Water Conditions: Poor-Fair

Flows are 75 cfs as of 5/18

Dirty and very high but the conditions above Hot Creek are better.

The stretch of river above Benton Crossing Road is artificial, barbless, catch and release only. The reason for the drop in flows is due to DWP shutting off the flows through the tunnel from Grant Lake. With runoff picking up  Deadman's Creek has reached Big Springs and the flows will start coming up. Deadman and Glass creeks run over very porous ground so even in normal years by late fall large stretches above Big Springs are dry. With the water now flowing all the way through there's a lot of debris to be flushed out.

Fishing Conditions and Hatches: Fair

The water is high, dirty and cold plus there are few hatches.  The banks are snowfree but now that Deadman's Creek has  reached Big Springs who knows. Attractor nymphs including egg patterns are doing as well as anything else. We haven't seen any Cutthroat but there are still some big rainbows heading back to the lake. I haven't heard of anybody fishing below Benton Crossing.

It's good to remember that there aren't a lot of "resident" fish in the Upper Owens, it's basically a nursery for Crowley Lake and as they get bigger most of them will move down to the lake. The fish that haven't gone to the lake yet tend to be pickier because it's their natural environment. So much for the temperature gage, it lost its funding and has been shut down. If you're not familiar with it, to get to the upper most branch of Hot Creek, go through the first drive through gate on the main road and immediately turn left. The confluence is between the first and second walk-thru gates.

Recommended Flies

DRIES: 

NYMPHS:  Zebra Midge #16-22 | Copper John #14-16 | B/H Pheasant tail #14-18 | Bling Midge #22-24 | San Juan worms assorted colors | Birds Nest Natural #16-20 | Prince Nymph #12-18 | Egg Patterns #12-16 | Western Coachman #12-16 | Pheasant Tail #12-16 combo flash and or bead

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

EURO Streamers: GD UV P/Jig White #12 | Kaslar M/G/S Olive #12