Fishing Conditions and Hatches:  Fair-Good

The fishing has definitely gotten a lot tougher, some speculation is the extreme temperature fluctuation as of late is the culprit. Fishing for the winter spawning rainbows is tapering off but the spring spawners have moved up earlier than normal and now are pretty much scattered all the way throughout the public section. The primary fish moving up now is the Eagle Lake Rainbow, another strain that they are no longer stocking so the health of this run depends largely on us. The flows have dropped back to 94 cfs over the last week so the diversion from Grant has stopped and the water has cleared but still a little murky below the Hot Creek confluences. The fish seem to be less spread out, you may fish large sections with no action and then catch several in one hole. With the improving hatches the fish are being more selective, early the fishing is scratchy and they're not as particular but midday they are locking in on small (#18-22) mayfly and midge pattens. The spring spawners tend to be more aggressive so they are more susceptible to larger patterns including streamers. The road is still open and getting better but be careful on the side roads, walking the bank has gotten better and there's no serious weather anticipated for another week or so. Midday has been best but the migratory fish do most of their movement at night so the late afternoon can also be good.The midge hatches are strong, and the mayflies are showing up again so almost every back eddy has fish rising in the foam lines. Mayflies are small, #20-24. Both planters and lake fish are still on the move so try attractor patterns such as San Juan Worms, Prince Nymphs, Copper Johns, egg patterns and streamers. Remember that the fish moving out of Crowley have had a summer of larger food so don't be afraid to use larger patterns. The water below the Hot Creek confluences will be 5-10 degrees warmer so if you get out early it might be best to start off closer to the bridge.

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