Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 03-03-2023

Every once in a while even Bishop gets a good dump of snow. Once the sun comes out the snow will melt fast. Mono County got buried and there were a few avalanches across HWY 395. Give the town of Mammoth Lakes, Cal Trans and Mono County plow crews a chance to get the snow cleaned up off the roads. I would wait until early to middle of next week to check out upper elevation waters to fly fish.

Bishop covered in a blanket of white from the latest storm..

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

The river is up to 330 CFS and then will be down to 250 the weekend of March 11th for the Blake Jones Tournament. After the tournament expect to see the flows increase to 350 CFS. Fishing in the river is very limited right now and tough. Even getting nymphs down on the substrate is no guarantee of catching trout. Work your fly patterns in the seams and slower shallow sections. Now is a good time to throw black streamers like a wooly bugger.

Lower Owens River at 300 CFS and with snow on the banks.

Hot Creek:

Interpretive Site:

This area got hammered from the last series of storms. I would give Mono County plow drivers at least three or four days to clean up Hot Creek Hatchery road before driving out to fish the Interpretive site.

No vehicle access beyond the intersection of Airport Road and Hot Creek Hatchery Road .

Hot Creek:

Canyon Section:

This area got hammered from the last series of storms that went through the Eastern Sierra. I would give Mono County plow drivers at least three or four days to clean up Hot Creek Hatchery Road before trying to park and access the canyon section of Hot Creek. Fly fishers will need snowshoes to access this area. Fishing with nymphs will produce fish for the few fly fishers willing to exert the effort.

Benton Crossing Road is closed to vehicle traffic at the Green Church.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

This area got hammered from the last series of storms that went through the Eastern Sierra. I would give Mono County plow drivers at least three or four days to clean up. Don’t be the like the 17 people that got trapped in their cars during the storm on Saturday February 25, 2023. Trophy trout are in the river, but I would wait tell access to the river via vehicles is open. Nymphing with the Euro rig is my preferred method of fly fishing the river. At times streamers can be very effective.

Dirty high flows are what fly fishers can expect in Bishop Creek Canal until the flows stabilize in four to six days..

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Ford Dealer:

When the river flows increase over 300 CFS it’s time for me to fly fish the canal. From its start at gate 13, the Happy Boulders area, to Big Pine Canal offers good fly fishing with dries, nymphs and streamers. I like fishing my Euro rod or Tenkara rod with euro nymphs. I’ve been fishing the deep holes and the riffle water into the deeper holes with fair success. It’s going to take a few more days for the canal to stabilize. I’m fishing olive quilldigons, stoner nymphs and hot spot pheasant tail nymphs on the Euro rod.

Fly fishers will have to wait for the snow to melt to gain access to Owens River Gorge brown trout.

Owens River Gorge

Upper and Middle Gorge:

Like the rest of the Eastern Sierra the Owens River Gorge got snow and it’s tough to access right now. It will be awhile before fly fishers can access this area through Gorge Road. For now I would  take this off the list of accessible fly fishing spots until the snow melts in the next week or so.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 02-24-2022

Winter weather always has an effect on Eastern Sierra fly fishing. A winter storm from Wednesday to Saturday is going to make fishing tough and cold with lots of snow in both the Owens Valley and upper elevation waters. Good time to stay away from the Eastern Sierra. The snow pack has dropped below the wettest year and I’m curious to see if this snow storm puts us back in the lead for the wettest year recorded in the Eastern Sierra. As we move forward with this massive snow pack fly fishers will need to seek out alternative fly fishing spots. Bishop Creek in Bishop and Owens River Gorge are worth checking out for winter fly fishing spots.

Bishop Creek in the Owens Valley is a great alternative spot to fly fish when the lower Owens River flows are unfishable..

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

The water flows in the lower Owens River have been at 200 CFS and are expected to rise to at least 300 CFS by the end of the week. At these flows the river is pretty much unwadable. Fly fishers will be restricted to fishing the few spots in the wild trout section that have accessible banks or shore line. Trout can be caught at these flows. The key to success is fishing nymphs with lots of weight. Three to five AB or BB sized shot will be needed to get the flies down on the substrate where the trout are feeding. There is a lot of willow tree debris on the substrate from the beavers and you will be losing flies to the substrate. For the Euro nymphing rig I’m increasing the size of the tungsten beads on my flies. I’m using 3.0 to 4.0 beads to get the flies down. Tiger midges, zebra midges, olive quilldigons, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs and bead head flashback pheasant tail nymphs are producing trout. Fishing is slow and perseverance in the form of lots of casts is what’s producing a few trout.

