Proud youngster holds up his prize!

The Upper Owens River continues to flow at a tea stained flow of 78cfs at the writing of this report. This is the same flow rate as previous reports and not much has changed flow wise other than a slightly stronger tint to the water. What has changed is the snow levels… although you can not drive in yet, its getting close to the time we can. Standing water is collecting on the fields of the Upper Owens and snow is soft when the sun gets high and warms the area. Arriving up river is easy in the morning while the snow is frozen solid from the night before, as the sun rises it tends to get a little more difficult as it becomes more like a slushee hike around high noon. Fishing remains around the same as my last report as you can see if you’ve been following my videos.  Attractor patterns with SJ worms and sometimes eggs on hook sizes #8-18. Some underwater Midge and Baetis eating has been going on by the big Trout of the Uppers system… Try the smaller  midge/baetis patterns under a larger one on slower days in the clearer water sections. Streamers as usual, when fished correctly will take large trout. Fish them hard and stick with them to have success!

All smiles and memories for this young Fly Angler

https://youtu.be/Uu0ONHkfHZs

Blizzard Bite!

Less potent storms have been pelting the Bishop /Mammoth areas for the last week..  This has changed nothing on the river.  Flows,  Fish and decent water clarity remain stable.  Access is about the same as before.  With the right Temps snow can be very hard in the morning making walking very easy, be careful if it warms up and softens the snow,  this will make walking out an amazing workout to say the least.  But very worth it! For those who do not want to walk.. Call the shop for options.  Attractor nymphs in larger sizes take most of these fish.  Our main fish extractor (very popular with the bug trout) the Tungsten Jig Head Soft Hackle  patterns we have had in the shop for years is still in of our many star flies we use out there.  There’s something very nice about sticking to actual hand tied flies with equal success as the guys throwing rubber egg patterns.  We can fish over the waters where the Anglers have been throwing egg after egg and take fish out right behind them.  So much more satisfying and effective to stick to real flies.  Streamers fished with tenacity will also take fish.  A sinking or floating line will work in this case depending on your streamer technique.  Call us now to get in on this amazing world class fishery.

Andy’s day is made!

Chase T. Holds the Biggest Trout of his life (so far) on the Upper Owens River with STM Fly Fishing.  

Another beauty of a Trout caught by STM Fly Fishing on the Upper Owens River near Mammoth Lakes CA