Hot Creek is a little dirty but the fishing is still good

Hot Creek - Mammoth Lakes, CA (Mono County)


by The Trout Fitter Staff
1-4-2012
Website

Water Conditions: Great the flows are at 24 cfs as of 1/5. Actually the water is slightly off color due to increased runoff from, yes, melting snow, what little is left on Mammoth Mountain.
ZERO SNOW AND GATE IS OPEN SO YOU CAN STILL DRIVE ALL THE WAY UP TO THE PARKING LOTS ABOVE THE CANYON SECTION.

Fishing Conditions and Hatches: Excellent above the ranch and good in the canyon. Only change is the fish in the canyon are getting wise to big and buggy, so go a little smaller like 18's and 20's. With the warm temps the fish are biting earlier , like 9:30am. Start with midges, then go to baetis nymphs and dries if they start sipping on the surface.

Recommended Flies:

DRIES:
CDC Baetis DUN #20-22, Extended Body BWO #20-22, Brook's Sprout Baetis #20-22, CDC Emerger Baetis #20-22, Stalcup Emerger Parachute Midge #22, CDC Emerging Midge 22-24, Real Midge 24 (dry or wet)

NYMPHS: Copper Zebra #22, Yankee Buzzer #22, Micracle Nymph #20, BH FB Pheasant Tail #16-#20, #22-24 Black Beauty, #22 Furimsky's Epoxy Midge, WD Flashy Black #22, #16 Hare's Ear midday, Barr's Flashback 18-20

STREAMERS: #12 Bead Head Doc's Twin Lake Special Black/Brown/Olive, Burnt Orange Marabou Leech