With the lower Owens River flows going up to 300 CFS there will be limited spots for fly fishers to wade .

Hot Creek:

Interpretive Site:

New snow from this most recent storm (taking place as I write this) should not affect fly fishers accessing the creek, after the storm. Nymphing is still the best method to be fly fishing on the creek. Midge patterns and blue wing olive nymph patterns are what the trout are looking for. Don’t forget to use scuds in the creek as there is a healthy population of scuds that the trout feed on.

Fly fishers accessing Hot Creek canyon need snowshoes and need to watch out for ice going in and out of the canyon .

Hot Creek:

Canyon Section:

Fly fishers accessing the canyon section need to be using snowshoes. Nymphing in the canyon is producing wild brown and rainbow trout. With the decrease in fly fishing pressure fly fishers are finding bigger trout willing to take their nymphs. Olive scuds in size 12 or 14, tiger and zebra midges in sizes 18 or 20 and bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs in size 18 are the fly patterns producing in the canyon.

Nate Ostrander from Bishop hooked up on the indicator on the upper Owens River. Photo Credit Nate Ostrander.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

After the storm, fly fishers will be able to access the upper Owens River again from Benton Crossing Road. It’s about an hour’s hike in on snowshoes to the better fishing spots in the area of the confluence of Hot Creek’s three forks. The trophy trout are in the river in good numbers offering fly fishers an opportunity to catch one of these trophy trout. I like to fish the cutbanks, deep runs and holes that the trophy trout use to rest and feed on their migration through the river. I’m offering the trout a bigger bite of calories by using size 10 or 12 jigged flies like the stoner nymph and the two tone green/gold Prince nymph. Throwing a streamer that you can get under the cutbanks or down deep in the holes is producing trophy trout.

Increase flows in Bishop Creek Canal will allow fly fishers to get closer to the water without spooking trout..

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Ford Dealer:

With increased flows it’s easier to cast to the trout without spooking them. I like to use three different nymphing techniques to fool the canal trout. I use a dry and dropper with an Adams parachute on top and a midge or pheasant tail nymph as the dropper. I use indicators, Airlocks, placed 1.5 to 2 times the average water depth above the bottom fly. I use olive quilldigons, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, tiger midges and zebra midges. Bishop Creek Canal is a great water to Euro nymph. I use the same fly set almost all winter. I use an olive quilldigon on the point, stoner nymph in the middle and hot spot pheasant tail on top.

Fly fishing in the Owens River Gorge is a great alternative spot to fly fish when the wild trout section is unfishable.

Owens River Gorge

Upper and Middle Gorge:

The gorge is a tail water fishery that fishes like a freestone creek. The fish feed opportunistically on what is floating down the river. This is a great spot to fish your favorite dry fly as you will fish it with more confidence. For the dry fly I like an Adams parachute, elk hair caddis, Royal Wulff and blue wing olive parachute. For the nymphs I run bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, tiger midges and zebra midges. Some fly fishers are daunted about the hike in and out of the gorge. Access into middle or upper gorge allows fly fishers to walk in on a paved road. Walking out of the gorge is like walking out of Hot Creek canyon twice. Pace yourself and it’s an easy hike out.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 02-17-2022

Looks like we are in for some good weather for most of the upcoming week. But it is the Eastern Sierra where they say if you don’t like the weather come back in an hour. Upper elevation waters are getting enough fly fishing pressure to develop trails that are navigable. Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is reporting record breaking snow fall so far for this snow season. Be prepared for increased water flows as the snow starts to melt. Spring runoff this year is going to be huge. Might want to plan a trip or two before runoff starts in June.

Nice weather and flow at 200 CFS makes it time for a trip to the lower Owens River.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Los Angeles Department of Water and Power are doing repair work on Pleasant Valley Reservoir. Once this is completed flows in the lower Owens will increase from the 200 CFS to at least 300 CFS. Fishing has been sporadic as water clarity related to the dam work has been an issue some days. Some days are clear water and some days are dirty water. Nymphing has been the way to fish the river. I like Euro nymphing as the method to get my nymphs down on the substrate where the trout are feeding. This is requiring an increase in the bead size on my flies. I’m still fishing my winter trio of an olive quilldigon, stoner nymph and a hot spot pheasant tail nymph.

