Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 07-24-2025

It’s summer time in the Eastern Sierra. Fly fishers are fishing at or above 8,000 feet to avoid the heat in the Owens Valley. Occasional summer rain showers are cooling of fly fishers. This time of the year the best fly fishing is early and late in the day when insects are the most active. Mayflies, caddisflies and midges are providing the food trout are feeding on. Afternoon winds keep the mosquitoes at bay and cool of fly fishing in the Eastern Sierra. If you can’t cast in the wind afternoons are not to be spent on the water. This is supposed to be hopper time in the Eastern Sierra. A few waters have a few hoppers landing on the water and trout feeding on them.

Summer is a great time in the Eastern Sierra to learn how to fly fish like the Snider family using their newly learned fly fishing skills on Glacier Pond..

Owens River Gorge:

With temperatures dropping just below average temperatures for this time of year it makes hiking in and out of the Owens River Gorge more reasonable. It’s still hot in the gorge and fly fishers should carry lots of water for the hike in and out of the gorge. This is the perfect time to be fly fishing with a dry and dropper rig and wet wading in the river. There is lots of streamside rose bushes and stinging nettles to be avoided. Easiest way to avoid these bushes is to wade right up the center of the river. Scouting up river before your start wading will let the fly fisher know if there is an out or they have to back track down river to the put in spot. For the dry fly in the dry and dropper rig use size 12 Chermobyl ants, size 16 elk hair caddis, size 16 stimulators and size 16 Adams parachutes which are high visible and high floatable patterns. Size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 zebra midge and size 18 tiger midges are the nymphs to use in the dry and dropper rig in the Owens River Gorge.

Ryan showing off her mom Christine’s wild brown trout for Owens River Gorge.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

The Interpretive Site is getting lots of fly fishing pressure. Be on the creek by 8:30 A.M. to catch the morning trico action. As the trico action subsides look for blue wing olive mayflies and a smattering of pale morning dun mayflies scattered in with the blue wing olives. Start the morning fishing with size 22 female trico parachutes. Then switch to a size 22 trico spinner for the trico spinner fall. Next up is a size 20 blue wing olive parachute and size 20 blue wing olive sparkle dun. Have a few pale morning dun parachutes or pale morning dun sparkle duns to fish if the trout start keying in on the hatching pale morning duns. After a lunch break and siesta head back to the creek in the evening looking for the caddis hatch and the male trico hatch. For evening fly fishing fish with size 20 gray elk hair caddis, size 20 gray parachute caddis and size 22 male trico parachutes.

To fly fish Hot Creek in the summer time is to know how to drift your flies without getting hung up in the ever present weed beds.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

Full growth weed beds makes fly fishers target the few spots in the creek without weeds. A dry and dropper rig is good for the areas with little to no weed beds. For the areas with trout feeding in concentrated weed beds use a dry fly. For the dry fly in the dry and dropper rig use a size 12 parachute hopper, size 12 chubby Chernobyl, size 12 fat Albert, size 16 stimulator and size 16 Adams parachute. For the nymphs use a size 18 olive quilldigon, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph, size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ear and size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymph. For dry flies use size 20 Adams parachutes, size 20 blue wing olive parachutes, size 22 female parachute tricos, size 16 pale morning dun parachutes and size 16 pale morning dun sparkle duns. When fishing with hoppers on Hot Creek be sure to land them softly on the water. If the hopper pattern splats it will spook trout.

Sometimes you just need to sit next to the river and enjoy it as it passes by you.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Hot day time temperatures is forcing fly fishers to fish early in the morning and late in the day. A mid-day pale morning dun hatch is being blown off the water and ending any chance of a mid-day dry fly session. Hoppers have not shown up yet. Try using a hopper in the late afternoon winds. Cast the hoppers directly into the wind as this is where the naturals will be blown on to the river. Early morning nymphing with size 20 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears and size 18 tiger midges is fooling a few wild rainbows and brown trout. Fishing with size 16 elk hair caddis, size 16 stimulators and size 18 Adams parachutes is producing a few trout in the evenings. Low light times is mosquito time and be sure to carry insect repellant.

Sometime you need to change it up and fish Bishop Creek from the other side.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

Mid-day fly fishing on Bishop Creek Canal has come to a stop. Perseverance with a nymph is producing a few trout when fished under an indicator or with a Euro rig. Best canal fishing is sunrise to 9:00 A.M. and 7:00 P.M. to dark. The fish are taking both dries and nymphs. For dries fish with size 16 elk hair caddis, size 18 Adams parachutes and size 16 stimulators. For nymphs fish with size 18 tiger midges, size 18 zebra midges, size 18 olive quilldigons and size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 07-17-2024

It’s hot in the Owens Valley and time to head up into the Eastern Sierra in search of cooler temperatures and waters filled with trout feeding on insect fly fishers can imitate with their flies. Winds are typical for this time of year and if fly fishers want to avoid the winds they will need to be on the waters before early afternoon when the winds come up every day. Midges are most prevalent this time of the year in the still waters of the Eastern Sierra. Particularly in those lakes that require a hike to fly fish the shores of backcountry lakes. Mayflies, stoneflies and caddis flies are hatching and feeding the wild trout that inhabit the waters of the Eastern Sierra. Be sure to have insect repellant handy as it is mosquito season.

Escaping the heat of the Owens Valley by heading up to high alpine waters to fly fish is a great way to spend a day fishing in the Eastern Sierra.

Owens River Gorge:

It was 104 at the base of the grade when I drove home from the upper Owens River. If you’re headed into the gorge be aware of the heat if you’re planning on hiking out in the early afternoon. Right not it’s best to head into the gorge early and get out before the heat intensifies. This is prime water for wet wading and fishing with a dry and dropper rig. For the nymphs fish with size 18 tiger midges, size 18 zebra midges, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 16  bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears and size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs. For the dry flies use high visible and high floatable patterns like stimulators in size 16, Adams parachutes in size 16, elk hair caddis in size 16 and Chernobyl ants in size 12. Wet wading allows fly fishers to cover a lot of water and avoid the thickets of stinging nettles and rose bushes lining the banks. If you want to learn how to fly fish the Owens River Gorge book a trip with Sierra Bright Dot guide Richard Lancaster who is on the water almost evert week during the summer months. Don’t get caught down in the gorge in summer time with not enough water.

