Upper Owens River Report

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


by The Trout Fitter Staff
8-29-2024
Website

Flows & Water Conditions- Good

Clarity-So-so below Hot Creek, but good above

CFS- 74

Click Here For Upper Owens Flow Rates

Fishing Report & Conditions: Fair-Good

Something to be aware of - They are starting to put cows inside the fences. This is a normal occurrence, as grazing (historically done by Deer and Antelope) is an important part of the ecosystem. They move the cows every week or so, so it can affect water clarity and the amount of drifting weeds - Be on the lookout. The drifting slime weed problem is clearing up quickly, so fishing below the Hot Creek confluences has become more pleasant.

The hatches are becoming more inconsistent - Big one day and disappearing the next. The only true change is in the timing of the hatches themselves. They are now about an hour later and Craneflies and Aquatic Moths are back. Craneflies appear midmorning and the moths appear early and late. The Tricos should be winding down pretty soon, but the next mayfly hatch will probably be the BWO’s and they won’t show up until at least late September.


The crowds seem to be thinning and the dry fly action has slowed, but that doesn’t mean you have to dredge the bottom either. The tough thing is that with all of the pressure from this summer, the actively feeding fish are getting super picky. Hopper-Droppers are still working well with small #20-24 mayfly nymphs. The migratory Browns and stocked Rainbows are now spread throughout the public water. Caddis migration starts around 7 AM. The Trico emergence is less consistent now, starting around 9 AM. The Tiny BWO is becoming more abundant, hatching midday - Hence the Hopper-Dropper rig. We are also seeing minnows and fry hanging out in the drowned grass on the inside of the river bends. Evenings are good for male Tricos, Caddis hatches, and Caddis egg-laying.

Flies:

  • Dries: Spider Variant Trico #20-22 | Parachute Caddis #16-22 | Spent Partridge Caddis #16-22 | Parachute Kicking Hopper #10-14 | Assorted Foam Hoppers #8-12 for Hopper Dropper Rigs |
  • Nymphs: Tungsten Psycho May PMD #14-16 | Drowned Trico Spinner #18-22 | Bead Head Flashback Pheasant Tail #14-22 | Guides Choice #14-18 | Translucent Pupa Olive or Tan #16-18 | Chamois Caddis #16-20 | Spring Creek Hopper #12-16 | San Juan Worm | M/Pardi F/B Olive #18-20 | Weiss BP Light #18-20 | 
  • Streamers: Keslars H/B/G Olive | Punk Perch #16 |  Crostons MRS Natural #12 |




More Reports

The Trout Fitter Reports
for Thursday, August 22nd

Owens River - Section 3 - Upper (above Crowley): The crowds are growing and the dry fly action has slowed
Hot Creek: Hot Creek Fishing Report
East Walker River (CA): East Walker River Report
Owens River - Lower: The flows jumped from 300 CFS to 500 CFS in the span of 2 days
San Joaquin River-Middle Fork: Flows are on the skinny side and water temperatures are in the 60s