Upper Owens River Report

Owens River - Section 3 - Upper (above Crowley) - Eastern Sierra, CA (Mono County)

Photo Credit: Courtesy of The Troutfitter

by The Trout Fitter Staff
3-12-2021
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Flow Rates and Water Conditions

Water Conditions: Good

Flows are at 108 cfs as of  3/4

Temperatures have stabilized but the water is still cold.

Fishing Conditions and Hatches: Fair-Good

OKAY IT'S TIME TO CLIMB UP ON THE SOAPBOX: DFG is no longer stocking fall spawning rainbows. Every fish laid in the dead grass, carried away from the water, held with a towel or squeezed is another fish that won't be spawning.

Maybe it's all the wind as of late but the fishing has been slowing down. Also the spring spawners tend to spawn much higher up than some of the other strains so the number of fish in the public section is being reduced. The spring spawners are now spread throughout the system and have been eating bigger attractor nymph patterns (12-16). Slow water pockets, deep buckets, and back-eddies have been the most productive holding water. The resident fish have been keying into micro mayflies and midges, so we suggest trailing a midge or mayfly in the size 20-26 behind an attractor nymph to keep the action rolling between each lake fish. Midday there are scattered mayfly hatches including some enormous ones #12-14. On some afternoons the dry fly fishing can be productive but be ready to throw size 18 through 22 dry flies behind a #12-14. Streamer fishing has been OK. If you do decide to bring your streamer stick out on the water keep in mind that the cold water temps have caused the fish to remain sluggish. Slower is better in regard to streamer fishing right now.

Recommended Flies

DRIES: Griffiths Gnat #20-24 | Parachute Extended Body BWO #20-22 |Elk Hair Caddis #20

NYMPHS:  Zebra Midge #16-22 | Prince Nymph #12-16 | Copper John #14-16 |Tungsten Jig Baetis #18-20 | Harrop's Surface Emerger #20-22 | Roza Pink Tag Jig #16d | Clearwater Emerger #18-20 | S&M Nymph #20-22 | Medalion Midge #20-24 |Bling Midge #22-24

STREAMERS: Shock Collar Leech #10 | Woolly Bugger White, Olive, or Brown #6-14 | Punk Perch light or dark #10-16





More Reports


3-12-2021
Flow Rates and Water Conditions Water Conditions: Fair, showing 4 cfs as of 3/10 The flow gauge on Mammoth Creek is not...... Read More

The Trout Fitter Reports
for Friday, March 5th, 2021

Hot Creek: Hot Creek Fishing Report
Owens River - Section 3 - Upper (above Crowley): Upper Owens River Report
Owens River - Lower: Lower Owens River Report
East Walker River (CA): East Walker River Report