The Upper Owens River near Mammoth Lakes California is experiencing some of the big fish from Crowley Lake running up its very clear flowing waters. The population appears to be pretty well spread out throughout the river and preferring the deeper runs and dark undercuts. When fished correctly the fly angler will find a variety of trout types and sizes. Fish flashy nymphs with a Caddis or Midge Emerger off the bottom. Special SJ worms fished with a Bright Green caddis worm has been one of your go to flies recently on the Upper Owens. This fishing is reminiscent of fishing for steelhead in very small clear flowing spring creek.

Photo courtesy of Jim Stimson

Crowley lake has been great and is going to be fishing for another two  weeks or so depending on weather. From the North End Green Banks area to Six Bays and South to Hilton and beyond the fishing has been good some days and great others. Dropping your patterns one foot to six inches off the bottom is putting the flies in the cruising fishes faces. For flies the usual Crowley Buzzers and all sorts of Tiger and Zebra midge colour variations have been taking fish throughout the day. Fish these flies in sizes #12-16. Just because there is not a boat/float tube hatch concentrated in one are is does not mean fish are not there!

The Lower Owens River right here in Bishop, CA is starting to show its wintertime characteristics of low flows, easy wading and Dry Fly action! The river is down to a low winter output of 100cfs at the moment. This does force some fo the fish to the bigger areas of water but some nice wild browns are also up in the runs and riffles that contain some depth as well. Most of the day one can find rising fish in various sections of the river. In the afternoon we are starting to see a caddis hatch come off that is starting to spread throughout all sections of the river. Caddis Emergers, Baetis Emergers and Midge Emergers in sizes #16-20 have been producing lots and lots of action. Green caddis worm patterns of all sorts are also a good pattern to tie to your tippett. For dries one needs Baetis, Caddis and Midge adults on hand in your Lower Owens Box. Stay tuned for the hatch to come!

The Lower Owens is fishing great with perfect flows and cooler water temperatures.  Flowing at a very manageable flow of 230 cfs fish are healthy and happy!  The entire river has began go fish giving the fish less pressure up high.  Go Lower down in the river for some possible larger average sized fish.  Dry fly action is spotty but beginning!  Streamers and nymphs will take most of the fish here at this moment.  We are happy to be back drifting again within the last two weeks with great success as well.  RS’2s,  Baetis emergers, and Midge emergers in #16-20 depending on the patterns.  Fish these patterns below some sort of a green caddis worm or soft hackle pattern.  Stay tuned to this report to see when the dry fly action really comes uncorked!!

The Lower Owens is fishing as well as my last report.  This river continues to keep guides and clients happy alike.  Flows are suspended to drop soon and the water will stay cool and healthy with the cooler nights we are experiencing here in Bishop.  The same nymph patterns hold and plump and healthy Brown Trout and Rainbows are being caught daily.  Late nights are always seeing dry fly action with a Caddis theme.  The entire river is starting to come alive and we will start to drift again this week.  Lots of Caddis,  and Mayfly and Midge emergers patterns are being eaten.  Most in sizes #16-20. With flows dropping and cooler temperatures occurring the Lower Owens should be a destination for any serious are beginner Fly angler alike this season. 

Crowley continues to dazzle experienced fisherman!  Big fish are being hooked and a few are even being landed!  Cutthroat,  Browns and Rainbows of large and small sizes are being landed daily.  All ends of the lake seem to be productive with all sizes of fish mixed in.  All sorts of Chironomids of different colours are taking fish depending on the colour you use for the time of day.  Chironomids in #12-16 fished near the bottom will provide the fly angler with various dunks of the indicator throughout the fishing day. 

Crowley Lake is fishing great with many many 3lb and up sized fish coming out recently.  Wind has been manageable and keeps the temperature on the lake nice.  Fish of all three flavors have been caught almost every day we are out; Cutthroat,  Rainbows and Browns are swimming hungry in Crowley Lake as we speak. From Green Banks to McGee fish have been caught in 7-12 feet of water.  The usual Crowley midges have been working in sizes 12-16.  The Crowley Buzzer and the Crowley  Patterns we tie at the shop have been stellar.  Find the bottom and pick the flies up a bit and don’t be afraid to move around until you find what you want. 

The Lower Owens continues to be the fish producer of the Eastern Sierra the premier tail water of the Eastern Sierra continues to show us it’s great fish with nymphs,  dries,  and streamers.  Flows are a healthy 300 cfs average which keeps the water clean and healthy with good oxygen content.  Wading is comfortable and water is a great temperature for wet wading making for a great day in the river. For Fly selection refer to my last post for exact patterns. Lots of Caddis Larvae,  Pupae,  and Adult patterns have been used recently.  Stalcups adult Caddis is a great Fly late evening.  Nymphing will continue to take fish all day long on the Lower Owens.  Sometimes in the summer we fish more in the faster and white riffle type water where the trout will move to an area of higher oxygen.