Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report June 26, 2025

Summer is officially here with hot days and cools nights, particularly at upper elevations. Aquatic insect hatches are at their peak with stoneflies, mayflies and caddis providing most of the action for trout. The wind storms of last week are gone and normal afternoon winds are back in the Eastern Sierra. With summer comes the biting bugs particularly mosquitoes. Be sure to carry and use insect repellent.                                                                                                                                                               

Brown trout are the most common trout found in wild trout waters of the Eastern Sierra and readily take flies.

Owens River Gorge:

Owens River Gorge opened to fly fishing on Wednesday June 25th, 2025. No fish report yet for the gorge.

After the flushing flows the Owens River Gorge is open to fly fishing as of Wednesday June 25th, 2025.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

The Interpretive Site of Hot Creek fishes best when insects are hatching. Little yellow stones, gray caddis and trico mayflies are hatching and bringing trout to the surface. A drag free drift and the right fly is needed to fool the trout in the Interpretive Site. Fish with size 20 parachute caddis, size 20 gray elk hair caddis, size 18 Adams parachutes, size 20 blue wing olive parachutes, size 20 female trico dun parachutes and size 16 pale morning dun parachutes on size 6X tippet.

Hot Creek Canyon produces lots of wild trout for fly fishers fishing with dry flies and nymphs during the summer months.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

The weed beds are growing and are just about at full growth. Nymphing is still producing trout if you can put up with snagging in the weed beds. Little yellow stones are hatching and bringing the trout to the surface. Fish with a size 16 yellow stimulator, size 16 Henry’s Fork yellow sally, size 16 pale morning dun parachute, size 20 gray parachute caddis, size 20 gray elk hair caddis and size 20 female trico parachute for the surface feeding trout. Indicator nymphing and Euro nymphing with size 12 stoner nymphs, size 20 gray La Fontaine’s caddis emerger, size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, size 18 Frenchie’s, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and size 18 olive quilldigons are fooling the trout feeding on the substrate.

John Williams from Folsom with a brown trout that took a size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph fished in a deep hole on the upper Owens River.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Mosquito season is just starting on the upper Owens River. Be sure to carry and or use insect repellant. Nymphing is producing some nice sized rainbow and brown trout for fly fishers fishing with indicators and Euro rigs. Size 18 olive quilldigons are producing in the mornings. Late morning switch to a size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph and size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ear nymph and fish these in the deep holes. Be sure to thoroughly cover the hole before moving on to the next hole. A mid-day mayfly hatch is bringing six to 12 inch wild rainbows and browns to the surface to feed on size 16 pale morning duns, size 16 pale morning dun sparkle duns and size 18 blue wing olive parachutes. There are caddis hanging out in the streamside vegetation and fishing with a size 16 elk hair caddis is fooling a few trout on the surface.

Bishop Creek Canal is a great stop on your way to and from the fly fishing waters of the Eastern Sierra.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

With cooler day times temperatures fishing Bishop Creek Canal in the middle of the day is comfortable. Nymphing with size 12 stoner nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 SOS nymphs, size 18 Frenchie’s, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears are fooling wild brown trout and stocked rainbow trout. Fish the nymphs in the ribbons of sand in between the weed beds. There is some hatching insects bring the trout to the surface. Fish with size 18 blue wing olive parachute, size 16 elk hair caddis and size 18 Adams parachutes.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Resort 06-19-2025

Summer is here. It’s time for dry flies and wet wading. Pale morning dun mayflies, little yellow stoneflies, caddis and lake midges are hatching and bringing trout to the surface. Warm water fishes, carp, bass and bluegill are being targeted by fly fishers in the ponds and the Owens River in the Owens Valley. Afternoon winds particularly in Long Valley is hampering fly fishers. No-see-ums and mosquitoes are making their presents known to fly fishers particularly late in the day.

Spring flowers are a great back drop to fly fishing in the upper elevations of the Eastern Sierra.

Owens River Gorge:

Owens River Gorge will reopen to fly fishing on Wednesday June 25th, 2025.

Owens River Gorge closed to public access for fish and wildlife habitat improvement from June 4th to 24th, 2025. No public access will be allowed within the Owens River Gorge from Long Valley Dam to the Control Gorge Power Plant. DWP will be performing a flushing flows event to fluff the stream bed. When the gorge reopens the weather will be hot, the stinging nettles will be in full growth and this is good rattle snake territory.

Owens River Gorge will reopen to fly fishing on Wednesday June 25th, 2025.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Morning hatches of tricos and gray caddis are bring the trout to the surface. Afternoon winds are hampering fly fishers which is why most fly fishers are off the creek by 2:00 P.M. Fish with size 16 pale morning dun parachutes, size 20 female trico dun parachutes, size 20 blue wing olive parachutes, size 18 Adams parachutes, size 20 parachute caddis and size 20 gray elk hair caddis.

Dry flies and nymphs are producing good numbers of trout for fly fishers in Hot Creek Canyon.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

Nymphing in the morning with a Euro rig or under an indicator is producing wild brown and rainbow trout to 14 inches. The fish are spread throughout the canyon section and fly fishers should cover all the water. Nymphing 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 20 gray La Fontaine’s caddis emerger and size 12 stoner nymphs are fooling the trout feeding on the substrate. On the surface size 16 pale morning dun parachutes, size 16 Henry’s fork yellow sally, size 16 yellow stimulator and size 20 female trico parachute.

