilldigon, size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 SOS nymphs, size 18 tiger midges, size 18 zebra midges and size 12 stoner nymphs. Fishing with size 18 elk hair caddis, size 20 blue wing olive parachutes and size 20 Adams parachutes are producing trout on the surface during the mid-day mayfly hatch.

Alyce Saito Euro Nymphing with a Tenkara rod on the lower Owens River in the wild trout section.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Caddis and blue wing olive mayflies are the hatching insects bringing the trout to the surface of Hot Creek at the Interpretive Site. The storms moving through the Eastern Sierra are helping the blue wing olive’s hatch so be on the water on the overcast days to fish the blue wing olive hatch. Mid-day there has been caddis on the surface that the trout are feeding on. Use size 20 blue wing olive parachutes, size 20 Adams parachutes, size 20 olive sparkle duns, size 20 gray elk hair caddis and size 20 gray parachute caddis.

CDFW fisheries biologist Rosa Cox with one of the bigger brown trout caught in Hot Creek Canyon while electroshocking the river for population studies.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

California Department of Fish and Wildlife conducted electro shocking surveys on Hot Creek from October 14th to the 17th. These surveys are part of an ongoing population study of the trout populations in Hot Creek. They are performed about every five years. The weed beds in Hot Creek Canyon are just starting to break up. Hardest part of the electro shocking survey was keeping the weeds off the block nets. Trout are feeding on blue wing olive mayflies and caddisflies. Working nymphs in the mornings through the tight lanes between the weed beds and the deeper pools is producing a few trout. Fish with size 18 green/gold brassies, size 18 tiger midges, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and size 18 Frenchies. The trout have been feeding on caddis mid-day. Fish with size 20 gray elk hair caddis, size 20 parachute caddis, size 20 blue wing olive parachutes and size 20 Adams Parachutes.

Trophy trout are in the upper Owens River and are taking nymphs under an indicator and on a Euro nymphing rig.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

At the beginning of the week there was a migration of trophy rainbow trout working their way upstream to the spawning beds. These trophy trout are resting and feeding in the deep holes, deep pools and cut banks on their trip upstream to the spawning areas. These fish are taking nymphs and streamers. For the nymphs and streamers fish with size 12 stoner nymphs, size 12 green/gold Prince nymphs, size 12 gold ribbed hare’s ears variations, size 14 copper Johns, size 10 olive slupmpbusters, size 10 olive wooly buggers and size 10 yellow matuka’s. Fishing the nymphs and streamers through the outside bends of the river will produce the best drifts. Using waders allows the fly fisher to wade back and forth getting the best presentation of the fly. Not all fly fishers are looking for the trophy trout. Fishing with dry flies is producing wild brown and rainbow trout to 12 inches on size 18 elk hair caddis, size 20 parachute tricos, size 18 Adams parachutes and size 16 Royal Wulff’s. Fly fishers are not hooking every trout that takes their dry fly. Fishing dries is providing lots of surface activity and hooking and landing trout. Before the most recent storm the dirt roads of the upper Owens River were just about dried out.

Fall colors and rising trout in the afternoons is the perfect way to spend an afternoon on Bishop Creek Canal.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

In between storms is the perfect time to be out on Bishop Creek Canal fishing with nymphs and dries. Fall is the perfect weather to be spending a day fly fishing in the Owens Valley. There has been lots of six to 10 inch browns taking mayflies off the surface in the early afternoons. Fish with a size 18 blue wing olive parachute, size 18 olive sparkle dun, size 18 Adams parachute and size 18 olive sparkle duns. Nymphing continues to produce trout when nymphing with size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 green/gold brassies, size 16 tiger midges and size 16 zebra midges.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 10-16-2025

The first winter storm of the year passed through the Eastern Sierra this week leaving snow at upper elevations and rain in the Owens Valley. For now I put away the shorts, flip flops, wet wading boots and the wet wading pants. I’ve replace them with jeans, tennis shoes, waders and wading boots. It looks like we will be back to normal temperatures in the Eastern Sierra by the start of next week. These storms have a bigger effect on the fly fisher than the trout. It may take a day or two for the streams to clear all the extra water running into them. This should be a great opportunity for fall color photos of your favorite water with fresh snow on the mountain tops. The trout are feeding on mayflies, caddis flies and midges on the surface and on the substrate. If you’re into throwing those meat pattern streamers now is the time to use them looking for a big trophy trout.                                                                                                               

Hot Creek Canyon and mountain tops in the foreground with fresh snow from a storm that moved through the Eastern Sierra this week.

East Walker River:

Fly fishers continue to have good days fly fishing the East Walker River below the miracle mile section. Nymphing with size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 SOS nymphs, size 16 green/gold brassies and size 16 midges in tiger and zebra coloration are producing six to 12 inch wild brown and rainbow trout. For fly fishers looking for trophy brown trout try pulling streamers through the water. Cover lots of water and be ready for the fight from a big trout. The takes on the streamer are few, but the size makes up for it.

For fly fishers looking for a quantity day on six to 12 inch trout fish with nymphs or dries below the bridge on the East Walker River .

