: December 2010

Bishop Fly Fishing: Lower Owens River – 12.03.10

The winter wild brown trout fly fishing jewel of the Eastern Sierra, the Lower Owens is now into prime form! Down to a low and easy wading level of 100cfs, the Lower Owens is on for the winter! With mid-high fifties temperatures in the Winter in the Lower Owens valley fishing the river is a pleasure. BWO's have been coming off late morning and this hatch is somewhat predictable. It can be found in the upper reaches of the river as well as a few select runs and riffles down lower.  Before and after the hatch event all sorts of baetis emergers and nymphs will take fish when nymphed properly in the correct locations.  At 100 cfs one must read the river correctly as it will tell you the correct place to find holding trout.   For success on the Lower Owens try: Try a Throax BWO in sizes #18-20, etha wing (cut wing) BWO’s, Para BWO and Classic BWO patterns all in #16-20 will get fish as they are surfacing to adult BWO mayflies. On the underwater side try; Robo PT’s #16-20, Sparkle Trigger #16-20, Crystal PT, #18-20, Bubble Back Emergers and Half Back emergers in #18-20, Poly wing emergers, and Zebra and Tigers Midges  in sizes #18-20.  For attractor patterns a Red Copper John, Red Chironocone,  Red Disco Midge, or a Red Tiger/Zebra in sizes #16-20 is also a good addtion for your fly arsenal on The Lower Owens.  Red seems to be a colour attracting fish besides the other obvious bugs around.   Look for frequent updates on this river as we see what unfolds this December.  Wanna see the Lower Owens from a different perspective?  Try one of your drift boat trips.  Look for a December special to unfold soon. Read More

Mammoth Fly Fishing: Upper Owens River – 12.03.10

The Upper Owens continues to be inhabited with some really way above average sized  fish! You can continue to walk along the bank and see large torpedo shaped objects shooting off for cover as you move from hole to hole... marking those areas and returning a while later after they forget of your passing can also be successful. As of now you can drive about 3/4 of a mile up towards the first gate until you hit a really large snow drift where the road has a dip adding to the depth of the snow. Those are my tracks that attempted to cross it and got denied with .5 hours of digging after that.  Don't expect crowds on the Upper Owens right now. We have been the only people up there the last few weeks in our visits.   Going under the water for the BIG trout nymph with #14-18 PT nymphs of different styles (robo, crystal, sparkle), Hares Ears Bead Head and Flash Back in sizes #14, 18,  Tiger and Zebra Midges in a variety of colours in sizes #16-20, Poly Wing Midge emergers #’s 18-20, Trigger Nymphs #16-20.  A San Juan worm is also always a good choice for these oversized river inhabitants.  For surface activity expect to see baetis (BWO) and small caddis over the water. Streamers sunk deep will also get you large fish.. Try Slumpbusters, Double Bunnies and large Wooly Bugger style streamers to bring out the larger inhabitants of the river after you have put a array of nymphs by their lips. Read More

Bridgeport Fly Fishing: East Walker River – 12.03.10

The East walker continues to fish similar to the conditions of my last report, fish are fat and healthy and range in size from 14" fish to 25" fish.  One thing is different.. snow.  Although the landscape is white, it is not deep, access is easy for now . Small hatches of baetis do come off during the warm parts of the day.. the smaller fish in the East Walker usually respond to this hatch in certain areas. This is certainly not a river wide event. The same patterns still hold: #18-22 pearl T- Midge poly wing emergers, Poly Wing Emergers in lighter and darker shades in sizes #18-22, Miracle Nymphs #18, WD-40′s in browns and grey in sizes #18-20. Recently, Flash Bang midges have really shined in cream and red colours in sizes #18, see these at the shop, they are very similar to JuJu Bee's. Baetis Emerger patterns such as; halfback emergers and poxy back BWO emergers also take fish. Fish these in #s 18-20.  On the surface,for a suggestion, try a  cut wing BWO or Extended Body BWO in #’s 18-20 to trick these fish on top. Read More

Mammoth Fly Fishing: Hot Creek- 12.03.10

The landscape of Hot Creek has turned to a white wonderland- Huge mountains and a high desert landscape below make just being there an experience at this time of year. The first gate is shut and 4x4 vehicles can push through to the gate at the moment. Do this at your own risk! Weeds continue to die off as winter sets in. Some spawning continues to be seen in some areas as different bahavior is evident to the observent fly angler.  As for what fly patterns to use, the same still stand.  On the surface fish: Thorax BWO #20, Cut-Wing BWO patterns in #18-22, CDC Baetis and Para BWO’s in sizes 18-22 are a few suggestions that work well for this hatch. Under the water you can fish; #18-20 Halfback Emerger BWO’s, #18-20 loop wing emergers and poxy back BWO emergers, Poly Wing emergers #18-20, Small Tiger and Zebra midges in #18-22 and WD-40′s in #18-20.  Large fish can be seen out and moving on some days!  SCROLL DOWN TO LAST HOT CREEK REPORT TO SEE A HUGE HOT CREEK BROWN  !!!! Read More