Wet wading in the Owens River Gorge is a great way to spend a morning fly fishing for wild brown trout.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Hot Creek Interpretive site provides the most consistent dry fly hatches in the Eastern Sierra. The mornings start with the trico hatch. Start fishing with a size 22 trico female parachute. Then switch to a size 22 trico spinner to imitate the trico spinner fall. The upstream caddis migration is a time for caddis to crash on the water and the trout are just waiting to slurp up any caddis that lands on the water. Fish with a size 20 gray elk hair caddis and gray parachute caddis. After the caddis migration look for the mayfly hatches. There is a good blue wing olive hatch and look for pale morning duns scattered among the blue wing olive hatch. Fish with size 16 pale morning dun parachutes, size 16 pale morning dun sparkle duns, size 20 blue wing olive parachutes and size 20 blue wing olive sparkle duns. If you are on the creek in the evening look for hatches of male tricos and caddis.

Weed beds in the canyon is making a drag free drift tough with nymphs and dry flies..

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

Weed beds in the canyon section are at full growth making it hard for fly fishers nymphing to get a drag free drift. Fishing with dry flies allow the flies to float over the weed beds with little snagging of the weeds. Key to success is to float your dry fly in the tiny lanes between the weed beds. It’s a tough drift to get, but it can be done. Size 22 female trico parachutes, size 22 trico spinners, size 20 blue wing olive parachutes, size 20 gray elk hair caddis and size 20 gray parachute caddis are fooling the wild trout that are feeding on caddis and mayflies in the mornings to early afternoons.

Afternoon rain showers cool off fly fishers plying the waters of the upper Owens River in the afternoon.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

The Eastern Sierra heat wave has slowed down the fly fishing on the upper Owens River. Fly fishers who know how to drift their nymphs and dry flies with no drag are catching a few trout in the morning. There are a few 14 to 20 inch rainbows and browns that are feeding on nymphs in the mornings in the deep holes and runs. Use size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph and size 12 stoner nymphs. The resident rainbow and brown trout have not showed up in the numbers expected. Use size 16 elk hair caddis, size 16 Adams parachutes, size 16 pale morning dun parachutes and size 18 blue wing olive parachutes for the trout feeding on the surface middle of the day. Nymphing for the resident trout use size 16 SOS nymphs, size 18 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 20 blood midges, size 20 zebra midges and size 20 tiger midges.

Bishop Creek Canal is a great place to practice roll cast, water load casts and presenting the flies gently onto the water’s surface.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

Mid-day heat has slowed down the fishing middle of the day on Bishop Creek Canal. Fish the canal in the mornings tell 11:00 A.M. at the latest. There is a midge hatch and mayfly hatch bringing the trout to the surface. Fish with size 16 elk hair caddis, size 18 pale morning duns and size 18 Adams parachutes. Size 12 stoner nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and size 18 tiger midges fished  under an indicator or a Euro rig is fooling wild brown trout and hatchery rainbows.

High flows, cold water and bush whacking through the stream side vegetation makes Bishop Creek a tough spot to fly fish for novices.

Bishop Creek Canyon

Weir Pond:

With all the heat in the Owens Valley it’s time to head up Bishop Canyon and find a place to fish a dry and dropper rig for wild brown trout, rainbows and brook trout. One of the best fly fishing spots in the canyon is below South Lake at Weir Pond. It’s too cold to wet wade so using waders and wool socks will keep the feet warm. For dry flies fish with size 16 elk hair caddis, size 16 royal Wulff’s, size 16 Adams Parachutes and size 16 stimulators. Nymph fish with size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and size 18 tiger midges. Fish these flies individually or in combination as a dry and dropper rig.

Glacier Lodge Pond is a great spot to learn how to fly fish with a dry and dropper rig as rainbows are cruising around the crystal clear water looking for things to eat.

Big Pine Creek

Glacier Lodge Pond:

New fly fishers looking for a spot to get out of the heat of the Owens Valley and catch a few trout will find the pond at Glacier lodge the perfect place for a new fly fisher to learn how to catch trout on flies. This pond is designed for kids to learn to fish. For fly fishers using the pond practice catch and release to allow other anglers to catch the trout from the pond. A dry and dropper rig is the perfect way to fish the pond. For the dry fly try a size 16 Adams parachute. For the nymph try a size 18 tiger midge. Use two to three feet of 5X fluorocarbon tippet tied to the bend of the dry fly. This is a great place to learn to cast the flies on the water with a soft presentation. Learning when the trout takes your nymph is accomplished by watching for movement in the dry fly. Cruising trout allows the new fly fisher to determine what is working and what is spooking the trout.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 07-10-2025

Summer is definitely here as temperatures in the Owens Valley are expected to break the 100 degree mark by early next week. With the hot temperatures comes the afternoon winds. Now is the time to head up in elevation to find cooler weather. One of the advantages to the Eastern Sierra is the ability to change elevation locations to find the weather and temperatures to the fly fishers liking. Hatches of stoneflies, mayflies and caddis flies are fueling the feeding trout on the substrate and on the surface. Midges continue to be the insect the trout are feeding on in the lakes. Backcountry waters are open to hikers looking to fly fish away from the beaten path. Be sure to have insect repellant handy as it is mosquito season.

Float tubers are taking advantage of the cool water and cooler air temperatures at the higher elevation on Intake Two on a hot July day in the Eastern Sierra.

