Large Rainbow Trout held over the cold water on a snowy landscape near mammoth lakes california on the upper owens river

Upper Owens Fly Fishing Report : Mammoth Lakes, CA – 2.8.23

February 10, 2023
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Upper Owens fly fishing report for Mammoth Lakes California. The Upper Owens is not far from the year around resort town of Mammoth Lakes, CA. Meandering through Long Valley Caldera, void of trees or shrubbery, the Upper Owens is worth it based on it amazing scenery alone. As you can imagine, after all the snow Mammoth Lakes received the banks of the Upper Owens river are snow covered with some deep drifts over its vast meadows.

Access, for the moment is limited to; cross country skies, snow shoes, and snowmobiles. The last round of storms has pushed a fresh run of very fresh and large trout up from the famous Crowley Lake. This indeed places it worthwhile for any angler to navigate her snowy banks in search of the trout of a lifetime from a smaller river. Its no secret the fish are found in the deepest and darkest of places of the curves, riffles and runs of the Upper O.

A good variety of flies can be fished down to these beasts from large San Juan Worms to smaller Midge patterns, Rubber Legs to Pheasant tails and Soft hackles and a little of everything in between. Sometimes a bright colored bead or a hint of flashy spawning colors can help induce a strike on slower days. Streamers fished down and deep disappearing down into dark waters can provoke an unforgettable hook-up. We mostly utilize darker colors for tugging our streamers. Streamer fishing with a fly rod ends up being a lot more work and requires patience and precise casting along with an understanding of what your presentation is doing while down in the water. But the payoff of the strong tug is a heart stopping experience!

Large Rainbow held by tail on the Upper Owens river near Mammoth Lakes California

Upper Owens Fly Fishing Report : Mammoth Lakes, CA – 4.19.21

April 19, 2021
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The Upper Owens River flowing just below Mammoth Lakes is flowing at around 50-60cfs of very low and cool sierra water. Crowds have been anywhere from annoying to nobody depending on the day and time you choose, sometimes we are surprised either way. Water is a bit off colour below Hot Creek confluence and stained a bit above at this time. Random attacks of violence on bugs can been seen by fish of all sizes, this is very hard to predict for casting and presenting while these fish seem not to hit the same area consistently. Big fish are still in the system and are usually staying down deep and out of sight. The Upper Owens is in a transition phase as temperatures are warming up for springtime allowing the fish to return to Crowley Lake to spend another summer eating protein and adding mass to their bodies. A population of large fish are still residing in the deepest and darkest holes of the river. We look forward to the late spring and summer Hopper fishing that we have enjoyed these last few years and hope to see enough moisture via rainfall to sustain this all summer. Fish attractor patterns with some more realistic impressions down below. Streamers you ask? Yes, always!

Check out @stm_fly_fishing on instagram to see recent catches

Call or text the Fly Shop at 661-364-6981

a fly fisherman stands in the Upper Owens River near Mammoth Lakes CA, some snow is around and melting

Upper Owens Fly Fishing Report : Mammoth Lakes, CA – 2.23.21

February 23, 2021
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The Upper Owens River blanket of snow that fell a few weeks ago has slowly been melting away. This has made for a hard packed ground in the morning hours that turns into a slippery clay mess just after noon. Be careful driving in and out of here! The fishing has not changed much since my last writing. Big fish are still found throughout the system and in the right time and place dreams come true. Don’t expect to walk away with numbers of individual fish but instead wondering how many pounds did that fish weigh! Fish the deepest and darkest pools, runs, and riffles. Try to find fresh water that has not been combed over that previous day. Remember, every hit missed here could of been one, if not the biggest Rainbow Trout of your life.

Call or text the STM Fly Shop in Bishop for more information or to book a guided trip on our Eastern Sierra waters @ 661 364 6981

@stm_fly_fishing on instagram for more recent fish photos and details.

Large Rainbow trout held above the Upper owens River near Mammoth lakes California

Upper Owens Fly Fishing Report : Mammoth Lakes, CA – 12.16.19

December 16, 2019
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The Upper Owens River near Mammoth Lakes happens to have some Large fish swimming about its waters. For Fly Fisherman this is always great news and a much awaited time of year has arrived. The spring creek formation of the Upper Owens in the Long Valley Meadow created a perfect, yet unique fly fishing destination. No trees, only surrounded by a wall of mountains consisting of the Sierra range, the Whites, and the Glass mountains to the East and the Upper Owens below Mammoth Lakes runs through it all. The road is still open and snow machines are not necessary as of now. Snow has melted and walking in is a bit easier now. As far as the fishing goes the fish have now moved up from the Lake and spread throughout the system. This is great news currently its about choosing the correct water to fish once your arrive at your beat of river, since the fish have spread throughout the system you don’t need to worry about being in the correct section only to read the water correctly and appropriating your time accordingly. Have your drag set and let these fish run! Otherwise you’ll look around after he breaks you off, hoping your fishing partners did not see you make that rookie mistake and lose your trophy Trout! Attractor patterns are on the menu; SJ worm variants, PT variants, Soft Hackles, Robo PT’s, Coppers and the like are all on the menu. Of course, us guides here at the shop have some of our favorite patterns we tend to lean towards for constant success. Give the shop a call to get on the water with us or for more information. STM Fly Shop – 760.873.0010

Fly Fishing Report

Lower Owens Fly Fishing Report : Bishop, CA 93514 – 3.5.19

March 5, 2019
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The Lower Owens extremely low Flows have come to an end as the flows spiked to a healthy 300cfs since our last report. This did’nt change the bug activity! The same flies are still taking the amazingly beautiful wild Brown and Rainbow Trout that the Lower Owens yields. Large Czech Nymph patterns, Jig Pheasant Tails, Deep sinking Caddis Worms and Midges, and various other patterns that imitate Baetis Nymphs, Rock Worms and Midge Larvae. On my you tube channel you can see these things in real life! Click below to see– >

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agudBPWUraQ

Hatches are still going off between 12:00 – 2:00pm in larger holes where the flies collect on the water and the trout have a concentrated amount of protein to consume. Be ready for some great fish to come out of the Lower Owens this year.

