Lower Owens River Fishing Report

Owens River - Lower - Bishop, CA (Inyo County)


by The Trout Fitter Staff
7-26-2023
Website

Water Conditions:  Poor-Fair

Flows are 345cfs as of 7/27B

 There is Gorge access to the middle and upper power plants as well as the reservoir. Pleasant Valley Dam Road is blocked off, I'm not sure why. There's virtually no access above the cement plant. LADWP is releasing water out onto the Owens Valley floor which in the future will be very beneficial but for right now be very careful where you drive.

 

Fishing Conditions and Hatches: Poor-????

 I did fish it Monday afternoon and it was blah at best, no hatches, the water was dirty  and the fish seemed disinterested. Went out today, Thursday afternoon and the water is dirty (2+ feet of visibility at best) from Line Street up to Brockman.

 The hatches have been weak, Midges and now Craneflies, Baetis, Tricos and Caddis. The river above Five Bridges Road has improved but still murky, the most likely culprit is Horton Creek which enters the river at gate 9. With the warming conditions a lot of the guides are switching over to bass on the ponds, canals and lower river. If you are coming up be very careful and respect the closures. With the dropping of the flows and the clearing of the water there might be a light at the end of the tunnel. The hatches are getting stronger and more diversified but the water needs to clean up before it will be really worth while. I'll be doing more explorations in the next couple of days but one possibility is skating Stimulators #10-14 in the evening on the back eddies and current seams. It's Cranefly egg laying time and the takes can be quite entertaining. I did see good surface activity in the slower bends above highway 6 this morning. Rise form indicated most likely Trico spinner fall. 

 

DRIES: Stillborn Midge #20-22  | Giffith's Gnat #22-24 |CDC Transition midge #20-22 | No Mercy Midge #18-24 | Boroff F/Homie #20, 24 | Para CDC Baetis #16-22 | Para Adams #14-22 | Stimulators #10-14

NYMPH:  Pheasant Tail #14-20 | Hares Ear #16-20 |Caddis Cased #12 | Zebra Midge #18-22 |Weiss BP light or dark #18-20 | Bottom Roller Phsyco Rhyco #10-14 | Pearl & Orange #16 |Chamois caddis #16-20 | TB Millers +1 Lt #16-18  | Lexi Girdle Bug Tan/Black #6 | HDA Fav. Variant #12-16

STREAMERS: Wooly Bugger Olive & Black #10-12 | Mini Sculpin Olive & Black #10-12





More Reports

The Trout Fitter Reports
for Wednesday, July 26th, 2023
Hot Creek: Hot Creek Fishing Report
Crowley Lake: Crowley Lake Fishing Report
Owens River - Section 3 - Upper (above Crowley): Upper Owens River Fishing Report

The Trout Fitter Reports
for Monday, July 17th, 2023
Hot Creek: Hot Creek Fishing Report
Crowley Lake: Crowley Lake Fishing Report
Owens River - Section 3 - Upper (above Crowley): Upper Owens River Fishing Report
Owens River - Lower: Lower Owens River Fishing Report
East Walker River: East Walker River Fishing Report