Mammoth Fly Fishing: Hot Creek – Mid August 2009

As usual for this time of year the weeds are getting thicker and longer requiring anglers to make more accurate and precise presentations and drifts. Flows are down to around 60 cfs of combined flows with some weeds up to the surface. Dry dropper combinations or just a dry are the best methods to hit Hot Creek this time of year. The evening caddis hatch is the best thing going here… Later in the evening the creek can boil with caddis eating activity. During the day fish a buoyant dry with a small WD-40, PT or a midge or black fly larva. Put on a single hopper and cast to the holding water in between the weeds or on the opposite shore and expect some fishy attention. In the evening use a partridge caddis or small EHC throughout the hatch. IF you are not catching fish here you are doing something wrong… Step back and rethink your strategy. Enjoy!

Bridgeport Fly Fishing: East Walker River Mid-August 2009

The cooler nights have dropped the East Walker water temps down to fish friendly levels for the time being. Flows are up and down this time of year but as of now 8/13they are flowing at 192 cfs… Fish are more educated this time of year with larger fish still being caught but just not at the rate they were earlier this year. Go under the water if you want to have to chance at a larger East Walker beast. Small midges, WD-40’s, SJ’s, caddis pupa and larva and micro mayfly imitations will find you success on this water… This is the time of year the EW water temps can be harmful to fish and we are privileged to just be able to fish the East Walker this time of year so watch the water temperatures… Smaller fish are coming up on dries in the early morning and evenings. Start early take a break and finish late.

Mammoth Fly Fishing: Upper Owens River – Mid August 2009

The Upper Owens continues to be a popular fishing destination with a panoramic view that is as beautiful as any… Flows are still low and water temps are good… The fish are not as concentrated as years past so spend less time in a hole if you are not getting trout attention. Small fish are up on the surface eating small dries here and there all day long… Most of these fish seem to be small browns. In the larger holes fishing can be excellent if you can find pods of fish are residing there. Hoppers can be flopped down for a bit of attention, but move around a lot if you are fishing hoppers as the fish usually pound them on the first presentation if they are willing. Streamers are always getting attention on the Upper O… Cast these to the opposite bank and tug back quickly… The fish will also usually hit these on the first presentation if they are feeling carnivorous… Fish the larger pockets with quicker strips leading into slower strips for a deeper presentation. Nymphing your basics will get you into fish here… Hares Ears, Pheasant tails, Red Copper Bobs, and Prince nymphs will get bitten if presented properly… the best method for the Upper O right now is to move from hole to hole covering lots of water while spending more time in the deeper holes where larger populations of fish reside..

Upper Owens River Fishing Report

Bishop Fly Fishing: Lower Owens River 7/5/09

The Lower Owens flows are staying as low as most people have seen for this time of year! At 195cfs the fishing is as good as I have seen it on the Lower O! In the early mornings and evenings the Amiocentrus caddis are getting eaten all over the surface.. If you want dry fly action show up at these times..Use small Elk Hare Caddis and turkey wing caddis, Hot Creek style partridge caddis are also getting eaten if you can see them at a distance… In between hatches various caddis pupa patterns and standard mayfly patterns are getting chomped. Once again for nymphing use Tiger and Zebra midges in greens and darker colours.. Fox’s poopah and z-wing patterns are also taking fish all day long…Standard PT’s, Robos, and Prince nymphs are getting eaten regularly….. At these flows we have seen some really nice EW style fish coming out of the Lower O right here in BISHOP!!! A must to fish right now!!

