The storms came through last weekend and left most of the snow in the mountain tops. Long Valley waters got some new snow, but not a lot of it. Eastern Sierra roads are anywhere from undrivable due to snow to drivable with mud and puddles. The suns out and the Sierra is expected to warm up to slightly above average temperatures. Do we have another heat wave coming? Time will tell. Still carry layers so you can handle cold to warm temperatures. Not expecting shorts weather yet, but you can carry them just in case. Mayflies and midges are feeding trout on the substrate and in a few spots on the surface.
Winter is a time to be warm in the Owens Valley and bundled up in higher elevations waters covered in snow.
Lower Owens River
Wild Trout Section:
Roads are drivable, but there are puddles and a few muddy spots to contend with. Nymphing continues to be the most productive method of fly fishing the lower Owens River. Fish with size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 Frenchie’s, size 16 Duracell’s, size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, size 12 stoner nymphs, size 18 green/gold brassies, size 18 tiger midges and size 18 zebra midges on the substrate with enough weight in the flies or with additional weight as split shot to bounce off the substrate. Mid-day in the right hole you may find a few consistent rising browns and rainbows willing to take a drag free drifted size 18 Adams Parachute, size 18 blue wing olive parachute and size 20 CDC midge.
Wading upstream casting your nymphs or dries up or up and across will produce five to 12 inch wild rainbows and brown trout.
Hot Creek
Interpretive Site:
There is still enough snow on the ground to keep vehicles from accessing the Interpretive site of Hot Creek. Fly fishers will have to park on Hot Creek Hatchery Road and walk in. A mid-morning midge hatch with a few blue wing olive mayflies hatching is bringing trout to the surface. Fish with a size 20 CDC midge, size 20 Griffiths gnat, size 20 blue wing olive parachute and a size 20 Adams parachute. Nymphing the deeper holes with size 20 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 20 olive quilldigons, size 18 Frenchie’s, size 18 green/gold brassies, size 18 brassies, size 18 tiger midges, and size 18 zebra midges will fool the fish feeding on the substrate.
Fly fishers wanting to access Hot Creek Interpretive Site will need to park on Hot Creek Hatchery Road and walk in over the snow covered road.
Hot Creek
Canyon Section:
There are tire tracks out to the geothermal area. I would drive out there with caution and only in a four wheel drive with good clearance. You can park at the winter closure area, but do not park in front of Hot Creek Ranch. For those willing to access the canyon will find solitude fly fishing as few fly fishers are willing to put in the effort to access the canyon sections of Hot Creek. For those willing to make it into the canyon fish with nymphs in the deeper holes and gravel sections without weeds. The trout are taking size 18 zebra midges, size 18 tiger midges, size 18 brassies, size 18 green/gold brassies, size 18 olive quilldigons and size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs. Carry a few size 20 Adams parachutes, size 20 blue wing olive parachutes, size 20 CDC midges and size 20 Griffiths gnats for that mid-day dry fly hatch if it materializes.
Fly fishers can drive out to the upper Owens River and the sun is expected to be out starting this weekend.
Upper Owens River
Above Benton Crossing Bridge:
Enough vehicles have driven the dirt road above Benton Crossing Bridge to allow vehicle access. The farther up the main dirt road and on the spur roads there has not been as much vehicle traffic to pack down the snow. Four wheel drive with good clearance is needed to access the snow covered dirt roads. For those fly fishers walking in or driving in the trophy rainbows trout are taking nymphs and streamers in the deep holes, deep runs and cutbanks. For nymphs use size 12 stoner nymphs, size 12 green/gold Prince nymphs, size 12 Richards gold ribbed hare’s ear variation, size 14 copper John’s, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs and size 16 tiger midges. Some days throwing worms, eggs and mop flies is what’s need to entice a hit from a trophy trout. Use size 14 peach tungsten tacos, size 14 peach glow bugs, red San Jaun worms in size 12, size 12 squirmy wormies and size 10 mop flies. Nymphs need to be fished right on the substrate by using enough weight on the line as split shot or with the right size tungsten bead.
Nymphing mid-day to late afternoon under an indicator or with a Euro rod is producing wild rainbows and brown trout.
Bishop Creek Canal
Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:
With the low water the trout have moved into the deeper holes or faster sections of deeper riffles. Nymphing under an indicator or with a Euro rig with size 18 olive quilldigons, size 12 stoner nymphs, size 16 Frenchie’s, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 tiger midges, size 18 olive midges and size 18 zebra midges is producing wild rainbows and browns. Watch your shadow as it’s cast onto the water starting in early afternoon and will spook fish.