: January 2011

Bishop Fly Fishing : Lower Owens River Update – 1.26.11

The Lower Owens continues to be good to some fly anglers and great to others. The weather continues to be almost too good and the water temperatures continue to stay around 43-46 degrees.  Dry fly top water action is just getting started as some fly fisherman are seeing isolated pods of rising fish mid-morning to afternoon.  Beryl and Trace both reported some dry fly action as well on BWO's and some small caddis on  the water just yesterday.  This BWO hatch should only escalate as the relatively warm weather continues and spring approachs.  Emerging caddis and BWO emergers, along with various Midge larvae and emergers continues to extract wild browns from the bottoms of runs, riffles and pools.  Extended Body, Cut- Wing, Parachute BWO and Elk Hair and Adult Caddis patterns will take picky fish on top.  All these flies are in sizes #16 -#20. Look for the Lower Owens to provide fly anglers with some prime winter fishing in the next upcoming weeks and months. Read More

Bishop Fly Fishing : Lower Owens River – 1.14.10

The Lower Owens continues to flow at a great 100 cfs of healthy, nutrient rich water. A few Blue Winged Olives have been seen,  but not a thick hatch like us fly fisherman dream about. These dry flies will come out soon as it seems the trout are still turned on the nymph and emerging forms of these insects. Another thing new on the menu would be Scuds, these small freshwater shrimp looking creatures are found in sizes #12-16 and are usually a light to dark olive green in colour. The usual suspects are still being eaten: #16-20 Sparkle Trigger Nymphs, #16-20 CDC Bubbleback emergers, Split-Back BWO's in #18-20, and Midge pupa and emergers in (poly wing emergers and zebras) sizes #16-20. Fish a olive or cream scud in the above mentioned sizes with one of the other mentioned patterns to find what the trout want on that particular day.  Drift trips have been consistent with solitude and wild fish - call the shop for more details. Look for some dry fly action to happen soon! Read More

Mammoth Fly Fishing : Hot Creek – 1.14.11

Hot Creek is accessable by a small snowy hike of about 15-40 minutes from the entrance of Hot Creek Ranch. Once down there one can expect to find midge activity and BWO activity on warmer days. Water is low and probably as weedless as it will be this year. Small midge patterns in sizes #18-22 (tiger, zebras, poly-wing emergers) fish these in blacks- olives. Baetis (BWO) emergers (Epoxy back BWO, Split Back BWO and Half Back BWO's are just a few of the patterns to try all in sizes #18-20. 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. Read More

Bridgeport Fly Fishing : East Walker River – 1.14.11

The East Walker is running at a low winter flow of around 22-25 cfs. Temperatures are down and snow is up but whats important is the fish continue to eat, a lot! The thing is one must present the right flies to get these highly selective trout to take our carefully placed fly patterns. Look to nymph shallow and light in most holes and runs, a minimum amount of shot is needed to arrive at the bottom where the fish live. The same patterns hold true as in my last report:  #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. Flash bang midges continue to get a ton of attention on the east walker. Look for great fishing and some big fish on the move  from this water. Read More

Mammoth Fly Fishing: Upper Owens River – 1.14.11

Large Fish continue to reside in most of the deeper holes and runs of the Upper Owens river. Snowy is one way to describe the experience up there at this moment. Walking up from Benton Crossing bridge is a way to fish the Upper O with a 2 wheel drive vehicle. 4- wheelers will have to enter based on their own experience driving in snow, although you probably will not make it far. Fish the same flies suggested in previous post. 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 decent array of nymphs by their lips. Some people prefer to fish streamers all day in these situations... Read More