Bishop Fly Fishing - Lower Owens River

Great coloured Brown Trout of the Lower Owens

The Lower Owens has been pumped up to a higher flow of around 450 cfs for the moment. While considered to be high flows there are plenty of places one can get into some great water. The new news is an afternoon PMD hatch comes off with fish responding well in the slower moving and foamy water areas where the river channels the majority of the PMD’s to. Light Cahills and Para PMD’s in #14 -16 will take fish during these times. Late in the evening Caddis and other Mayflies come off with the trout responding in certain areas to give anglers some evening top-water dry fly action. Nymphing and pulling streamers throughout the day will produce when the fish are not feeding on the surface. Some patterns we have been using are;  Sparkle Trigger Nymphs #16-20, CDC Bubble Back Emergers #16-20, Poly Wing Midge Emergers #18-20, Small SJ Worms #12-14, and Robo PT’s #16-20.  On the surface try Elk Hair Caddis #16-20, Turkey Quill Caddis #16-18, BWO Thorax and Para BWO #16-20. Look for these flows to drop and for the Lower Owens to be running lower this summer than usual.