Hot Creek gate is open and has been open on top of the hill above the ranch. As stated in my last report we are experiencing a dry fly hatch starting around 11:00 to around 1:00 depending on the day and weather. … Some people are experiencing great success on nymphs while others are in the right place at the right time to experience some great dry fly action. Baetis (BWO) patterns are doing the best when placed correctly on the water in feeding lanes. Thorax BWO’s #18-20, Extended Body BWO #18-22, and the CDC Winged Emerger #18-20 are all patterns that have been fooling trout recently. Midge Tube & Poly Wing Emergers are sill steady when fished with a very small amount of weight. Nymphing small Baetis Emergers such as; Loop wing BWO emergers #18-20, Thorax BWO emergers #18-20, Small PT’s #20 and various other Baetis emerger patterns in similar sizes will put fish in your net. Water is a little off color due to the quickly rising temperatures with higher flows. This has not affected the fishing, it is actually nice to fish Hot Creek with a little more water in it these days.

The Upper Owens is still giving up some of her larger residents with nymph and streamer setups. Undercut banks and large backwater holes will hold some very large trout… Possibly the largest trout some of you have caught.  Try large streamers in various patterns in sizes #4-8 in dark and light or mixed colors.. SJ 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. A small baetis hatch comes off in the afternoon causing the smaller fish to come to the surface for an hour or so. We do not mess with these fish as we are there to take the larger specimens of the river. To fish a hatch see my report on Lower Owens river and Hot Creek.

Hot Creek gate is again shut at the top of the hill above the ranch keeping fisherman numbers reasonably low. Fisherman that arrive there are experiencing a dry fly hatch starting around 11:00 to around 1:00… Some people are experiencing great success while others struggle. Baetis (BWO) patterns are doing the best when placed correctly on the water in the lanes of feeding fish. Thorax BWO’s #18-20, Extended Body BWO #18-22, and the CDC Winged Emerger #18-20 are all patterns that have been fooling trout recently. Nymphing small Baetis Emergers such as; Loop wing BWO emergers #18-20, Thorax BWO emergers #18-20, Small PT’s #20 and various other Baetis emerger patterns in similar sizes will put fish in your net.

The East Walker is flowing around 40 cfs and is fishing good. A solid hatch comes off mid-morning and most of the fish respond well. Water should be coming up any day now allowing the fish to move about under more cover.. The same patterns as my last report still hold true;  #18-20 Thorax BWO’s, Extended Bodies #16-20 and Etha with BWO’s #18 will all take fish on the surface. Like always, in this fishery the very large fish are going to be taken on nymphs or streamers. Miracle Nymphs #18-20, Grey Biot Midges #18- 20, T-Midge Poly Wings in Pearl and Olive #18-20, and WD-40’s in various colours are also a good bug to have in the East Walker Box. Look for this fishery to heat up and produce some surprises as springtime rolls in.

Tomorrow, March 1st  I leave for  Chilean Patagonia for another dream fly fishing trip (mouse patterns in crystal clear water for 20″ + trout)… Look for my reports and photos in the next few weeks to come from the other side of the Globe! Stay Tuned!!!

The East Walker has been fishing very well. Not much has changed and the water continues  to flow at a slightly higher level of 43 cfs at this time.  Some anglers prefer not to fish the river below 20 cfs. Most have a fine time when driving the extra miles. Fish are fat and hungry for small midges. Streamer fishing has not been exceptionally great, you will take fish if you throw some rabbit fur and stick with it. A mid morning Baetis hatch will bring up some of the mid-sized and small trout providing action throughout the warmer parts of the day. #18-20 Thorax BWO’s, Extended Bodies and Etha with BWO’s will all take fish on the surface.  As I have said many times before in this fishery the very large fish are going to be taken on nymphs or streamers. Miracle Nymphs #18-20, Grey Biot Midges #18-20, T-Midge Poly Wings in Pearl and Olive #18-20, and WD-40’s in various colours are also a good bug to have in the East Walker Box.