Dry flies are bringing trout to the surface before the afternoon wind blows the hatching insects off the water.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

The only good thing about the afternoon winds is that it cools off fly fishers and suppresses the mosquitoes. The afternoon winds have been shutting off the hatch just about the time it gets going good. Under an indicator or with a Euro rig a size 18 olive quilldigon, size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ear, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and size 20 midges in tiger and zebra coloration are producing rainbow and brown trout up to 14 inches. Size 16 Adams parachutes, size 16 pale morning dun parachute, size 18 blue wing olive parachute and  size 16 elk hair caddis are fooling the trout feeding on the hatching insects before the winds come up.

Euro nymphing is producing rainbow trout in Bishop Creek Canal in the middle of the day when temperatures are in the mid-90’s.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

With summer comes hot days in the Owens Valley. Fly fishing on Bishop Creek Canal in the middle of the day is brutal with the heat, but there are fish to catch. The fish are feeding on nymphs all day. Fishing in the mornings and evenings is offering better conditions for the fly fisher. The canal looks big, but the zone to catch fish is small. Drifting nymphs in the sandy slots between the weeds is where fly fishers nymphing need to work their nymphs. Nymph with size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 Frenchie’s, size 16 SOS nymphs, size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons and size 12 stoner nymphs. Floating a size 18 Adams parachute, size 16 elk hair caddis and a size 18 blue wing olive parachute over the weed beds and the sandy slots will bring a few trout to the surface.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report for June 12, 2025

Feels like summer in the Eastern Sierra. Depending on the altitude you are fly fishing at it’s in the high 90’s or low 80’s. Afternoon winds are interfering with fly fishing. Spring runoff is going and some waters are swollen with the increased water load from the melting snowpack. Mosquitoes are quickly becoming a nuisances. Pale morning dun mayflies, little yellow stoneflies, caddis and lake midges are hatching and feeding the trout. This is a great time of the year to catch a carp on the fly rod in the canals and still waters of the Owens Valley.

The locals coming to check us out as we fly fish Bishop Creek Canal behind Caltrans.

Owens River Gorge:

Owens River Gorge closed to public access for fish and wildlife habitat improvement from June 4th to 24th, 2025. No public access will be allowed within the Owens River Gorge from Long Valley Dam to the Control Gorge Power Plant. DWP will be performing a flushing flows event to fluff the stream bed. When the gorge reopens the weather will be hot, the stinging nettles will be in full growth and this is good rattle snake territory.

No entry into the Owens River Gorge from June 4th through June 24th.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Water in Hot Creek is up and slightly off color. Hatching mayflies and caddis flies are bringing a few trout to the surface. Fish with size 16 pale morning dun parachutes,  size 20 blue wing olive parachutes, size 20 Adams parachutes, size 20 gray elk hair caddis and size 20 gray parachute caddis. Nymph with size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and size 20 tiger and zebra midges.

Brian Dimayuga learning to nymph fish in Hot Creek Canyon with a size 18 olive quilldigon.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

Nymphing with an indicator or a Euro rig is the most productive method of fishing Hot Creek Canyon right now. There are lots of wild rainbows and browns feeding on mayflies, stoneflies and caddis. Nymph with size 18 olive quilldigon, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph, size 18 Frenchie, size 20 gray La Fontaines caddis emerger and a size16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ear nymph on the bottom of the stream. Key to success is not to get frustrated by all the weeds in the creek that your nymphs will hang up on. The nymphs will come out of the weeds if you use a snapping motion. Put slack in your line directly above where the nymph is stuck in the weeds. Before drag pulls out the slack pull up vigorously snapping the nymph out of the grips of the weeds. Be sure to pull up at an angle so that the freshly released nymphs avoid tangling with the rod. Runoff is a good time to pull a size 6 olive wooly bugger around the obstacles in the river that the bigger fish are using to stay out of the current.

Michael Ross proving he’s learning how to Euro nymph in the upper Owens River with a three fly rig.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Mosquitoes and no-see-ums are pestering fly fishers fishing in the river. Hatching mayflies and caddis flies are feeding wild rainbows and browns to 12 inches. On the surface fish with a size 16 elk hair caddis, size 18 blue wing olive parachute, size 16 pale morning dun parachute, and size 16 Adams parachute. Under an indicator or on a Euro rig fish with size 18 midge nymphs in blood, tiger and zebra colorations, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears and size 18 olive quilldigons. Afternoon winds are impacting the casts of fly fishers making fly fishing the river tough.

