Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 10-08-2026

We have a week left of Sept-Oct, the 15th of September through the 15th of October. Fall colors are peaking at the 8,000 foot range and higher. Brook trout are in full spawning colors and can be caught at upper elevation waters. A dry and dropper rig is producing wild brown, rainbow and brook trout in freestone streams. Articulated streamers are producing trophy trout in the rivers of the Eastern Sierra. All the Crowley Lake tributaries closed to fishing on October 1st, 2026 except the upper Owens River. Mayflies, caddis flies and midges are hatching and the trout are feeding on them.

North Lake offers fly fishers reflections of fall colors and wild brown and brook trout willing to take dry flies and nymphs.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

There are two sizes of fish to be caught in the upper Owens River right now. The trophy rainbow trout are 18 to 24 inch trout feeding on nymphs and streamers in the deep holes, deep runs and cut banks. For the nymphs use size 12 green/gold Prince nymphs, size 12 stoner nymphs, size 12 Richard’s gold ribbed hare’s ears, size 14 copper John’s, and size 14 Duracell nymphs. Fish streamer the hour before sunrise and the hour after sunset and cover lots of water only making a few casts into the spots you think are holding trophy trout. For streamers use size 6 and 10 wooly buggers, matukas and slumpbusters. Articulated streamers like mini dungeon, sculpzilla and mini peanut envy will move the big fish to chase your streamer. Hatches of blue wing olive mayflies and tricos are bringing three to six inch juvenile rainbow and browns to the surface. Fish with size 18 blue wing olive parachutes, size 16 and 18 Adams parachutes, size 20 female dun trico parachutes, size 20 trico spinners. In the afternoon winds fish with size 14 tan parachute hoppers, size 16 E/C caddis and size 16 elk hair caddis.

Early mornings are for chasing trophy trout and mid-mornings are for dry fly fishing for juvenile rainbows and brown trout.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Fishing has been tough especially with dry flies. The river is in between hatches. The trico mayfly hatch is coming to an end and the blue wing olive mayfly hatch is just starting. Start your mornings with a size 22 female trico dun parachute. Then switch to a size 22 trico spinner pattern when the trout start feeding on the trico spinners. As the trico hatch ends the blue wing olive hatch starts. Fish with a size 20 blue wing olive parachute, size 20 Adams parachute and size 20 olive sparkle duns. Nymphing with a dry and dropper rig in the holes and runs without weed beds is producing fish. Use size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and size 18 RS2’s.

Weed beds are still thick in the Hot Creek Canyon Section making it hard to fish with nymphs.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

Weed bed have not broken up yet and it’s still tough to be nymphing in the Canyon Section. Fishing is very tough in the Canyon Section right now. Fish with size 22 trico female dun parachutes, size 22 trico spinners, size 20 blue wing olive parachutes, size 20 Adams parachutes and size 20 olive sparkle duns.

Wading upstream in the Owens River gorge casting a dry and dropper rig into the holes and pockets is producing wild brown trout from six to 12 inches.

Owens River Gorge:

A dry and dropper rig is fooling fish on the surface and on the substrate. There are two ways to fish the gorge. One is to fish those sections of the river right next to road and look for entry points to fish the hole or run. Work your way upstream fishing the hole and then returning to the road to find the next spot to fly fish. The other is to put on waders and get in the river and work your way upstream casting your dry dropper rig into the holes and pockets. Use size 16 Adams parachutes, size 14 stimulators, size 16 elk hair caddis and size 14 Royal Wulff’s for the dry flies. Use size 16 green/gold brassies, size 16 tiger midges, size 16 zebra midges, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears. There are rattle snakes, rose bushes and singing nettles that fly fishers need to avoid.

With flows declining, it will not be long for the flows to be at a level fly fishers can wade into sections inundated with tulles and willows.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Water flows are fluctuating and fly fishers should check out the flows before heading out to the river at https://www.sierrabrightdot.com/water-flows-owens-river-east-walker-river. Flows at 250 CFS or less are wadable. Summer hatches are done and winter hatches are just starting. Fish the river with nymphs on a Euro rig or under and indicator. Fish 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 18 Frenchie’s, size 16 Duracell nymphs and size 12 olive burlap caddis.

The girls from Texas getting Tenkara instruction from Peter Veasey as part of Tenkara Tunuki boot camp on Bishop Creek Canal.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

There is a morning hatch of blue wing olive mayflies starting around 9:30 A.M. Fish with a size 18 blue wing olive parachute, size 18 Adams parachute, size 18 olive sparkle dun, Barr’s olive emerger and size 18 RS2’s. In the afternoon winds fish with size 12 tan stimulators, size 12 tan Chernobyl ants and size 12 tan parachute hoppers.

Finding a spot in the parking lot is tough because of all of the people enjoying the fall colors on Weir Pond.

Bishop Creek Canyon

South Fork:

Fall colors are bringing out the leaf peepers and the photographers. Bishop Creek Canyon is crowed on the weekends. If you can find a parking spot the crowds are keeping the fly fishers out of the canyon. In the fall North Lake and Weir Pond are good spots to fish with a backdrop of fall colors. Fish the flatter sections of Bishop Creek with a dry and dropper rig. Fish with a size 16 Adams parachute and size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph. Weir Pond and North Lake is midge fishing under a dry fly. Use a size 14 stimulator on top and a size 16 green/gold brassie, size 16 zebra midge and size 16 tiger midge.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 10-01-2026

It’s October and we’re half way through my favorite month Sep-Oct, the 15th of September through the 15th of October. Fall colors are peaking at 9,000 foot elevation at waters like North Lake and Rock Creek Lake. Brook trout and brown trout are spawning at upper elevations. Nothing prettier to catch in the fall than a brook trout in spawning colors. Trophy trout are leaving the lakes to enter the streams to spawn. Midges, mayflies and caddis are feeding the trout on the substrate and on the surface. Weather is unpredictable and fly fishers should carry layers to add when it’s cold and layers to peel off when it warms up.

Fall is brown trout from six inchers taking dry flies to trophy brown trout taking nymphs and streamers.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Trophy trout are migrating out of Crowley and up into the river. These are primarily rainbow trout. The brown trout are a wild run and trickle into the river a few fish at a time over a six to eight week period. Work the deep holes, deep runs and cut banks with nymphs and streamers hoping for a brown trout, but be happy with a rainbow. Work the water thoroughly before moving on to the next deep hole, deep run or cut bank looking for that trophy trout. Nymphs for trophy trout are size 12 stoner nymphs, size 12 green/gold Prince nymphs, size 12 Richard’s variation of a gold ribbed hares ear, size 14 copper John’s, and size 14 Duracell nymphs. Streamer for trophy trout are size 6 sclupzilla and size 6 and 10 slumpbusters, matukas and wooly buggers. Trico’s and blue wing olive mayflies are hatching in the mornings and the juvenile trout are feeding on the hatching duns on the surface. Use size 16 Adams parachutes, size 18 blue wing olive parachutes and size 18 olive sparkle duns. Afternoon ovipositing caddis are being feed on by the juvenile trout. Use a size 16 or 18 elk caddis in the afternoons and skitter it across the surface.