Eastern Sierra Fly Fishing

Mammoth Fly Fishing: Hot Creek 7/5/09

Hot Creek is on fire! Flows are perfect at 41 cfs for fly fishers and the fish are responding to correctly fished patterns.. Caddis seem to be the flies of choice but other insects are making their presence known; Yellow Sallies, Tricos and PMD’s…. Tiger and Zebra midges in blacks and browns fished as a short dropper are taking all kinds of fish. PT’s and Robos are also good flies to put in your Hot Creek box. All in #’s 16-20…As for dries the amiocentrus caddis adults are what the fish are eating on the surface.. A small grey EHC or partridge caddis will do the trick here… Fishing is hot all day long just so you are fishing the correct pattern. Dont miss this one…

Best Trout Fishing In Bishop Ca

Bridgeport Fly Fishing: East Walker River 7/5/09


I continue to frequent this river a few times a week. Flows are cranked up to 254cfs and the water has taken on a clear tea reddish tint to it right now, which is very different from the light pea soup colour it usually flows. Caddis and Mayfly hatches come off strong in the morning and late evening, but as usual you will not land those East Walker brutes we all hunt in that river if you fish dries all day. Use small EHC and Parachute Adams style dries for the rising fish. Tiger and Disco midges in #’s 18-20 continue to pound larger fish…Down lower toward Nevada I have taken large fish on large Princes and tungsten stone patterns… San Juan worms also continue to be players here.. Streamers are not as much of a go to pattern these days but one can still have a great day with some stripping action. I still prefer something large and lighter in colour; greys,yellows and whites still trick large browns there..

Mammoth Fly Fishing: Upper Owens River 7/5/09

The Upper O is fishing fair to good…. Flows are moderate at 65cfs and hatches of small caddis continue to come off in the AM and PM..Nymphing and stripping streamers will get you the most action on this water if there is NO surface activity.. Tiger midges, small PT’s, Hares ears and WD-40 type stuff are all still getting action.. Some small red Copper Johns as the top fly on the nymph string recently took some fish for me as well… Small Elk Hair Caddis and Griffith Gnat style patterns will see fish mouths when they are looking up.. For streamers one can tie on your pattern of choice and have some pretty good luck most times of the day.. Dont spook the fish with the streamers though, cast past them and have the proper set-up to get the pattern down to the fish..

Bishop Fly Fishing: Lower Owens River 6/2/2009

The Lower Owens is now flowing at 192 out of PV dam. http://wsoweb.ladwp.com/Aqueduct/realtime/norealtime.htm
This is an excellent level for floating and fishing! The mid morning- afternoons seem to be when the fish really perk up and are on the prowl for food.. Caddis are a major player right now on this river. Nymphing with baetis and caddis emerger patterns will get you fish until they start looking up. Nymphing deep will also produce! PT’s, Hares Ears, z-wing caddis and the like will get you into fish.. Mid afternoon the fish start looking up and the river really becomes fun then! Elk Hair Caddis in size #16 will trick fish throughout this hatch. Comparaduns and Adams patterns will also imitate some of the mayflys that are on the water as well.

Fly Fishing A Lake

Bridgeport Fishing Report: East Walker River 6/2/2009

The East Walker has had some decent water fluctuations since the last report.. It has gone as high as 240cfs and is now down to around 195 cfs. http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ca/nwis/uv?10293000
Fishing remains strong and I continue to do many of my guided trips here.. With the new flows fish are able to move around the entire river with some larger meat eaters ending up in some shallower riffles.. Crowds still hit the EW but only a handful on anglers has success on this technical fishery. Streamers are still working but not like they were a few weeks ago. The morning and evening seems to fish the best. Concentrate on using all sorts of midges,(tiger and zebra) WD-40’s, small flashback PT’s, San Juan worms, and all sorts of caddis from poopahs to sparkly pooppahs work later on in the day. I have recorded temps up to 65 degrees in the warmest part of the day.. This fishery is on fire and should not be passed up!

Huge head of cutthroat with slashes in the throat upper owens river

Mammoth Fly Fishing: Crowley Lake Tributaries 6/2/2009

This quick lived run of fish reminds me of a small scale salmon run! It is pretty much over now, but it was Sweet for my friends and clients that managed to get in on it! Water was up, letting in some absolute stunning fish! Like I said you fish for them like they are salmon! I will let the pics do the talking on this one..

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