East Walker River

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Owens River and Hot Creek

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Middle Fork San Joaquin River

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Lakes Basin

These last couple of days have been good and fun with both shore and on the boat fishing as this consistent warm weather is still forecasted for the next week. With George being the most challenging, some really good size trout are being caught, but I repeat You have to be patient and be fishing deeper. And that is the secret which is to try to fish deep. Lure’s are good in the early mornings but try more bait such as inflated nightcrawlers, powerbait, pinched crawlers and mice-tails for all day fishing.

Lures: Thomas Buoyant (Gold/Red ; Firetiger ; Rainbow ; Bleeding frog)

Kastmasters ( Gold/Red ; Firetiger ; Bronze ; Gold/Flash )

Panther Martin ( Gold ; Yellow Spotted ; Red Spotted ; Silver )

The Mook ( Striper Red ; Rainbow ; Dotter )

Super Duper ( Rainbow ; Frog ; Fire/Silver Prism ; Copper )

Bait: Powerbait (Charteuse ;  Flamingo ; Chunky Cheese ; Rainbow )

Micetails ( White Head/Pink Body ; Green Head/Orange Body ; Charteuse )

Gulp Pinched Crawler ( Brown ; Pink )

Jigs: Power Bait Atomic Tubes (Grasshopper ; Cricket )

Sierra Slammers (King Crimson ; Fire Cracker )

Crowley Lake

Fishing in Crowley has been relatively good, with it becoming more technical as water is warming up so if you are planning on using any lures or jigs, try using it in the mornings before it warms up. For trolling try to go deep anywhere between 25 to 30 feet. Brighter colors are a little more effective with the clarity of the water being more murky. Micetails, Inflated Crawlers and Powerbait are great bait.

Lures: Tasmanian Devil ( Frog Patterns ; Bloody Ripper ; Tinker )

Needle Fish ( Cop Car , Frog ; Red Dot Frog ; Rainbow ; Copper ; Nickel Bikini )

Rapala (Rainbow ; Firetiger ; Silver )

Thomas Buoyant (Gold/Red ; Firetiger ; Watermelon ; Bleeding frog ; 

Copper ; Perch ; Rainbow)

Kastmasters ( Gold/Red ; Firetiger ; Gold/Flash ; Gold ; Rainbow)

The Mook ( Striper Red ; Rainbow ; Dotter )

Super Duper ( Rainbow ; Frog ; Fire/Silver Prism ; Copper )

Bait: Powerbait (Charteuse ; Chunky Cheese ; Rainbow ; Corn ; Flamingo )

Micetails ( Any Color )

Gulp Pinched Crawler ( Pink ; Brown ; Yellow )

Jigs: Power Bait Atomic Tubes (Grasshopper ; Cricket ; Dark Green Pearl)

Sierra Slammers (King Crimson)

Convict Lake

One of our favorite places to fish this year was a weird one these last couple of days. Fishing is good but a bit more technical, so best fishing opportunities are in the deeper areas and with leaders between 20 inches to 40 inches. Inflated Nightcrawlers and very stinky powerbait are the way to go and make sure to use some light leader as well between 3-4 lb. Lure fishing was okay but best early in the morning.

Lures: Thomas Buoyant (Gold/Red ; Firetiger ; Watermelon ; Bleeding frog ; Rainbow )

Kastmasters ( Gold/Red ; Firetiger ; Bronze ; Gold/Flash ; Rainbow )

Panther Martin ( Gold ; Yellow Spotted ; Red Spotted ; Silver ; Brown )

The Mook ( Striper Red ; Rainbow ; Dotter )

Super Duper ( Rainbow ; Frog ; Fire/Silver Prism ; Copper )

Bait: Powerbait (Charteuse ; Flamingo ; Chunky Cheese ; Rainbow ;Any of the GULP )

Micetails (White Head/Pink Body ; Green Head/Orange Body ; Pink Head/White)

Gulp Pinched Crawler ( Yellow )

Jigs: Power Bait Atomic Tubes (Grasshopper ; Cricket ; Dark Green Pearl)

Sierra Slammers (King Crimson)

Hot Creek 6/24/26

Summer is here and so are the temperatures. Getting out early to beat the heat will be in your favor. As far as the bug hatches go we are seeing lots of Caddis, Pale Morning Duns, Tricos, and some Yellow Sally Stoneflies. The flows look good at the moment so get it while it’s good. The weeds aren’t too much of an issue yet. 