Afternoon winds and bad casts mean time to untangle you bird’s nest or time for a rerig.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

When the insects don’t hatch the trout do not come to the surface and fly fishing with dry flies is slow. The trico hatch is coming to an end and the blue wing olive hatch is just starting. Start the morning off with fishing a size 22 female trico parachute. As the hatch goes on the trout will switch from feeding on the trico duns to feeding on the spinners that fall dead on the water and offer an easy meal for the trout. For the trico spinner fall fish with a size 22 trico spinner pattern. As the trico hatch ends for the morning look for bigger mayflies on the water and switch to a size 20 blue wing olive parachute, size 20 olive sparkle dun and size 20 Adams parachutes. Nymphing with size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 tiger midges and size 18 zebra midges will produce a few trout when the hatches are not prolific.

Fly fishers have their favorite spots on Hot Creek and the pools directly above Hot Creek Ranch are a favorite of a lot of Hot Creek fly fishers.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

It’s not cold enough for the weed beds to start breaking up and it’s still tough to nymph fish in the Canyon Section of Hot Creek. Prolific hatches of mayflies and caddis are what bring the trout to the surface. Right now it’s in between the trico hatch and the blue wing olive hatch. Fish dries for an hour or two and then leave the river in search of another place to fly fish. Start the morning off fishing a size 22 female trico dun parachute, a size 22 trico spinner pattern, a size 20 gray parachute caddis, a size 20 blue wing olive parachute, size 20 olive sparkle dun and size 20 Adams parachutes. Dry fly fishing is tough right now and it’s impossible to fish nymphs in the weeds.

The key to successful fly fishing in the Owens River Gorge is access from the banks or wading up stream in the river bed.

Owens River Gorge:

Access to the Owens River Gorge opened back up on Friday September 25th, 2026. You can see the results of the flushing flows as there are log jams, debris piled on rocks and stream side vegetation is laid down. A dry and dropper is still producing lots of wild six to 12 inch brown trout. For the dry fly use a size 14 stimulator, size 16 Adams parachute and size 16 elk hair caddis. For the nymphs use a size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ear, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph, size 16 green/gold brassie, size 16 tiger midge and size 16 zebra midge. Using waders allows the fly fisher to wade upstream and fly fish sections of the river unfishable from the banks. I prefer packing my waders in and out of the gorge. Be aware of stinging nettles, rattle snakes and heat (carry lots of water).

When water flows get below 300 CFS, fly fishers will be able to access areas of the river that can only be accessed by wading into the sections lined with willows and tulles.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

We’re into October and it looks like the flows on the lower Owens River are coming down. As I’m writing this the flows are down to 380 CFS. The flow need to get below 300 CFS to safely wade the lower Owens River. Watch the flows on the Sierra Bright Dot webpage at: https://www.sierrabrightdot.com/water-flows-owens-river-east-walker-river. Once the river is wadable nymph under an indicator or with a Euro rig. Use size 18 olive quilldigons, size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 14 Duracell nymphs and size 16 rainbow warriors. Now is a great time to be fishing early and late in the day with streamers for 14 to 18 inch wild brown and rainbow trout. Fish with size 10 slumpbusters,  wooly buggers and matukas.

Bishop Creek Canal is a great spot to learn and practice on the water casts like a roll cast.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

The morning trico hatch is coming to an end. The hatch starts around 8:00 A.M. and is over by 9:30. Start fishing the trico hatch with a size 20 female trico dun parachute. Then switch to a size 20 trico spinner pattern. Afternoon winds are perfect for throwing hopper imitations like a size 12 tan parachute hopper, size 12 tan stimulator and a size 12 tan Chernobyl ant pattern.

Bishop Creek in the fall is brook trout and the yellow and golden hues of the leaves.

Bishop Creek Canyon

South Fork:

Fall colors are peaking and now is the time to be in Bishop Creek Canyon fly fishing. Fishing Weir Pond and North Lake is the perfect spot to fish a dry and dropper and enjoy the fall colors. Fall colors and spawning brook trout is what fall is all about. For the dry fly use a size 16 Adams parachute, size 14 stimulator and size 16 elk hair caddis. For the nymphs fish with size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 tiger midges, size 16 zebra midges, size 16 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and size 16 green/gold brassie.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 09-24-2026

It’s officially fall. Leaves are starting to change to tones of yellow and gold. Soon I will be raking up leaves instead of mowing the lawn. Mornings are cold enough to turn the heater on. Afternoons still require the air conditioner. It’s the start of spawning season for the brook and brown trout. Hatches of mayflies, midges and caddisflies are bringing trout to the surface. Nymphing and pulling streamers are producing trophy trout in the rivers above lakes and reservoirs. Brook trout in spawning colors is the prettiest part of fall.

Brook trout in full spawning colors means the start of fall and winter is right around the corner.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Fall is the time of the year to be on the upper Owens River. Trophy rainbow and brown trout are moving up the river from Crowley Lake. The crowds of summer are gone. The migrating trout are resting and feeding in the deep holes, deep runs and cut banks. This is where fly fishers want to present their nymphs and streamers to the feeding trophy trout. For nymphs fish them under an indicator or with a Euro rig. Use size 12 stoner nymphs, size 12 green/gold wire Prince nymphs, size 12 Richard’s variation of a gold ribbed hare’s ear, size 14 copper John’s and size 14 Duracell nymphs. Fish streamers by casting them down stream and pulling them up stream imitating the way trout and bait fish behave in the stream. Fish with size 6 sclupzilla, size 6 and 10 slumpbusters, matukas and wooly buggers. There is a morning hatch of blue wing olive mayflies and trico mayflies that the juvenile trout are feeding on, on the surface of the stream. Fish a size 16 Adams parachute, a size 18 blue wing olive parachute, size 20 female trico parachute, size 20 trico spinner to catch the trout feeding on the surface.

Trophy rainbows and brown trout are taking nymphs and streamers fished in the deep holes, deep runs and cut banks on the upper Owens River.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Morning mayfly hatches of blue wing olive and trico mayflies are bringing the trout to the surface to feed on the hatching duns. Start the morning off with fishing a size 22 female trico parachute. As the hatch goes on the trout will switch from feeding on the trico duns to feeding on the spinners that fall dead on the water and offer an easy meal for the trout. For the trico spinner fall fish with a size 22 trico spinner pattern. As the trico hatch ends for the morning look for bigger mayflies on the water and switch to a size 20 blue wing olive parachute, size 20 olive sparkle dun and size 20 Adams parachutes. There are still a few grass hoppers around and fishing a size 12 tan parachute hopper, size 12 tan stimulator and a size 12 tan Chernobyl ant will produce a few afternoon trout.

Fly fishing the upper section of Hot Creek Canyon requires accurate casts and a drag free drift to fool the finicky trout.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

Weed beds in the canyon section continue to be at full growth and making it hard for fly fishers to get a drag free drift with their dry flies. It will be about a month before enough of the weeds have died of and fly fishers can fish nymphs. For now start off the morning fishing with a size 22 trico female dun parachute. At the peak of the hatch switch to a size 22 trico spinner. As the trico mayfly hatch subsides switch to a size 20 blue wing olive parachute, size 20 Adams parachute and size 20 olive sparkle dun. Afternoon winds are a good time to throw a size 12 tan parachute hopper, size 12 tan Chernobyl ant and size 12 tan stimulator.

