My favorite month of Sept-Oct, the 15th of September through the 15th of October, has come to an end. There is still lots of good fall fly fishing to come. As we start the week off a storm is moving through the Eastern Sierra and expect snow at upper elevations. How much snow the storm leaves will be determined after the storm when the snow on the ground can be measured. Warm weather has slowed trophy brown trout from entering tributaries to the lakes the big trout have been living in all summer. Hopefully the cooler weather and less daylight per day will trigger the spawning migration of the trophy brown trout. Crowley Lake marina will be closing to boat entry on Sunday October 25th. Trout continue to feed on mayflies, caddis flies and midges. Dress in layers. When it’s too warm take a layer or two of. When you get cold add a layer or two. Sun going behind the clouds has been the difference in which layers I’m wearing along with the wind.
As the sun sets on my favorite month, Sept-Oct, it’s time to look at the end of fall for trophy trout fishing in lake tributaries and rivers of the Eastern Sierra.
Upper Owens River
Above Benton Crossing Bridge:
Fishing has been tough for trophy trout as there has not been a fresh migration of rainbow or brown trout into the upper Owens River from Crowley Lake. Fishing the deep holes, deep runs and cut banks with nymphs and streamer is producing a few fish for fly fishers. Thoroughly covering the river with casts and moving to find water holding trout is the way to hook up a trophy trout or two right now. I’m hoping the cold front and loss of daylight during the day will trigger a migration of fresh trout into the river. For the nymphs use size 12 green/gold Prince nymphs, size 12 stoner nymphs, size 12 Richard’s gold ribbed hare’s ears, size 14 copper John’s, and size 14 Duracell nymphs. For streamers use wooly buggers, matukas, slumpbusters, mini dungeon, sculpzilla and mini peanuts. Juvenile trout are providing action by feeding on the hatching mayfly nymphs and emerging duns. Ovipositing caddis are being taken of the surface as they try to lay their eggs. Use size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 Frenchie’s, size 18 Adams parachutes, size 18 blue wing olive parachutes, size 16 E/C caddis and size 18 elk hair caddis.
A Sierra Wave above the Owens River on a windy afternoon when juvenile trout were taking nymphs under an indicator.
Hot Creek
Interpretive Site:
Fishing continues to be tough as the trout are not keying in on the hatching trico mayflies. In the Interpretive Site fly fishers can nymph and get some bigger trout than the juvenile trout feeding on the surface. As the trico hatch is coming to an end for the season determine if there is enough tricos hatching to warrant using a trico female dun spinner to start your morning. Look for the blue wing olive mayfly hatch to start latter in the morning as the day warms up. Use size 20 blue wing olive parachutes, size 20 olive sparkle duns and size 20 Adams parachutes. For the best results fish these patterns on 5X or 6X tippets with a drag free drift. Cast these flies upstream allowing the fly to float down the creek to the trout. Nymph with size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 Frenchie’s, size 18 tiger midges and size 18 zebra midges. In Hot Creek use a dry fly for your indicator like a size 14 stimulator, size 16 Adams parachute and size 16 elk hair caddis.
Cooler weather and less sunlight is helping break up the weed beds in Hot Creek Canyon.
Hot Creek
Canyon Section:
This cold weather and lack of daily sunlight has the weed beds just starting to break up. Nymphing is still hard in the Canyon Section with the weeds. Dry fly fishing has slowed down as the hatches transition from the trico hatch to the blue wing olive hatch. Getting a drag free drift with a dry fly in the tiny lanes between the weeds will produce trout particularly mid- morning. Use size 20 olive sparkle duns, size 20 blue wing olive parachutes and size 20 Adams Parachutes.
Wild brown trout are taking nymphs and dries for fly fishers wading upstream in the Owens River Gorge channel where you can get a drag free drift.
Owens River Gorge:
Cooler weather makes the hike in and out of the gorge pleasant. Using waders to wade upstream gives fly fishers access to pools not accessible from the banks. A dry and dropper is the perfect set up to fly fish upstream in the gorge. Use size 14 stimulators, size 16 elk hair caddis and size 16 Adams parachutes for the dry fly in the dry and dropper rig. For the nymph use 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 and size 16 tiger and zebra midges. When using a dry fly as your indicator remember any movement in the dry requires the fly fisher to set the hook. Fishing straight up stream or slightly up and across gives the best drag free drifts which will produce more trout. Avoid rattle snakes, rose bushes and stinging nettles that are in the Owens River Gorge.
While sunset is pretty on the lower Owens River the mosquitoes are out in force in the evenings.
Lower Owens River
Wild Trout Section:
As of this writing flow in the lower Owens River are holding around 275. Flows are slowly dropping. When flows get around the 200 CFS mark it will be time to get in the river and wade upstream throwing dry flies and nymphs. For now wade those sections that are wide or were there are two channels. For nymphs fish with size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 Frenchie’s and size 16 Duracell nymphs. Check flows before heading out to the river. Check the flows at https://www.sierrabrightdot.com/water-flows-owens-river-east-walker-river.
Just a week ago is was comfortable to be wet wading in Bishop Creek Canal.
Bishop Creek Canal
Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:
The cooler weather is helping out the fly fishing in Bishop Creek Canal. As the day warms up look for a mid-morning hatch of blue wing olive mayflies. Fish with a size 18 blue wing olive parachute, size 18 Adams parachute, size 18 olive sparkle dun, Barr’s olive emerger and size 18 RS2’s.
A fall spawning brook trout in the Bishop Creek Canyon is the reward for fall fly fishermen fishing in the canyon.
Bishop Creek Canyon
South Fork:
As Sept-Oct comes to end so is the fall colors at the head of Bishop Creek Canyon. Brook trout are peaking with their spawning. There is nothing prettier in the fall than a brook trout in full spawning colors. There is still time to get out there and catch a brook trout on the fly. Use size 14 stimulators, size 16 Adams parachutes, size 16 elk hair caddis for the indicator fly. For just dry flies use size 18 CDC midge emergers, size 18 WD40’s, size 18 Pat’s midge and size 18 sparkle wing emergers. For nymphs use size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 tiger midges, size 16 green/gold brassies and size 18 zebra midges.