The Lower Owens River is flowing low and clear with lots of hungry wild trout ready to eat only the best placed flies. Wading is extremely easy and enjoyable.  Hatches continue to come off but as usual they are isolated in only certain areas that change throughout the week.  A buddy can have dry Fly action just around the bend while you were fishing nymphs and only saw a couple risers.  The main hatches are Baetis and some Midge action.  Fish emerging midges and Baetis patterns in #16-20.  We should be seeing more consistent dry Fly action very soon on this beautiful river. 

The Lower Owens River dropped to a low flow of around 100 cfs recently.  This makes for clear water and spooky fish.  The system is running clean and healthy.  Choose your approach and stalk holes wisely or you will only see fish darting away from you.  Sporadic Dry Fly activity can be found throughout the quality water section..  Small mayflies,  Caddis and Midges are on the menu.  Fishing a small-medium sized streamer correctly will also give you success.  Stay tuned for more action as dry Fly season rolls in.  

The Lower is up to 200 cfs and fishing great.  Baetis hatches can be found  throughout the day on certain days providing some great action for the dry Fly enthusiast.  Some large Caddis are noted popping around the water and are randomly eaten by the opportunistic Trout.  Water is clear and many consider this the prime flow rate of the Lower Owens River for extracting it’s wild fish.  Refer to my last report for Fly patterns to use. 

The Upper Owens River continues to be super low yet clear and cool!  Very few large specimens have made their way up the river at this time..  This is due to the Indian summer we just experienced,  as well as low flows not pushing a good column out into the lake triggering the Trout instincts to swim upstream this time of year.  Stay tuned here for updates on this. If I have not updated,  nothing has changed.  The pic below is what’s coming!

Finally some good flow rates!! The Lower Owens is sweeter than before as flows have stabilized at a perfect and clear 200cfs. All sizes of Trout are being caught and released.  Dry Fly action is definitely happening in various pools and slow foam lines.  Mostly mayflies around size #18-20 are noted and being fished.  Nymphs around this size in emerging patterns and Soft Hackles are also taking fish under the surface.  Look to catch fish here all day long if you can adapt to what’s happening.. *

Beauty of a brown from the Lower Owens

Fly fishing the Lower Owens near Bishop CA

Lower Owens Browns by Ben Blankenhorn

Lots of relatively little fish in…  We are still waiting for the big lakers to make their appearance…  Check back in one week for this..  The pic is a sample from last year

From Mammoth Lakes CA down in the valley Bishop Creek is a georgous cascading stream that always supports good number of wild and stocked Trout..  Wild and weary bookies and Browns live here as well as the stocked Rainbow trout… Fish the south fork and main stem from Sabrina Lake on this system.  Classic Attractor dries,  buggers,  and light Nymph systems will all take fish.  Sometimes you fish behind bait fisherman and end up taking a good amount of wild fish that refused their more artificial offerings. 

Crowley continues to kick out big fish! McGee,  Sandy point and a few other areas are very popular right now.  Careful when hooking these fast and powerful fish,  If you touch the reel while they are running you will lose them instantly!! The normal 6-12″ from the bottom is still the best placement for your flies.  The same flies hold as last report! Stay tuned for some great fall fishing here on Crowley.  Call us for a guided trip on our 19′ Lowe boat with a 115 horse.