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10/26 -- GOOD
10/22: Lower: "It is now officially time to wade the wild trout section! Flows have dropped below 200cfs and should continue to fall. A plethora of bugs are on the menu and you need to have some small and medium sized mayflies. Trico’s in the #20-22 range and associated PT nymphs or birds nest patterns. There are also some #14-16 sulfurs and PMD’s around, flashback PT’s are great for nymphs, #14-18. The light colored fall caddis #14 are also around, however this emergence is in its final stages & I believe that after this cold air cools the water down 5-10 degrees they will be outta here. On the other hand streamer fishing is really picking up and we are seeing some fine numbers and a few big rainbows showing on most drift boat guide trips. Small Punk Perch are the ticket for me this week #14. This is a spot on profile of the tiny chubs and Squaw Fish fry that are holding on the pillow water currently. Late fall is my favorite time to drift the Lower Owens. The scenery is spectacular and the fishing is excellent." Upper: "Rats! Just when you think the fun is really going to begin up here the water comes up. Flows are way up (160cfs plus) and nearly three times higher than normal (65cfs). Level is over the bank in many sections."
10/19 -- GOOD
Upper: "Good. Water is now being diverted from Grant lake and has raised flows on the upper o for the first time all summer. Water is slightly off color, so stick to brighter patterns. Section below the bridge to the monument closed as of October 1st. Still sticking to the usual fare. Worms, eggs and pheasant tails under the indicator in the slow deep water with plenty of weight." Lower: "Flows now down almost to prime levels. Sporadic crane fly hatch in the Am, with small tricos and caddis early as well. Small mayflies in the afternoon til about 4." 10/14: "You will encounter strong morning caddis activity along with a great Trico mayfly emergence late morning."
10/12 -- GOOD
Upper: "Good. Section below the bridge to the monument closed as of October 1st. Still sticking to the usual fare. Worms, eggs and pheasant tails under the indicator in the slow deep water with plenty of weight." Lower: "Fair. What a tease. Flows are back up over 400 again. But still hearing the fishing is good if you can find the slower ater. Sporadic crane fly hatch in the Am, with small tricos and caddis early as well. Small mayflies in the afternoon til about 4."
9/28 -- FAIR
Lower: "The moment we have all been waiting for has arrived! I am pleased to announce that the LO is finally dropping in flows." "Fishing is best in the early morning before it really starts getting hot." Fishing is better on the Upper: "The numbers of fish migrating up from Crowley Lake have increased substantially since my last report. The majority being 10-14 inch mature rainbows and browns with a few 18-22 inchers in the mix. A significant cold snap with a string of cloudy days will really trigger the bigs to get moving. Conditions remain very good with water levels low; however not too bad considering the dry winter. Caddis and mayfly hatches are consistent, with clouds of midges on the high pressure days."
9/21 -- GOOD
Nothing new.
9/14 -- GOOD
No change on the Upper -- still good. Lower -- flows down to 481 CFS as of 9/12: "Only a matter of time now... Keep a watchful eye for ticks and tuck your pants into your socks. Fishing is best in the early morning before it really starts getting hot."
9/7 -- GOOD
Upper: "Good. The fish are wising up to the big attractor flies, and it's become necessary to start fishing some more realistic patterns. Still in larger sizes, but not as flashy as we've been using. Hopper Dropper rigs are working best way up above the Hot Creek confluence where the water is clearer and dredging the bottom of the deep end pools is working down below the campground closer to the lake." Lower is too high.
8/31 -- GOOD
Upper: "Conditions are good on the Upper Owens with some trophy browns already migrating upstream from Crowley Lake. There are some excellent surface opportunities using caddis adults, hoppers, and smaller mayflies. The streamer fishing is also picking up and will get progressively better as the water begins to cool and we enter the early fall spawning cycle." "Water is low and mostly clear above the Hot Creek confluence, and the fish can be spooky. Trico Hatch early, with some PMD's and midges as well." Lower: "At current release rates of 530cfs wading sucks in the wild trout section. We did a couple drifts just as the flows began to rise and they did not fish well as one might expect."
8/24 -- GOOD
Upper: "Good. Not as many big fish being pulled out below the bridge. Bait guys taking 5 fish each day can have a dramatic effect on fishing down below the bridge. Still plenty of smaller fish to be had. Nymphing with attractors and a fair ammount of weight is the way to go." Lower: "Flows back over 500cfs. It was fun while it lasted though. Fishing is best in the early morning before it really starts getting hot."
8/16 -- GOOD
Lower: "The fishing here has been that good in the morning using nymphs. Early morning to 11 has been the best. Streamers are also another good choice. There has also been a good hatch of caddis in the evening." Upper: "Decent dry fly action with caddis and small mayfly imitations above the Benton Bridge, there are good numbers of planted fish that have worked upstream from the stocked areas and are fun on a 4wt fly rod."
8/3 -- GOOD
Lower: "With the flows down even more now, to pretty much mid winter levels it's not going to get any better than this. Fishing is best in the early morning before it really starts getting hot." Upper: "Water down below the bridge is dirty, but the fish are hiding in the deep water where you definitely can't see them! Strong Caddis hatch in the late afternoon and early evening if the the wind isn't blowing."
7/26 -- GOOD
No new reports.
7/20 -- GOOD
Lower: "Flows down under 300 in the middle of July. Perfect wet wading flows and the fishing is great!" Upper: "Water is low and clear above the Hot Creek confluence, and the fish can be spooky. Trico Hatch early, with some Caddis mixed in. Some PMD's and midges as well."
7/13 -- VERY GOOD
Upper: "Fishing has been stellar since the stocking truck delivered at Brown's campground. Stay slightly above the bridge or below it for best results." Gorge is great; lower river is high.
7/6 -- GOOD
Upper: "Flows and weather are perfect for wet wading. Big Trico hatch early in the morning, with a spattering of Caddis as well throughout the day." Lower: "Go elsewhere. Flows are high (over 500cfs) and the weather is only good for rattlesnakes, horny toads and solar panels!"
6/29 -- GOOD
Upper -- good: "Big Trico hatch early in the morning, with a spattering of Caddis as well throughout the day." Lower: "With the flows up over 500cfs now it's probably not a bad idea to fish somewhere else."
6/21 -- GOOD
No new reports.
6/15 -- GOOD
Upper -- good: "Good mid-day PMD and Baetis hatch." Lower -- fair: "Fishing Cranefly larva mid-day with plenty of Caddis later in the afternoon. Spots of Baetis and Stones as well." Gorge -- great water conditions.
6/9 -- GOOD
Upper Owens is good -- "Water has cleared, and the fishing is starting to pick up!" Lower is fair.
6/1 -- FAIR
Gorge -- "Great" water conditions. Upper: "Fair. Water has cleared, but the fishing hasn't improved much." Lower "poor."
| Owens River Fly Shops and Guides | Fly Shop | Guide Service | Lodging | |
Brocks Fly Fishing SpecialistBishop, CA | Phone: 760-872-3581 |
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Kens Sporting GoodsBridgeport, CA | Phone: 760-932-7707 |
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Kittredge SportsMammoth Lakes, CA | Phone: 760-934-7566 |
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Sierra DriftersBishop, CA | Phone: 760-935-4250 |
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The Trout FlyMammoth Lakes, CA | Phone: 760-934-2517 |
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Troutfitter Mammoth LakesMammoth Lakes, CA | Phone: 760-924-3676 |
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