Connor Ross showing off a rainbow trout he caught while taking a Euro Nymphing Clinic on Bishop Creek Canal from Sierra Bright Dot.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

It has been warm middle of the day with temperatures in the mid-90’s. If you can put up with the heat the trout are still feeding on nymphs and dries. Nymphing the sandy slots between the weed beds with size 12 stoner nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 SOS nymphs, size 18 Frenchie’s, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph, size 18 olive quilldigons and size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears is fooling wild brown trout and stocked rainbows to 14 inches. Skittering a caddis in the evening will imitate the ovipositing caddis and produce trout as long as you can put up with the swarms of mosquitoes.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report for June 5th, 2025

With the warm weather comes the start of spring runoff. For a week or two streams, rivers and creeks will swell with the melting snow. Once night time temperatures are above freezing snow in the 10,000 foot level and above will be melting. The waters will be cold and dirty and it will slow down the fly fishing. Look for hatches of pale morning duns, little yellow stoneflies and caddis to start during June. No-see-ums and mosquitoes are starting to show up. Still waters and warm water fishes are great place to fish during spring runoff.

Summer is officially here on June 21, 2025 and will bring lots of dry fly opportunities on Eastern Sierra waters from Lone Pine to the Nevada border north of Bridgeport.

East Walker River:

Flows in the East Walker River have increased to 165 CFS. These are good flows for the East Walker River. With the higher flows expect dirty water flows. Fly fishing has been best on the days the river runs clear. Nymphing has been the most productive method of fly fishing the river. Euro nymph or indicator nymph with size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, size 12 stoner nymphs, size 14 copper John’s and size 18 midges in zebra and tiger colorations. The larger trout in the East Walker are always looking for a high calorie meal provided by the fish and crawdads that inhabit the river. Fish with size 6 or 10 olive slumpbusters, size 6 or 10 olive matukas, size 10 olive balanced leeches, size 10 wooly buggers and size 10 marabou muddlers. Cast these flies quartered up stream and allow them to sink into the water column. When the fly line drags the flies across the stream be ready to set the hook. If you don’t get a hit when the fly drag across the stream, strip the streamer back to you and make another cast. Be sure to work your streamers around the obstacles in the stream where the trout like to hang out. Dead drift size 10 crawfish brown slumpbusters, size 10 Clouser nymphs and size 10 olive or brown poachers along the substrate where crawfish and Sculpin live.

Fishing with nymphs and streamers are producing wild brown trout in the East Walker River.

Owens River Gorge:

Owens River Gorge closed to public access for fish and wildlife habitat improvement from June 4th to 24th, 2025. No public access will be allowed within the Owens River Gorge from Long Valley Dam to the Control Gorge Power Plant. DWP will be performing a flushing flows event to fluff the stream bed. When the gorge reopens the weather will be hot, the stinging nettles will be in full growth and this is good rattle snake territory.

Owens River Gorge will be closed to fly fishing through June 24th.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Snow melt from the Mammoth Lakes basin increases flows in Hot Creek through flows in Mammoth Creek during spring runoff. Some days the hatches are strong enough to bring the trout to the surface. On the surface fish with size 20 blue wing olive parachutes, size 18 Adams parachutes, size 16 PMD parachutes, size 20 gray elk hair caddis, size 20 gray parachute caddis and size 20 gray X-caddis. Nymphing is productive on those days the hatches are not brining the trout to the surface. Nymph with size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears and midges in size 20 in tiger or zebra colorations.

Hot Creek is swollen slightly with runoff flows from Mammoth Creek and is offering good nymphing in the canyon section of the creek.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

Nymphing in the canyon section with an indicator or under a Euro rod is a very productive method of fly fishing during runoff. Cover all the water thoroughly. Be sure to cast your nymphs right along your bank directly above you. Nymph with a size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ear nymph, size 20 gray La Fontaines caddis emerger, size 18 Frenchie, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph and size 18 olive quilldigon right on the substrate. Be sure your flies have enough weight to allow them to bounce slowly along the substrate or add split shot to your rig. During runoff is a great time to strip a size 6 olive wooly bugger around the obstacles in the river where the trout are resting out of the current. No-see-ums are biting in the hair line and in the hair.

Resident and juvenile trout of the upper Owens River are providing the action for fly fishers fishing with nymphs and dries.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

The trophy cutthroat season was not as concentrated as previous years and is pretty much done for the season. Fishing with size 12 stoner nymphs, size 12 green/gold wire Prince nymphs, size 14 copper John’s and size 12 gold ribbed hare’s ears variations in the deep pools, deep runs and cut banks are producing some 16 to 20 inch browns and rainbows. Nymphing with size 18 olive quilldigons, size 16 gold ribbed hare’s ears, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and size 18 midge nymphs in blood, tiger and zebra colorations under an indicator or with a Euro rig is producing wild rainbows and browns to 12 inches. On the right days these trout will come to the surface for a size 16 elk hair caddis, size 18 blue wing olive parachute, size 16 pale morning dun parachute, and size 16 Adams parachute. With the warmer weather and flooded margins of the river it’s time to be carrying insect repellant to combat the attacking mosquitoes.