Working the riffle as it enters a hole on the lower Owens River with nymphs produces wild trout .

Hot Creek:

Interpretive Site:

The trail from Hot Creek Hatchery Road to the creek is well established. Snowshoes are highly recommended for access. This is the easiest place to access Hot Creek. There is not much in the way of hatches right now. I still carry dry flies with me just in case a midge or blue wing olive hatch brings the trout to the surface. Nymphing is the game and I’m using tiger midges, zebra midges, olive quilldigons, and bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs.

Fly fishers have developed trails from the kiosk to Hot Creek Ranch allowing easier access with your snow shoes.

Hot Creek:

Canyon Section:

Accessing the canyon section of Hot Creek is for the adventurous fly fisher. You have to snowshoe in from the end of Hot Creek Hatchery Road where they stop plowing the road which is at Hot Creek Ranch. No parking in front of the ranch. Getting in and out of the canyon is tough due to icy conditions. For the fly fisher that makes it into the canyon fishing with nymphs is producing trout. These fish are feeding on scuds, midges, and blue wing olive nymphs. I like fishing in the open water in between the weed beds.

Snow shoes are required for fly fishers accessing the upper Owens River from Benton Crossing Bridge..

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Snowmobiles from Benton Crossing Bridge have established packed down snow trails that fly fishers with snowshoes can use to access the river. Most fly fishers are fishing with their snowshoes on. Including wading with them. For those that do not own snowshoes they can be rented from Eastside Sports in Bishop. There are enough trophy trout in the river to warrant the effort to access the better fishing areas an hours walk up stream of Benton Crossing Bridge. The trophy trout are in the river to spawn. I do not fish over actively spawning trout as they represent the future trout population of the river. I Euro nymph in the deep holes, runs and cutbanks with stoner nymphs and two tone Prince nymphs in green/gold.

Bishop Creek Canal is getting very little fly fishing pressure as low water levels make it hard not to spook trout..

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Ford Dealer:

Flows continue to be low making fly fishing tough in the canal. When the lower Owens River goes up to 300 CFS the canal will go up and fishing will improve. Working the canal with the indicator, dry and dropper or Euro nymphing is producing a few fish if you can get a cast without spooking the trout. I’m using tiger midge, zebra midges, gold ribbed hares ear’s and pheasant tail nymphs.

Wild brown trout are the dominate trout species in the gorge and feed opportunistically.

Owens River Gorge

Upper and Middle Gorge:

Nymphing under a dry fly is producing wild brown trout on tiger midges, zebra midges, gold ribbed hare’s ears, and pheasant tail nymphs. I access the gorge through the two power plant roads. I walk to the bottom and fish my way upstream until I’m done. Then I hike out. I also take some of the climber trails down into the gorge. Anywhere you fish is going to produce trout as there is very little fishing pressure in the gorge.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 02-10-2023

Another snow storm blew through the Eastern Sierra leaving up to 24 inches of new snow at the highest elevations. This big snow pack means we will have full lakes and streams will be running strong through the summer and into the fall. Runoff will take place in June and July, depending on spring temperatures. Plan your Eastern Sierra fly fishing trips with this in mind. Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is starting to make room for the spring runoff by lowering Crowley Lake. This means the lower Owens River flows are going up and when flows exceed 300 CFS, fly fishers will not be able to wade.

Every Tuesday from 9-11 a.m. join me for Tuesday Talks at Mahogany Smoked Meats.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

Flows in the lower Owens River are at 200 CFS and expected to go up in the next week or two to 300 CFS. At these flows I will not guide wading clients in the river. We will be limited to fly fishing from the banks in a few spots. The most successful way to fish the river at these flows is with nymphs. The key to successful nymph fishing will be getting your flies on the substrate by having enough split shots, more specifically several BB shots, on the leader or using heavily weighted Euro nymph patterns. Dry fly fishing will be limited to a select number of holes where anglers have access and the trout will be rising.

With flows on the lower Owens going up, it will not be long before fly fishers will be fly fishing from the banks because the flows will be unsafe to wade .

Hot Creek:

Interpretive Site:

Adventurous fly fishers are snowshoeing into Hot Creek. The interpretive site is the easiest spot to access the creek. With little fly fishing pressure the few anglers fishing on Hot Creek are doing well with nymphs. I like to fish my nymphs under a size 16 Adams parachute as my indicator. Eighteen to 24 inches below the Adams I’m running either a midge pattern or a blue wing olive mayfly nymph pattern.