Owens River Gorge:

Morning to early afternoons is the perfect time to be fly fishing in the Owens River Gorge. This is perfect water to fish a dry and dropper rig and wet wade. Easiest access to the gorge is at the middle or upper Gorge Power Plant Roads. Park your vehicle at the parking areas off the gated paved road and walk into the gorge. Bring plenty of water for fishing and the hike out. There are extensive stands of stinging nettle to be avoided. Watch for rattle snakes. For the dry fly fish with high visibility and high floating dry flies like stimulators, Adams parachutes, elk hair caddis and Chernobyl ants. Size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ear nymph, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph and size 18 olive quilldigon.

The easiest way to fly fish in the Owens River Gorge is to get in the river and wade upstream casting a dry and dropper rig in the pools and pocket waters.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Consistent morning hatches are bringing the trout to the surface and the fly fishers flocking to the creek. The morning hatches start with the hatching of the female trico. This is followed by the caddis migration. During the migration caddis that crash onto the water’s surface do not last long as the trout know an easy meal for them. Next comes the blue wing olive and pale morning dun hatch. Key to success is fishing with long leaders, light tippets 6X and 7X and a drag free drift. Start out with size 22 female trico parachutes, size 20 gray caddis parachutes and size 22 trico spinners. When these flies quit producing switch to size 20 blue wing olive parachutes, size 20 blue wing olive sparkle duns and if you see pale morning duns on the water use a size 16 pale morning dun parachute.

Fly fishers are taking advantage of the hatching mayflies and caddis by fishing dry flies in the and around the weed beds in Hot Creek Canyon.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

Summer time in Hot Creek Canyon is pretty much limited to dry fly fishing as it’s tough to get a nymph to drift in the tiny lanes between the weed beds. While most fly fishers want their flies to drift next to the far bank, they forget to drift their flies next to the bank they are standing on. This is a great place to drift a dry fly during the mayfly hatches. If you are willing to wrangle you nymphs through the weed beds a size 20 gray La Fontaine’s caddis emerger, size 12 stoner nymphs, size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, and size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs will produce trout during the hatch. Dry flies can be floated in the tiny lanes between the weeds and if they float over the weeds they’re less likely to snag. Fish with, size 20 gray parachute caddis, size 20 gray elk hair caddis, size 20 blue wing olive parachutes, size 22 trico spinners and size 22 female trico parachutes to fool the wild brown and rainbow trout of Hot Creek Canyon.

Nymphing in the mornings is producing some nice sized rainbow and brown trout with size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

With afternoon winds coming up between noon and 1:00 P.M. each day mornings are providing the best fly fishing opportunities. Nymphing the deep holes with size 12 stoner nymphs, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears is producing rainbow and brown trout to 18 inches. Resident rainbow and brown trout to 12 inches are feeding on mayflies and caddis flies. Nymphing with size 20 tiger midges, size 20 zebra midges, size 20 blood midges, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs and size 16 SOS nymphs is fooling the juvenile trout. On the surface late morning and early afternoons before the winds come up fish with size 16 elk hair caddis, size 16 Adams parachutes, size 16 pale morning dun parachutes and size 16 stimulators.

Early morning midge hatches and late evening ovipositing caddis are bringing the trout to the surface.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

Afternoons are hot and windy and few trout are feeding. Best fly fishing opportunities are in the early mornings and late evenings. There is a caddis ovipositing event in the evenings when the sun goes behind the Sierra Mountain. A size 16 elk hair caddis skittered across the stream and up the near bank will produce hard hitting brown trout to 14 inches. Be sure to use lots of insect repellant to keep the mosquitoes at bay. Nymphing in the mornings before 10:00 A.M. is producing trout with size 18 tiger midges, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs,  size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons and size 12 stoner nymphs.

Mike Camarena showing off a brook trout that took his size 18 elk hair caddis on Weir Pond on the south fork of Bishop Creek.

Bishop Creek Canyon

Weir Pond:

For fly fishers looking to beat the heat in the Owens Valley going up to 8,000 to 9,000 feet will give air temperatures 15 degrees cooler and offer cold water to fish in. Weir Pond on the south fork of Bishop Creek is a great spot for catching wild brown trout and brook trout on a dry fly or dry and dropper rig. Wet wading is cold and waders will keep you warmer. The trout are taking size 16 Adams Parachutes, size 16 royal Wulff’s and size 16 elk hair caddis on the surface. For nymphs use size 18 tiger midges, size 18 zebra midges, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 07-03-2025

Summer weather is here. Hot days and windy afternoons are typical for this time of the year. Get out on your favorite water in the mornings before the afternoon breezes makes it tough to present your flies. Afternoon winds are good for when the grasshoppers are flying around. Have not seen many grasshopper larvae yet. Stoneflies, mayflies and caddis flies are the insects the trout are feeding on. Nymphing before the hatches is very productive. Now is prime time to be fly fishing the creeks that drain the Eastern side of the Sierra. This is the perfect water to fish a dry and dropper rig. The San Joaquin River is opening up at 8:00 P.M. on Wednesday July 2nd  at 8:00 P.M, 2025. Mosquito season is underway particularly if you’re on the water late in the evening.                                                                                                                                                                     

Summer time is for wet wading and dry fly fishing.

Owens River Gorge:

Flushing flows mimic spring runoff conditions. Now that flows are back to normal levels the wild brown trout of the Owens River Gorge are feeding on dries and nymphs. A dry and dropper rig is the perfect way to fish the river. For the dry fly fish with size 16 stimulators, size 16 Adams parachutes and size 16 elk hair caddis. For the nymphs use a size 18 olive quilldigon, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph and size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ear nymph. It’s hot in the gorge and fly fishers need to carry lots of water so they can stay hydrated while fly fishing in the Owens River Gorge. Watch out for the stinging nettles which are prevalent all along the banks of the river.

