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
Invasive Golden Mussel !
The discovery of these new golden mussels present threats to more local waters than the Quaggas and Zebras because they need less calcium in the water and can survive higher and lower temps. Bottom line, we need your help to spread the word to keep the invasive species from spreading into our lakes and streams. Best practice for boats, trailers and gear is Drain, Clean & Dry.
www.wildlife.ca.gov/mussels
866-440-9530
Lower Owens
Flows are holding around a 100 CFS, but are expected to go up soon. With the opening of Eastern Sierra waters the fly fishing pressure on the lower Owens River has decreased. Mayflies and midges are the hatching insects that the trout are feeding on. Dry fly fishing has been sporadic with size 18 Adams parachutes and size 18 blue wing olive parachutes. Learning to identify aquatic insects on the wing is one of the things you will learn on a guide trip. Nymphing continues to be the most productive method of fly fishing the river. Nymph with a Euro rig or under and indicator. Nymphing with size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 SOS nymphs and size 20 midges in zebra and tiger coloration are producing wild brown and rainbow trout. Key to success is fishing with the right amount of weight in the flies or with a split shot on the tippet. The flies should be bouncing on the substrate where the trout are looking for dislodged nymphs.
Owens River Gorge Highlight
Fly fishers looking to fish off the beaten path and willing to put in the effort of hiking in and out of the gorge will find lots of 10 to 14 inch wild browns willing to take their flies. Spring is the perfect time for fly fishing in the gorge as the stinging nettles and rattle snakes are just starting their spring presence in the gorge. Hatches of blue wing olive mayflies and midges are the insects the trout are feeding on. On the surface fish with a size 18 blue wing olive parachute, size 18 Adams parachute and a size 18 olive sparkle dun. Under the surface fish with a size 18 tiger or zebra midge, size 18 olive quilldigon and size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph. This is a good water to learn how to use a Tenkara rod. To stay up with the changing flows check out Eastern Sierra water flows.
>> Complete Lower Owens Fishing Report by Sierra Trout Fly Shop
Upper Owens River
Above Benton Crossing Bridge
The cutthroat run is just starting as there are a few trophy cutthroat trout entering the upper Owens River. For fly fishers looking for a trophy cutthroat fish from Crowley Lake upstream towards Benton Crossing Bridge. The cutthroats are just starting their migration and can be found in the deeper holes, and deep runs above Crowley Lake. Fishing with size 12 stoner nymphs, size 12 green/gold Prince nymphs, size 12 gold ribbed hare’s ears variations and size 14 copper John’s are fooling the migrating trophy cutthroat trout. Look for the cutthroat run to peek between May 10th and May 20th. Nymphing upstream of Benton Crossing Bridge with size 18 olive quilldigons, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 20 tiger midges and size 20 zebra midges is producing a few resident rainbow and brown trout to 12 inches.
>> Complete Fishing Report by Sierra Bright Dot
Hot Creek
Interpretive Area: Midge hatches and the occasional blue wing olive mayfly hatching is bringing the trout to the surface. The midges are too small to imitate individually so using a size 24 Griffith’s gnat to imitate a cluster of midges is producing some trout. A size 20 Adams parachute, size 20 blue wing olive parachute and a size 20 sparkle dun are producing a few of the wild brown and rainbow trout feeding on the sporadic hatching mayflies. The gray Hot Creek caddis is just starting to get active and fly fishers should be carrying a few gray parachute caddis, gray elk hair caddis and X-caddis in size 20.
The Canyon: The hike in and out of the canyon is keeping the fly fishing pressure down in the canyon. Euro nymphing, tight ling nymphing or a dry and dropper rig is the way to present your nymphs to the trout feeding on the substrate. The water in the creek is low running at about 18 inches deep. For the dry and dropper rig use a size 12 stimulator, size 12 Chernobyl Ant and a size 16 Adams parachute. Fish nymphs under the dry fly with a three foot tippet of 5X fluorocarbon. For nymphs fish with a size 16 SOS nymph, size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymph, size 18 olive quilldigon and size 20 midges in tiger and zebra coloration. Lots of rainbows and browns are taking the nymphs fished in riffles and deep holes throughout the canyon section.
Bishop Creek Canal
With the opening of trout season the canal has seen a big increase in fishing pressure. For those that know how to read the water and present their imitations to the trout they’re catching trout. For those that do not know the proper techniques for fishing the canal are not catching trout. Fly fishers showing patience on the canal will find that anglers will get frustrated easily and leave the area with in 15 or 20 minutes of arriving on the canal to fish. Fishing the areas vacated from fellow anglers has been productive with nymphs fished under an indicator or with a Euro rig. Fish the sandy seams between the weed beds. Thoroughly cover the seams and then move ten feet up the canal and thoroughly cover this next section of the canal. Work your way up the canal covering all the water until you have caught enough trout or wear out from fishing this area. Under an indicator fish with a size 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 16 SOS nymph, size 20 tiger midge and size 20 zebra midge. Place the indicator 1 ½ to 2 times the average depth of water above the fly. Use a size one split shot placed 12 to 18 inches above the fly. Use three feet of 5x fluorocarbon tippet attached to your tapered leader.
>> Complete Bishop Creek Canal Fishing Report by Sierra Bright Dot
Crowley Lake -FANTASTIC!
All boats entering Crowley Lake will need to be inspected.
The 2025 fishing season is off to a fantastic start! Although I’ve only had the chance to fish a few areas myself, the reports from other trolling boats echo the same sentiment: the fishing has been excellent.
The most productive fishing seems to be in 20-30 feet of water, from the surface all the way to the bottom. Topwater fishing is currently very good as there are no weeds to contend with yet. I also had success trolling with 2-4 colors of lead core in about 24 feet of water.
Here are some of the top spots that have been producing:
- Mcgee Bay
- Sandy Point to The Willows
- Alligator Point
- North Arm
https://www.crowleylakefishcamp.com/fishing-reports
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
Get ready! Lakes are still frozen over, but it should be a phenomenal summer season. Season ends November 15
Latest about fishing Bishop
Mayflies and midges are providing most of the action for the feeding trout. Nymphing continues to be the most productive method of fly fishing on Eastern Sierra waters.
Year-Round Fishing
