Winter might show up in the Eastern Sierra just in time for Christmas. Maybe snow next week just before Christmas. For now the weather has been warm and the fish are rising and feeding on nymphs. It’s been T-shirt weather middle of the day on Owens Valley waters. Midges and mayflies are what the trout are feeding on, on the substrate and on the surface. Rain or snow might make access to Long Valley waters tough depending on how much snow or rain the area gets. Muddy or snow covered roads will inhibit access.
As we head into Christmas the warm weather fly fishing and trout feeding on the surface may be coming to an end.
Lower Owens River
Wild Trout Section:
T-shirt weather and trout feeding on midges and blue wing olive mayflies has made fly fishing the lower Owens River in December memorable. It’s rare to have such warm weather and hatches bringing the trout to the surface. Size 18 blue wing olive mayflies, size 18 Adams parachutes, size 18 olive sparkle duns, size 20 CDC midges and Griffiths gnats are fooling wild brown and rainbow trout on the surface. Nymphing has been very productive for trout from five inches to 16 inches. Size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 Frenchie’s, size 16 Duracell’s, size 16 gold ribbed hare’s ears, size 12 stoner nymphs, size 18 tiger and zebra midges are fooling the trout feeding on the substrate.
Kevin Botsford from Pasadena showing off a brown trout that took a size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph fished under an indicator.
Hot Creek
Interpretive Site:
Looks like the nice warm weather is about to come to an end. Next week could see some snow on Hot Creek. Too soon to say for sure what weather to expect. Mid-morning midge and mayfly hatches have the trout feeding on the surface. Fish with a size 20 CDC midge, size 20 Griffith’s gnats, size 20 Adams parachute and size 20 blue wing olive parachute to fool the surface feeding trout. Nymphing with size 12 stoner nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 Frenchie’s, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 20 tiger midges, size 20 zebra midges and size 18 green/gold brassies is fooling the wild rainbow trout, brown trout and Owens River suckers.
The first of a couple of storms expected to bring snow and rain to the Hot Creek area are blowing in to the Eastern Sierra.
Hot Creek
Canyon Section:
Hot Creek Canyon can be fished with nymphs, but the weed beds are still thick enough to make nymphing in and around the weed beds tough. For fly fishers willing to work their flies in and around the weed beds be ready for your flies to get stuck. There are good numbers of trout hanging out in and around the weed beds willing to take size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 pink Frenchie’s, size 12 stoner nymphs, size 18 brassies, size 18 green/gold brassies, size 18 tiger and zebra midges, size 16 olive quill RS2 and size 18 pheasant tail paranymphs. Dry flies are producing on the surface from 10:00 A.M. to noon daily. Fish with size 20 Adams parachutes, size 20 blue wing olive parachutes, size 20 sparkle duns, size 20 CDC midges and size 20 Griffiths gnats on the surface.
For now fly fishers can drive out to the upper Owens River, but the expected storms might make it impossible to continue driving out to the upper Owens River.
Upper Owens River
Above Benton Crossing Bridge:
Time will tell if the upcoming storms will leave a blanket of snow on the upper Owens River making it impossible to drive out to the river. For now the roads out to the upper Owens River are drivable with just a few mud puddles to avoid. Trophy rainbow trout continue to take nymphs and streamers in deep holes, deep runs and cut banks where they are feeding and resting. Nymphing with a Euro rig or indicator rig and enough weight to get your flies on the substrate where the trout are feeding is what is needed to catch the trophy trout. For nymphs fish with size 14 copper John’s, size 12 Richard’s gold ribbed hare’s ear variation, size 12 green/gold wire Prince nymphs and size 12 stoner nymphs. For streamers use size 6 and 10 wooly buggers, slumpbusters, matuka’s and balanced leeches.
Nymphing middle of the day with stoner nymphs and olive quilldigons is producing wild brown trout and hold over hatchery rainbow trout.
Bishop Creek Canal
Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:
Thoroughly fishing the flats and riffles with nymphs is producing wild brown trout and hold over hatchery rainbow trout. Nymphing with size 12 stoner nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 brassies, size 18 green/gold brassies and size 18 tiger and zebra thread midges is fooling the trout feeding on the substrate. Best fishing has been middle of the day from 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M.