Owens River Gorge is  perfect water to fish a dry and dropper rig like this size 16 yellow stimulator and a size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

With spring runoff subsiding and the clear water in the creek the fish are coming to the surface to feed on hatching trico mayflies, blue wing olive mayflies, pale morning dun mayflies and gray caddis. The morning hatches start off with the female trico hatch and the caddis migration. Mid-morning look for the trico spinner fall. The blue wing olive hatch and pale morning dun hatch follows the trico spinner fall. The pale morning dun hatch is just starting. Look for the caddis hatch late afternoon or early evening. Use size 22 female trico parachutes, size 22 trico spinners, size 20 blue wing olive parachutes, size 20 gray elk hair caddis and size 20 gray parachute caddis.

Hot Creek Canyon is producing on both dry flies and nymphs worked in and around the weed beds in the creek.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

Weed beds are at full growth making it tough to fish with nymphs, particularly with the decrease in water flows as spring runoff is decreasing. If you can get your nymph to drift in the lanes between the weed beds without hanging up you can catch fish. Nymph 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 12 stoner nymphs and size 20 gray La Fontaine’s caddis emerger. Floating a dry fly over the weed beds does not create as many hookups on the weeds. Use nine to 12 foot 5X or 6X leaders and at least three feet of tippet to fool the wild brown and rainbow trout feeding on the surface. For dry flies fish with size 22 female trico parachutes, size 22 trico spinners, size 20 blue wing olive parachutes, size 20 gray elk hair caddis and size 20 gray parachute caddis. Key to success is fishing with the pattern that coincides with the hatching insect. If the trout are not taking your fly figure out which insect is hatching and use the corresponding dry fly.

The upper Owens River is a great place to learn the fly fishing techniques that produce trout in the Eastern Sierra.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Indicator and Euro nymphing in the mornings is producing rainbows and brown trout to 18 inches. These fish are feeding on size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears and size 12 stoner nymphs. Mayfly hatches are coming off late morning. The trout are feeding on the hatching mayflies if the wind is not sailing the insects off the surface of the river. For the mayfly hatch fish with size 16 pale morning duns, size 16 pale morning dun sparkle duns and size 18 blue wing olive parachutes. On the windy afternoons a size 16 elk hair caddis is fooling a few wild rainbows and browns to 12 inches.

Bishop Creek Canal is a great spot to learn how to fly cast and fly fish with dry flies and nymphs.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

If you can put up with the mosquitoes there is a good evening ovipositing caddis event. Show up on the creek when the sun goes behind the Sierra Range. Dead drifting a size 16 elk hair caddis and allowing it to drag across the stream and then strip it upstream, fluttering a caddis, produces lots of wild brown trout. Middle of the day nymphing under an indicator or with a Euro rig is producing trout and the rare bass. Using size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, size 18 Frenchie’s, size 16 SOS nymphs, size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons and size 12 stoner nymphs is producing trout to 12 inches. For the dry fly fisher try fishing with size 18 Adams parachutes, size 18 blue wing olive parachutes and size 16 elk hair caddis to fool a few surface feeding trout.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report June 26, 2025

Summer is officially here with hot days and cools nights, particularly at upper elevations. Aquatic insect hatches are at their peak with stoneflies, mayflies and caddis providing most of the action for trout. The wind storms of last week are gone and normal afternoon winds are back in the Eastern Sierra. With summer comes the biting bugs particularly mosquitoes. Be sure to carry and use insect repellent.                                                                                                                                                               

Brown trout are the most common trout found in wild trout waters of the Eastern Sierra and readily take flies.

Owens River Gorge:

Owens River Gorge opened to fly fishing on Wednesday June 25th, 2025. No fish report yet for the gorge.

After the flushing flows the Owens River Gorge is open to fly fishing as of Wednesday June 25th, 2025.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

The Interpretive Site of Hot Creek fishes best when insects are hatching. Little yellow stones, gray caddis and trico mayflies are hatching and bringing trout to the surface. A drag free drift and the right fly is needed to fool the trout in the Interpretive Site. Fish with size 20 parachute caddis, size 20 gray elk hair caddis, size 18 Adams parachutes, size 20 blue wing olive parachutes, size 20 female trico dun parachutes and size 16 pale morning dun parachutes on size 6X tippet.

Hot Creek Canyon produces lots of wild trout for fly fishers fishing with dry flies and nymphs during the summer months.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

The weed beds are growing and are just about at full growth. Nymphing is still producing trout if you can put up with snagging in the weed beds. Little yellow stones are hatching and bringing the trout to the surface. Fish with a size 16 yellow stimulator, size 16 Henry’s Fork yellow sally, size 16 pale morning dun parachute, size 20 gray parachute caddis, size 20 gray elk hair caddis and size 20 female trico parachute for the surface feeding trout. Indicator nymphing and Euro nymphing with size 12 stoner nymphs, size 20 gray La Fontaine’s caddis emerger, size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, size 18 Frenchie’s, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and size 18 olive quilldigons are fooling the trout feeding on the substrate.

John Williams from Folsom with a brown trout that took a size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph fished in a deep hole on the upper Owens River.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Mosquito season is just starting on the upper Owens River. Be sure to carry and or use insect repellant. Nymphing is producing some nice sized rainbow and brown trout for fly fishers fishing with indicators and Euro rigs. Size 18 olive quilldigons are producing in the mornings. Late morning switch to a size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph and size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ear nymph and fish these in the deep holes. Be sure to thoroughly cover the hole before moving on to the next hole. A mid-day mayfly hatch is bringing six to 12 inch wild rainbows and browns to the surface to feed on size 16 pale morning duns, size 16 pale morning dun sparkle duns and size 18 blue wing olive parachutes. There are caddis hanging out in the streamside vegetation and fishing with a size 16 elk hair caddis is fooling a few trout on the surface.

