Looks like the Sierra is finally going to get a break in the weather. Blue skies, & warmer temps are forecast for the remainder of this week.

The Middle Owens conditions have improved after a significant spike in flows put the water at optimum levels. 125cfs is a good release in all areas. Drifting has been good with stabilized flows. I strongly suggest this guided program if you are considering a trip this spring. Tugging streamers like Spruce-A-Bu’s or smaller Punk Perch along the deeper cut banks is the right call. The midge, & BWO hatches are in full swing, & the trout are focusing their feeding during these periods. Nymphing below an Under-Cator with pheasant tails, Assassins, and midge emergers like gillies; or crystal pupa patterns before the hatch will get you grabs. You will need to add some weight to get those nymphs down at the higher releases. Afternoon is when the adults start to pop. Blue Duns, or light olive bodied mayfly profiles #16, 18 will replicate the naturals. Dry/dropper rigs using hi-vis BWO adults with a bead head nymph can be deadly in the tailouts of select pools. Small para-midge adults are also getting looks in the larger eddies.  

The Upper Owens has had a set back due to a prolonged cold snap combined with some turbid water. Numbers have thinned out once again, & the cutthroat that had moved up early appear to have retreated back to Crowley.  The feeder roads are really nasty for vehicle access especially after the ground thaws afternoon. 

The East Walker has receded in flows just in time for some stable weather! The bite will pick up nicely as the air, and water warm this week. Flows are currently at 135cfs., way down from the 435cfs recently.

Hot Creek water levels can move up quickly due to some snow melt when it warms for a few days. There are good numbers of smaller fish concentrated just below the hatchery, & in the deeper pockets and slots in the canyon.  Be careful if you have felt soled wading boots on the spotty ice.

Pleasant Valley Reservoir levels are very good for access in the transition section. You may have high/dirty water emanating from Pine Creek if it gets really warm. Watch the mud near the lake after it thaws, it can be nasty! Intermittent power generation may be occurring in the near future; so if the turbine is boiling when you get to the parking area, head up into the gorge, or float tube the lake proper. Tubing has been good for fly fishers willing to kick around from the launch ramp to the inlet using full sinks, & streamer patterns. The small river section down from the powerhouse is good for wading, & casting dry/dropper bead head rigs so long as the turbine is not churning.

Gorge water releases are climbing making for improved conditions. Conditions are fine in Upper Gorge using dry/dropper rigs. BWO’s coming off at mid-day.

Middle Owens River (Bishop Area)

After a major spike up in flows, the MO has stabilized and is once again fishing well on our drift trips. Flows are currently at 125cfs. These are near optimum levels for all sections of the river. We have  having consistent success using streamers. The blue winged olive mayfly hatch has been consistent. We are also observing some large brown drake mayflies coming off on the warmer days. The stone fly emergence is just beginning. Golden stones are like filet mignon to the trout! The BWO hatch begins most days around 12:30, and lasts for about ninety minutes. Use Assassins, flashback pheasant tails (large ones for the drakes), hares ear, or small punk perch patterns for nymphing below an Under-Cator. Adding weight is crucial to keeping those nymphs near the feeding lanes on the bottom. Midge activity can accelerate as high pressure sets in. It is wise to have smaller olive larva, and pupa patterns this time of year if the barometric pressure rises. Para-midge adults can also get grabs in the larger soft eddies.Water temps will increase this week triggering a solid bite if flows remain stable. Crystal tiger, and olive zebra midges, small gillies, crystal midge emergers, and pupa patterns #20/22 will get you grabs in the deeper pools while fishing properly weighted, tandem rigs fished below an Under-Cator. Adult blue winged olives in #16 & 18, para midge adults, & Stimulators when the stone flies pop. Drift boat trips have picked up with the improved flows. Good numbers of planted rainbows, and browns showing each trip. A few large rainbows are also smashing our streamers most days. The sections we float are well downstream from the fire, and I am happy to report that water clarity remains only slightly off color; with no ash concentrations I have observed. We are primarily pulling streamers using the “dip & strip” method with sinking tip lines. There are opportunities to dry fly fish during the BWO hatch some days, & the fish are focusing on this emergence. Spruce-A-Bu’s, Loebergs, & smaller Punk Perch patterns have all been fooling the trout. 

