: September 2011

Bridgeport Fly Fishing: East Walker River – 9.8.11

The East Walker is flowing at a modest 356 cubic feet a second. Water is in the low 60's and fish are hungry and selective! Fishing early pays off as there is less traffic and fish are more willing. Fish will come up to large attractor patterns in the right spots depending on the mood of the fish. Streamers thrown in the correct holes with the right action will take aggressive browns, though, it has not been consistent on the big meat. Nymphing deep seems to be where it is at this point. Cool nights will quickly move the river to consistent streamer action which will be reflected in this report immediately! Poly wing Emergers #18-20, T-Midge Emergers #18-22, Grey Biot Midges #16-20, Miracle Nymphs #18, Ticket in Green #18, Ascending Caddis #16-20 and RS2 Trico Emergers #20 -22. Also WD-40's in Olive and Greys in #'s 18-20 are also great flies to have in your East Walker arsenal. Stay tuned and this fishery cools down and the fishing heats up!

Mammoth Fly Fishing: Upper Owens River – 9.8.11

Upper Owens Fly Fishing Class

The Upper Owens is a great destination for any fly angler looking for a great day on the water. The news here is the successful hopper fishing one is able to find. With her meandering banks and brush less back casts the Upper Owens is a true pleasure to fish with these terrestrial insects. Hoppers in sizes #12-14 in yellows and tans can be fished with confidence in the riffles of the Upper O. Meanwhile, smaller fish are coming up to small caddis here and there on the entire river, these can be fished to and caught, but, like I said they are small... Nymphing can take fish all day and the same patterns still apply. Nymphs in all shades of greens have been getting attention recently. Now is the time of year to start seeing some large fish moving up out of Crowley lake and into the sleek curves of the Upper O. It is truly a great thing that the Upper Owens river flows into the fish trap of Crowley lake. Stay tuned for much more on this great river.

Bishop Fly Fishing: Lower Owens River – 9.8.11

Early Sept. LO Brown

The Lower Owens is flowing at 400cfs and  continues to be a producer of very fine and wild brown trout. Hatches continue in the evening time after the sun goes down and gets thick in the last 1/2 hour right before dark with fish responding well! The same patterns have been taking fish as in my last report with a few less PMD's making an appearance over the water. A few tricos can be seen emerging with the caddis throughout the day with the caddis getting thicker during the evening and on cloudy days.  Attractor patterns are always good to have as the larger fly on your nymph setups on this river. The same flies are still taking fish as the last report with the green caddis patterns taking many trout. Sparkle Caddis pupa Olive #16-18, SerenStupity Char. #18,Partridge Caddis Emergers #16-18, Bubbleback emergers #16-18, Poly wings #18-20, Purple and standard Prince Nymphs #14-18,Copper Jons in Green and Brass #16-18 and the like will take fish when put in the front of a fishes face.. On the surface in the evenings try Light Cahills, Para PMD's, and Ext. Body Mayfly patterns sizes #16-20 depending on the size of the bugs you see out that particular evening.

Mammoth Fly Fishing: Hot Creek – 9.8.11

Hot Creek is back down to its usual low late summer flow. Weeds can be a problem to a misguided cast and a thorn in the side of some anglers. The good new is that fish are still there and eating. Hopper action is the most exciting way to take Hot Creek trout at the moment. Successfully planting your hopper in the open lanes and on the opposite bank will produce great trout visuals at the current flow rate of the river. Sometimes a dropper attached to the back of the hopper will get you more strikes but it will be harder to be accurate when fishing with a dropper dangling off the end. Under the water fish with T and Z midges #18-22, RS2's #18-22 and Brooks Hot Creek Caddis fished wet or dry in #18-20 will take fish. Fertile Caddis and Henry's Fork Caddis in sizes #18 -20 will take fish on the top, Hoppers and Beetles #12-16, Thorax Tricos and Baetis patterns in sizes #18-22 and good old elk hair caddis in sizes #18-22 will take fish when presented correctly. Keep a close watch on the river to be in tune with what the fish are doing while you are there.