Owens River Gorge will reopen to access on Friday September 25th and will offer good dry and dropper fly fishing for eight to 12 inch wild brown trout.

Owens River Gorge:

Fall is the perfect time to head back into the Owens River Gorge after the summer’s heat. Explore the river from upper Gorge Power Plant to Control Power Plant. It requires a hike into the gorge. The rewards are wild brown trout from eight to 12 inches with the opportunity for the rare 18 incher. This is dry and dropper fly fishing at it’s best. The banks are overgrown with stinging nettles and rose bushes. There are two ways to fish this section of the Owens River. Wearing waders and wading upstream allows the fly fisher to avoid most of the stream side vegetation. The other method of fishing the gorge is to use the openings in the vegetation to fish from the bank. Once you cover one hole move back to the trail or road to find a new hole to present your flies to. Fish with size 14 stimulators, size 16 Adams parachutes, size 16 elk hair caddis and size 14 Royal Wulff’s for the dry fly. For the nymph in the dry and dropper rig use size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ear, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 green/gold brassies, size 16 tiger midges and size 16 zebra midges. Expect the trout to take both your dry fly and your nymph.

Sometimes It’s the rock rip rap protecting the rivers bank from erosion that allows the fly fisher a spot to fish from the bank.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Flows continue to run too high to safely wade the river and fly fishers are stuck finding a spot to fly fish the river from the bank. A good portion of the wild trout section of the lower Owens River is inundated with willows and tulles making it impossible to fly fish from the bank. With lots of willow sticks to snag your nymphs on the bottom I prefer to fly fish with streamers and dry flies at high flows. An hour before sunrise and an hour after sunset is the perfect time to be casting muddler minnows, slumpbusters, matukas and wooly buggers in size 6 and 10 downstream and strip them upstream against the current imitating the natural behavior of fish in moving water. For dry flies fish with size 18 caddis, size 18 Adams parachutes and size 18 blue wing olive parachutes. River is tough to fly fishing right now.

Early mornings look for trout rising to the surface feeding on the hatching trico female duns and trico spinners.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

Carry a thermometer and check afternoon water temperature looking to stop catch and release fly fishing when the water temperature breaks the 70 degree mark. In the mornings from 8:00 to 9:30 A.M. there is a trico hatch bringing wild brown trout to the surface feeding on the trico duns and trico spinners. Use a size 20 female trico dun parachute and switch to a size 20 trico spinner pattern when the trout are still rising, but refusing your parachute pattern. Fish in the afternoon winds with a size 12 tan parachute hopper, size 12 tan Chernobyl ant and size 12 tan stimulator.

Bishop Creek is bush whacking looking for the pools and pockets where the trout are staying out of the current feeding on whatever insects drift by.

Bishop Creek Canyon

South Fork:

Fall colors are about to peak at the upper end of Bishop Creek Canyon around the areas of South Lake and North Lake. This is prime time fly fishing for spawning brook trout. These fish will take dry flies and nymphs. Work up the creek looking for pools and pockets where the trout are feeding. Use size 14 stimulators, size 16 elk hair caddis and size 16 Adams parachutes for the dry fly. For nymphs use size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, size 16 Prince nymphs, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 green/gold brassies, size 16 zebra midges and size 16 tiger midges.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 09-17-2026

My favorite time of the year is here Sept-Oct. The 15th of September to the 15th of October is the best time of the year to be fly fishing in the Eastern Sierra. Fall colors are starting at high elevations. Trout are feeding on hatches of mayflies, caddis and midges on the surface and on the substrate. This is meat fly fishing time of the year with your favorite streamer patterns for trophy brown and rainbow trout. Water temperatures are cooling off and Hoot Owl regulations are over for the year. Fall frost has not happened yet and there are still hoppers and mosquitoes out there.

With the heat of summer behind us fly fishing in the Owens River Gorge is a perfect place to spend an afternoon fishing a dry and dropper rig for wild brown trout.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

A morning trico and blue wing olive mayfly hatch have four to six inch juvenile trout feeding on the surface. The juvenile trout are taking size 20 female trico dun parachutes, size 18 blue wing olive parachutes and size 16 Adams parachutes. This is a great time to be fly fishing with dry flies especially for beginners. The morning hatches are over by noon time and the wind is coming up around noon. Trophy trout are starting to show up in the river. Nymphing under an indicator or with a Euro rig is producing trophy trout. Use size 12 stoner nymphs, size 12 green/gold Prince nymphs, size 14 copper John’s, size 14 Richard’s variation of a gold ribbed hare’s ear and a size 14 Duracell nymph. Streamers, particularly early and late in the day are producing trophy fish. Use size 10 wooly buggers, size 10 slumpbusters, size 6 sclupzilla and size 10 muddler minnows. The trophy trout are resting and feeding in the deep holes, deep runs and cutbanks.

Trophy rainbows are starting to show up in the upper Owens River above Benton Crossing Road.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

After the morning mayfly hatch and caddis migration try fly fishing with hoppers. Softly land a size 12 tan parachute hoppers, size 12 tan stimulator and size 12 tan Chernobyl ants casting the hoppers into the wind against the bank. The morning caddis migration, trico mayfly hatch and blue wing olive mayfly hatch are bringing eight to 12 inch wild browns and rainbows to the surface. Fish with size 20 Adams parachute, size 20 blue wing olive parachute, size 20 sparkle dun in olive, size 20 gray parachute caddis, size 20 gray elk hair caddis, size 20 gray E/C caddis, a size 22 trico female dun parachute and a size 22 trico spinner.

Mornings are the perfect time to be fly fishing with dry flies in the pools in the Interpretive Site of Hot Creek.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

The canyon has water with a stepper gradient providing reactive hits from the trout. This  means your presentation and fly pattern does not have to be as perfect as it is in the Interpretive Site. Weed beds continue to hamper fly fishers drag free drifts. Fish the tiny lanes in between the weeds or the holes and riffles with no weeds even though they are few and far between in the Canyon Section. In the morning start off with the caddis migration and getting a drag free drift with a size 20 gray E/C caddis, size 20 gray elk hair caddis and size 20 gray parachute caddis. The trico hatch comes off at about the same time as the caddis migration. Use size 22 trico female parachute patterns and then switch to a size 22 trico spinner pattern when the trout start keying in on the dead trico spinners on the water. Look for a blue wing olive mayfly hatch late in the morning as the trout are finishing up taking the trico spinners on the water. Use size 20 blue wing olive parachutes, size 20 olive sparkle duns and size 20 Adams parachutes. In the afternoon winds fish by gently landing size 12 tan Chernobyl ants, size 12 tan stimulator and size 12 tan parachute hoppers as not to spook the skittish trout of Hot Creek.

Owens River Gorge is going to be closed for seven days from September 17 to September 24th for flushing flows.

 Owens River Gorge:

With the summer heat behind us now is the time to be hiking in and out of the gorge to fly fish a dry and dropper rig. This is a tail water fishery that fishes like an opportunistic water. A size 14 stimulator with a size 16 tiger midge, size 16 disco midge and size 16 green/gold brassie are the flies that are fooling wild brown trout to 12 inches. The gorge will fish good until the heat of summer keeps fly fishers out of the gorge.

