The Lower Owens continues to deliver a satisfying fishing experience for beginning and advanced Fly Anglers.  Flows are still stabilized and low and cool.  Wading is a cinch without waders and is a refreshing experience.  Early and especially late Dry Fly activity is a constant.  Fish the usual nymphs as suggested in my last report for optimal success.  Have a good supply of PMD and Baetis emergers,  Caddis Worms,  and some Midge Larvae.  Most will be sized #16-20. Some small attractors can be used throughout the day to bring up the wild inhabitants of the Lower Owens River. 

Crowley Lake Fly Fishing has been great! Some OK days mixed in with some truly epic battles with some of the largest Trout most people will hook consistently in a day! Another bonus is the variety of species of Trout. On any day we catch a variety of Cutthroat, Browns of various shades of yellows, and lots of fast moving Rainbows.  Fishing water depths around 15-20′ will bring you the most success on the west bays of the lake and a few other strategic spots.  The standard Crowley Lake patterns we have been tying in the shop have been working amazing.  Large Chironomids #12-14 do the trick in Blacks ,  Reds ,  Grey’s and Creams.  Don’t take your eye off the indicator though as you might miss the fish of a lifetime!

The Lower Owens River has benefited a lot from the past few weeks of rain and much cooler weather.  Nights are still dropping into the high 50’s leaving the river cool and healthy.  Hatches are out and can be found throughout most of the day.  The last few days upon arriving to the river around 8-8:30 a nice Trico hatch is on the water with fish eating the small mayflies in the foam lines and riffles where the river channels them.  Caddis are around throughout the day and the fish seem keyed on them most of the time.  The hatch gets thick in late evening hours.  Nymphing and streamers will of course take fish throughout the day.  Fish the standard patterns that reflect the aquatic bugs I listed above with lots of Emergers as well.  Bubblebacks,  soft hackles and variations on the PT patterns will get you into fish.  Caddis Worms #16 in various styles will also be gobbled up when drifted down past the wild brown trout nose in the Lower Owens.  Dry pattern examples have been the Stalcups adult Caddis #14-16 and various small Trico/Baetis patterns #18-22. This fishery looks to keep us going all summer long with healthy fish and bug activity.

Crowley has some slow days and some unbelievable days where the average Trout size to the net is 3-4  lbs.  Fishing in 15-20 ft of water seems to be the preferred depth of the fish from Leighton Springs to Little and Big Hilton.  Crooked Creek also has some good action to be had, and is a possible place to take shelter from the wind. Fishing our Crowley Buzzers #12-14 has been very successful by fishing them between “6 to two and even three feet off the bottom.  Morbung seems to. Be the best time but don’t discount even either.. Of course there are those days when they steadily bite all day…

The cool and flowing dam released waters of Lower Owens River are fish rich.  The clear water allows you to see more of the river and fish it has to offer.  Brown Trout can be found in any feasible hold area that a Fly angler would expect to fish a weary fish.  PMD’s,  Caddis,  and the occasional terrestrial insect have been the Trouts diet on top the water.  PMD’s have been making an appearance mid day on recent cloudy days and lighter during sunny days..   Caddis fishing in late evening it hard to decode which fish to cast too with all the rising fish! We are enjoying the storms passing thru in Bishop for sure.  Under the water use various lighter  PMD Emergers #16-18, Soft  Hackles,  some small stone patterns are good to have as an option,  and of course,  some sort of green Caddis Rock worm imitation is always good to have on the line.  On top we have been having amazing success with Stalcups adult Caddis #14-16, thorax PMD’s,  Light  Cahills,  Hendrickson,  and various similar PMD patterns all around #16. 

The spring fed waters of the  Upper Owens River continues to flow at a clear  spring time flow.  As usual it’s easy to get around the river system from top to bottom.  Some Cutts are still being caught and are some of the most beautiful fish I have seen.  

The Lower Owens is giving us some top water action the last couple nights with some evening Caddis happening.  Big Grannom Caddis adults spot the water for violent hits from wild brown trout starting around 4-dark. Nymphing all day is till great. Larger bugs for sure now..  Yellow Sallie nymphs took fish the last couple days as well.

The Lower Owens River has been fishing good most days.  Flows are staying cool and reasonably low.  The Dry Fly action remains semi inconsistent, yet happens every day in some part of the river.  In the top of the WTC a noon-time Baetis hatch happens very consistently recently.  A few Grannom Caddis adults are skimming the surface of the water throughout the day.  Today, random acts of top water bug violence were noted with no bug activity until I spotted a yellow Sally crawling on the boat.  If you wanna try this type of dry Fly fishing have confidence, and place your yellow Sally dry in as many places as possible.  Most of the time you won’t be casting to rising Trout,  rather bringing them up to your Fly with a well placed cast.  Fish the same nymphs as my last report with some added Caddis Emergers on the Nymph rig.  Yellow Sally dries in #12-16 of various patterns will bring up wild trout in the Lower Owens.  For the hatch fish BWO patterns in #16-20 depending on the Baetis you see out.  Remember there are 20+ species of Baetis (BWO) alone.  Soft Hackles in green,  Tickets, and various small Mayfly  patterns will most likely be your flies that work.

The Lower Owens River continues to flow at a clear and cool 125 cfs. Fish are happy and hungry. With these weather patterns passing through Dry Fly activity is erratic in certain areas.. Recently with the overcast weather it has been coming off much more consistently right at noon to around 1-2pm. The entire system is healthy and fishing well. Most of our guiding is happening in the Lower sections of the rived and even below the Quality Water. Baetis Emergers (Bubbleback, soft hackles, ect.) #16-20, Caddis Worms in world style and Soft Hackles #14-18, and various Midge Larvae #18-20. We have been seeing Scattered Caddis activity above the water as well as a PMD here and there. This should be a prelude of great times to come on the Lower Owens very soon.