Beautiful Rainbow of the Lower Owens River – Bishop, CA
Fisherman with a hat holds up a large brown trout out of the over Owens River with grass on the sides and a large field

Mammoth Lakes Fly Fishing : Upper Owens River – 11.14.18

November 14, 2018
, Fishing Reports

 

Fisherman with a hat holds up a large brown trout out of the over Owens River with grass on the sides and a large field

Upper Owens River Fall run Brown Trout

The Fly Fishing the Upper Owens down from Mammoth Lakes remains a seasonal and somewhat mythical fly fishing destination…. why you ask? BIG FISH! of many species… Although we have not had a fish driving hard storm yet we do have a good showing of  over sized fish heading up the river in decent numbers. Flows are low and clear which is typical during the fall/winter fly fishing season on the Owens river system. Fish the places you would hide if you were a big aggressive fish looking to pass your genes on to the next generation! The fish have infiltrated the entire system so read the water correctly and appropriate your time in the fishiest spots. Fish the same flies as in my last report. SJ Worms of various styles, Coppers, PT’s, Hot Heads ect…  Don’t be afraid to experiment with some similar patterns as well. 

Mammoth Lakes Fly Fishing : Crowley Lake – 10.28.18

October 29, 2018
, Fishing Reports
Man holds up large trout on Crowley Lake

Crowley Lake Fall 2018

Crowley Lake near Mammoth Lakes Fly Fishing is nearing the end of the season… But not without a bang! The North end of the lake has been a steady producer of Big Trout these past weeks! From Alligator north to Green Banks and the inlet of the Upper Owens the fishing has been on fire. That is if you like Big fish on the end of your line! Search for these Big Trout in anywhere from 8-12 ft of water using the standard Crowley Buzzer Chironomids in #12-16 in various colours that we carry at the Shop. 

elated fly angler holds up very nice wild brown trout on the lower Owens River while fly fishing

Lower Owens Fly Fishing Report : Bishop CA – 12.13.17

December 13, 2017
, Fishing Reports
Gorgeous spotted with halos brown trout

Lower Owens Art

The Lower Owens river fly fishing has been intriguing! The river is flowing at a good flow of 300+ as the top of the site says here. Water is perfect colour and temperatures are hovering around 44-50 degrees.  Some dry fly activity is seen in the foamy areas throughout the day. Usually after mid morning the dry fly action can be seen if any. Of course, under the water a whole different story is happening. Caddis Worms, Midge Larvae, and May Fly nymphs are on the Trout of the Lower Owens diet right now!  Some voracious eating of aquatic insects is seriously happening under the surface! Even though water is high with some beginner water reading skills the Fly Angler can pick out the right pieces of river to fish. It seems after months of record flows the fish on the Lower Owens are coming back to show us what that volume of river allows them to become……

Beautiful wild brown trout head in a rubber net from the lower Owens River

Wild Trout art of the Lower Owens River

large rainbow trout in a net

Mammoth Lakes Fly Fishing : Upper Owens River – 12.7.17

December 7, 2017
, Fishing Reports

The fly fishing below Mammoth Lakes CA on the Upper Owens river in winter is a special place for any serious fly angler. Mainly because it becomes large trout hunters dream with the stream of over-sized trout swimming up from Crowley lake! Flows are low and water varies between very clear and slightly murky, both presenting different presentation situations. As forecasted the Trout are throughout the Upper Owens system, holding in the deepest pools and darkest runs, corners, and banks. Most part of the mighty Upper O’ are fishing well. It is up to each angler to choose the correct water to fish and take into account how much time to spend in each piece he chooses. All sorts of semi salmon/steelhead reminiscent flies are taking fish. Various midge variations, and Pheasant tails/ soft hackles are other ideas to sink down in the Upper. Streamers patterns fished deep ? of course! Fish these whenever you want in any size. Just get them deep! 

fishing guide helps client land a large trout on the Upper Owens River

STM guide S. Cline helps a client achieve his dream!

 

Upper Owens Report : Mammoth Lakes Fly Fishing – 7.26.17

July 26, 2017
Fishing Reports

The Upper Owens is a beautiful river to fish is these late days of July. Grass is green, flowers remain, and the river is down to a very nice fishable level! The huge fish the make their way up river in the colder months have returned to Crowley and the resident fish of the river remain. With the water levels abundant grasshoppers abound everywhere and when presented correctly can provide some reasonably violent eats against the opposite deep banks.  Attractor nymphs and larger offerings are getting eaten. Fish are not giving themselves away here. The Fly Angler must cover water to have success in the Upper Owens right now. Above the Hot Creek confluence the water is a bit lower and different colour, you might also find less people. Below Hot Creek water is higher and stained a reddish tea colour. Both are fishable and we have had equal success below and above.

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