Upper Owens River Fly Fishing : Mammoth Lakes CA – 1.3.19

The Upper Owens has been a consistent Big Trout Factory for the last couple of months! Awesomely wild and perfectly finned Rainbows, Cutt Bows, and Brown Trout will continue to be roaming the waters of the Upper Owens River for the next few months. The snow level has pretty much vanished at this point and needs no further attention. Of course upon arriving in the morning hours it is well below freezing on most days, this, of course adds to the experience as you take in the surroundings and realize what are special place you are able to visit to sample her amazing Trout. The same techniques and strategies hold as in my December post. Deep holes and riffly water erase the view from the surface which keeps these oversized beasts of the river hidden, feeling comfortable and safe, and ready to eat! All sorts of Tubifex worm patterns, Tung Jigs, and various attractor patterns in larger sizes will give you a shot at these unforgettable fish. Streamers are always an option here as well. This will keep you casting and strategizing all day on how to get one of these trophy Trout into your hands for just a moment….

Lower Owens River Fly Fishing Report : Bishop, CA – 12.3.18

The Lower Owens fly fishing has been outstanding! Good numbers of fish as well as some large specimens have been coming out of the Lower O’s nutrient rich system. Some dry fly action is seen mid-day but can be short lived. Baetis, a small Mayfly can be seen hovering around the river and over the water around this time of the day. The nymphing turns out to be very good! The same patterns I have been going on about are still working very well. The green caddis worms also have their good days this time of the season.  Flows are down to around 100-125cfs  and wading is straightforward in the standard areas.  

Lower Owens River Fly Fishing Report : Bishop CA – 11.14.18

Attractive woman and Son hold up a nice rainbow trout caught on the lower Owens River

Lower has some Bows as well! STM Fly Shop

The Lower Owens has dropped to a very popular flow of around 148cfs right outside of Bishop California. Wading is gentle, and the river is alive with action! BWO’s come off around 11-12:30 at a varied duration of time, Caddis can be seen flying acrobatically over the waters surface , and a healthy Midge population is around all day long. The main surface action occurs on the BWO’s also knows as Baetis or basically a small Mayfly around size #16-18.  Nymphing and streamer activity has been very productive in between the dry fly session. Now is the time we have been waiting for to come to Bishop and fish the premier wild Brown Trout river of California, the Lower O! 

Fisherman with a hat holds up a large brown trout out of the over Owens River with grass on the sides and a large field

Mammoth Lakes Fly Fishing : Upper Owens River – 11.14.18

 

Fisherman with a hat holds up a large brown trout out of the over Owens River with grass on the sides and a large field

Upper Owens River Fall run Brown Trout

The Fly Fishing the Upper Owens down from Mammoth Lakes remains a seasonal and somewhat mythical fly fishing destination…. why you ask? BIG FISH! of many species… Although we have not had a fish driving hard storm yet we do have a good showing of  over sized fish heading up the river in decent numbers. Flows are low and clear which is typical during the fall/winter fly fishing season on the Owens river system. Fish the places you would hide if you were a big aggressive fish looking to pass your genes on to the next generation! The fish have infiltrated the entire system so read the water correctly and appropriate your time in the fishiest spots. Fish the same flies as in my last report. SJ Worms of various styles, Coppers, PT’s, Hot Heads ect…  Don’t be afraid to experiment with some similar patterns as well. 

Large rainbow trout held up on the upper Owens River with river in the background and brown November grass on the ground

Mammoth Fly Fishing Report : Upper Owens River – 11.6.18

 

Large rainbow trout held up on the upper Owens River with river in the background and brown November grass on the ground

Predators of the Upper Owens River – Mammoth Lakes CA

The trophy trout waters of the Upper Owens River are living up to their reputation as we see an influx of what is on all of our minds all year …. BIG TROUT!!!  It is the beginning stages…..  The river is flowing at a low and tricky flow just below 90cfs  and the entire system is showing us evidence of the arrival of these brute trout, fresh out of Crowley Lake.  Maybe you could be the Angler that lands one? These guys are aggressive and ready to eat the right offerings.  SJ Worms of different styles, Soft Hackles, Pheasant Tails, Hot Head Hares Ear and many more similar patterns…. #12-18   

Stop by or call the shop to get in on these world class fish that people usually have to travel far away to catch!