Finding banks where fly fishers can cast dry flies and streamers is the way to fly fish the lower Owens River with summer flows at 500 CFS.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Flows have not dropped and I don’t expect to see them drop until October. With the cooler weather still check water temperatures, but I think we are done with voluntary Hoot Howl regulations.  In the meantime fly fishing early and late in the day with streamers and dry flies are producing trout. Use size 6 and 10 wooly buggers, matukas and slumpbusters. For dry flies fish with size 18 elk hair caddis, size 18 E/C cadis and size 18 Adams parachutes.

Early mornings look for trout rising to the surface feeding on the hatching trico female duns and trico spinners.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

I’m still checking afternoon water temperatures to be sure they’re under the 70 degree mark. The morning trico hatch is short lived and is taking place between 8:00 A.M. and 9:30 A.M. Start fishing with a size 20 female trico dun parachute and then switch to a size 20 trico spinner pattern when the trout stop taking your parachute pattern. Fish in the afternoon winds with a size 12 gray parachute hopper, size 12 Chernobyl ant and size 12 tan stimulator if the water temperatures are under the 70 degree mark.

Fishing in and around the vegetation looking for the pocket and pools is where you want to fish dry flies and a dry and dropper rig in Bishop Creek.

Bishop Creek Canyon

South Fork:

Fishing in the afternoons with a backdrop of yellows and golds is a great way to be fly fishing on Bishop Creek. Using a size 16 Adams parachute, size 16 elk hair caddis, size 14 Royal Wulff and size 14 stimulator for the dry fly and size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ear nymph, size 16 Prince nymph, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph, a size 16 green/gold brassie and size 16 midges in zebra and tiger coloration in your dry and dropper rig are the flies that are producing wild brown trout and stocked rainbow trout. Fishing with size 12 tan parachute hoppers, size 12 tan stimulator and size 12 tan Chernobyl ants is imitating the hoppers that are getting blown in to the creek.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 09-10-2026

The summer heat wave is behind us. A voluntary Hoot Owl Regulation continues for Eastern Sierra waters. Be sure to check water temperatures in the afternoons and quit catch and release fly fishing when the temperatures approach the 70 degree mark. Fall is right around the corner and offers the best fly fishing of the year. Trophy trout are entering the rivers to reproduce. High country trout are putting on weight and will eat almost any fly properly presented to them. The trees will be turning shades of yellow, orange and the occasional red. Hatches of mayflies, caddis and midges will bring trout to the surface. Hoppers are finding their way into the waters and the trout are feeding on them. The first frost of the year will remove the mosquitoes. Fall offers the best fly fishing opportunities of the whole year.

Fall colors represent the best time of the year to be fly fishing on the waters of the Eastern Sierra.

San Joaquin River

At Reds Meadows:

Access is limited to Thursday through Sunday and there is only one campground open. Fishing for wild rainbow, brook and brown trout is fun using a dry fly or a dry and dropper rig. Be prepared to hike to the river as you have to park outside the campgrounds and walk into the river. What the fish lack in size they make up for in quantity. Expect 10 to 30 six to 10 inch trout, with anything over 10 inches a big trout. Use size 14 Royal Wulff’s, size 14 Adams parachutes, size 14 elk hair caddis and size 14 stimulators for dry flies. Size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, size 14 Prince nymphs, size 16 stoner nymphs, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and size 16 midges in zebra or tiger coloration are the nymphs that consistently produce trout. The best fly to use on the San Joaquin River is your favorite dry fly as you will fish it with confidence and catch more trout because of your confidence.

The San Joaquin River is open on weekends and offers a solitude fly fishing experience for wild brown, brook and rainbow trout.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Water temperatures have cooled off, but still check the water temperatures in the afternoons and quit catch and release fly fishing when water temperatures climb over 70 degrees. There is a morning trico hatch that the wild young of the year trout are feeding on. Use a size 20 female trico dun parachute pattern and switch to a size 22 trico spinner pattern if the trout refuse your trico parachute pattern late into the hatch. There is a blue wing olive hatch on at the end of the trico hatch. Switch to a size 16 blue wing olive parachute, size 16 Adams parachute and a size 16 olive sparkle dun. There are a few trophy trout being caught, but they are not in the river in consistent numbers yet. Early mornings and late evenings are a great time of the day to be pulling streamers for trophy trout. Use size 10 wooly buggers, size 10 slumpbusters, size 6 sclupzilla and size 10 muddler minnows.

Morning mayfly hatches are offering consistent dry fly action for fly fishers making a drag free drift for six to 10 inch wild rainbows and browns on the upper Owens River.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Morning hatches are offering fly fishers good dry fly fishing opportunities with hatches of blue wing olive mayflies and trico mayflies. Most mornings start off with a caddis migration quickly followed by the trico mayflies and then as the trico hatch subsides the blue wing olive mayflies start to hatch. Start your morning fishing with a size 20 gray parachute caddis, size 20 gray elk hair caddis and size 20 gray E/C caddis. Then switch to a size 22 trico female dun parachute to imitate the hatching trico duns. As the mayflies molt into the spinner switch to a size 22 trico spinner pattern. You will know when to switch to the spinner pattern when the trout quit feeding on your parachute pattern. Late in the morning when you see bigger mayflies on the water switch to a size 20 Adams parachute, size 20 blue wing olive parachute and a size 20 sparkle dun in olive. The morning hatches are done before noon. Once the winds come up try presenting a hopper pattern gently on the water. Hot Creek trout spook if you slap the hopper on the water. Fish with a size 12 tan parachute hoppers, size 12 tan stimulator and size 12 tan Chernobyl ants casting the hoppers into the wind against the banks.

Hot Creek can be fun in the afternoons when hoppers are being blown onto the water in the Canyon Section.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

Full growth weed beds make fishing the canyon section tough. The key to success is to drift dry flies in the tiny channels between the weeds. Fish with size 22 trico spinners and size 22 female trico dun parachutes to imitate the trico mayflies. Mornings start off with the caddis migration and getting a drag free drift with a size 20 gray parachute caddis, size 20 gray elk hair caddis and size 20 gray E/C caddis will fool the trout feeding on the migrating caddis. When the hoppers make their way onto the water in the afternoon winds it’s time to put on a size 12 tan parachute hoppers, size 12 tan stimulator and size 12 tan Chernobyl ants. When fishing hoppers be sure to land your hopper patterns gently on the water not spooking the skittish trout of Hot Creek.

The key to fly fishing the lower Owens River at flows over 300 CFS is to find banks that are not inundated with willows and tulles to fly fish from.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

The lower Owens River is still flowing high and is under voluntary Hoot Owl restrictions. Still check the water temperatures in the afternoons and quit catch and release fly fishing when water temperatures climb over 70 degrees. Nymphs are hard to fish in the river at high flows as they tend to hang up on debris on the substrate. Fish the first and last hour of the day with streamers to find bigger trout. Use size 6 and 10 wooly buggers, slump busters, matukas and a size 6 sclupzilla articulated streamer. Evening caddis hatches bring the trout to the surface and fly fishing with size 18 elk hair caddis, size 18 parachute caddis and size 18 E/C caddis will fool the caddis feeding trout. Look for flows to come down end of this month or beginning of October.