Access to Hot Creek Canyon is parking at the end of the plowed Hot Creek Hatcher Road and snowshoeing into the canyon section.

Hot Creek:

Canyon Section:

The canyon requires a lot more effort to get to. Snowshoes are pretty much a must. Ice is making the trail in and out of the canyon tougher to access. I find nymphing easier in the canyon. I’m fishing tiger midges and zebra midges under an Adams Parachute. I also run a size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph. These flies have been fooling the wary trout that call the canyon of Hot Creek home. Flows are low and the open holes in and around the weed beds are the best place to work your nymphs.

Fly fishers are developing trails from Benton Crossing Bridge up stream to the confluence of Hot Creek.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

The trails into the upper Owens River from Benton Crossing Bridge are well established now. Fly fishers are going in on snowmobiles or hiking in with snowshoes. The best sections of the river to fish are about an hour’s hike up from the bridge. It has been cold and fly fishers should be dressed accordingly. It requires planning and lots of effort to access the upper Owens River in the winter time. Trophy trout are in the river and feeding. Fly fishers are landing one to three trophy trout per rod working their flies in the deep holes, runs and cut banks. I like to give the trout a big meal by fishing with size 12 stoner nymphs and size 12 two-tone Prince nymphs in green and gold.

Bishop Creek Canal water flows are increasing as the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power begins to make room in Crowley Lake, shipping water south through the canals.

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Ford Dealer:

As flows in the lower Owens River increase, so will the flows in Bishop Creek Canal. I will be fishing in the canal a lot when the flows in the lower Owens River exceed 300 CFS. I prefer to Euro nymph in the canal. I like to fish with olive quilldigons, stoner nymphs and hot spot pheasant tail nymphs. I find these flies to be my most successful patterns and I tend to fish them all winter long. Fly fishing with midges and bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs under an indicator is another great method of fly fishing the canal.

Hiking in and out of the gorge looks daunting, but it’s a doable hike.

Owens River Gorge

Upper and Middle Gorge:

As the flows in the lower Owens River increase to the point it is no longer fun or feasible to fly fish, I turn to the gorge as an alternative spot to fly fish. This is a tail water fishery that fishes like an opportunistic freestone creek. I like to fish a dry and dropper in here. My favorite combination is to fish with an Adams parachute or a blue wing olive parachute on top. For the nymphs I like to fish with bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs or bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 02-03-2023

The weather has stabilized for now and the snow pack has settled in. The snow is still soft and fluffy, requiring fly fishers to snowshoe or snowmobile into upper elevation waters. We’ve turned the corner on winter and the day light hours are getting longer. The aquatic insects are slowly starting to get more active. Midges and blue wing olives are the most active in Eastern Sierra waters right now.

International Federation of Fly Fishers South West Council is holding their second annual fishing tournament, the Trout Rodeo, this Saturday, Feb. 4. This is a catch and release tournament on open waters in the Eastern Sierra. For more information go to http://www.swcffi.org/trout-rodeo.

Tom Paulson winner of last year’s Trout Rodeo helps the Home Street Middle School Fly Fishing Club learn to fly fish on Bishop Creek Canal.

Lower Owens River

Wild Trout Section:

The river continues to offer the best fly fishing conditions in the Eastern Sierra for eight-to-12-inch wild rainbow and brown trout. There is not enough insects, mayflies or midges, hatching to offer consistent dry fly action. Nymphing continues to be the most productive method of fly fishing the river. I’m using my new Cortland 10.5 three weight with my new Waterworks – Lamson Remix -5+ reel to Euro nymph. I’m fishing with a size 18 olive quilldigon, size 12 stoner and a size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymph. With the winter conditions I’m covering lots of water with my casts. I know trout are cold blooded and if I’m off by an inch the trout will not move to take my nymphs.

My new Euro rig, the Cortland 10.5 foot three weight with a Lamson Remix loaded with an Airflow European nymph line, is a great Euro outfit for the lower Owens River.

Hot Creek:

Interpretive Site:

Fly fishers have established a trail into the interpretive site from Hot Creek Hatchery Road. The snow is still soft and snowshoes make it a lot easier to access the creek. Access is tough and it’s keeping the fly fishing pressure way down. There is not much in the way of hatches right now. Fly fishers will do best fishing with nymphs. I’m using midge nymphs and midge pupae in tiger midge or zebra midge colors.

Accessing Hot Creek Canyon is tough even with snow shoes.