Nymphs and dry flies are producing wild and stocked trout in Bishop Creek Canal.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

With the warm weather it’s not pleasant fly fishing on the canal in the middle of the day. The trout are still taking nymphs fished under an indicator or with a Euro rig. The weed beds are will defined and working size 12 stoner nymphs, size 12 green/gold wire Prince nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 SOS nymphs, size 18 Frenchie’s, 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 14 tan with dark olive back scuds are producing trout when fished on the sand between the weed beds. There are mayflies and caddis hatches bring trout to the surface. Fish with size 16 Adams parachutes, size 16 elk hair caddis and size 18 blue wing olive parachutes.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 05-29-2-0225

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) announced that a sustained power outage has led to the widespread loss of fish at the Fish Springs Trout Hatchery. The power outage, which was outside CDFW’s control, occurred in the afternoon of Tuesday, May 20, 2025, in the Owens Valley, and lasted more than two hours. Fish Springs Trout Hatchery, powered by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, has backup diesel motors which can supply continued water pumping during power outage events. During the power outage on Tuesday, the backup diesel motors were non-operational due to a software issue.

Another loss of fish from a fish hatchery producing trout for Eastern Sierra waters.

I think summer heat is going to be here by the weekend and time will tell how long and how hot summer is going to be. June is the month when the most aquatic insects hatch. September is the second biggest month for hatching aquatic insects. This means good dry fly fishing opportunities in the future. Mayflies, caddis flies and midges are providing the aquatic insects the trout are feeding on now. No-see-ums and mosquitoes are showing up with the warm weather.

Fly fishing is a sport that you fish by yourself, but you get to be on the water with your friends.

East Walker River:

The miracle mile section of the East Walker River is still recovering from last year’s fish die off from deoxygenated water. Fishing from Murphy’s Pond to the Nevada border is offering good fishing for little to big trout. There is lots of algae to get caught on nymphs. It requires cleaning flies every two or three casts. Algae was the worst in the shallow riffles. There are sparse hatches of caddis and mayflies. For the dry fly fisher fish with size 18 blue wing olive parachutes, size 16 Adams parachutes, size 14 stimulators and size 16 elk hair caddis. For the nymphs use size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 gold ribbed hare’s ears, size 16 perdigon’s and size 12 stoner nymphs. As the heat of summer days warms the waters of the East Walker remember to voluntarily implement Hoot Owl restrictions, fish early and late and not in water temperatures at 70 degrees or higher.

Shannon Chastain was fishing behind some boulders with a two fly nymph under an indicator when this thick brown trout took her nymph.

Owens River Gorge:

UPDATE: Owens River Gorge closed to public access for fish and wildlife habitat improvement from June 4th to 24th, 2025. No public access will be allowed within the Owens River Gorge from Long Valley Dam to the Control Gorge Power Plant. DWP will be performing a flushing flows event to fluff the stream bed.

For fly fishers looking for a less crowded spot and lots of browns willing to take nymphs and dries the Owens River gorge is the place to fly fish. It requires walking in for 20 minutes and walking back out for 20 plus minutes. There are rattle snakes, rose bushes and stinging nettles to contend with when fly fishing in the gorge. The wild brown trout are taking nymphs and dries. Fishing with a dry and dropper is a great way to fly fish the pools and riffles in the gorge. Wading is the best way to fish the gorge and carrying in waders and boots is more comfortable then hiking in and out of the gorge. For dry flies fish with size 18 Adams parachutes, size 18 sparkle duns, size 18 blue wing olive parachutes and size 16 elk hair caddis. Size 16 rainbow warriors, size 16 butano nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs are the nymphs that are producing the trout.

Fly fishers fly fishing in the Owens River Gorge need to avoid the stinging nettles plants that are prolific along the banks..

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Flows on the lower Owens River are up to 400 CFS and are expected to continue to go up. This is too high to safely wade. This will be the last lower Owens River report until the flows drop back under 300 CFS which is the start of safe wading levels for the lower Owens River. I expect the flows to lower starting in October or November.

With flows hovering around 400 CFS it’s time to quit fly fishing the lower Owens River until flows drop below 300 CFS.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Caddisflies and mayflies are hatching and the trout are coming to the surface to take the emerging insects. The trout in the Interpretive Site are finicky and require longer leaders, nine to 12 foot 5X monofilament leaders, and tippets of 5X or 6X. Gray size 20 elk hair caddis, size 20 parachute caddis with gray bodies, and size 20 gray X-caddis , size 20 blue wing olive parachutes, size 20 Adams parachutes and size 20 olive sparkle duns are fooling the surface feeding trout. Hatches of pale morning duns and little yellow stones will be starting to hatch soon. Carry a few size 16 pale morning dun parachutes and size 16 Lawsons’s little yellow stoneflies to be prepared for when these insects start hatching.

First time fly fisher Dianne Ingram caught several brown trout fishing with a size 16 Adams parachute and a size 18 olive quilldigon on a dry and dropper rig.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

Nymphing and dry flies are producing wild brown and rainbow trout. Cover the water thoroughly with your nymphs and dries. There are lots of trout waiting to take a properly presented and drag free drifted fly on the surface with size 20 gray elk hair caddis, size 20 gray parachute caddis, size 20 gray X-caddis, size 20 blue wing olive parachutes, size 20 Adams parachutes and size 20 olive sparkle duns. On the substrate fish with a size 18 olive quilldigon, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph, size 18 Frenchie, size 20 gray La Fontaines caddis emerger and size 16 bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ear nymph . Fish with a dry and dropper using a size 16 Adams parachute , size 14 Chernobyl ant and a size 14 orange stimulator as the dry fly. If you have trouble seeing the small flies on the water in Hot Creek use a dry and dry rig. Tie three feet of 5X or 6X monofilament tippet onto the bend of one of the recommend dry flies in a dry and dropper rig. Set the hook on any movement in the larger dry fly or and surface takes withing a three foot diameter of your larger dry fly. No-see-ums are biting in the hair line and in the hair.

 Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Fly fishers covering lots of deep holes, deep pools and cut bank are finding a few trophy cutthroat trout to catch.

The trophy cutthroat season is winding down. There are a few cutthroat left in the river that will take a size 12 stoner nymph, size 12 green/gold wire Prince nymph, size 14 copper John, size 12 gold ribbed hare’s ear variation fished in the deep holes, deep runs and cutbanks where the cutthroats are resting and feeding. Rainbow and brown trout from six to 12 inches are feeding on nymphs presented under an indicator or with a Euro rig. These trout are taking size 18 olive quilldigons, size 16 gold ribbed hare’s ears, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and size 18 midge nymphs in blood, tiger and zebra colorations. It’s time to start carrying mosquito repellent.

Wild brown trout are the dominate fish species in Bishop Creek Canal.

 Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

This is a great spot to improve your fly fishing techniques. Nymphing is producing stocked rainbows and wild brown trout. Use an indicator or a Euro rig to present your nymphs to the trout. The weed beds are well defined and fly fishers need to drift there nymphs in the sandy lanes between the weed beds. Bishop Creek Canal is a great place to learn how to Euro nymph. With the Euro rod fish with size 12 stoner nymphs, size 12 green/gold wire Prince nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 SOS nymphs and size 18 Frenchie’s. Under an indicator fish with 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, size 16 SOS nymph, size 14 tan with dark olive back scuds, and tiger and zebra midges in size 18.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 05-15-2025

Typical spring weather in the Eastern Sierra with storms moving through and a few nice days in between. Before you know it summer will be here with temperatures in the high 90’s and low 100’s. The cool weather is delaying the snow melt for at least a week or two. Insect activity is up and down with the weather. Mayflies and midges are the active insects the trout are feeding on. Carry a few caddis adults as the caddis are starting their late spring early summer emergence. Only good thing with the cooler weather is no mosquitoes.

When dressed right fly fishing in the snow and wind can be a productive time on the water as most anglers don’t like to fly fish in foul weather.

Owens River Gorge:

Depending on the access point used the Owens River Gorge is an easy or hard hike into the canyon. Hatching midges and mayflies are bringing the wild brown trout to the surface. The wild trout are taking size 18 blue wing olive parachutes, size 18 sparkle duns and size 18 Adams parachutes. Nymphing with size 16 gold ribbed hares ears, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 16 butano nymphs and size 16 rainbow warriors. Stinking nettles are growing quickly along the river and there are lots of wild roses to contend with along the banks of the Owens River in the gorge.

Nymphing the long runs in the Owens River Gorge produces brown trout to 12 inches on Tenkara rods.

Owens River Gorge:

Depending on the access point used the Owens River Gorge is an easy or hard hike into the canyon. Hatching midges and mayflies are bringing the wild brown trout to the surface. The wild trout are taking size 18 blue wing olive parachutes, size 18 sparkle duns and size 18 Adams parachutes. Nymphing with size 16 gold ribbed hares ears, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 16 butano nymphs and size 16 rainbow warriors. Stinking nettles are growing quickly along the river and there are lots of wild roses to contend with along the banks of the Owens River in the gorge.

This was probably my last guide trip on the lower Owens River as flows are going up and are expected to get over safe flows for wading the river.

 Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Hard to believe this area got a couple of inches of snow from the last storm that moved through the Eastern Sierra. The snow only lasted a few hours and is not going to inhibit access to the Interpretive Site. The wind that is associated with these storms is going to affect the dry fly fishing. Nymphing with size 22 tiger midges, size 22 zebra midge, size 20 soft hackle brassies, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and size 18 olive quilldigons is producing wild brown and rainbow trout.

The riffle sections of Hot Creek Canyon offers good nymphing opportunities with Euro nymphs.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

This area continues to produce trout for fly fishers nymphing with a dry and dropper rig or Euro nymphing. Cover all the water in the canyon thoroughly with your nymphs. The riffles produce just as well as the deep holes. It’s getting tougher to nymph as the weed beds are growing with the warm spring days. Nymph with size 20 gray La Fontaines caddis emerger, size 20 zebra midge, size 20 tiger midge, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph, size 18 olive quilldigon and size 18 SOS nymph.

David Cooke showing off a brown trout he caught nymphing under an indicator while fishing for trophy cutthroat trout.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Cutthroats are in the river, but are still not in concentrated numbers and you have to move around to find the trophy cutthroat trout. There  are a  few trophy rainbows and browns being caught by fly fishers working their nymphs in the deep runs, deep holes and cutbanks while working there flies for the trophy cutthroats. 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. On the Euro rig use a stoner nymph, green/gold wire Prince nymph and size 18 olive quilldigon. The quilldigon will produce six to 12 inch resident rainbows and browns. Streamers are producing a few trophy cutthroat for fly fishers striping with wooly buggers, slumpbusters and balanced leeches.