Bishop Creek Canal is a great stop on your way to and from the fly fishing waters of the Eastern Sierra.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

With cooler day times temperatures fishing Bishop Creek Canal in the middle of the day is comfortable. Nymphing with size 12 stoner nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 SOS nymphs, size 18 Frenchie’s, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears are fooling wild brown trout and stocked rainbow trout. Fish the nymphs in the ribbons of sand in between the weed beds. There is some hatching insects bring the trout to the surface. Fish with size 18 blue wing olive parachute, size 16 elk hair caddis and size 18 Adams parachutes.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Resort 06-19-2025

Summer is here. It’s time for dry flies and wet wading. Pale morning dun mayflies, little yellow stoneflies, caddis and lake midges are hatching and bringing trout to the surface. Warm water fishes, carp, bass and bluegill are being targeted by fly fishers in the ponds and the Owens River in the Owens Valley. Afternoon winds particularly in Long Valley is hampering fly fishers. No-see-ums and mosquitoes are making their presents known to fly fishers particularly late in the day.

Spring flowers are a great back drop to fly fishing in the upper elevations of the Eastern Sierra.

Owens River Gorge:

Owens River Gorge will reopen to fly fishing on Wednesday June 25th, 2025.

Owens River Gorge closed to public access for fish and wildlife habitat improvement from June 4th to 24th, 2025. No public access will be allowed within the Owens River Gorge from Long Valley Dam to the Control Gorge Power Plant. DWP will be performing a flushing flows event to fluff the stream bed. When the gorge reopens the weather will be hot, the stinging nettles will be in full growth and this is good rattle snake territory.

Owens River Gorge will reopen to fly fishing on Wednesday June 25th, 2025.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Morning hatches of tricos and gray caddis are bring the trout to the surface. Afternoon winds are hampering fly fishers which is why most fly fishers are off the creek by 2:00 P.M. Fish with size 16 pale morning dun parachutes, size 20 female trico dun parachutes, size 20 blue wing olive parachutes, size 18 Adams parachutes, size 20 parachute caddis and size 20 gray elk hair caddis.

Dry flies and nymphs are producing good numbers of trout for fly fishers in Hot Creek Canyon.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

Nymphing in the morning with a Euro rig or under an indicator is producing wild brown and rainbow trout to 14 inches. The fish are spread throughout the canyon section and fly fishers should cover all the water. Nymphing with size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash  back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 Frenchie’s, size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, size 20 gray La Fontaine’s caddis emerger and size 12 stoner nymphs are fooling the trout feeding on the substrate. On the surface size 16 pale morning dun parachutes, size 16 Henry’s fork yellow sally, size 16 yellow stimulator and size 20 female trico parachute.

Dry flies are bringing trout to the surface before the afternoon wind blows the hatching insects off the water.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

The only good thing about the afternoon winds is that it cools off fly fishers and suppresses the mosquitoes. The afternoon winds have been shutting off the hatch just about the time it gets going good. Under an indicator or with a Euro rig a size 18 olive quilldigon, size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ear, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and size 20 midges in tiger and zebra coloration are producing rainbow and brown trout up to 14 inches. Size 16 Adams parachutes, size 16 pale morning dun parachute, size 18 blue wing olive parachute and  size 16 elk hair caddis are fooling the trout feeding on the hatching insects before the winds come up.

Euro nymphing is producing rainbow trout in Bishop Creek Canal in the middle of the day when temperatures are in the mid-90’s.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

With summer comes hot days in the Owens Valley. Fly fishing on Bishop Creek Canal in the middle of the day is brutal with the heat, but there are fish to catch. The fish are feeding on nymphs all day. Fishing in the mornings and evenings is offering better conditions for the fly fisher. The canal looks big, but the zone to catch fish is small. Drifting nymphs in the sandy slots between the weeds is where fly fishers nymphing need to work their nymphs. Nymph with size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 Frenchie’s, size 16 SOS nymphs, size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons and size 12 stoner nymphs. Floating a size 18 Adams parachute, size 16 elk hair caddis and a size 18 blue wing olive parachute over the weed beds and the sandy slots will bring a few trout to the surface.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report for June 12, 2025

Feels like summer in the Eastern Sierra. Depending on the altitude you are fly fishing at it’s in the high 90’s or low 80’s. Afternoon winds are interfering with fly fishing. Spring runoff is going and some waters are swollen with the increased water load from the melting snowpack. Mosquitoes are quickly becoming a nuisances. Pale morning dun mayflies, little yellow stoneflies, caddis and lake midges are hatching and feeding the trout. This is a great time of the year to catch a carp on the fly rod in the canals and still waters of the Owens Valley.

The locals coming to check us out as we fly fish Bishop Creek Canal behind Caltrans.

Owens River Gorge:

Owens River Gorge closed to public access for fish and wildlife habitat improvement from June 4th to 24th, 2025. No public access will be allowed within the Owens River Gorge from Long Valley Dam to the Control Gorge Power Plant. DWP will be performing a flushing flows event to fluff the stream bed. When the gorge reopens the weather will be hot, the stinging nettles will be in full growth and this is good rattle snake territory.

No entry into the Owens River Gorge from June 4th through June 24th.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Water in Hot Creek is up and slightly off color. Hatching mayflies and caddis flies are bringing a few trout to the surface. Fish with size 16 pale morning dun parachutes,  size 20 blue wing olive parachutes, size 20 Adams parachutes, size 20 gray elk hair caddis and size 20 gray parachute caddis. Nymph with size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and size 20 tiger and zebra midges.

Brian Dimayuga learning to nymph fish in Hot Creek Canyon with a size 18 olive quilldigon.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

Nymphing with an indicator or a Euro rig is the most productive method of fishing Hot Creek Canyon right now. There are lots of wild rainbows and browns feeding on mayflies, stoneflies and caddis. Nymph with size 18 olive quilldigon, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph, size 18 Frenchie, size 20 gray La Fontaines caddis emerger and a size16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ear nymph on the bottom of the stream. Key to success is not to get frustrated by all the weeds in the creek that your nymphs will hang up on. The nymphs will come out of the weeds if you use a snapping motion. Put slack in your line directly above where the nymph is stuck in the weeds. Before drag pulls out the slack pull up vigorously snapping the nymph out of the grips of the weeds. Be sure to pull up at an angle so that the freshly released nymphs avoid tangling with the rod. Runoff is a good time to pull a size 6 olive wooly bugger around the obstacles in the river that the bigger fish are using to stay out of the current.