Hot Creek:

Canyon Section:

Lots of soft fluffy snow makes it tough to access Hot Creek Canyon. For the ambitious fly fisher willing to hike into the canyon the wild brown trout and rainbows are feeding on nymph patterns. I’m fishing size 20 to 22 tiger midges and zebra midges in nymph and pupae stages, and size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs. I’m fishing my nymphs 18 to 24 inches under a size 16 Adams Parachute.

With all the new snow on the ground, fly fishers have to access the upper Owens River from Benton Crossing Bridge.

Upper Owens River

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Getting to the areas with trophy trout requires a snowmobile or snowshoes. Snow shoeing into the deep holes, runs and cutbanks where the trophy trout are resting and feeding takes an hour. I like to fish bigger sized nymphs for these trophy trout. I use size 12 stoner nymphs and two-tone green and gold Prince nymphs. Fly fishers are getting one or two fish per rod right now in this section.

Bishop Creek Canal water levels have dropped, making fly fishing tough again.

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Ford Dealer:

As the water clears and the flows drop, the trout have gone back to being spooky. It’s hard to approach the trout holding waters without spooking the trout. I’m Euro nymphing this section and finding I’m spooking more trout than I’m catching. I’m using an olive quilldigon, stoner nymph and a hot spot pheasant tail nymph.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 01-27-2023

Wind has given way to warm days in the Owens Valley. Upper elevation waters are full of snow and fly fishers are snowmobiling, skiing, or snowshoeing to access the waters. Only the most diehard fly fishers are putting in the effort to fish upper elevation waters. Day light is getting longer by a little bit each day. Water temps are in the mid 40’s and the trout are not feeding aggressively. Working nymphs and thoroughly covering trout holding water is the most productive way of fly fishing right now.

Snow in the mountains and the sun warming up the Owens Valley makes for a perfect day on the lower Owens River.

Lower Owens River:

Wild Trout Section:

The last couple of days have been nice to be out on the water. Mid 50’s air temps and no winds have made it enjoyable to be on the river. Fly fishing has been tough as there is very little to no insect activity to get the trout feeding. I’ve seen a few mayflies hatching and lots of midges in the air in the afternoon. Fly fishing has been tough with nymphs. I’m thoroughly covering all of the section of river I’m Euro nymphing. I know if the flies are off by a couple of inches the trout will not move to take my nymphs. The river is up to 140 cfs and I’m finding the trout have moved up into the flats. I’m fishing with olive quilldigons, stoner nymphs, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs on the Euro rig. Under an indicator I’m fishing with tiger midges, zebra midges, and bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph.

Afternoon session for first time fly fisher Jason Watson from Laguna Beach dead drifting a nymph under an indicator.

Hot Creek:

Interpretive Site:

For the hardy fly fisher willing to snowshoe in there are wild brown trout and rainbows willing to take midge and mayfly nymph patterns. The snow is deep and fluffy keeping most fly fishers off the water.

The only way to access the canyon section of Hot Creek is to snowmobile or snowshoe in from the parking area at the end of Hot Creek Hatchery Road.

Hot Creek:

Canyon Section:

There is little to no fly fishing pressure in the canyon as few fly fishers are willing to put the effort in to get down to the creek. For those few fly fishers willing to put in the effort the trout are feeding on midges and mayfly nymphs. With the decrease in fly fishing pressure this is a good time to throw streamers looking for a trophy trout from Hot Creek.

It is tough to access the upper Owens River right now without snowshoes or a snowmobile.

Upper Owens River:

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Lots of snow and little parking off of Benton Crossing Road is limiting access to the river. It’s tough to walk in right now. Snowmobiles, or snowshoes is the only way to access the river. The river suffered from anchor ice during the cold spell end of last weekend into the beginning of this week. The anchor ice forms ice dams that when they break loose scouring the bottom. This action caused lots of ice to come through the river and turn the river muddy. The trophy trout are just starting to show up in the river.

Water levels are dropping and the water is clearing up which has led to good nymphing in the canal.

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Ford Dealer:

The river is clearing up and the level is dropping. I’ve been Euro nymphing in here with the olive quilldigon, stoner nymphs and hot spot pheasant tail nymph. The trout are taking all three fish. When the flows get back to a low level fly fishing well be tough here again as the trout become spooky again.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 01-19-2023

The storms have moved through and it’s time to clean up after the rain and snow. At upper elevations the snow equipment is slowly cleaning up all the snow from roads, walk ways, roofs, and parking lots. I will be waiting a few more days for others to develop trails through the snow to try snow shoeing or walking into the upper Owens River and or Hot Creek. There is mud, rocks, and debris on the roads to the lower Owens River and Bishop Creek Canal. The waters in the Owens Valley are slowly clearing and should be fishable by the weekend.