760-873-0010 

Lower Owens River Fly Fishing Report : Bishop CA – 11.6.18

Beautiful brown trout of the Lower Owens River held in hand

Average Brown Trout of the Lower Owens River – Bishop CA – STM Fly Fishing

The Lower Owens is on its way down! We now have a flow rate of 240 cfs down from a super fast and nourishing  600cfs. This has allowed us to fish the river for the past week with awesome results! Not much to be said for dry fly action, yet anyway .. although some rising fish are noted throughout the day it could start big time at any hour! That being said the nymphing and streamer fishing has been great! High Sticking, High Sticking Tenkara style, nymphing with, or without an indicator ..pick your practice and get those flies in the water. As usual we have some special soft hackle nymphs tied on Jig hooks for a slightly different presentation  and drop rate. Midges? Yes! lots of Midges and Midge Emergers of different styles have been taking a lot of fish when presented correctly.  Stay tuned as an amazing Lower Owens River lowers its high flow rates to let us Fly Fisherman see how the high volume of water and food has affected the  Trout in a very positive way. 

Mammoth Lakes Fly Fishing : Crowley Lake – 10.28.18

Man holds up large trout on Crowley Lake

Crowley Lake Fall 2018

Crowley Lake near Mammoth Lakes Fly Fishing is nearing the end of the season… But not without a bang! The North end of the lake has been a steady producer of Big Trout these past weeks! From Alligator north to Green Banks and the inlet of the Upper Owens the fishing has been on fire. That is if you like Big fish on the end of your line! Search for these Big Trout in anywhere from 8-12 ft of water using the standard Crowley Buzzer Chironomids in #12-16 in various colours that we carry at the Shop. 

Upper Owens River Fly Fishing : Bishop CA – 93514 10.5.18

large trout head in a rubber net with a wooden frame

Carnivore of the Upper Owens

Out on the Upper Owens River the fly fishing has been very entertaining the last few days.  Just down from Mammoth Lakes the Upper Owens meanders through one of the most beautiful sierra meadows you will ever see.  Flows are down to around 100cfs, low and clear …(the flows are visible on the upper black bar on all the pages on this website).  Fishing has been a mix of deep nymphing, some dry fly action for smaller trout, and an occasional toss of some sort of a streamer pattern. Small Caddis and Mayflies make up most of the diet on the surface while the nymph stages of those insects are on the menu down below.  This is the turning point time of year where the Crowley lake beasts make their way up the Upper Owens River making it possible for any angler to catch a world class trout right here in the Eastern Sierra.  SJ Worms, Pheastant Tails, Robo PT’s and Tungsten Jigs are some successful nymph patterns at the moment. Elk Hair Caddis and similar patterns with a good mix of Baetis top-water patterns are good bugs to have in the quiver for when you find those foam risers. 

Large brown trout held up by fly fisherman at Crowley Lake

Crowley Lake Fly Fishing : Mammoth Lakes, CA – 10.5.18

 

Large brown trout held up by fly fisherman at Crowley Lake

Crowley Lake Early October 2018 — STM Fly Fishing

 

Big big big fish are being hooked up on Crowley Lake by the most focused of fly fisherman, the ones that don’t stray from the intense line of sight strait to their indicator!  Up in the north arm near the entrance of the Upper Owens and along the rocky point and bay of the L. springs area seem to be the recent places to find some nice fish. In anywhere between 9-16′ of water the fine trout of Crowley have been aggressively eating. Fish Crowley midges upon arriving #14-18. If you want to get creative tie a small perch fry instead of the top midge later in the day. Most action is had on the Chironomid Midges as this is what keeps Crowley a healthy fish producing factory! 

Lower Owens River Fly Fishing Reports : Bishop CA – 10.5.18

The Jewel of the Eastern Sierra the Lower Owens River remains high for us fly fishing addicts down in Bishop. At current flows of high 500’s she is a real fast mover but there are places where she shows us the beautiful Trout she possesses. Slow moving foam lines and dropoffs can hold a lot of fish.  Deep nymphing attractor patterns are what are taking Trout here. Robo and T-Jig Pt’s, Midge emergers, and Green Caddis Worms are on the menu! When these flows subside the fish in are there… waiting to show us what they are made of after two years of high water volume and more food coming at them than they are usually accustomed to. 

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