Owens River Gorge

Upper Power Plant:

This is a great place to fly fish if you’re willing to deal with stinging nettles, wild rose bushes, rattle snakes, wading in the river with big rocks and hiking in and out of the gorge. For those willing to put up with the Owens River Gorge will find lots of wild brown trout willing to take flies. Best way to fly fish the gorge is with a dry and dropper rig. For the dry fly use a size 16 stimulator, size 16 Adams Parachute, size 16 elk hair caddis and size 16 Royal Wulff. For the nymphs fish with size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back peasant tail nymphs, size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, size 16 green/gold brassies and size 16 midges in zebra and tiger coloration. Now is the time to fish in the gorge as summer’s heat is turning to falls mild days and cold nights.

Wading and fishing with a dry and dropper rig is the way to fly fish in the Owens River Gorge.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

The ability to wade the river safely is what makes fly fishing the river at 100 CFS good. There are lots of fish willing to take flies. Nymphing has been producing six to 12 inch wild rainbows and browns on size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 SOS nymphs, size 12 stoner nymphs and size 18 midges in tiger and zebra coloration. There are a few trophy rainbow and brown trout being landed by fly fishers fishing the right places in the river. The mid-day mayfly hatch is bringing a few fish to the surface for fly fishers looking to fish with dry flies. Use size 20 blue wing olive parachutes, size 20 Adams parachutes, size 20 olive sparkle duns and size 18 elk hair caddis.

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

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

California Fish and Wildlife conducted electro shocking surveys on Hot Creek from October 14th to the 17th. So be aware that certain sections might not fish as good as expected. The storm brough out the blue wing olive mayflies. Start the morning with size 22 trico female parachutes and switch to a size 20 blue wing olive parachute mid-morning when the blue wings show up. Have some size 20 gray caddis in your box if the trout start feeding on the caddis as they migrate up river in the mornings. Look for the hatches latter in the morning as the sun needs time to warm up the insects.

Setting up the block net before electroshocking the upper section of Hot Creek Canyon on Wednesday October 15, 2025.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

California Fish and Wildlife conducted electro shocking surveys on Hot Creek from October 14th to the 17th. So be aware that certain sections might not fish as good as expected. The weed beds are just starting to dissipate a little bit. Start the morning with a size 22 trico female parachutes. Be ready to switch to a size 20 blue wing olive parachute when the blue wing olive mayflies show up. Working a size 20 gray elk hair caddis, size 20 X-caddis and size 20 parachute caddis before and after the mayfly hatches to bring a few trout to the surface. Working the open riffles and deeper pools with nymphs will produce trout with size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 green/gold brassie and size 18 tiger and zebra midges. With the cold weather the insects have not been active tell late morning to mid-day.

This trophy trout took a size 14 Adams parachute dry fly which is rare for a big fish to feed on the surface.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

For fly fishers looking for lots of action fish with a size 20 trico parachute in the morning and switch to a size 18 elk hair caddis in the afternoon. Catching a trophy trout on the surface with a dry fly is hard to do. John Hislop of San Ramon was learning to get a drag free drift with his size 14 Adams parachute. He saw a good size trout rise and was able to make a perfect cast with a soft presentation of the parachute onto the water. The trout almost instantly took the dry fly. John did everything right when fighting this trout with help from fellow fly fishing guide Dylan Eastridge who was enjoying an afternoon of fly fishing on the upper Owens River. For those looking for trophy trout fish with size 12 stoner nymphs, size 12 green/gold Prince nymphs, size 14 cooper John’s, size 12 gold ribbed hare’s ears variations, size 10 olive wooly buggers and size 10 olive slumpbusters in the deep holes, deep runs and cut banks. Wearing waders and fishing both side of the river so you’re fishing the outside corners of the deep holes on both sides of the river is producing the trophy trout. The snow has melted and look for insects to be active mid-morning.

Bishop Creek Canal is a great place to learn new fly fishing techniques with little to no stream side vegetation to inhibit fly casting.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

For the dry fly aficionadothere is a mid-morning trico hatch that is bringing trout to the surface. Fish with a size 20 trico spinner with an upstream cast and a perfect drag free drift. After the short live spinner fall switch to a size 18 olive quilldigon, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph, size 16 SOS nymph and size 16 tiger and zebra midge drifted in the clear lanes between the weed beds. Temperatures should be back to normal for this time of the year by the weekend. In the meantime fishing a little latter in the day will give the insects a chance to become more active.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 10-09-2025

Fall weather is the best time of the year to be in the Eastern Sierra enjoying fly fishing on the lakes and streams. Now is the time of year to be throwing those big streamers that trophy trout like to munch. Trophy brown and brook trout are migrating from lakes in to the streams to spawn. Hatches of midges, caddisflies and mayflies are feeding the trout on the surface and on the substrate. Fall colors are in full swing and are starting to migrate down canyon towards the Owens Valley. Now is your final chance to get a fly fishing trip in during my favorite month Sept/Oct.

Fall is the time of year fly fisher are looking for trophy trout in the streams and rivers of the Eastern Sierra.