This mini boulder is now parked on Chalk Bluff Road.

Lower Owens River:

Wild Trout Section:

Low clearance vehicles will have problems accessing the lower Owens River on Chalk Bluff Road. Today there was a small boulder – big rock in the road. It was not there two days before. It was big enough to do major damage to a vehicle. The river is a brown color and nymphing is tough. The only hatch I’m seeing is a sporadic midge hatch. I’m fishing with olive quillldigons, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, stoner nymphs, two tone green/gold Prince nymphs, tiger midges, and zebra midges. I’m not seeing any rising trout.

Don and Tom Boyer from San Diego Euro nymph the lower Owens River as the winter storm moved out of the Eastern Sierra.

Hot Creek:

Interpretive Site:

This area got pounded by the snow. It will be a few days until I check out the interpretive site for fly fishing. You’re going to have to walk in from Hot Creek Hatchery Road. I’m going to be fishing with midge patterns and maybe a pheasant tail nymph.

It’s time to get out and fly fish in the Eastern Sierra now that winter storms have moved out.

Hot Creek:

Canyon Section:

This section is now inaccessible by vehicles. Fly fishers are going to have to park at the end of the plowed Hot Creek Hatchery Road which is at the entrance to Hot Creek Ranch. Fly fishers are going to need to snow shoe and cross country ski in to access the canyon. In and out of the canyon is going to require care with all the snow. It will be sometime next week before I get up to attempt to fly fish in the canyon. I will be nymphing with midge and mayfly patterns.

Roads in the Eastern Sierra are just starting to clear up from snow and rain from the latest storms.

Upper Owens River:

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Benton Crossing Landfill closed as of January 1, 2023. This means that Benton Crossing Road past the animal control shelter is a low priority for plowing during big storms. At the time of this report the road was still not completely plowed out to Benton Crossing Bridge. There was some trophy trout moving into the upper Owens River between the storms. I’m waiting for the snow to settle and good snow trails to be established before I venture out to the river. I like fishing with big nymphs for the trophy trout. I fish with size 12 stoner nymphs and green/gold Prince nymphs. These patterns work for me any time that there are trophy trout in the river.

This holdover stocker rainbow took a green/gold Prince nymph drifted on the Euro nymph rod in Bishop Creek Canal.

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Ford Dealer:

The water is up and clearing. This allows me to get close enough to the fish without spooking them. I’m nymphing with the Euro rod and under an indicator with stoner nymphs, green/gold Prince nymphs, olive quilldigons, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, zebra midges, and tiger midges. Stocker rainbows and wild brown trout are feeding in the deeper holes and faster water sections.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 01-13-2023

We are going to get a couple of days break in between storms. At the upper elevations roads and towns are digging themselves out of the snow. These areas got lots of snow. At lower elevations, Owens Valley, we got mostly rain with a light dusting of snow that quickly melted. Dirt roads are wet, have puddles and erosion in them. Vehicle access is closed to Bishop Creek Canal. Owens River Road will be plowed when they can get to it. Access to the upper Owens River at Benton Crossing will have limited if any parking. The next series of storms will start on Saturday 01-14-2023 and is expected to last at least through Friday. I would stay out of the Eastern Sierra unless you absolutely have to be up here.

Before traveling to the Eastern Sierra be sure to check with Cal Trans for road closures as lots of roads have been closed due to rain, snow, and erosion.

Lower Owens River:

Wild Trout Section:

Chalk Bluff Road is accessible with lots of mud puddles on the dirt road. There are several area that have erosion on the road or the road has eroded. The river is up and way off color. It will take two to four days of nice weather for the river to clear up. Before the storm nymphing was really good with olive quilldigons, and Hot Spot Pheasant Tail nymphs. I would not fish the river until it has stabilized and cleared up. For daily updates on the rivers conditions follow my Facebook or Instagram page at Sierra Bright Dot. If you’re going to attempt to fly fish this section dress appropriately.

Flows out of Pleasant Valley Reservoir have increased and the river is muddy.

