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.

Pointy Tailed Rainbow taken from a Creek near 7000ft

The Small Creeks around Mammoth Lakes are doing OK with very little runoff…Yet flows are good and water is cool and clear. Fish are around in all parts of the creeks with some big guys showing themselves here and there. It is always amazing how many fish pack themselves under the banks to let you walk by thinking there is nothing there.  Stoneflies and Caddis are the main treats the trout of these streams have been feeding on. An afternoon caddis hatch comes off letting the angler enjoy some dry fly action throughout the system. Streamers do get attention when fished correctly and deep. Pull them by the dark areas of the undercut banks to have success. Look for flows to remain reasonably constant from the snow we still have up high from this year and left over from last year.

Future Guide Jake Berry takes a large East Walker Brown on a Dry!!

The East Walker continues to be one of the Top places to extract large fish in the State of California. Flowing at a nice and easy flow of around  110 cfs the East Walker has been a pleasure to fish in the last couple of weeks. Some Dry Fly activity is noted mid-late mornig with some average sized fish responding on the surface. Going under with nymphs or streamers will possibly get you the trout of a life time in this fertile river system.  The rule for the East Walker like most of our Eastern Sierra streams is the same – if the water looks good, and can possibly hold trout, it does-  We have been seeing that the crowds are hit and miss depending on the day and time you fish the East Walker.

Tim D. Hold a prime East Walker Cutt-bow

East Walker Cutt-Bow

Tian D. with a Hot Creek Trout

Hot Creek continues to fish very well with slightly higher flows and healthy trout in clean and cool water. Crowds are hit and miss and when arriving early enough solitude is possible. Caddis, Midges and Baetis are all on the menu is this popular stream. An afternoon emergence of Baetis and Caddis come off with fish responding throughout the river, the trout seem to be keying on the Caddis on the surface.  Some popular suggestiong are; Throax Baetis #18-20, Loop Wing Baetis #18-20, Trigger Nymphs #20 and CDC Baetis #20.. For Dries use #18-20 Fertile CDC Caddis, Para Turkey Caddis #18-22, EHC #20-22.. Various small Attractor Patterns such as Small Hoppers and Beetles will also take fish with placed with precision and patience. Fish are being caught all day long here!!

Starting  off our new “Fish of the Month”  to chronicle the great fish caught in the Eastern Sierra Jon W. holds the fish of the Month for April. Taken on a very small midge on light tackle in strong current it took skill and concentration to bring him to hand. Great work Jon! East Walker River

Fish of the Month - April 2012 -

With our fish of the month we will be also doing a fish of the year ! On August 3, 2011 Craig Coston of Bakersfield, Ca caught this fish of three lifetimes while with me on a pack trip in the High Sierra. I am 6’4″ on the left and Craig is 6’6″ on the right to give you an idea of  the immense proportions of the fish.  We were above 10,000 feet in elevation when this gargantuan Brown Trout came to hand on a 2wt Winston. Yes, it was a 2wt!!!

Monster Brown of a Lifetime 15lb+ 31 inch

A perfect specimen from the Upper Owens River - Spring 2012

The Upper Owens is flowing at a great flow of around 95 cfs. Large fish are STILL in the system and being caught. Afternoon wind has been coming up recently so spend your mornings fishing hard and efficiently. Fish are found from the bridge all the way up as far as you can drive on the road. The same patterns are still holding strong; Try large streamers in various patterns and colors in sizes #4-8 .. SJ worms and Wire Worms in pink and reds #8-12, Robo PT’s in #16- 18, Pheasant Tails #16-20, Trigger Nymphs #16-18 and various soft hackles in similar sizes will take fish. Green Tickets #14-18, Diving Caddis #16 and Stallcups Emergers #16-18 are all good choices on the Upper Owens.  A small baetis hatch mixed with caddis comes off in the afternoon causing the smaller fish to come to the surface for a couple of hours.

Beautiful East Walker Brown!

The East Walker River has been fishing very well with cool water temps, clearer water,  and springtime  flows  some very nice specimens have been hooked! Some even landed!  Flows seem to be fluctuating between 100-150 cfs recently which can be optimal with the cooler water temps.  Most fish being caught are hefty brown trout with a few chunky rainbows mixed in.  Nymphing and streamers are taking the majority of large trout in the East Walker.  Fish your favorite Doubly Bunny or large Streamer pattern throughout the day to at get some amazing strikes and fish utilizing patterns of various colours, some white or tan mixed in the pattern seems to be the best. Try a mouse in the morning or late day to see some great “Boils!”  Nymphs are always effective with a light double nymph setup. Try a SJ worm or a green Caddis Worm on top with a small midge pattern/small baetis  below.  Some samples are; Flash Bang Midges #18-20, T-Midge Emergers in lighter shades #18-20, Z- Midge emergers grey #18-20, WD-40’s in lighter colours #18, and other similar patterns fished with patience and skill will help you to have a fly fishing experience to remember!

Predators of the East Walker River - Brown Trout -

Kenji and Christine S. Happily work a prime trout run

The Lower Owens has been flowing a steady 275 cfs add or subtract a few cfs (cubic feet/second) for the last few weeks. This makes for a steady fishy environment, clear water and happy fish! Most of the river is fishing well for everbody with wild browns in the upper sections below the dam with a few wild rainbows mixed in. As you head miles below you start to see more of the recently added fish in the river from Hwy. 6 downstream. Isolated pockets of rising trout can be found here and there throughout the day with the most intense dry fly action happening in the hours before dark.  Caddis, Mayflies and some midges are still on the menu. During the day BubbleBack emergers and Trigger Nymphs have been producing fish all times of the day in sizes #16-20, Crawling Caddis, Caddis Emergers, and The Ticket in sizes #14-18  are also on the Lower Owens menu these days. Midge emergers in various dark colors #18-20 are also a great choice for your bottom fly on your nymph setup. On the surface of the water good ol’ Elk Hair Caddis #16-20, Stallcups Adult Caddis #16, Hemingway Caddis and other Turkey Winged caddis in #18’s. BWO thorax #16-20, Ext. Body BWO #16-20, Good old Adams and Para BWO in the same sizes will also produce. At these flows the fish are able to spread out and not get put off and spooked as easily as other lower flows. Wading is a little bit more difficult but very doable for people of any size.

Kenji holds up a prize from the waters of the Lower Owens River