North Lake had been treating Fly fisherman very well recently. From float tubes to shore casting lots of fish have been coming to hand. Standard high country dry fly patterns such as ; Humpies, Wulffs and Sierra Bright Dots are just a few examples. Under the water small Buggers, Muddlers and Pistol Petes are also great flies to trick the trout of the North Lakes area.
Crowley Lake is fishing great with many many 3lb and up sized fish coming out recently. Wind has been manageable and keeps the temperature on the lake nice. Fish of all three flavors have been caught almost every day we are out; Cutthroat, Rainbows and Browns are swimming hungry in Crowley Lake as we speak. From Green Banks to McGee fish have been caught in 7-12 feet of water. The usual Crowley midges have been working in sizes 12-16. The Crowley Buzzer and the Crowley Patterns we tie at the shop have been stellar. Find the bottom and pick the flies up a bit and don’t be afraid to move around until you find what you want.
The Lower Owens continues to be the fish producer of the Eastern Sierra the premier tail water of the Eastern Sierra continues to show us it’s great fish with nymphs, dries, and streamers. Flows are a healthy 300 cfs average which keeps the water clean and healthy with good oxygen content. Wading is comfortable and water is a great temperature for wet wading making for a great day in the river. For Fly selection refer to my last post for exact patterns. Lots of Caddis Larvae, Pupae, and Adult patterns have been used recently. Stalcups adult Caddis is a great Fly late evening. Nymphing will continue to take fish all day long on the Lower Owens. Sometimes in the summer we fish more in the faster and white riffle type water where the trout will move to an area of higher oxygen.
We have been loving the unusually low flow summer flows of the Lower Owens right here in Bishop! Flowing at a perfect rate of 200-250cfs water remains cool and fish are active and lots of surface activity is taking place. Forget the waders and enjoy wet wading as a great way to cool off and get a break from the summertime heat while extracting beautiful wild Brown Trout. All sorts of attractor patterns are working both above and below the waters surface. Princes, PT’s and Copper Bob’s and Jons are just a few examples of nymphs we have been using. On the surface Small – medium RL Sticks, various Yellow Sallie imitations and various Mayflies and Caddis have been making an appearance. For those of you that have not been up to experience the river in these conditions.. It’s time!
The Upper Owens is moving at a healthy flow of around 100-110 cfs. Fish are being caught as in the summer in the past. Down below the bridge anglers find more stockers compared to above the Bridge. These fish are usually always good for consistent action. Some caddis come off throughout the system bringing up some of the smaller fish of the system to take advantage of the reproducing insects. Large attractor and Hopper patterns in #10-12 will get the Trouts attention on the Upper Owens right now as well during warm Summer months. Most of the fish are taken on attractor nymphs and Midge patterns. Princes, Copper Jons in various colours, and Pheasant Tails and Bright Green Caddis worms are a few examples of what we have been using to take fish. Use a #16-18 for most of the the suggested patterns. Streamers fished all across and up the banks, use smaller streamer patterns that used during the winter big fish time for success.
Hot Creek is low and still cool and nevertheless fishing very well. There are weeds, yes, there is also a ton of fish that are always there and are still there! Caddis and Tricos seem to be the ticket on the surface as dry fly action can be found in almost every bend and run throughout the day. We hope for dry fly fishing when Hot Creek is this low and weedy. It is also the time of year for large bugs to be blown into Hot Creek making fishing with large attractor patterns successful. #12-14 Fat Alberts and Foam and parachute hopper patterns #10-14 are just a few examples. For the small bugs try something like Thorax Tricos and CDC Tricos in #20-22, Small Henrys Fork and Hot Creek caddis #18-20, Fertile Caddis #20. Trico emergers and midge emergers in #18-22 are a couple of patterns that will take fish under the water on a short nymph rig where you find a weed free nymphing spot.
The gem of the Eastern Sierra the Lower Owens River has been showing us some fine examples of wild Brown Trout! Flows are up a bit which is seasonal. Caddis are slowly showing themselves with some larger larvae on the move and good sized adult specimens coming out in the evening. We also have Yellow Sallies making an appearance under and above the surface of the water. This can lead to some great fishing during the day when the sun is out. Use the same patterns as suggested in my last report with lots of Caddis and Baetis. But also use some Yellow Sally nymphs ; oversized Copper Jons and Small light Stone nymphs in #12-14 are taking fish when fished as a top fly!
The Lower Owens continues to fish very well with a clear and healthy flow of 247 cfs at the writing of this report. Caddis are moving around and more, action is still increased on caddis larvae patterns and surface activity. The entire river system seems to be producing fish for most anglers using the correct patterns. We look for the flows to stay around this area as we have a weak runoff so far this year. #14-16 green caddis emergers and worms and Baetis and Midge emergers in #18-20. (BB emergers, RS2’s, Ticket, ect.)
Crowley lake is open and already living up to its reputation! Water at this moment is very clear for Crowley with low water levels, yet higher leveles than the closing time last year of mid- November. Fish are healthy, scrappy, and fat and appear to be near their same hidouts as last year. Lots of Perch are also being caught of good size. The Sac Perch always welcome to mix things up with a decent tug for their size. The channels, points, and spring areas will always be the things to look for here, its just which one at what time… Different configurations of Crowley style Chironomids in #10-14 are working well. Blacks and Greys with Gold, Red and Silver wrap combinations are working with various colours of bead heads. The majority of the fish tend to be in around 9-14 feet of water consistently. Crowley will prove to be a great fishery that every angler should try when visiting the Eastern Sierra. Stay tuned for many more surprises from this Eastern Sierra Fishery.
The Lower Owens River is flowing at a low-medium clear flow of 230 cfs at the time of this writing. A couple of things have changed since the last report; there is more dry fly action to be found on BWO’s and a few Caddis in the evenings, and fish are hitting more on the Caddis under the water as well as they see them moving around more. Be sure to have those patterns on hand in 16 -18 on Caddis worms and dries as well sizes 16-18 For all BWO Baetis patterns. We look for these to get thicker and river-wide as the water might stay fishable low for some time to come.