Hot Creek:

Interpretive Site:

With all the new snow this area is getting, access into the interpretive site will be on foot or with snowshoes. Few if any anglers are fly fishing the creek in these snow storms. When the sun comes out and your willing to put in some extra effort the trout will be willing to play. Nymphing with midges is best in this section right now.

The latest storms have filled in the tracks with two to four feet of snow and fly fishers will have to walk in from Hot Creek Hatchery Road.

Hot Creek:

Canyon Section:

This area is tough to access due to the large amounts of snow the storms have left. I would wait a week after the last storm to let the snow stabilize before trying to access the Hot Creek Canyon.

Fly fishers will no longer be able to park upstream of Benton Crossing Bridge as there is too much snow on the road for access.

Upper Owens River:

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

This area is inaccessible due to the large amounts of snow the storms have left. When this area becomes accessible it will require a snowmobile or snowshoes to access the river. My guess is that the storms will activate the trout and the river will have good concentrations of trophy trout. I will be checking out this area about a week after the last storm.

Max Kim from Orange County braved the cold and high muddy water on the canal to spend some time fishing.

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Ford Dealer:

The good news is that flows in the canal are up. The bad news is that the dirt roads accessing Bishop Creek Canal have been closed by DWP. The other bad news is that the canal water is dirty brown. It will take two to four days for the water to clear after the last day of stormy weather. I’m guessing, but I expect the canal to be in prime fly fishing shape when these winter storms have moved through the Owens Valley.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 01-06-2023

Storms are moving through the Eastern Sierra and leaving snow at upper elevations and rain in the Owens Valley. Several atmospheric rivers are delivering water to the Eastern Sierra and we will know how much when they move east. It’s a new year and time to buy a new fishing license. This year your license is good for 365 days from the date of purchase. It’s cold out there and the fish are not moving much for food. Nymphing is the most productive method and fly fishers will need to put the fly on the trout’s nose. Best fishing will be middle of the day about 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. Midges are the primary winter trout food. We have good populations of blue wing olive mayflies that make them an important winter food source.

It’s a new year and your fishing license is now good for 365 days from the date of purchase.

Lower Owens River:

Wild Trout Section:

Rain and cold weather has slowed down the dry fly activity to almost nil. Nymphing is the way to fish on the lower Owens River right now. I’m using a three fly Euro Nymph rig with good success. The key is to get into the river and wade sections that other anglers pass up. Lots of drifts and working the flies on the bottom, having the right amount of weight in your flies or on your line, is key to getting the trout to feed on your nymphs. Weather will be a factor when fly fishing on the lower Owens River. Be prepared to fish in the cold, rain, and the wind.

The storms are raging in the mountains and fly fishers fishing the lower Owens River are finding it cold and windy.

Hot Creek:

Interpretive Site:

With all the new snow this area is getting, access into the interpretive site will be on foot or with snowshoes. Few if any anglers are fly fishing the creek in these snow storms. When the sun comes out and your willing to put in some extra effort the trout will be willing to play. Nymphing with midges is your best in this section right now.

With new snow on the ground and more coming fly fishers will have to park at the end of Hot Creek Hatchery Road which is as far as the road is plowed.

Hot Creek:

Canyon Section:

Fly fishers will be accessing the canyon from the end of the plowed Hot Creek Hatchery Road which is the entrance to Hot Creek Ranch. There is lots of soft snow to contend with for fly fishers willing to cross country ski, snow shoe, or snowmobile in. Getting in and out of the canyon will be tricky. I would give it five to seven days after the storms to allow others to build a packed down path into the canyon area. Nymphing will be good with midge patterns and blue wing olive mayfly nymph patterns.

Lots of snow on the ground from the last set of storms and new snow on the way will make access to the upper Owens River tough.

Upper Owens River:

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

Trophy trout are starting to show up in the river. The problem is dealing with all the new snow on the ground. Snowmobiles or snowshoes are offering the easiest access into the river. The fish in this section are here to spawn. They represent the future of the wild trout population in the river. I choose to leave actively spawning trout on redds alone. I concentrate my effort on resting and feeding trophy trout that are found in the deep holes, runs, and cutbanks. I prefer offering these fish a big calorie offering by using size 12 stoner nymphs and size 12 two tone green/gold Prince nymphs. Fish these flies down deep on the bottom of the substrate.

With the atmospheric rivers hitting the Eastern Sierra I hope the canal water levels come up enough to allow an approach to the trout without spooking them.