 Upper Owens River

The bite has slowed down after a series of cold storms, and turbid run-off water changed the conditions. Access roads remain a mess due to ice, deep mud, and large puddles in the two track ruts.  It gets tricky for access after the ground thaws in some sections. The cutthroat seem to have retreated back to Crowley for the time being. The warmer weather might get them moving once again if it sustains for a week.  There are a few husky spring rainbows showing up, with decent numbers of catchable bows and browns on the warmer days. Numbers should steadily increase through April-peak around the general trout opener, with migratory fish hanging around through most of May. Crystal Eggs, San Juan Worms, #16-18 Assassins (dark and light), #14-16 Crystal Leeches, and #16-20 Copper Tiger Midge, Zebra Midge, and Gillies have been good patterns fished with plenty of weight below an Under-Cator.  

Hot Creek

Numbers are decent here during warmer periods; with fish holding in the deeper slots and pools.  We will see some increased flows during warmer periods from snowmelt. The stream bed is blanked by thick aquatic weeds. This is normal for the lower water periods of the year.  Best bite occurs during early afternoon when the BWO’s are emerging. Large midge hatches coming off during a high barometer. Dry dropper rigs with a #16-18  Para Hi-Vis BWO and a #22 Gillie dropper 12″-18″ below is a consistent rig currently. When you observe those noses sipping the adults in the suds, remove the dropper, and dope up those high wings so they ride high on the surface.  Longer leaders, & light tippet in the 5-6x class is best. During off hatch periods try attractor patterns fished without an indicator. You can get into some of the larger fish using this method during the winter months.

Pleasant Valley Reservoir

Access around the transition section near the inlet remains fine at this time; however you may experience off colored water emanating from Pine Creek due to run-off. The mud along the river bank can  be extremely nasty after it thaws. It can be frozen on the surface; but will not support you when you walk on it during the mornings. Dry/dropper rigs are the hot ticket for trout sipping on midges, & mayflies in the transition section.  Still water addicts can get their fix here all winter. This fishery is planted all winter, & can provide some excellent fly fishing opportunities from a float tube; or near the inlet section that feeds the reservoir proper. Full sinking lines fished along the steep shoreline drop-offs using patterns like Loebergs, Crystal Leeches, Parallel Punk Perch, Parallel Agent Orange, & Spruce-A-Bu’s are good calls for “freeze tubers” during the winter. Locals call PVR “little Crowley” as fly fishers in the know will use still water nymphing techniques to score big numbers during periods of stable water levels. Set your “Under-Cators” to suspend those broken back midges, crystal tiger/zebra midges, gillies, & Assassins around the 12-14 foot depth. The inlet section is historically the most consistent section to fish. This diverse fishery also allows you to move into the short river section that feeds the lake. Looking much like the East Walker, this short; but sweet section has plenty of pocket water and riffles that hold holdover rainbows and browns that move into the heavy brush during periods of lower flows. Dry/dropper rigs using para hi-vis BWO’s, Stimulators, and hi-vis caddis patterns as your upper; with crystal tiger midges, crystal olive caddis larva, & parallel; or standard assassins as a nymph. The transition area that dumps into the lake has slower moving/deeper water that requires the use of an Under-Cator, or longer dropper off your dry. This is perhaps the most fertile area of the lake, & competent roll casters may get huge days here while making extended drifts in the foam lines. The trout will concentrate here to feed on the abundant chironomid, & mayflies that come off throughout the cooler months. Keep this fishery in mind if the weather gets nasty in the higher elevations.

 The Gorge

Flows have moved up here making for improved conditions. The fire did not impact this area. The best bite occurs during the BWO hatch mid-day. Use lighter weight rods here with a mayfly adult or go with a dry/dropper combination. Our Parachute hi-vis BWO is an excellent pattern as your dry. FB PT’s, Assassins, & small midge emergers are good calls for the dropper nymph.

 East Walker River

Good news! Flows have crashed recently, & this will co-incide with some mild weather later this week. They are back to 135cfs at this time. Look for a solid BWO, & midge hatch to begin this week.