Michael Ross proving he’s learning how to Euro nymph in the upper Owens River with a three fly rig.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Mosquitoes and no-see-ums are pestering fly fishers fishing in the river. Hatching mayflies and caddis flies are feeding wild rainbows and browns to 12 inches. On the surface fish with a size 16 elk hair caddis, size 18 blue wing olive parachute, size 16 pale morning dun parachute, and size 16 Adams parachute. Under an indicator or on a Euro rig fish with size 18 midge nymphs in blood, tiger and zebra colorations, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears and size 18 olive quilldigons. Afternoon winds are impacting the casts of fly fishers making fly fishing the river tough.

Connor Ross showing off a rainbow trout he caught while taking a Euro Nymphing Clinic on Bishop Creek Canal from Sierra Bright Dot.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

It has been warm middle of the day with temperatures in the mid-90’s. If you can put up with the heat the trout are still feeding on nymphs and dries. Nymphing the sandy slots between the weed beds with size 12 stoner nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 SOS nymphs, size 18 Frenchie’s, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph, size 18 olive quilldigons and size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears is fooling wild brown trout and stocked rainbows to 14 inches. Skittering a caddis in the evening will imitate the ovipositing caddis and produce trout as long as you can put up with the swarms of mosquitoes.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report for June 5th, 2025

With the warm weather comes the start of spring runoff. For a week or two streams, rivers and creeks will swell with the melting snow. Once night time temperatures are above freezing snow in the 10,000 foot level and above will be melting. The waters will be cold and dirty and it will slow down the fly fishing. Look for hatches of pale morning duns, little yellow stoneflies and caddis to start during June. No-see-ums and mosquitoes are starting to show up. Still waters and warm water fishes are great place to fish during spring runoff.

Summer is officially here on June 21, 2025 and will bring lots of dry fly opportunities on Eastern Sierra waters from Lone Pine to the Nevada border north of Bridgeport.

East Walker River:

Flows in the East Walker River have increased to 165 CFS. These are good flows for the East Walker River. With the higher flows expect dirty water flows. Fly fishing has been best on the days the river runs clear. Nymphing has been the most productive method of fly fishing the river. Euro nymph or indicator nymph 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 12 stoner nymphs, size 14 copper John’s and size 18 midges in zebra and tiger colorations. The larger trout in the East Walker are always looking for a high calorie meal provided by the fish and crawdads that inhabit the river. Fish with size 6 or 10 olive slumpbusters, size 6 or 10 olive matukas, size 10 olive balanced leeches, size 10 wooly buggers and size 10 marabou muddlers. Cast these flies quartered up stream and allow them to sink into the water column. When the fly line drags the flies across the stream be ready to set the hook. If you don’t get a hit when the fly drag across the stream, strip the streamer back to you and make another cast. Be sure to work your streamers around the obstacles in the stream where the trout like to hang out. Dead drift size 10 crawfish brown slumpbusters, size 10 Clouser nymphs and size 10 olive or brown poachers along the substrate where crawfish and Sculpin live.

Fishing with nymphs and streamers are producing wild brown trout in the East Walker River.

Owens River Gorge:

Owens River Gorge closed to public access for fish and wildlife habitat improvement from June 4th to 24th, 2025. No public access will be allowed within the Owens River Gorge from Long Valley Dam to the Control Gorge Power Plant. DWP will be performing a flushing flows event to fluff the stream bed. When the gorge reopens the weather will be hot, the stinging nettles will be in full growth and this is good rattle snake territory.

Owens River Gorge will be closed to fly fishing through June 24th.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Snow melt from the Mammoth Lakes basin increases flows in Hot Creek through flows in Mammoth Creek during spring runoff. Some days the hatches are strong enough to bring the trout to the surface. On the surface fish with size 20 blue wing olive parachutes, size 18 Adams parachutes, size 16 PMD parachutes, size 20 gray elk hair caddis, size 20 gray parachute caddis and size 20 gray X-caddis. Nymphing is productive on those days the hatches are not brining the trout to the surface. Nymph with size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears and midges in size 20 in tiger or zebra colorations.

Hot Creek is swollen slightly with runoff flows from Mammoth Creek and is offering good nymphing in the canyon section of the creek.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

Nymphing in the canyon section with an indicator or under a Euro rod is a very productive method of fly fishing during runoff. Cover all the water thoroughly. Be sure to cast your nymphs right along your bank directly above you. Nymph with a size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ear nymph, size 20 gray La Fontaines caddis emerger, size 18 Frenchie, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph and size 18 olive quilldigon right on the substrate. Be sure your flies have enough weight to allow them to bounce slowly along the substrate or add split shot to your rig. During runoff is a great time to strip a size 6 olive wooly bugger around the obstacles in the river where the trout are resting out of the current. No-see-ums are biting in the hair line and in the hair.

Resident and juvenile trout of the upper Owens River are providing the action for fly fishers fishing with nymphs and dries.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

The trophy cutthroat season was not as concentrated as previous years and is pretty much done for the season. Fishing with size 12 stoner nymphs, size 12 green/gold wire Prince nymphs, size 14 copper John’s and size 12 gold ribbed hare’s ears variations in the deep pools, deep runs and cut banks are producing some 16 to 20 inch browns and rainbows. Nymphing with size 18 olive quilldigons, size 16 gold ribbed hare’s ears, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and size 18 midge nymphs in blood, tiger and zebra colorations under an indicator or with a Euro rig is producing wild rainbows and browns to 12 inches. On the right days these trout will come to the surface for a size 16 elk hair caddis, size 18 blue wing olive parachute, size 16 pale morning dun parachute, and size 16 Adams parachute. With the warmer weather and flooded margins of the river it’s time to be carrying insect repellant to combat the attacking mosquitoes.

