We are getting typical spring weather in the Eastern Sierra. Lots of cold windy days with a few warm days interspersed in between. The crowds of the Eastern Sierra fishing opener are finally at a manageable level. Looking forward to the days when the snow melts and upper elevation – back country waters become accessible. Mayflies and midges are providing the bulk of the trout’s diet. Caddis hatches are just starting and will provide good fly fishing throughout the summer.
Cutthroat season on the upper Owens River is just starting and will go through Memorial Day.
Owens River Gorge:
Dry flies and nymphs continue to fool wild rainbows and browns in the Owens River Gorge. Lots of access trails into the gorge and few fly fishers plying the waters makes the gorge a great get away spot to fly fish. This is a fun water to explore with the Tenkara rod. For nymphs fish with size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 20 tiger midges and size 20 zebra midges. For the dry fly enthusiast fish with size 18 blue wing olive parachutes, size 18 Adams parachutes and size 18 Griffiths gnats.
Wading in the Owens River Gorge is the perfect way to present dries and nymphs to the wild browns and rainbows.
Lower Owens River
Wild Trout Section:
Flows should be going up any day now. To stay up with the changing flows check out Eastern Sierra water flows on my webpage at https://www.sierrabrightdot.com/water-flows-owens-river-east-walker-river. The flows have been holding steady at 125 CFS which is a perfect level for the lower Owens River. There has been some caddis activity in the evenings. Nymphing under an indicator or with a Euro outfit continues to be the most productive method of fly fishing the river. The trout have been feeding on young stone flies and a size 14 or 16 stoner nymph will imitate these young skwala stone fly nymphs. Size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 16 SOS nymphs, size 20 tiger midges and size 20 zebra midges are fooling the trout feeding on the substrate.
Euro nymphing in the lower Owens River is producing wild brown and rainbow trout with olive quilldigons.
Hot Creek
Interpretive Site:
This is perfect dry fly water. Look for mid-day hatches of midges, blue wing olive parachutes and caddis.
The key to successful dry fly fishing on Hot Creek is knowing which insect is hatching and that the trout are feeding on. The sporadic blue wing olive hatch is bringing a few trout to the surface and will take a drag free drifted blue wing olive parachute in size 20, Adams parachute in size 20 and sparkle duns in size 20. For the caddis hatch fish with a gray elk hair caddis in size 20, X-caddis in size 20 and gray parachute caddis. For the midge hatch try a size 22 Griffith’s gnat to imitate a cluster of the midges on the surface of the creek.
The middle section of Hot Creek Canyon offers good nymphing in riffles and deep holes.
Hot Creek
Canyon Section:
For the fly fisher willing to put in the effort to walk in and out of Hot Creek Canyon will be rewarded with good nymphing opportunities. This is good water to fish with a dry and dropper rig. For the dry fly fish with a size 12 stimulator, size 12 Chernobyl ant and size 16 Adams Parachute. Attach a three foot fluorocarbon tippet to the bend of the dry fly with a clinch knot. On the other end of the three foot fluorocarbon tippet attach a size 18 SOS nymph, size 18 olive quilldigon, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph, size 20 tiger midge, size 20 zebra midge and a size 20 gray La Fontaines caddis emerger.
Euro nymphing and indicator nymphing is producing rainbows, browns and cutthroats on the upper Owens River.
Upper Owens River
Above Benton Crossing Bridge:
The cutthroat run on the upper Owens River has begun. They are still not in concentrated numbers, but enough of them are in the river now to make it worth fishing for them. If history repeats its self the run should be in full force by the weekend. 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. Fish these nymphs in the deep holes, deep runs and cut banks where the trophy cutthroats are resting and feeding. A lot of fly fishers do well with squirmy wormies, San Jaun worms, egg patterns and mop flies. For the resident eight to 12 inch rainbows and browns fish with size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 20 tiger midges and size 20 zebra midges.
Bill Criss learning the finer techniques of indicator nymphing on Bishop Creek Canal.
Bishop Creek Canal
Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:
Bishop Creek Canal received a lot of fishing pressure in the first nine days of the 2025 season. With the increased fishing pressure fly fishers need to use good fly fishing etiquette and pick up trash as you walk back to your vehicle. Key to successful nymph fishing in the canal is to work your nymphs under an indicator or with a Euro rig fishing them in the sandy lanes in between the weed beds. Cover the slots with six to 10 good drifts then move up three steps and repeat. There are stocked rainbows and wild brown trout taking size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 16 SOS nymph, size 12 green/gold wire Prince nymphs, size 20 tiger midge and size 20 zebra midge.