Craig Gibson caught a bass on Bishop Creek Canal while taking a Euro Nymphing Techniques Seminar which he’s proving taught him a lot about Euro nymphing.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

While there is a lot of fishing pressure on the canal the fly fisher knowing how to work nymphs in the lanes between the weeds is being rewarded with rainbows and browns. Working size 20 tiger midge, size 20 zebra midge, size 12 green/gold wire Prince nymphs, size 12 stoner nymphs, size 16 SOS nymph, size 18 olive quilldigons and size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs on the open water between the weed beds is fooling the trout. Working the faster riffle sections always seems to produce trout. On the surface cast size 18 Adams parachutes, size 18 blue wing olive parachutes and size 16 elk hair caddis.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 05-08-2025

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.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 05-01-2025

So once again opening day in the upper elevations was treated to a one day snow storm. With the increase in anglers on the water it’s time to use good fishing etiquette. With all waters in the eastern Sierra open it is spreading fly fishers out and reducing fly fishing pressure on some waters. Lakes that have been closed all winter are seeing the biggest increase in angler pressure. After a nice warm April it looks like a series of storms are moving through the Eastern Sierra. Spring in the Eastern Sierra is quite often windy and cold. This will make fishing in the weather unpleasant if you’re not wearing the right clothing. Rain in the Eastern Sierra is rare, but always carry a rain jacket for those few rainy days in the Sierra. Mayflies and midges are providing most of the action for the feeding trout. Nymphing continues to be the most productive method of fly fishing on Eastern Sierra waters.

Storms are moving through the Eastern Sierra and leaving rain and fresh snow on the mountain tops.

Owens River Gorge:

Fly fishers looking to fish off the beaten path and willing to put in the effort of hiking in and out of the gorge will find lots of 10 to 14 inch wild browns willing to take their flies. Spring is the perfect time for fly fishing in the gorge as the stinging nettles and rattle snakes are just starting their spring presence in the gorge. Hatches of blue wing olive mayflies and midges are the insects the trout are feeding on. On the surface fish with a size 18 blue wing olive parachute, size 18 Adams parachute and a size 18 olive sparkle dun. Under the surface fish with a size 18 tiger or zebra midge, size 18 olive quilldigon and size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph. This is a good water to learn how to use a Tenkara rod.

Richard Lancaster showing the results of teaching the kids how to fly fish with nymphs and dries in the Owens River Gorge.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Flows are holding around a 100 CFS, but are expected to go up soon. With the opening of Eastern Sierra waters the fly fishing pressure on the lower Owens River has decreased. Mayflies and midges are the hatching insects that the trout are feeding on. Dry fly fishing has been sporadic with size 18 Adams parachutes and size 18 blue wing olive parachutes. Learning to identify aquatic insects on the wing is one of the things you will learn on a guide trip.  Nymphing continues to be the most productive method of fly fishing the river. Nymph with a Euro rig or under and indicator. Nymphing with size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 SOS nymphs and size 20 midges in zebra and tiger coloration are producing wild brown and rainbow trout. Key to success is fishing with the right amount of weight in the flies or with a split shot on the tippet. The flies should be bouncing on the substrate where the trout are looking for dislodged nymphs. 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.

With storms brewing in the upper elevations fly fishing on the lower Owens is a great alternative to the snow and rain.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Still the easiest part of the creek to access. Midge hatches and the occasional blue wing olive mayfly hatching is bringing the trout to the surface. The midges are too small to imitate individually so using a size 24 Griffith’s gnat to imitate a cluster of midges is producing some trout. A size 20 Adams parachute, size 20 blue wing olive parachute and a size 20 sparkle dun are producing a few of the wild brown and rainbow trout feeding on the sporadic hatching mayflies. The gray Hot Creek caddis is just starting to get active and fly fishers should be carrying a few gray parachute caddis, gray elk hair caddis and X-caddis in size 20.

Look for crowds on Hot Creek to increase as spring becomes summer.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

The hike in and out of the canyon is keeping the fly fishing pressure down in the canyon. Euro nymphing, tight ling nymphing or a dry and dropper rig is the way to present your nymphs to the trout feeding on the substrate. The water in the creek is low running at about 18 inches deep. For the dry and dropper rig use a size 12 stimulator, size 12 Chernobyl Ant and a size 16 Adams parachute. Fish nymphs under the dry fly with a three foot tippet of 5X fluorocarbon. For nymphs fish with a size 16 SOS nymph, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph, size 18 olive quilldigon and size 20 midges in tiger and zebra coloration. Lots of rainbows and browns are taking the nymphs fished in riffles and deep holes throughout the canyon section.

Plying the deep holes, deep runs and cutbanks of the upper Owens River with stoner nymphs and green/gold wire Prince nymphs did not produce any trophy cutthroat trout.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

The cutthroat run is just starting as there are a few trophy cutthroat trout entering the upper Owens River. For fly fishers looking for a trophy cutthroat fish from Crowley Lake upstream towards Benton Crossing Bridge. The cutthroats are just starting their migration and can be found in the deeper holes, and deep runs above Crowley Lake. Fishing with size 12 stoner nymphs, size 12 green/gold Prince nymphs, size 12 gold ribbed hare’s ears variations and size 14 copper John’s are fooling the migrating trophy cutthroat trout. Look for the cutthroat run to peek between May 10th and May 20th. Nymphing upstream of Benton Crossing Bridge with size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 20 tiger midges and size 20 zebra midges is producing a few resident rainbow and brown trout to 12 inches.

