Lower Owens River Fly Fishing Report : Bishop CA – 7.13.15

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.

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Crowley Lake Fly Fishing Report : Mammoth Lakes CA – 7.1.15

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…

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Sierra Fly Fishing

Lower Owens River Fly Fishing Report : Bishop CA – 6.30.15

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. 

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Lower Owens River Fly Fishing : Bishop CA – 5.26.15

The Lower Owens River has been fishing good most days.  Flows are staying cool and reasonably low.  The Dry Fly action remains semi inconsistent, yet happens every day in some part of the river.  In the top of the WTC a noon-time Baetis hatch happens very consistently recently.  A few Grannom Caddis adults are skimming the surface of the water throughout the day.  Today, random acts of top water bug violence were noted with no bug activity until I spotted a yellow Sally crawling on the boat.  If you wanna try this type of dry Fly fishing have confidence, and place your yellow Sally dry in as many places as possible.  Most of the time you won’t be casting to rising Trout,  rather bringing them up to your Fly with a well placed cast.  Fish the same nymphs as my last report with some added Caddis Emergers on the Nymph rig.  Yellow Sally dries in #12-16 of various patterns will bring up wild trout in the Lower Owens.  For the hatch fish BWO patterns in #16-20 depending on the Baetis you see out.  Remember there are 20+ species of Baetis (BWO) alone.  Soft Hackles in green,  Tickets, and various small Mayfly  patterns will most likely be your flies that work.

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Lower Owens River Fly Fishing Report : Bishop CA – 5.20.15

The Lower Owens River continues to flow at a clear and cool 125 cfs. Fish are happy and hungry. With these weather patterns passing through Dry Fly activity is erratic in certain areas.. Recently with the overcast weather it has been coming off much more consistently right at noon to around 1-2pm. The entire system is healthy and fishing well. Most of our guiding is happening in the Lower sections of the rived and even below the Quality Water. Baetis Emergers (Bubbleback, soft hackles, ect.) #16-20, Caddis Worms in world style and Soft Hackles #14-18, and various Midge Larvae #18-20. We have been seeing Scattered Caddis activity above the water as well as a PMD here and there. This should be a prelude of great times to come on the Lower Owens very soon.

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Upper Owens River Fly Fishing Report : Mammoth Lakes CA – 5.19.15

The Upper Owens is sure an interesting place and fishery.  Flows have stabilized while some more Crowley Lake inhabitants have made it upstream to utilize the flowing waters for reproduction purposes.  Any Attractor pattern,  especially those with spawning  colors will get their attention.  Don’t be afraid to use larger size flies than normal as well.  Try not to fish for any paired up fish in shallow water over nests! These fish can be caught but it really doesn’t feel that good to do it.  Fish the pools deep to find the fresh a d healthy fish!

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Lower Owens River Fly Fishing : Bishop CA – 4.28.15

The Lower Owens River is now flowing at an excellent rate of around 200 cfs.  Fish are now feeling like they can move about the river system a bit more freely.  Longline – Czech nymphing  conditions are prime, and we have been teaching a lot of indicator – less fishing.  Drifting is perfect at these flows, and an excellent way to familiarize yourself with the Lower Owens River system.  Caddis and Baetis are really still the main players in the drop offs and under the foam lines. Green Caddis Worms and Emergers in creams and greens in #14-16, Baetis patterns from PT’s to Bubblebacks and Soft Hackles are the popular choice among the scaled crowd right now.  Fish these in #16-20. Dry action can be found periodically throughout the day.  Stalcup Caddis and Thorax BWO patterns are a necessary thing to have in your box as well in the event of frenzied Dry Fly surface action.  We will see what surprises the river holds for us this season!

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