Labor Day Crowds flocked to the Canal with little success and afternoon water temperatures over 70 degrees.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

Bishop Creek Canal is still under voluntary Hoot Owl regulations as afternoon water temperatures are over the 70 degree mark. Late in the morning before water temperatures climb to unfishable temperatures try fishing with a size 12 tan parachute hoppers, size 12 tan stimulator and size 12 tan Chernobyl ants. Early in the morning fish with size 20 female dun trico parachutes, size 20 trico spinners, size 20 blue wing olive parachutes and size 20 Adam parachutes.

Pockets and pools is where fly fishers want to fish there dry and dropper rig for wild brown trout from eight to 12 inches in Bishop Creek.

Bishop Creek Canyon

Middle Fork:

Adult grasshoppers are flying away as you walk along the banks of Bishop Creek. Fishing with size 12 tan parachute hoppers, size 12 tan stimulator and size 12 tan Chernobyl ants is fooling the wild brown trout and the stocked rainbow trout. The best fly to use on Bishop Creek is your favorite dry fly as you will fish it with confidence and catch more trout because of your confidence. Fishing a dry and dropper rig is a great way to fool the trout in the creek. Use a size 14 stimulator, size 14 Royal Wulff, size 16 elk hair caddis and size 16 Adams parachute for the dry fly. For the nymphs in the dry and dropper rig use a size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ear nymph, size 16 Prince nymph, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph, a size 16 green/gold brassie and size 16 midges in zebra and tiger coloration. Fall colors are still a week or two away in the upper reaches of Bishop Canyon.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 09-03-2026

This yeas Labor Day Weekend looks to be cooling off with a chance of rain. We need the water and it has been a hot summer. Look for water temperatures to drop to acceptable levels and the removal of the voluntary Hoot Owl regulations as we head into Fall. Hoppers are active throughout Eastern Sierra waters in the afternoons. The well-known Eastern Sierra fly fishing spots will be crowded this week end. Do some exploring and find some out of the way spots with fewer fly fishers. Mayflies, caddisflies, grass hoppers and midges are feeding the trout in lakes and streams of the Eastern Sierra

Fall is quickly coming to Eastern Sierra high country waters like Weir Pond on the south fork of Bishop Creek.

San Joaquin River

At Reds Meadows:

This is the third year that the road into the San Joaquin River is being worked on. Due to the ongoing road construction access to the river is restricted to Thursday through Sunday. This is classic freestone fly fishing for rainbows, browns, brook and golden trout with dry flies or a dry and dropper rig. This is quantity fly fishing not quality. Expect 10 to 30 fish days for fish from six to 10 inches. Waders keep fly fishers warm, but if you wet wade you will need to get out of the water to warm up. For dry flies use size 14 Royal Wulff’s, size 14 Adams parachutes, size 14 elk hair caddis and size 14 stimulators. For nymphs use size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, size 14 Prince nymphs, size 16 stoner nymphs, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and size 16 midges in zebra or tiger coloration.

Mammoth and Bishop Chamber of Commerce marketing girls enjoying a little fly fishing time on the San Joaquin River at Devils Post Pile.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

With cooling temperatures fly fishers should be able to fish the river all day. Carry your thermometer and take water temperatures in the afternoons to make sure the water temp are not approaching the 70 degree mark or higher. Mornings have been good with nymphs and dries. For nymphs use 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 14 Duracell nymphs and size 18 midges in zebra and tiger coloration. For dry flies use size 20 trico female dun parachutes, size 20 trico spinners, size 18 Adams parachutes, size 18 blue wing olive parachutes,  size 16 elk hair caddis, size 16 E/C caddis, size 12 parachute caddis, size 12 Dave’s hopper and size 12 tan stimulators. Early mornings and late evenings are a great time of the day to be pulling streamers for trophy trout. Use size 10 wooly buggers, size 10 slumpbusters, size 10 sclupzilla and size 10 muddler minnows.

Afternoons are perfect for an after lunch grass hopper session as long as the water temperatures are around 65 degree or less.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Hot Creek offers the most consistent dry fly fishing in the Eastern Sierra. Tricos are the mayflies that are hatching and the trout are coming to the surface to feed on the trico duns. Start off fishing a size 22 trico female dun parachute pattern. The trico dun is what is hatching on the water in the morning before becoming the sexual mature spinner. When the trout quit taking you parachute switch to a size 22 trico spinner pattern. When the trico spinners are dun laying their eggs they die on the water offering the trout an easy meal. If you have trouble seeing the tiny flies on the water use a dry and dry rig. I like using a size 16 Adams parachute for the big dry in the dry and dry rig.

A day on Hot Creek Interpretive Site starts with a walk on the trail through the grasses leading to the pools on Hot Creek.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

Weed beds are still at full growth and making it hard for fly fishers to get a good drag free drift. The key to success in the canyon section is to get your dry flies to float through the tiny channels between the weeds. Fish with size 22 trico spinners and size 22 female trico dun parachutes to imitate the trico mayflies. Afternoons are usually slow in the canyon, but when the wind comes up and there are grass hoppers around it’s a good time to gently cast a size 12 parachute caddis, size 12 Dave’s hopper and size 12 tan stimulators.

At flows of 500 CFS fly fishers need to find places to fish from the banks to present dry flies and streamers to the brown trout of the lower Owens River.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

With temperatures expected to be in the high 80’s to low 90’s it will be time to fly fish the lower Owens River in the middle of the day. With the high flows and lots of sticks on the substrate to hang up on nymphing can be tough. An hour before sunrise and an hour before sunset is the perfect time to be on the river throwing streamers for trophy brown trout. For streamers use size 6 and 10 wooly buggers, slump busters, matukas and a size 6 sclupzilla articulated streamer. For dry flies use size 18 Adams parachutes, size 18 blue wing olives, size 18 elk hair caddis and size 18 EC caddis.

Bishop Creek Canal has been tough to fly fish as the water temperatures have been too high in the middle of the day when hoppers would be producing trout.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

A volunteer hoot owl regulation has been in effect for the afternoons. Be sure to check the water temperatures starting around noon and quit catch and release fly fishing when the temperatures are approaching the 70 degree mark. Grass hoppers have been very active in the afternoons, but the water temperatures have been too hot to catch and release fish. With cooler temperatures in the forecast afternoon hopper fly fishing should be good. Fish with size 12 Dave’s hopper, size 14 tan stimulator, size 12 chubby Chernobyl and tan size 12 parachute hopper. Fly fish in the mornings with size 20 trico spinners, size 20 female trico dun parachutes, size 20 blue wing olive mayflies and size 20 Adams parachutes.

Bush whacking and finding the pools and pocket waters where the trout are living is where to fish a grass hopper pattern or a dry and dropper rig.