Nymphs and dry flies are producing wild and stocked trout in Bishop Creek Canal.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

With the warm weather it’s not pleasant fly fishing on the canal in the middle of the day. The trout are still taking nymphs fished under an indicator or with a Euro rig. The weed beds are will defined and working size 12 stoner nymphs, size 12 green/gold wire Prince nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 SOS nymphs, size 18 Frenchie’s, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph, size 18 olive quilldigon, size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ear and size 14 tan with dark olive back scuds are producing trout when fished on the sand between the weed beds. There are mayflies and caddis hatches bring trout to the surface. Fish with size 16 Adams parachutes, size 16 elk hair caddis and size 18 blue wing olive parachutes.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 05-29-2-0225

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) announced that a sustained power outage has led to the widespread loss of fish at the Fish Springs Trout Hatchery. The power outage, which was outside CDFW’s control, occurred in the afternoon of Tuesday, May 20, 2025, in the Owens Valley, and lasted more than two hours. Fish Springs Trout Hatchery, powered by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, has backup diesel motors which can supply continued water pumping during power outage events. During the power outage on Tuesday, the backup diesel motors were non-operational due to a software issue.

Another loss of fish from a fish hatchery producing trout for Eastern Sierra waters.

I think summer heat is going to be here by the weekend and time will tell how long and how hot summer is going to be. June is the month when the most aquatic insects hatch. September is the second biggest month for hatching aquatic insects. This means good dry fly fishing opportunities in the future. Mayflies, caddis flies and midges are providing the aquatic insects the trout are feeding on now. No-see-ums and mosquitoes are showing up with the warm weather.

Fly fishing is a sport that you fish by yourself, but you get to be on the water with your friends.

East Walker River:

The miracle mile section of the East Walker River is still recovering from last year’s fish die off from deoxygenated water. Fishing from Murphy’s Pond to the Nevada border is offering good fishing for little to big trout. There is lots of algae to get caught on nymphs. It requires cleaning flies every two or three casts. Algae was the worst in the shallow riffles. There are sparse hatches of caddis and mayflies. For the dry fly fisher fish with size 18 blue wing olive parachutes, size 16 Adams parachutes, size 14 stimulators and size 16 elk hair caddis. For the nymphs use size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 gold ribbed hare’s ears, size 16 perdigon’s and size 12 stoner nymphs. As the heat of summer days warms the waters of the East Walker remember to voluntarily implement Hoot Owl restrictions, fish early and late and not in water temperatures at 70 degrees or higher.

Shannon Chastain was fishing behind some boulders with a two fly nymph under an indicator when this thick brown trout took her nymph.

Owens River Gorge:

UPDATE: Owens River Gorge closed to public access for fish and wildlife habitat improvement from June 4th to 24th, 2025. No public access will be allowed within the Owens River Gorge from Long Valley Dam to the Control Gorge Power Plant. DWP will be performing a flushing flows event to fluff the stream bed.

For fly fishers looking for a less crowded spot and lots of browns willing to take nymphs and dries the Owens River gorge is the place to fly fish. It requires walking in for 20 minutes and walking back out for 20 plus minutes. There are rattle snakes, rose bushes and stinging nettles to contend with when fly fishing in the gorge. The wild brown trout are taking nymphs and dries. Fishing with a dry and dropper is a great way to fly fish the pools and riffles in the gorge. Wading is the best way to fish the gorge and carrying in waders and boots is more comfortable then hiking in and out of the gorge. For dry flies fish with size 18 Adams parachutes, size 18 sparkle duns, size 18 blue wing olive parachutes and size 16 elk hair caddis. Size 16 rainbow warriors, size 16 butano nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs are the nymphs that are producing the trout.

Fly fishers fly fishing in the Owens River Gorge need to avoid the stinging nettles plants that are prolific along the banks..

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Flows on the lower Owens River are up to 400 CFS and are expected to continue to go up. This is too high to safely wade. This will be the last lower Owens River report until the flows drop back under 300 CFS which is the start of safe wading levels for the lower Owens River. I expect the flows to lower starting in October or November.

With flows hovering around 400 CFS it’s time to quit fly fishing the lower Owens River until flows drop below 300 CFS.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Caddisflies and mayflies are hatching and the trout are coming to the surface to take the emerging insects. The trout in the Interpretive Site are finicky and require longer leaders, nine to 12 foot 5X monofilament leaders, and tippets of 5X or 6X. Gray size 20 elk hair caddis, size 20 parachute caddis with gray bodies, and size 20 gray X-caddis , size 20 blue wing olive parachutes, size 20 Adams parachutes and size 20 olive sparkle duns are fooling the surface feeding trout. Hatches of pale morning duns and little yellow stones will be starting to hatch soon. Carry a few size 16 pale morning dun parachutes and size 16 Lawsons’s little yellow stoneflies to be prepared for when these insects start hatching.

First time fly fisher Dianne Ingram caught several brown trout fishing with a size 16 Adams parachute and a size 18 olive quilldigon on a dry and dropper rig.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

Nymphing and dry flies are producing wild brown and rainbow trout. Cover the water thoroughly with your nymphs and dries. There are lots of trout waiting to take a properly presented and drag free drifted fly on the surface with size 20 gray elk hair caddis, size 20 gray parachute caddis, size 20 gray X-caddis, size 20 blue wing olive parachutes, size 20 Adams parachutes and size 20 olive sparkle duns. On the substrate fish with a size 18 olive quilldigon, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph, size 18 Frenchie, size 20 gray La Fontaines caddis emerger and size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ear nymph . Fish with a dry and dropper using a size 16 Adams parachute , size 14 Chernobyl ant and a size 14 orange stimulator as the dry fly. If you have trouble seeing the small flies on the water in Hot Creek use a dry and dry rig. Tie three feet of 5X or 6X monofilament tippet onto the bend of one of the recommend dry flies in a dry and dropper rig. Set the hook on any movement in the larger dry fly or and surface takes withing a three foot diameter of your larger dry fly. No-see-ums are biting in the hair line and in the hair.

 Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Fly fishers covering lots of deep holes, deep pools and cut bank are finding a few trophy cutthroat trout to catch.

The trophy cutthroat season is winding down. There are a few cutthroat left in the river that will take a size 12 stoner nymph, size 12 green/gold wire Prince nymph, size 14 copper John, size 12 gold ribbed hare’s ear variation fished in the deep holes, deep runs and cutbanks where the cutthroats are resting and feeding. Rainbow and brown trout from six to 12 inches are feeding on nymphs presented under an indicator or with a Euro rig. These trout are taking size 18 olive quilldigons, size 16 gold ribbed hare’s ears, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and size 18 midge nymphs in blood, tiger and zebra colorations. It’s time to start carrying mosquito repellent.

Wild brown trout are the dominate fish species in Bishop Creek Canal.

 Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

This is a great spot to improve your fly fishing techniques. Nymphing is producing stocked rainbows and wild brown trout. Use an indicator or a Euro rig to present your nymphs to the trout. The weed beds are well defined and fly fishers need to drift there nymphs in the sandy lanes between the weed beds. Bishop Creek Canal is a great place to learn how to Euro nymph. With the Euro rod fish with size 12 stoner nymphs, size 12 green/gold wire Prince nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 SOS nymphs and size 18 Frenchie’s. Under an indicator fish with a size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph, size 18 olive quilldigon, size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ear, size 16 SOS nymph, size 14 tan with dark olive back scuds, and tiger and zebra midges in size 18.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 05-15-2025

Typical spring weather in the Eastern Sierra with storms moving through and a few nice days in between. Before you know it summer will be here with temperatures in the high 90’s and low 100’s. The cool weather is delaying the snow melt for at least a week or two. Insect activity is up and down with the weather. Mayflies and midges are the active insects the trout are feeding on. Carry a few caddis adults as the caddis are starting their late spring early summer emergence. Only good thing with the cooler weather is no mosquitoes.

When dressed right fly fishing in the snow and wind can be a productive time on the water as most anglers don’t like to fly fish in foul weather.

Owens River Gorge:

Depending on the access point used the Owens River Gorge is an easy or hard hike into the canyon. Hatching midges and mayflies are bringing the wild brown trout to the surface. The wild trout are taking size 18 blue wing olive parachutes, size 18 sparkle duns and size 18 Adams parachutes. Nymphing with size 16 gold ribbed hares ears, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 16 butano nymphs and size 16 rainbow warriors. Stinking nettles are growing quickly along the river and there are lots of wild roses to contend with along the banks of the Owens River in the gorge.

Nymphing the long runs in the Owens River Gorge produces brown trout to 12 inches on Tenkara rods.

Owens River Gorge:

Depending on the access point used the Owens River Gorge is an easy or hard hike into the canyon. Hatching midges and mayflies are bringing the wild brown trout to the surface. The wild trout are taking size 18 blue wing olive parachutes, size 18 sparkle duns and size 18 Adams parachutes. Nymphing with size 16 gold ribbed hares ears, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 16 butano nymphs and size 16 rainbow warriors. Stinking nettles are growing quickly along the river and there are lots of wild roses to contend with along the banks of the Owens River in the gorge.

This was probably my last guide trip on the lower Owens River as flows are going up and are expected to get over safe flows for wading the river.

 Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Hard to believe this area got a couple of inches of snow from the last storm that moved through the Eastern Sierra. The snow only lasted a few hours and is not going to inhibit access to the Interpretive Site. The wind that is associated with these storms is going to affect the dry fly fishing. Nymphing with size 22 tiger midges, size 22 zebra midge, size 20 soft hackle brassies, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and size 18 olive quilldigons is producing wild brown and rainbow trout.

The riffle sections of Hot Creek Canyon offers good nymphing opportunities with Euro nymphs.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

This area continues to produce trout for fly fishers nymphing with a dry and dropper rig or Euro nymphing. Cover all the water in the canyon thoroughly with your nymphs. The riffles produce just as well as the deep holes. It’s getting tougher to nymph as the weed beds are growing with the warm spring days. Nymph with size 20 gray La Fontaines caddis emerger, size 20 zebra midge, size 20 tiger midge, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph, size 18 olive quilldigon and size 18 SOS nymph.

David Cooke showing off a brown trout he caught nymphing under an indicator while fishing for trophy cutthroat trout.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Cutthroats are in the river, but are still not in concentrated numbers and you have to move around to find the trophy cutthroat trout. There  are a  few trophy rainbows and browns being caught by fly fishers working their nymphs in the deep runs, deep holes and cutbanks while working there flies for the trophy cutthroats. For the trophy trout try nymphing with size 12 stoner nymphs, size 12 green/gold wire Prince nymphs size 12 gold ribbed hare’s ears variations and size 14 copper John’s. On the Euro rig use a stoner nymph, green/gold wire Prince nymph and size 18 olive quilldigon. The quilldigon will produce six to 12 inch resident rainbows and browns. Streamers are producing a few trophy cutthroat for fly fishers striping with wooly buggers, slumpbusters and balanced leeches.

Craig Gibson caught a bass on Bishop Creek Canal while taking a Euro Nymphing Techniques Seminar which he’s proving taught him a lot about Euro nymphing.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

While there is a lot of fishing pressure on the canal the fly fisher knowing how to work nymphs in the lanes between the weeds is being rewarded with rainbows and browns. Working size 20 tiger midge, size 20 zebra midge, size 12 green/gold wire Prince nymphs, size 12 stoner nymphs, size 16 SOS nymph, size 18 olive quilldigons and size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs on the open water between the weed beds is fooling the trout. Working the faster riffle sections always seems to produce trout. On the surface cast size 18 Adams parachutes, size 18 blue wing olive parachutes and size 16 elk hair caddis.