Fishing isn’t just about catching. It’s also the sights, sounds, and atmosphere of WHERE you’re casting. And when it comes to fly fishing, you’d be hard pressed to find a river with a more beautiful backdrop than the Owens River. It doesn’t hurt that the fishing is world-class as well.
What To Expect
The Owens river is widely known to host a healthy population of rainbows as well as brown trout. So much so that the run every spring and fall of the giant rainbow trout into Crowley Lake are known affectionately as the “Crowley Steelhead.” And it’s all because the number of trout resembles the running of Steelhead in the Pacific Ocean.
The Lay Of The Land Or Water
The easiest way to understand the Owens River is to divide it into three sections. The Upper, Middle, and Lower. The Upper section or the “Upper O” is between Big Springs and Crowley Lake. This section provides easy access to shoreline, making it the most popular for walk-and-wade fly fishing. It’s also where most of the big rainbows and brownies are caught. The Middle Owens River is the stretch of water between Lake Crowley and Pleasant Valley Reservoir. The river is narrow through the Owens River Gorge and swifter here than in its upper reaches. This stretch is great for high-sticking into pockets. Last but not least is the lower section, starting with the first couple miles of water below Pleasant Valley Reservoir. The fish aren’t as big in the lower section. Many choose to fish the Lower Owens from a drift boat down from five bridges. This is a great alternative for some peace and quiet.
Get The Scoop
Even with such high volume of fish flowing through the river, this body of water is known for providing a challenge without the proper knowledge. We recommend checking out our Bishop Fishing Report which is updated weekly. Or better yet, if you’re in town stop by Mahogany Smoked Meats on Tuesdays from 9 – 11 am for Tuesday Talks with Fred.