With the opening of trout season on Bishop Creek Canal there is a big increase in fishing pressure.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

With the opening of trout season the canal has seen a big increase in fishing pressure. For those that know how to read the water and present their imitations to the trout they’re catching trout. For those that do not know the proper techniques for fishing the canal are not catching trout. Fly fishers showing patience on the canal will find that anglers will get frustrated easily and leave the area with in 15 or 20 minutes of arriving on the canal to fish. Fishing the areas vacated from fellow anglers has been productive with nymphs fished under an indicator or with a Euro rig. Fish the sandy seams between the weed beds. Thoroughly cover the seams and then move ten feet up the canal and thoroughly cover this next section of the canal. Work your way up the canal covering all the water until you have caught enough trout or wear out from fishing this area. Under an indicator fish with a size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 SOS nymph, size 20 tiger midge and size 20 zebra midge. Place the indicator 1 ½ to 2 times the average depth of water above the fly. Use a size one split shot placed 12 to 18  inches above the fly. Use three feet of 5x fluorocarbon tippet attached to your tapered leader. This is a great area to learn how to nymph fish from an expert like the guides from Sierra Bright Dot.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 04-24-2025

So for now the forecast for upper elevation waters is for snow on Saturday April 26, 2025. If it does snow I will be right once again with my prediction of snow for opening weekend of the Eastern Sierra fishing season. Opener use to be exciting as all the waters in the Eastern Sierra except for the lower Owens River were closed to fishing on November 1st and did not open until the last Saturday in April. Now with so many of the Eastern Sierra waters open to year round fishing opportunities it’s hard to get excited about fishing waters I’ve been fly fishing all winter. Two waters I’m excited to fish that will be opening this Saturday are Crowley Lake and the East Walker River. What I’m most excited to fly fish are waters that are still covered in snow and will become fishable as the snow melts and the lakes ice out. As spring turns to summer, fly fishing will be in full swing and there will be mayfly, stonefly and caddis fly hatches to imitate with dries and nymphs.

Will the miracle mile section of the East Walker River continue to produce trophy rainbow and brown trout after last year’s fish die off.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Middle of the day nymphing continues to produce wild brown and rainbow trout with a Euro rig and under an indicator. There is lots to learn about nymphing when fly fishing the lower Owens River especially when you go with someone who understands how to nymph fish properly. Flows are expected to go up by the end of April or early May. Now is your chance to learn the intricacies of fly fishing the lower Owens River. Nymph patterns that imitate mayflies and midges are the flies that are producing the wild trout. Fish with a size 18 olive quilldigon, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph, size 20 zebra midge and size 20 tiger midges. On the surface fish with a size 18 blue wing olive parachute, size 18 Adams parachute and size 18 sparkle dun. 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.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Javier Guzman from Bellflower showing the techniques he learned from a Sierra Bright Dot Guide trip work as he fights a nymph feeding trout.

This area gets lots of fly fishing pressure and the trout see a lot of fly patterns. The key to success can be fishing a fly pattern that is out of vogue or not very popular on the Creek. Right now the trout are keying in on midges and blue wing olive mayflies. Disco midges and soft hackle brassies are midge patterns that use to produce lots of trout on Hot Creek that are rarely fished these days on the creek. On the surface fish with Griffiths gnats in size 22, blue wing olive parachutes in size 20 and Adams parachutes in size 20. The interpretive site will continue to get lots of fishing pressure this fishing season.

Hot Creek Canyon is devoid of anglers during the winter, but with Saturday’s fishing opener the crowds of Hot Creek will return.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

Easter break brought crowds to the canyon section of Hot Creek. Even with the increased fly fishing pressure this area is seeing good fly fishing opportunities especially with nymphs. Midges and mayflies are hatching and the trout are feeding on the nymphs and dries. Concentrate on imitating the blue wing olive mayflies in the canyon. On the surface fish with size 20 sparkle duns, size 20 Adams parachutes and size 20 blue wing olive parachutes. Under the surface fish with a size 18 olive quilldigon, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph and a size 22 midge in tiger or zebra coloration. Throwing streamers like an olive wooly bugger will produce some big fish if fished in and around the obstructions formed around the weed beds, rocks and deep holes in the creek.

Until the trophy cutthroat trout are in the river in concentrated numbers fly fishers are catching resident rainbows and browns from six to 12 inches.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

The upper Owens River is in between the winter trophy rainbow trout run and the spring run of cutthroat trout. The cutthroat season peaks between the 10th and 20th of May. Start looking for the start of the cutthroat run around the 6th of May. For now fly fishers are targeting the resident rainbow and brown trout that are feeding on mayflies, caddis and midges mid-day. On the surface fish with size 18 elk hair caddis, size 18 Adams parachutes and size 18 blue wing olive parachutes. On a Euro rig or under an indicator fish with a size 18 olive quilldigon, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph, size 16 SOS nymph and size 20 midges in zebra or tiger coloration.