 East Walker River:

Flows are decreasing with the trout starting to hold in the pool and deeper pockets of the river. Pulling streamers and nymphing with indicators or Euro nymphing is producing lots of wild rainbow and brown trout from eight to 20 inches. For nymphs fish with size 16 perdigons, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and size 16 midges in tiger and zebra colorations. Olive slumpbusters, black wooly buggers, marabou muddlers and brown bunny leeches in sizes 6 and 10 stripped through the deeper holes are being attacked by the bigger trout. Size 6 or 10 Clouser swimming nymph in crayfish brown are a good imitation of the crayfish that are scurrying along the substrate of the river as you wade.

Indicator nymphing and Euro nymphing are producing lots of six to 12 inch wild brown and rainbow trout below the miracle mile section.

Lower Owens Rive

Wild Trout Section:

Flows are down to 100 CFS which means you can wade anywhere you want in the lower Owens River as long as the pools are not deeper than you are tall. The summer growth of riparian vegetation is at its fullest making it hard to access some spots. Making first trail through the tulles can be hard and requires energy and time. A mid-day mayfly hatch has trout rising to the surface. Nymphing with size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 12 stoner nymphs and size 18 midges in tiger and zebra coloration is fooling wild rainbows and brown trout for five inches to 15 inches. Fishing with Adams parachutes in size 20, blue wing olive parachutes in size 20 and elk hair caddis in size 18 are catching the surface feeding trout. Wet wadding is the cooler way to fish on the hot afternoons.

With flows at 100 CFS the lower Owens River is perfect for wading and fishing nymphs under an indicator.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

California Fish and Wildlife will be conducting electro shocking on Hot Creek in October from the 14th to the 17th. To volunteer contact Nick Buckmaster at 760-920-8391 or nick.buckmaster@wildlife.ca.gov. Getting on the creek in the morning rigged up with a size 22 trico female parachute is how you want to start your morning of fly fishing. When the trout quit taking the parachute it’s time to switch to a size 22 trico spinner. A few blue wing olive have been hatching at the tail end of the trico hatch. Fish with size 20 blue wing olive parachutes. The hatch is over by noon and time to leave the creek in search of other waters to fly fish.

Hot Creek Canyon has more weed beds and less fly fishers throwing tricos in the morning.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

California Fish and Wildlife will be conducting electro shocking on Hot Creek in October from the 14th to the 17th. To volunteer contact Nick Buckmaster at 760-920-8391 or nick.buckmaster@wildlife.ca.gov. The weed beds are just starting to dissipate as we head towards winter. Fishing in the lanes between the weeds is where you want to fishing with a size 22 female trico parachute. When the trico lay their eggs and die is when you want to be switching to a size 22 trico spinner patterns. You will know that the spinners are on the water when the trout quit feeding on your parachute pattern. After the trico hatch fly fishers have two options to fly fish for trout. First is to fish with a size 20 blue wing olive parachute if the blue wing olive hatch shows up. Second is to fish with nymphs in the tiny slots between the weeds and in the open areas in the riffles and deep pools. Fish with size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 20 SOS nymphs and size 20 midges in tiger and zebra coloration.                                                                                

Bruce Kuroyama worked hard learning how to work a Euro rig in the upper Owens River and it paid off with this wild brown trout.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Trophy rainbow and brown trout are migrating into the river in decent concentrations. Fishing the deep holes, deep runs and cut banks is where you will find the trophy trout resting and feeding. Fishing with size 12 stoner nymphs, size 12 green/gold Prince nymphs, size 12 gold ribbed hare’s ears variations and size 14 copper John’s is producing the trophy trout. Fishing with meat style streamers like mongrel meat, baby conga and drunk and disorderly will move some big fish if fly fishers cover lots of water looking for those big trophy trout looking for a big calorie meal. There is a mid-morning trico hatch with six to 10 inch trout coming to the surface to feed on size 20 trico spinners and female trico parachutes. Size 18 elk hair caddis are working in the afternoons.

Learning to fly fish on Bishop Creek Canal is about learning how to present the fly to the trout.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

A late morning trico hatch has six to 10 inch wild browns coming to the surface to feed on the trico spinners. Fish with a size 20 trico spinner on 5X monofilament tippet. Key to success is timing the drift of the fly to coincide with the rhythm of the trout. Nymphing under an indicator or with a Euro rig is producing trout when fishing with size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, size 16 green/gold brassies and size 16 midges in zebra and tiger coloration.

Fall fly fishing on Bishop Creek is all about catching the spawning brown and brook trout.

Bishop Creek Canyon

Middle Fork:

Bishop Creek is offering good fall fly fishing with a dry and dropper in Bishop Canyon. Brown trout and brook trout spawn in the fall and are spawning right now in Bishop Creek. A fall spawning brook trout is the fish you want to catch. Use a size 16 stimulator, elk hair caddis, Adams parachute and Royal Wulff for the dry fly. For the nymph use a size 16 green/gold brassie, size 16 midge in tiger or zebra coloration, size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ear, size 16 Prince nymph and size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph. Now is the time to be fly fishing on Bishop Creek with the back drop of quacking aspen.