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Ford Dealer:

I’m hoping with all this moisture we are getting in the Eastern Sierra that we will see the level of Bishop Creek Canal come up in the next week or two. For now the fishing continues to be slow as the low water levels have the trout extra spooky. It’s tough to get a drift or cast without spooking the trout.

Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Report 12-30-2022

Happy New Years. As we move into a new year, I’m looking back at a great year for Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Guide Service. Had the busiest year in the 40 years I’ve been guiding. I did a lot of guide trips, Euro Nymphing seminars, and introduction to fly fishing. I’m looking forward to expanding the guide service in 2023 by bringing on a guide or two. I will be announcing dates for fly fishing classes, hosted trips, and seminars in January.

Even though were are in the coldest part of the year there are waters that are consistently producing trout middle of the day. Midges and mayflies are the abundant insects keeping the fish actively feeding. While I’m seeing some rising trout that fly fishers can throw dry flies at, it’s definitely a nymphing game right now. Winter storms have been moving through the Eastern Sierra leaving snow at the upper elevations. This accumulation of snow will be next year’s water in streams and lakes. We are not out of the drought situation yet, but it’s shaping up to be a good winter if we can keep the storm doors open and put snow on the ground at upper elevations.

Emmy Kidd of Bishop is my last casting lesson of the 2022 fly fishing season.

Lower Owens River:

Wild Trout Section:

While the dry fly activity is spotty  at best, midges and mayflies have the trout feeding on nymphs. I’m fishing with my Euro rig and having 10 to 20 fish days on wild brown trout and the occasional rainbow trout. I’m using olive quilldigons, stoner nymphs, and hot spot pheasant tail nymphs in my three fly Euro rig. Under the indicator I’m using bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, and midge patterns. For midges I’m tying up and using midge nymphs and midge pupae patterns in tiger midge, zebra midge, and olive colorations.

Rainbow trout only make up 20 percent of the trout population, but represent the biggest trout caught in the lower Owens River.

Hot Creek:

Interpretive Site:

Access to the interpretive site before this weekend’s storms was questionable to drive in. If you have a high clearance four wheel drive vehicle you can probably drive in and out. If not, I would park on the side of the road and walk in. There are few fly fishers working this area. If there is a hatch I would throw dry flies, but nymphing is your best bet in this area. I’m primarily using midge nymph and midge pupae patterns in sizes 20 and 22 in tiger midge or zebra midge coloration. This is definitely a mid-morning 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. fishery.

The road in to Hot Creek interpretive site is full of snow and I would recommend walking in rather than driving your vehicle in.

Hot Creek:

Canyon Section:

There are vehicle tracks into the canyon area prior to this weekends storms. I would only drive in if you are comfortable in driving off road snow conditions. Walking in from Hot Creek Ranch, end of the plowed road, is a little more than a mile to the geological site. Most fly fishers avoid this area in the winter as they are not willing to put in the effort required to get to the creek. This decrease in fly fishing pressure makes for better fly fishing for the few anglers willing to put in the effort to fish the creek in the winter time. With the weed beds being at their lowest point of growth fly fishers can nymph fish the open water areas. Nymphing with midges and mayfly nymphs is producing fish.

The first few hundred yards of the upper Owens River above Benton Crossing Bridge gets lots of fishing pressure as fly fishers are not willing to walk an hour upstream to the better trophy trout spots.

Upper Owens River:

Above Benton Crossing Bridge:

While fly fishers are waiting for the big run of winter trophy rainbows that should show up in January there just are not many fish in the river system right now. The snow prior to this weekend’s storms is packed down allowing fly fishers to walk in. Fishing is tough and fly fishers need to cover a lot of water for one or two fish. I’m fishing the Euro rod with stoner nymphs and two tone green/gold wire Prince nymphs. I’m fishing these flies right on the bottom in the deep holes, runs, and cutbanks where the trophy trout are resting and feeding. These spawning fish are the future of wild trout in the Owens. I chose not to fly fish to actively spawning trout.

Spooky trout in low water conditions in making fly fishing on Bishop Creek Canal tough.

Bishop Creek Canal:

Behind the Ford Dealer:

Low water levels is making the fly fishing tough on the canal. I’ve tried Euro nymphing and just can’t get a cast to the fish with out spooking them. I’m waiting for the water levels to come up some. The best way to fish the canal right now is to fish a bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph or midge pattern under a dry fly. I’m casting this rig 40 to 50 feet in front of me and it’s still spooking fish.