The magnificent Lower Owens River just does not want to let go of its crisp, high flows! At a steady 547 cfs as of now we are happily anticipating the dropping of flow levels any day!  That being said for those who know how to fish the river it is in amazing shape.  The Trout of the Lower Owens have not seen, if ever, a sustained volume of this magnitude for such a long block of time. This gives the finned creatures of the river a lot of room to move around and take advantage of the food delivery system the river now offers to them. As far as they are concerned after the last five years of edge of drought situations the river is an entire new ecosystem, thriving with food and life on a constant delivery system. This makes for very healthy and happy fish of all sorts! Emerging Mayflies and Midges with some rogue Caddis are seen over the water inconsistently as the day warms.  Emerger and Soft Hackle patterns have been very successful in #14-18. As well as various small streamers and seasonal dry fly patterns in slow moving foam lines during the warmer parts of the day.. As amazing as it is its very high and fast in most areas. Extreme caution at all times!  

Top Predator of the Lower Owens River

The Upper Owens River can be a bit of a fly  fisherman’s paradise; dreamy grass meadow littered with various flowers surrounded by a ridge of majestic mountains. In Autumn these give way to cooler Temps and we see snow start to dot the mountains. This usually means the fishing is starting to change to larger offerings meaning…. BIG FISH. this is just starting to happen. The river is in perfect shape this year after a tremendous healthy water year. Stay tuned for another report very soon!

Upper Owens Brown makes her day!

It’s time!

The Lower is making us wait a little longer for its flows to come down until the entire river is fishable. Currently fluctuating between 400-500 cfs of nutrient rich water with lots of aquatic insects making their appearance. Mayflies, Caddis, and Midges are around for most of the day with mid morning being the heaviest emergence. Fish are larger than we have seen and in fire once hooked!

Lower Owens River Brown – October 2017

Fat and happy Lower Owens River Brown Trout

Crowley Lake Fly Fishing at its Best! STM Fly Shop & Guide service 

Crowley Lake Fish are all about the perch fry at the moment!! Fishing from 4-10 ft near weedy patches where perch fry can hide makes complete sense right now. Orange blossoms, gray or shades of green buggers, and perch fry imitations are catching fish right now… Big time!

Solid Crowley Brown – STM Fly Fishing

A youngster catches his fill fly fishing on the upper Owens near Mammoth Lakes

The Upper Owens has been a very consistent fishery throughout this summer. A local population of Rainbow and Brown Trout remain and are will to take Dries, Nymphs and Streamers alike. The entire river system holds fish when looking in the right spots. Hoppers have been fun to fish here, accurately casting to the opposite bank will produce some violent strikes. Other attractor dries in #10-16 will also take fish. Nymphs of all varieties of PT’s , Hares Ears, Princes, Coppers and the like are all successful patterns. No going too big on streamers this time of year here, but a well fished Bugger will pull fish out of the dark shadows of the river as well.

STM Fly Fishing, Mammoth Lakes, CA

Crowley Crowley… Almost every time we go there somebody lands or hooks a trout that makes your entire day … even your week. Fishing here can be slow -decent – good – great all depending on the day and how good you are at finding fish and reading the current situation the lake offers. The same flies are being used with some Perch Fry being thrown in the mix as well. In the last two weeks we have been fishing in 6′ to 20′ feet of water.  Mixing it up throughout the day and moving often to find the flow of fish.  McGee bay has more or less been the hot spot along the north and west sides. All places have fish all the way to Crooked Creek and North Arm. Its been great throughout the hot summer and should only get better as fall eventually cools the Lake a few degrees making for happier trout.

Beautiful lahontan cutthroat landed with a handmade wood net STM fly fishing

STM fly fishing and beautiful High Country trout

The Local Creeks and Streams from Bishop to Mammoth are unseasonably high, yet running very clear and a pleasure to fish. Lots of dry fly action here with large offerings being accepted on top and under the water. For Dries large Beetles, Stimulators and Rubber legged patterns have been bringing all kinds of fish to the surface. Buggers and Stonefly nymphs are also very productive in these situations. As the fall rolls in these streams will be amazing with the cooler nights and days producing active trout and less vegetation around and in the streams.