Little guys need two hands to handle a big fly rod on Bishop Creek Canal.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

Water levels have come up a little bit and the fishing is easier as the trout are not as spooky. Juvenile brown trout are feeding on midges on the surface of Bishop Creek canal. Nymphing under an indicator or a Euro rig is the most productive method of fly fishing the canal right now. On the surface fish with a size 20 Griffiths gnat, size 18 blue wing olive parachute and size 20 elk hair caddis. For nymphs fish with size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons and size 20 midges in tiger, blood or zebra colorations.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 04-17-2024

I spent 15 years in Mammoth Lakes. Every fall the talk around town centered on when it would snow. I always answered with the last Saturday in April, trout opener. April 26, 2025 is the general trout opener in the Eastern Sierra. Time will tell if it will snow on Saturday April 26, 2025, but I’ve been right a lot more times than I’ve been wrong. For now the Eastern Sierra is having a great spring with warm weather and very little wind. Nymphing and dry fly fishing imitating hatching midges, mayflies and caddisflies are producing trout for fly fishers fishing the waters of the Eastern Sierra.

Snow at upper elevation waters is quickly melting and allowing fly fishers to fly fish waters like Glacier Lodge Pond.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Warm spring days and hatches of midges and mayflies are offering fly fishers fun days on the lower Owens River. I’ve seen a couple of little yellow stones hatching. If this is the start of the little yellow stone hatch it’s at least a month early. Lower Owens River flows are expected to stay steady at around 100 CFS through the end of April. Nymphing with a Euro rig or under an indicator is the most productive method of fly fishing the river right now. Nymph with a size 18 olive quilldigon, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph, size 16 SOS nymph, size 18 gasolina nymphs and size 20 tiger and zebra midges. Hatches of blue wing olive mayflies are infrequent, but if you are on the right hole when the hatch comes of you can fish with size 18 blue wing olive parachutes, size 18 Adams parachutes and size 18 olive sparkle duns. 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.

Joe Demarco from Las Vegas hooked up on a perfect spring day on the lower Owens River nymphing with a size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph under an indicator.

Hot Creek

Interpretive Site:

Easy access to Hot Creek makes the Interpretive site a busy spot for fly fishers looking to walk right out from the parking area to fly fish. Mid-day hatches of very small midges are bringing the trout to the surface. There are a few blue wing olive mayflies hatching in the middle of the midge hatch. The midges are too small to imitate as an individual midge. Success is fishing a Griffiths gnat in size 22 which imitates a cluster of midges. To imitate the blue wing olive duns fish with a size 20 blue wing olive parachute, size 20 Adams parachute and size 20 olive sparkle dun.

Hot Creek Canyon is offering good nymphing and dry fly action with blue wing olive mayfly and midge patterns mid-day.

Hot Creek

Canyon Section:

The words gotten out that the fly fishing in the canyon is good right now. The mid-day hatch of blue wing olives is providing the catalyst for the trout to be feeding. Nymphing with size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 SOS nymphs, size 18 gasolina nymphs, size 20 soft hackle brassies, and size 20 zebra and tiger midges are fooling the fish feeding on the substrate. Fly fishers are carrying a second rod rigged with a size 20 blue wing olive parachute, size 20 Adams parachute and size 20 olive sparkle dun to use when the trout start feeding on the surface. Carry a few size 20 gray elk hair caddis and gray parachute caddis to use if you see caddis on the water.

Fly fishers will find lots of fishable water from Benton Crossing Bridge to Howard Arcularius Ranch.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Trophy cutthroat trout will begin their migration up the Owens River at the end of April. The migration starts with a few fish moving into the river from Crowley Lake. Look for the cutthroat run to be in full swing by mid-May. By memorial day the cutthroat trout run is mostly fishing for beat up down streamers. These are the fish that have completed their spawning and are headed back to Crowley Lake. Sierra Bright Dot guides still have openings for fly fishers wanting to catch a trophy cutthroat trout.  Fishing has slowed down as there is little insect activity to entice the resident trout to feed. Nymphing is producing a few fish for fly fishers nymphing with size 18 tiger midges, size 18 zebra midges, size 16 gold ribbed hare’s ears, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs and size 18 olive quilldigons. Fishing dry flies has been slow, but fishing with a size 18 olive sparkle duns, size 18 Adams parachutes, size 18 blue wing olive parachutes and size 18 elk hair caddis is producing a few rainbows and brown trout to 12 inches.

Fly fishing the deeper pools and the faster riffle sections are places to fly fish without spooking the trout.

Bishop Creek Canal

Behind Bishop Veterinary Hospital:

Low clear water is making the trout spooky in Bishop Creek Canal. Easiest way to catch a few trout in the canal is to fish in the deeper holes and riffle sections where the fish are not as spooky. Nymphing under a dry fly or with a Euro rig is the productive way to fly fish the canal. Nymph with a size 16 SOS nymph, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph, size 18 olive quilldigon and size 20 zebra and tiger midges.