Bishop Creek Canyon

South fork:

Fall colors are still a few weeks off and the flows in the creek are perfect for fly fishing with dries and a dry dropper rig. Walking along the banks is kicking up grass hoppers. The trout are feeding on the hoppers and fly fishers should use a size 12 parachute hopper, size 14 tan stimulator and a size 12 Dave’s hopper. A dry and dropper rig is fooling lots of wild browns, rainbows and brook trout. For the dry fly use a size 14 stimulator, size 16 Adams Parachute, size 14 Royal Wulff and a size 16 elk hair caddis. For the nymphs use a size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ear, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph, size 16 Prince nymph, size 16 green/gold brassies and size 16 midges in tiger and zebra coloration.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 08-27-2026

As we head into September and Labor Day the heat of August continues. A voluntary Hoot Owl restriction is in place for catch and release fishing on several Eastern Sierra waters including Crowley Lake, upper Owens River, lower Owens River, Bishop Creek Canal, Bridgeport Reservoir and East Walker River. Carry a thermometer and take the temperature for the water you are fishing. Hatches of mayflies, caddisflies and midges are feeding trout on the surface and on the substrate. Grass hoppers can be found in the vegetation and meadows around the waters in the Eastern Sierra. Some of the hopper waters are too hot in the afternoons to fish hopper patterns. Creeks in the Long Valley area are worth fishing in the afternoon winds with hopper patterns on creeks whose water temperatures are under 68 degrees.

Fall float tubing is quickly approaching on Crowley Lake as we head into the best fly fishing time in the Eastern Sierra, the 15th of September through the 15th of October.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Mornings and cloudy afternoons are offering good fly fishing on the upper Owens River with mayflies and caddis flies. In the mornings fish with size 16 Adams parachutes, size 18 blue wing olive parachutes, size 20 female dun trico parachutes, size 16 elk hair caddis, size 16 EC caddis and size 16 parachute caddis. Before and after the hatches nymph with size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 tiger midges and size 18 zebra midges. Fly fishers pulling streamers an hour before sunset and an hour before sunrise are taking trophy rainbows and browns. Fish with size 10 wooly buggers, size 10 slumpbusters, size 6 sclupzilla and size 10 muddler minnows to fool the trophy trout. Hoot owl voluntary regulations are still in effect. Watch the temperature on sunny days in the afternoons.

Cloudy afternoons are keeping river water temperatures down and allowing fly fishers to fish all day. on the upper Owens River

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Hot Creek at the end of summer is a tough place to fish if you cannot get a drag free drift in the tiny slots between the weed beds. In the interpretive Site fish with size 22 female trico dun parachutes, size 22 trico spinners, size 20 Adams parachutes and size 20 blue wing olive parachutes in the open runs and deeper pools. During the morning caddis migration fish with size 20 gray EC caddis, size 20 gray parachute caddis and size 20 gray X-caddis. On windy afternoons try fishing with a size 12 Dave’s hopper, size 14 tan stimulator, size 12 chubby Chernobyl and tan size 12 parachute hopper.

Hot Creek Canyon is tough to fly fish with dry flies as fly fishers need to get a drag free drift in between the narrow lanes between the weeds.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

End of August is a tough time to be fly fishing in the canyon with the weed beds at full growth. The keys to successfully fly fishing in the canyon section is to get a drag free drift and drift dry flies in the tiny lanes between the weed beds. It’s easier to drift dry flies in the deeper holes and weedless runs which are few and far between. Fish with size 20 gray EC caddis, size 20 gray parachute caddis, size 22 gray X-caddis, size 22 trico spinners and size 22 female trico dun parachutes. The grass hoppers have been active in the afternoon on the canyon walls. When fly fishing with hoppers on Hot Creek do not plop them on the water. The trout of Hot Creek spook easily. Land your hoppers gently like you do with a size 20 Adams parachute.

The key to successfully fly fishing the lower Owens River in summer is to find places where you can fly fish from the banks of the river.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Hot afternoon water temperatures, hot air temperatures, water flows over 500 CFS and lack of river bank fly fishing spots makes fly fishing the lower Owens River tough right now. Day time air temperatures are climbing up into the upper 90’s and fly fishers should monitor the water temperatures starting around noon. Fish early and late in the day with streamer and dry flies. For dry flies use size 18 Adams parachutes, size 18 blue wing olives, size 18 elk hair caddis and size 18 EC caddis. For streamers use size 6 and 10 wooly buggers, slump busters, matukas and muddler minnows. Nymph with size 12 stoner nymphs, 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.

Bishop Creek Canal dredgings have been removed from the banks of the canal opening up parking along the canal.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

CDFW has been stocking Bishop Creek and some of these trout end up in Bishop Creek Canal. . A volunteer hoot owl regulation is in effect for the afternoons. Be sure to check the water temperatures after noon. There has been a good population of grass hoppers in the fields next to the canal. When water temperatures are cool enough and the wind is up try fish with size 12 Dave’s hopper, size 14 tan stimulator, size 12 chubby Chernobyl and tan size 12 parachute hopper. There has been a morning hatch of mayflies. Fish with size 20 trico spinners, size 20 female trico dun parachutes, size 20 blue wing olive mayflies and size 20 Adams parachutes.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 08-20-2026

Summer showers are a great way to cool off a hot summers day. I’ve had a couple of days of having rain, snow, wind, sun and heat all in a matter of a few hours in a single day. So be prepared for everything, but expect it to be warm to hot depending on the altitude you are fly fishing at. We are approaching meat season and throwing a few streamers will turn some unexpected trophy trout. There are grasshoppers in the vegetation surrounding waters, but they are not being blown onto the water and the trout are not reacting to hoppers yet with any consistency. Hatching insects represent the dinner bell for most trout in the waters you are fly fishing. Look for hatches of mayflies, caddis flies and midges to be feeding the trout on the substrate and on the surface. It’s been a relatively dry summer, but there are still mosquitoes out there looking to feed on unexpecting fly fishers. A voluntary Hoot Owl restriction is in place for catch and release fishing on several Eastern Sierra waters including Crowley Lake, upper Owens River, lower Owens River, Bishop Creek Canal, Bridgeport Reservoir and East Walker River. Carry a thermometer and take the temperature for the water you are fishing.

Summer days of dry fly fishing in the Eastern Sierra are quickly coming to an end as fall is approaching.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Hoot owl voluntary regulations are still in effect. Watch the temperature on sunny days in the afternoons. Mornings have been fishing good for six to 10 inch wild rainbow and brown trout that are feeding on emerging mayflies and caddis that are being blown onto the water. Using size 14 and 16 Adams parachutes, size 18 blue wing olive parachutes, size 16 elk hair caddis and size 16 EC caddis are fooling the surface feeding trout. Euro nymphers dredging the deep holes and deep runs with size 12 stoner nymphs, size 12 green/gold Prince nymphs, size 14 copper John’s and size 14 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ear thoroughly covering each spot are producing a few trophy rainbows and browns. Fly fishers using streamers early and late in the day and on overcast days are connecting with a few trophy trout. Use size 10 wooly buggers, size 10 slumpbusters, size 6 sclupzilla and size 10 muddler minnows to fool the trophy trout.

How quickly the heat of summer dissipates when summer rain shower are in the horizon.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Weed beds are thick, but fly fishing in the deep holes and in the tiny lanes between the weeds is producing wild brown and rainbow trout during the hatches. Hot Creek trout rarely feed when there is not a hatch. Start the mornings with a size 20 gray EC caddis, size 20 parachute caddis, size 20 gray X-caddis, size 22 female dun trico parachutes and size 22 trico spinners to imitate the migrating caddis and the hatching trico mayflies. Afternoons are windy and hatch less making the fly fishing tough. If you see late morning or early afternoon fish feeding definitely fish for them. Once the hatch is over it’s time to go fly fish one of the plentiful freestone creeks of the Eastern Sierra.

