Winter roared in last week. Gave us a few sunny days to dry out and dig out. Round two is starting off the new year with a series of storms not expected to deliver a lot of snow or rain. Upper elevation waters will need to be reevaluated after the storms for accessibility. Owens Valley dirt roads have not thoroughly dried out and this rain will just add to the mud puddles. December’s heat wave is over and it’s acting like winter weather. Fly fishers will need to be wearing layers when on the waters in the Eastern Sierra. When the storms move out the fishing will return to normal fly fishing conditions. Hatches of midges and mayflies are feeding the trout on the substrate with a few fish feeding on the surface taking the hatching insects. Happy New Years from Sierra Bright Dot.
It's winter time in the Eastern Sierra with snow in the mountains and fly fishing opportunities throughout the Eastern Sierra.
Lower Owens River
Wild Trout Section:
A few trout are rising to hatching blue wing olives middle of the day. These trout will take a size 20 blue wing olive parachute, a size 20 Adams parachute and a size 20 Griffith’s Gnat. Most of the success is coming from nymphing on the substrate under an indicator or with a Euro nymphing rig. Fish 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 18 Duracell’s, size 12 stoner nymphs, size 18 green/gold brassies and size 18 thread tiger and zebra midges. River levels are perfect for wading up stream casting nymphs and dries to trout holding spots. Fly fishers wading upstream are only limited to pools that are deeper than the fly fisher is tall.
Snow on the Mountains, rainbow and brown trout willing to take nymphs and dries on the wild trout section of the lower Owens River makes it a great winter fishery.
Hot Creek
Interpretive Site:
Access to Hot Creek Interpretive site is limited to parking on Hot Creek Hatchery Road and walking in through the snow. Trout in the creek are feeding on nymphs and the occasional dry fly. Fish with size 20 blue wing olive parachutes, size 20 Adams parachutes, size 20 Griffith’s gnats and size 20 CDC midges. Nymph with size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 Frenchie’s and size 20 thread midges in zebra and tiger coloration. Access should be the same after this week’s storms as they are not expected to bring much in the way of snow accumulation in the Hot Creek area. Once one vehicle drives into the Hot Creek Interpretive parking area other vehicles will follow.
Time to park at the winter closure sign and walk into Hot Creek Canyon and remember not to park in front of Hot Creek Ranch.
Hot Creek
Canyon Section:
Fly fishers looking to access the canyon section of the creek will be walking in over the snow starting at the winter closure sign. Be sure not to park in front of the Hot Creek Ranch drive way. You will be towed away if you park there. The cold weather is helping break up the weed beds in the canyon. Nymphing in the open water sections will produce eight to 14 inch wild rainbows and brown trout. Nymph with size 18 Frenchie’s, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 20 green/gold brassies and size 20 thread midges in tiger and zebra coloration on the substrate. Access should be the same after this week’s storms as they are not expected to bring much in the way of snow accumulation in the Hot Creek area.
The upper Owens River with its winter coat of snow is not keeping fly fishers off the water looking for trophy trout.
Upper Owens River
Above Benton Crossing Bridge:
Snow on the dirt roads out to the upper Owens River is limiting access to four wheel drive vehicles with high clearance. The main dirt road is offering good access. The spur roads above the first gate have not been driven as much as the main road meaning there is more snow to drive through. Access to the upper Owens will need to be reevaluated after the next set of storms. The trophy rainbows are in the system and feeding on nymphs, eggs, worms and mop flies. Use size 12 stoner nymphs, size 12 green/gold wire Prince nymphs, size 12 gold ribbed hare’s ears, size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, size 14 tungsten tacos, size 14 peach glow bugs and size 12 squirmy wormy in the deep holes, deep runs and cut banks under an indicator or with a Euro rig. Key to success is having the right amount of weight in the flies or on the line with additional weight in the form of split shot.
Bishop Creek Canal has cleared up and the trout are feeding on nymphs bounced of the substrate under an indicator or a Euro rig.
Bishop Creek Canal
Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:
The water cleared up after the storms and nymphs are producing rainbows and browns. Euro nymphing is getting the nymphs down on the substrate where the trout are feeding on midges and mayfly nymphs. Fish with size 12 stoner nymphs, size 16 Frenchie’s, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and size 18 thread midges in tiger and zebra coloration. It will take a day or two for the water to clear up after the next set of storms moves through the Owens Valley.