Fishing Report
Eastern Sierra Fishing photos compiled by our local guide staff and the rest of the information sourced from their crew and our wonderful guests. Thank You!!!
Photo @CarterMurphyPhoto
Lower Owens
Water temperatures in the low 40’s and air temperatures only a few degrees warmer have made it cold to be fly fishing on the lower Owens River. Flows in the river are in the low 60’s as DWP has on going repair work at Pleasant Valley Reservoir. As the water temperatures lower the trout’s need for calories decrease exponentially. What this means for fly fishers is the trout have lock jaw. They are not moving to feed. Even If you put the fly right on the trout’s nose it is not a guarantee they will take your nymph pattern. Fortunately there are trout that are feeding and fly fishers are catching trout on caddis, midges and mayfly nymphs. Size 18 or 20 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 20 or 22 tiger, zebra or olive midges in nymph or pupae imitations and size 12 stoner nymphs are the flies producing the wild rainbow and brown trout in the wild trout section of the lower Owens River.
>> Complete Lower Owens Fishing Report by Sierra Trout Fly Shop
Upper Owens River
Most of the snow is gone and the roads are drivable with very little muddy places to worry about. There are wild rainbow trout in the river that have migrated up from Crowley Lake. These trophy trout are resting and feeding in the deep holes, deep runs and under the cutbanks. With the increased fishing pressure from the easy vehicle access to the upper Owens River this winter the trout have been pressured. Thoroughly cover the water and look for those deep pockets and hidden pools that most fly fishers are passing by. Success is a couple of trophy trout per angler per outing and comes from covering lots of water and using lots of casts to make sure your flies and the trout are in the same spot at the same time. While a lot of fly fishers like worms, egg patterns and mop flies I like nymphs. Use size 12 stoner nymphs, size 12 green/gold wire Prince nymphs, size 12 gold ribbed hare’s ears variations, size 14 copper John’s and size 12 rainbow warriors (rainbow trout like brightly colored flies) to fool the trophy rainbow trout. I fish a three fly rig and use an olive quilldigon in size 18, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph in size 18, tiger midge in size 20 and zebra midge in size 20 to fool the resident, eight to 12 inch browns and rainbows.
>> Complete Fishing Report by Sierra Bright Dot
Hot Creek
Its been cold on the creek and fly fishers need to dress warm. On the right days fly fishers can catch trout on the surface with mayfly and midge adult patterns. Use a size 20 blue wing olive parachute, size 20 blue wing olive sparkle dun, size 20 Griffith’s gnat and a size 24 gray midge adult when the trout are feeding on the surface. Nymphing continues to be the most productive method of fly fishing the Interpretive Site. Size 20 midge and pupae nymphs in blood, zebra and tiger coloration, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons, size 12 olive scuds and size12 olive burlap caddis are the nymphs fooling the wild trout.
Bishop Creek Canal
Low, clear and cold water is making it hard to fool the wild brown trout and the hold over rainbows. It’s hard to sneak up on the trout in the low water channels. It’s easier to cast to the trout without spooking them in the deeper holes and faster riffle sections. Indicators and shadows are spooking a lot of trout. I use a size 14 stimulator and a size 16 Adams parachute for the dry fly in a dry and dropper rig. For nymphs use size 20 tiger, zebra and blood midge, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 18 olive quilldigons and size 12 stoner nymphs.
>> Complete Bishop Creek Canal Fishing Report by Sierra Bright Dot
Crowley Lake (Wait…2025)
Crowley Lake and the Owens River from Crowley Lake to Benton Crossing Bridge is closed for the season. Crowley Lake will open to fishing on Saturday April 26th, 2025.
Fishing Reports by top ranked Fishing Guides – Owens River, Hot Creek, Bishop Creek and Eastern Sierra Lakes
- Local Fishing Report by Sierra Trout Magnet
- Weekly Fly Fishing Report by Sierra Bright Dot
- Bishop Creek Fishing Report by Parchers Resort
Fishing Maps
Bishop Creek
Courtesy of Parchers Resort and South Lake Landing
Season ends November 15 until Fishmas in April 2025. Dress in layers, it’s chilly.
Latest about fishing Bishop
Storms moved out and left the Eastern Sierra with cold and wind. It’s time to break out the heavy duty long under wear or wading pants to wear under the waders if you want to stay warm. Having gloves with you will warm up frozen fingers after releasing trout and getting your hands wet. We are still in that slow period where the water temperatures are low enough that the trout just do not need to feed ravenously like they do in the summer time when trout waters are that optimum. Midges, caddis and mayfly nymphs are what the trout are feeding on. Right now nymphing is the game as there is little to no dry fly activity to bring the trout to the surface.
Year-Round Fishing
