A little weather system moved through the Eastern Sierra this week and we are back to normal April temperatures. Dry flies, nymphs and streamers are producing wild and stocked trout for fly fishers. The mountains still have lots of snow up high. Dirt roads in the 7,000 foot elevation are dried out and are drivable. Springs in the Eastern Sierra (April and May) are cold and windy. I’ve been in shorts and Jackets this week. A quick reminder that most moving waters in the Eastern Sierra are under winter regulations through April 24th, 2026. Catch and release with barbless flies and lures are in effect. Go to the CDFW Inland Sport Fishing regulations PDF for the regulations on page 33 for general trout regulations and for waters with special regulations on page 72.
Dry flies are producing trout in moving waters as spring moves into the Eastern Sierra like this brown that took a size 18 blue wing olive parachute.
Lower Owens River
Wild Trout Section:
Flows on the lower Owens River at the time of this writing is at 220 CFS which is high, but wadable for strong fly fishers. I’m expecting flows to go over 300 CFS very soon and at those levels it’s unsafe to wade in the lower Owens River. Nymphing will produce most of your fish. Use weight in the flies or as split shot added to your tippet. Nymph with size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 Frenchie’s, size 16 Duracell’s and size 16 rainbow warriors. Be sure to carry some size 18 blue wing olive parachutes for those trout feeding on the surface on the emerging blue wing olive mayflies.
At 225 CFS the lower Owens River is tough to wade and fish with nymphs as it will take the right amount weight to keep nymphs bouncing along the substrate.
Hot Creek
Interpretive Site:
With easy vehicle access and nice spring weather Hot Creek Interpretive Site is getting pressure from fly fishers. Dry flies are producing the wild brown and rainbow trout of Hot Creek Interpretive Site. Use size 20 blue wing olive parachutes, size 20 olive sparkle duns, size 20 Adams parachutes, size 20 CDC midges and size 20 Griffiths gnats. Target specific rising trout and present your dry fly with a drag free drift on 5X or 6X monofilament tippets.
Nymphing in the Canyon Section of Hot Creek is producing wild rainbow and brown trout to 14 inches.
Hot Creek
Canyon Section:
Nymphing with a dry and dropper or a Euro rig is producing wild trout to 14 inches. Nymphing is tough as it’s hard to get a drag free drift with all the vegetation in the creek. Work your nymphs in the holes and the shallow areas free of weeds. Fish with size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 Frenchie’s, size 16 Duracell nymphs, size 18 green/gold brassies, size 18 brassies and size 18 thread midges in zebra and tiger coloration.
Doug hooked up to an upper Owens River rainbow that took a Hornberg he tied over 30 years ago on the suggestion of Bob Slamal from Riverside Ski and Sport.
Upper Owens River
Above Benton Crossing Bridge:
Weather has been more like summer not spring on the upper Owens River. Mid-day blue wing olive hatches are feeding the small resident trout. Use size 18 blue wing olive parachutes, size 18 olive sparkle duns, size 18 Adams parachute, size 18 elk hair caddis and size 18 X-caddis on the surface. There are a few trophy trout in the system taking streamers and nymphs. Fish the deep holes, deep runs and cutbanks with size 12 stoner nymphs, size 12 green/gold wire Prince nymphs, size 12 Richard’s variation of a gold ribbed hare’s ear, size 14 copper John’s size 10 olive slumpbusters, size 10 olive matuka’s, size 6 wooly buggers and size 6 hornbergs.
Flows on Bishop Creek Canal doubled at the beginning of the week and for the first few days the water was very dirty as the increased flows pushed debris downstream.
Bishop Creek Canal
Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:
A reminder that the canal is under winter regulations which are catch and release with barbless lures and flies through April 24th. On Monday the flows in the canal doubled as downstream irrigation requirements required the increased flows. Nymphing before the hatches with size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 Frenchie’s, size 18 rainbow warriors, size 18 olive quill RS2’s and size 18 thread midges in zebra and tiger colorations. On the surface fish with size 18 blue wing olive parachutes, size 18 olive sparkle duns, size 18 Adams parachutes, size 20 Griffith’s gnats and size 20 CDC midges. With the increased flows be sure to up the amount of weight in your flies or the amount of split shots on your tippets.