Hot Creek is inundated with weed beds and fly fishers need to find the tiny holes and lanes to float their dry flies to the fish hiding in the cover of the weed beds.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

Fly fishing in the canyon is tough with all the weeds in the river. Successful fly fishers learn how to drift their dry flies in the tiny lanes between the weeds when the trout are feeding on the emerging trico mayflies and migrating caddisflies. Fish areas with a steeper gradient as the trout are feeding with a reactionary bite. They do not have time to discern if your fly is a perfect match for hatching insects. Fish with size 22 trico spinners, size 22 female trico dun parachutes, size 20 gray EC caddis, size 20 gray parachute caddis and size 22 gray X-caddis.

Willows and tulles on both banks of the lower Owens River makes it tough to fish from shore and with flows around 500 CFS it’s unsafe to wade.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Day time temperatures are climbing up into the upper 90’s and fly fishers should monitor the water temperatures starting around noon. Stop catch and release fly fishing when the temperatures approach the 70 degree mark. With flows in the area of 500 CFS it is not safe to be wading in most parts of the river. Fish early and late in the day with streamer and dry flies. For dry flies use size 18 Adams parachutes, size 18 blue wing olives, size 18 elk hair caddis and size 18 EC caddis. For streamers use size 6 and 10 wooly buggers, slump busters, matukas and muddler minnows. Nymph with size 12 stoner nymphs, 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.

Afternoon water temperatures continue to be high and should be checked before catch and release fly fishing in Bishop Creek Canal.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

Best fly fishing has been in the mornings between 8:00 and 10:00 A.M. Fish on the surface with size 18 Adams parachutes, size 18 blue wing olive parachutes, size 18 elk hair caddis, size 18 EC caddis and size 18 parachute caddis. Throwing small streamers and working them in the deeper holes and along the banks are fooling a few trout. Fish with size 10 Mayer’s mini leech, balanced leeches and size 14 wooly buggers. A volunteer hoot owl regulation is in effect for the afternoons. Be sure to check the water temperatures after noon.

Midges under a dry fly is what is fooling the wild brown trout in Bishop Creek in Bishop Canyon.

Bishop Creek Canyon:

Now is the perfect time to escape the heat of summer and head up Bishop Creek Canyon looking to fish a dry and dropper rig for wild brown trout and rainbow trout in Bishop Creek. This is not open meadow fly casting 20 to 30 feet of fly line to rising trout. This is walking the banks of the creeks hunting for those spots you think are holding wild trout. You are looking for pools and pockets where the trout are living out of the fast current. Now comes how do I get the flies on the water. The answer quite often is dropping your fly from the end of your fly rod with just five to 10 feet of tippet out the end of your fly rod. Or you are roll casting your flies into the pools or pockets with fish. Use size 16 Adams parachutes, size 16 elk hair caddis, size 14 Royal Wulff’s and size 14 stimulators, size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, size 18 bead heads flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 gold/green brassies, size 16 tiger midges and size 16 zebra midges.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 08-13-2026

As we reach the middle of August is the heat ready to break? Let’s hope that the worse of the heat is behind us. It’s been a hot one this summer in the Owens Valley. A voluntary Hoot Owl restriction is in place for catch and release fishing on several Eastern Sierra waters including Crowley Lake, upper Owens River, lower Owens River, Bishop Creek Canal, Bridgeport Reservoir and East Walker River. Carry a thermometer and take the temperature for the water you are fishing. Fish in the creeks high up the canyons that drain the Eastern Sierra when the waters heat up on the rivers and streams at lower altitudes. Trout in the backcountry and in the front country are feeding on the substrate and on the surface on mayflies, caddisflies and midges. Starting to see hoopers on a few Eastern Sierra waters.

Summer rain storms help cool off the rivers and the anglers fly fishing for wild trout in the waters of the Eastern Sierra.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Use your thermometer to keep an eye on the temperature of the river as it’s prone for breaking the 70 degree mark. Getting out on the water early is a way to avoid the rising temperatures in the river. Start the morning with size 20 trico female dun parachutes, size 16 Adams parachutes, size 16 elk hair caddis and size 16 EC caddis. Before and after the hatch fish with size 18 tiger midges, size 18 zebra midges, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and size 18 olive quilldigons to fool the trout feeding on the substrate. Fly fishers pulling size 8 wooly buggers, slumpbusters and Sculpzilla are turning some trophy brown and rainbow trout.

Sometimes the best part of the day is spending time with your friends eating lunch and discussing the mornings fly fishing.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Hot Creek offers the most consistent dry fly fishing opportunities in the Eastern Sierra. Start the morning by being rigged and ready to fish either the caddis migration or the female trico hatch at 8:00 A.M. For the caddis hatch fish with size 20 gray EC caddis, size 20 gray X-caddis and size 20 gray parachute caddis. For the trico hatch use a size 20 female dun trico parachute, size 20 Adams parachute, size 20 blue wing olive parachute. Use a nine to 12 foot 5X leader with three to six feet of 6X tippet. A drag free drift is what is going to fool the picky trout of Hot Creek Interpretive Site.

Weed beds are hiding the trout and fly fishers need to drift their flies in the tiny lanes between the weed beds.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

Learning to cast your flies in and around the weed beds in Hot Creek Canyon is how fly fishers successfully fly fish the canyon section. Start the morning off by fishing the caddis migration. The caddis fly upstream of where they emerged to lay their eggs. Fish with size 20 gray elk hair caddis, size 20 gray parachute caddis and size 20 gray EC caddis. The trico mayfly hatch happens simultaneously with the caddis migration. Start fishing with a size 20 trico female trico parachute, size 20 Adams parachute and size 20 blue wing olive parachute. Cast your flies in the tiny lanes between the weed beds.

Learning to fly fish while wading the edges of the lower Owens River with Sierra Bright Dot Guide Richard Lancaster.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Day time temperatures cooled off middle of the week, but look for them to climb back up into the 90’s. Monitor the water temperature with your thermometer and quit catch and release fly fishing when the temperature approaches the 70 degree mark. With flows in the 500 CFS range be very careful if you are wading in the river. Fish the banks where you can find access to the river with caddis imitations in the evening and nymphs in the morning. Fish with size 12 stoner nymphs, 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 elk hair caddis and size 16 EC caddis.

Grass hoppers are showing up in the fields next to Bishop Creek Canal, but afternoon water temperatures have been to warn to practice catch and release fly fishing.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

Watch the water temperatures here as the water is creeping over that 70 degree mark. Remember to quit catch and release fly fishing as the water temperature approaches the 70 degree mark. Adult hoppers are showing up in good numbers in the grasses along the sides of Bishop Creek Canal. If water temperatures are fishable in the afternoons and the winds come up try fishing with size 12 and 14 Dave’s hopper, tan stimulators and Chernobyl ants. In the morning between 8:00 and 10:00 A.M. look for the may fly hatch and fish with size 18 Adams parachutes, size 18 blue wing olive parachutes and size 18 sparkle duns. Mosquitoes have been active early and late in the day so be sure to carry insect repellant with you.

