Nights are cooking down and The Lower Owens River continues to flow low and clear! Fishing is consistent and wet wading is still a must for most!  Dry Fly activity is seen early and late with very consistent nymphing in between.  A few people dot the river here and there but the wise angler can usually place himself in a position where he sees no other people all day.  Tricos,  PMD’s, Caddis and Midges are the main players right now..  Have these in both Nymph and dry forms. Streamers have also been working excellent and you might even get a bassy surprise! Remember in the Lower  if it looks fishy..  They are there!!

In spite of out great water year the Lower Owens tailwater fishery out of Pleasant Valley Reservoir continues to produce stunning wild brown trout.  Early morning a Trico Hatch comes off that completely challenges any skill level of angler.  These fish have been very consistent and one can count on  the hatch happening earlier morning for the past few weeks and continuing even today.  Nymphing,  of course produces the most fish throughout the day. Use something similar to or the same basic patterns as stated in my last report for optimal success. 

The Lower Owens continues to deliver a satisfying fishing experience for beginning and advanced Fly Anglers.  Flows are still stabilized and low and cool.  Wading is a cinch without waders and is a refreshing experience.  Early and especially late Dry Fly activity is a constant.  Fish the usual nymphs as suggested in my last report for optimal success.  Have a good supply of PMD and Baetis emergers,  Caddis Worms,  and some Midge Larvae.  Most will be sized #16-20. Some small attractors can be used throughout the day to bring up the wild inhabitants of the Lower Owens River. 

Crowley Lake Fly Fishing has been great! Some OK days mixed in with some truly epic battles with some of the largest Trout most people will hook consistently in a day! Another bonus is the variety of species of Trout. On any day we catch a variety of Cutthroat, Browns of various shades of yellows, and lots of fast moving Rainbows.  Fishing water depths around 15-20′ will bring you the most success on the west bays of the lake and a few other strategic spots.  The standard Crowley Lake patterns we have been tying in the shop have been working amazing.  Large Chironomids #12-14 do the trick in Blacks ,  Reds ,  Grey’s and Creams.  Don’t take your eye off the indicator though as you might miss the fish of a lifetime!

The Lower Owens River has benefited a lot from the past few weeks of rain and much cooler weather.  Nights are still dropping into the high 50’s leaving the river cool and healthy.  Hatches are out and can be found throughout most of the day.  The last few days upon arriving to the river around 8-8:30 a nice Trico hatch is on the water with fish eating the small mayflies in the foam lines and riffles where the river channels them.  Caddis are around throughout the day and the fish seem keyed on them most of the time.  The hatch gets thick in late evening hours.  Nymphing and streamers will of course take fish throughout the day.  Fish the standard patterns that reflect the aquatic bugs I listed above with lots of Emergers as well.  Bubblebacks,  soft hackles and variations on the PT patterns will get you into fish.  Caddis Worms #16 in various styles will also be gobbled up when drifted down past the wild brown trout nose in the Lower Owens.  Dry pattern examples have been the Stalcups adult Caddis #14-16 and various small Trico/Baetis patterns #18-22. This fishery looks to keep us going all summer long with healthy fish and bug activity.

Crowley has some slow days and some unbelievable days where the average Trout size to the net is 3-4  lbs.  Fishing in 15-20 ft of water seems to be the preferred depth of the fish from Leighton Springs to Little and Big Hilton.  Crooked Creek also has some good action to be had, and is a possible place to take shelter from the wind. Fishing our Crowley Buzzers #12-14 has been very successful by fishing them between “6 to two and even three feet off the bottom.  Morbung seems to. Be the best time but don’t discount even either.. Of course there are those days when they steadily bite all day…

The cool and flowing dam released waters of Lower Owens River are fish rich.  The clear water allows you to see more of the river and fish it has to offer.  Brown Trout can be found in any feasible hold area that a Fly angler would expect to fish a weary fish.  PMD’s,  Caddis,  and the occasional terrestrial insect have been the Trouts diet on top the water.  PMD’s have been making an appearance mid day on recent cloudy days and lighter during sunny days..   Caddis fishing in late evening it hard to decode which fish to cast too with all the rising fish! We are enjoying the storms passing thru in Bishop for sure.  Under the water use various lighter  PMD Emergers #16-18, Soft  Hackles,  some small stone patterns are good to have as an option,  and of course,  some sort of green Caddis Rock worm imitation is always good to have on the line.  On top we have been having amazing success with Stalcups adult Caddis #14-16, thorax PMD’s,  Light  Cahills,  Hendrickson,  and various similar PMD patterns all around #16. 

The spring fed waters of the  Upper Owens River continues to flow at a clear  spring time flow.  As usual it’s easy to get around the river system from top to bottom.  Some Cutts are still being caught and are some of the most beautiful fish I have seen.  

The Lower Owens is giving us some top water action the last couple nights with some evening Caddis happening.  Big Grannom Caddis adults spot the water for violent hits from wild brown trout starting around 4-dark. Nymphing all day is till great. Larger bugs for sure now..  Yellow Sallie nymphs took fish the last couple days as well.