The water on the Upper Owens River is now clear and flowing around 70cfs! A decent amount of large fish have moved in,  nothing like we like it but there is a few.  Tactics change to gin-clear spring Creek like tactics as to not spook these awesome fish.  Take care of where you cross and step.  The same flies as my last report still hold strong. After this storm and weather change we should see larger numbers of Trout arriving.

STM friend Vinny Y. Shows us what’s in the Upper Owens River.

We wipe the tears away at the fact Crowley Lake is done for the year…   STM guide Seth shows us how to make the best of it.  Using a combination of streamers and nymphs throughout the day he managed to land a good batch of amazing fish.

STM Guide Seth finished Crowley on a day off…

Bakersfield boy goes big on Crowley

Bishop’s Fly Fishing jewel, the Lower Owens River is currently flowing at a popular flow rate of right around 80-100cfs. This, in turn, opens up the river to many fly anglers who are slightly uneasy wading at the higher flow rates. These current rates will most likely stay low and sweet until next summers runoff. Nymphing the standard, and some modified Lower Owens winter patterns have been very effective. Make sure time is spent reading the water effectively,  dipping your flies in the right holes throughout the river. Weeds are thinning out and this has been a very solid fishery producing some beautiful, wild fish. Some surface activity is noted throughout the river system and should become more prevalent as the new season comes in.

Happy Fly Fishing days on the Lower Owens River

Dream day on the Lower Owens River, Bishop CA

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Hot Creek has actually been recently replanted with a load of small,  reproducing trout. These will be able to multiply and one day make Hot Creek the fishery it once was.  We will be waiting until these fish have become more savage and wild before attempting to fish this on a professional level.

The Upper Owens is currently running at a great winter rate of around 100cfs. Water is slightly stained down low and actually gin clear up higher. Of course, this makes the fish very suspicious of the moving angler on the shore. The main point here is that there are a Few large fish that everybody has been anticipating in here…. not the numbers yet that make this an unforgettable place to fish with memories you cant forget. But very close! As usual, fishing some colourful, tried and true attractor patterns does the trick here. Pulling a streamer through larger, dark, and deep holes can also give you a giggle inducing jolt. This varies much more daily than standard nymphing.  Stay tuned for this fishery to heat up and show us what its all about.

Beautiful Upper Owens river winter Trout

Upper Owens River Fly Fishing

• The Lower Owens River Fly Fishing has been great! Dropping to a perfect flow of around 190cfs the river is optimal for the fish and fisherman alike.  Water Temps linger in the 50’s andthe fish enjoy the fall temperatures by eating and taking advantage of the more frequent emergence of their prey.. Bugs… As before hatches can be seen around mid-morning to just after noon.   Now with a little more predictability and intensity compared to my last reports.  Nymphing emerging Baetis and Midges patterns still holds strong.  Soft Hackles and variations of the Green Caddis Worm are all bugs to carry in your box whilst on the river. Some nicer fish of good size and quality have been coming out for us recently.  Stay tuned for more form this classic Trout fishery. 
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Hot Creek is especially weedu right now as the summer temps warmed the water as spurned the growth of weeds.  As the weather cools and weeds die this will certainly be a winter to try your luck at Hot Creek.  

The Lower Owens fertile waters flow through a Trout laden gouge in the desert floor making an amazing river full of wild trout.. Flows are hovering around 200cfs and water Temps of around 50 degrees of Fly fishing paradise!  Mayflies come out mid morning and if the Trout don’t respond on the surface to the spinners they are eating the moving insects under the water.  Rockworm imitations,  all sorts of PT variations and midge Emergers are all patterns to have in the box.  It’s gonna be time soon when we are able to fish Mayfly patterns on the surface most of the day! 

Crowley has been excellent for us with lots of Trout of all types and sizes…  Of course lots of Cutthroat, Bows and possible Big Browns.  Fishing has been the best in the North Arm recently in around 12-16 feet of water.  Grey’s,  Blacks,  and some Maroon variations of emerging Chironomids have been on the diet still! Crowley Buzzers we have here at the shop are the perfect flies with a strong gapped hook. The rest of September should be amazing.