Wild brown trout are the rewards for fly fishers fishing the pools and pockets in Bishop Creek.

Bishop Creek Canyon:

This is a freestone creek that fishes well with a dry and dropper rig. Walk the banks of the creek looking for the holes and pockets where you can cast your rig into. The key to fishing freestone creeks is getting your fly - flies on the water so the fish can take them. This is not typical fly casting. It’s dabbling, roll casting and water load casting. Fish your favorite dry fly since you have lots of confidence in it. I like fishing with a high floating high visible fly like size 14 stimulators, size 14 Royal Wulff’s, size 16 elk hair caddis, and size 14 Adams parachutes. For nymphs use size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, size 16 Prince nymph, size 16 green/gold brassie, size 16 zebra midge and size 16 tiger midge.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report for 08-06-2026

The heat of summer continues with temperatures in the Owens Valley in the low 100’s and temperatures at the 8,000 to 9,000 foot level in the upper 80’s to low 90’s. Fishing under the canopy on freestone streams is a great way to escape the heat of summer. A voluntary Hoot Owl restriction is in place for catch and release fishing on several Eastern Sierra waters including Crowley Lake, upper Owens River, lower Owens River, Bishop Creek Canal, Bridgeport Reservoir and East Walker River. Carry a thermometer and take the temperature for the water you are fishing every half hour if it looks like the temperature is climbing towards 70 degrees. Mayflies, caddis flies and midges are feeding the trout in the backcountry and the front country. A big advantage of the Eastern Sierra is the ability to go up in elevation to find the temperature that suits you. Now is prime time to be exploring the backcountry with day hikes and overnight hikes.

Eastern Sierra Summers are fly fishing freestone creeks for wild brown trout, rainbow trout and brook trout high up in the canyons that drain the Eastern Sierra.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Afternoon water temperatures are pushing above the 70 degree mark so catch and release fly fishers need to stop fly fishing once the river hits the 70 degree mark. Morning mayfly and afternoon caddis hatches have the trout feeding on the surface. Fish with size 18 blue wing olive parachutes, size 18 Adams parachutes, size 18 elk hair caddis and size 18 parachute caddis. Nymphing before the hatch 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 sparkle pupae, size 18 tiger midge and size 18 zebra midge will fool the wild trout.

Afternoons have been hot and fly fishers need to monitor the water temperature and quit catch and release fly fishing when the temperatures get to 70 degrees or more on the upper Owens River.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Be on the water rigged and ready to fish by 8:00 A.M. with a caddis pattern or a trico pattern. The hatches are happening almost simultaneously on the water. Start with a size 20 gray elk hair caddis, size 20 gray parachute caddis, size 20 gray X-caddis, size 20 female dun trico parachute pattern and size 20 blue wing olive parachute. The trico spinner fall starts about an hour after the female trico duns start hatching. When the trout quit taking your trico parachute switch to a size 22 trico spinner pattern. Trico spinner patterns can be hard to see on the water so fish your trico spinner pattern as part of a dry and dry rig. Use a size 16 Adams parachute, size 16 stimulator and size 16 elk hair caddis for the big fly in your dry and dry fly rig.

The right leader, fly pattern and drag free drift is how you fool the wild rainbows and brown trout of Hot Creek Interpretive Site.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

The Canyon Section is inundated with weeds from the annual summer growth of the weed beds. This is dry fly time in the canyon. Working small dry flies on long light leaders in between the four to six inch lanes between the weed beds is how fly fishers are successful in the summer time in the canyon. Matching the hatch, getting a drag free drift and setting the hook on the fish that take your dry flies is how to be successful Use nine foot 5X leaders with three to six feet of 6X tippet tied to size 20 female trico dun parachutes, size 20 female trico sparkle duns, size 20 blue wing olive parachutes, size 20 gray X-caddis, size 20 gray parachute caddis and size 20 gray elk hair caddis.

Finding places where the fly fisher can fish from the banks is how you need to fish the lower Owens River is the summer time.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Day time temperatures in the low 100’s makes it uncomfortable to fly fish during the day on the wild trout section of the lower Owens River. Fish the river early or late when the air temperature is comfortable to the fly fisher and the river temperature is under 70 degrees. Fishing in those places where the fly fisher can fish from shore with a size 18 elk hair caddis is producing wild rainbow and brown trout in the evening when the sun has gone behind the mountains. Fishing an hour before sunrise with size 10 wooly buggers, slumpbusters matukas and muddler minnows will turn some trophy trout and the fly fisher will be fishing the coolest part of the day. Fly fishers should be sure to have insect repellant with them when fly fishing early and late in the day on the lower Owens River.

Evening is the perfect time to be fly fishing Bishop Creek Canal with caddis patterns.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

There has been a morning hatch of mayflies coming off between 8:00 A.M. and 10:00 A.M. Fish with size 18 elk hair caddis, size 18 Adams parachutes, size 18 blue wing olive parachutes and size 12 yellow stimulators. Nymphing with size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 16 Duracell nymphs, size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, size 12 green/gold wire Prince nymphs and size 12 stoner nymphs is producing trout. Mosquitoes have been active early and late in the day so be sure to carry insect repellant with you.

As summer heads into fall the flows in the forks of Bishop Creek are at a perfect flow to be fishing with a dry and dropper rig.

Bishop Creek Canyon:

Heat on the creek middle of the day is about 15 degrees cooler than in the Owens Valley. Fishing under the canopy of riparian vegetation is keeping fly fishers cooler. Heading up into the canyon to fly fish in the middle of the day is great way to escape the heat of the Owens Valley right now. The fish in the creek feed opportunistically and will take almost any size 14 or 16 dry fly. The best dry fly to fish with is your favorite dry fly as you will fish that fly with the most confidence. I like high visible, high floating dry flies like elk hair caddis, stimulators, Royal Wulff’s and Adams parachutes. I’m tying no more than three feet of 5X fluorocarbon tippet to the dry fly and tying a nymph to the fluorocarbon tippet. From dry fly to nymph should be 1.5 to 2 times the average depth of water. Most of the time I’m fishing in two feet or less of water depth. For the nymphs fish with size 16 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 Prince nymph, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 green/gold brassie, size 16 tiger midge and size 16 zebra midge.

The key to success on freestone creeks is walking the banks looking for those pockets that have the room to cast and are holding the golden trout that you are seeking to catch.

High Altitude Creeks

With Golden Trout:

August is hot in the Eastern Sierra and a perfect time to be fly fishing above 9,000 feet for golden trout in high mountain creeks. This is not typical fly fishing as fly fishers need to walk the banks of the creeks searching out those little pools and pockets that hold golden trout and dab their flies on the surface of the creek. On these tiny creeks it’s rare that I have fly line out the end of the fly rod. Fly fishing for goldens is with bright attractor style patterns like a size 14 Sierra bright dot, size 14 Sierra Adams, size 14 Royal Wulff and size 14 orange stimulator. Standard dry flies like a size 14 Adams Parachute, size 16 elk hair caddis, size 14 ants and size 12 beetles work great when the golden trout are not taking the attractor patterns. These fish are small, but make up for it in their beauty and abundance. Contact Sierra Bright Dot Guide Service if you are looking to hook up with some golden trout in the Eastern Sierra.