Fly Recomendations 

Dry Fly: Elk Hair Caddis sz14-20, Elk Hair Skaddis sz16-20, Brooks Hot Creek Caddis sz18-20, Edible Emerger sz16, Snowshoe Caddis sz16-18, YFG’s Fertile Caddis sz18, Upright Organza Trico Spinner sz18, Ez Spot Twin Spinner sz20,

2 Wing Trico Spinner sz20, Sparkle Dun Trico sz20, Para Ext. Body PMD sz16-18, Tilt Wing PMD sz16-18, Yellow Sallie sz14-16, Head Light YL Sallie sz14-16, CDC Spring Hopper Tan sz14-16

Nymphs: Hares Ear Flashback & Natural sz16-18, Caddis Poopah sz16, Pheasant Tail Flashback & Natural sz18-20, Tungsten Psycho May sz18-20, Scud Patterns sz14-18, Midge Patterns sz18-20, Translucent Pupa sz16-18

BH Peacock Nymph sz16

Middle Fork San Joaquin River 

The road is open on certain dates. Mainly weekends, but check here for dates and times https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/inyo/projects/reds-meadow-road-reconstruction

Flows are fluctuating around 150cfs. Fishing this river is a beautiful, but buggy experience! The hatches are amazing but the mosquitoes are not… Bring the bug spray! Golden Stoneflies, Yellow Sally Stoneflies, Caddis, and tons of Mayflys are making their appearance. Don’t be afraid of running a bigger size fly.

Fly Recommendations 

Dry Fly: Elk Hair Caddis sz14-20, Elk Hair Skaddis sz16-20, Double Duck Caddis sz16-18, Galloups Found Link sz16, Tilt Wing Dun Mahogany sz16, Chubby Chernobyl sz14-16, Stimulator Yellow sz12-16, Rubber Leg Stimulator sz10-14, Hairwing Dun Green Drake sz12   

Nymphs: Hares Ear Flashback & Natural sz16-18, Caddis Poopah sz16, Pheasant Tail Flashback & Natural sz14-18, Translucent Pupa sz16-18, Prince Nymph sz14-18,BH Peacock Nymph sz16, Pats Rubberlegs Black/brown-Tan/Brown sz10-12 

Upper Owens River

The Cutthroat Trout are done spawning and the resident fish are starting to bite again. Try not to wade the shallows where the cutthroats may have spawned. Morning and evenings will be best. Be ready to switch your rigging as you go to cover all bases.   

Fly Recommendations 

Dry Fly: Elk Hair Caddis sz14-20, Elk Hair Skaddis sz16-20, Double Duck Caddis sz16-18, Upright Organza Trico Spinner sz18, Ez Spot Twin Spinner sz20

Nymphs: Hares Ear Flashback & Natural sz16-18, Caddis Poopah sz16, Pheasant Tail Flashback & Natural sz18-20, Tungsten Psycho May sz18-20, Midge Patterns sz18-20, San Juan Worms sz14-16, Surreal Egg Lady sz12, GloBug Peach – Salmon Egg sz14, Tung Jig Gummy Worm Brow – Red sz12, 

French Dip sz14-16, BH Mini Leech Olive sz8-10

Lower Owens

With high flows and fluctuating in the higher range there are better options in the area. 

East Walker River

Flows are at 183cfs as of today but have been fluctuating. With the gentle flows the fish are spread out. Water is starting to warm up so start early in the morning or fish more towards the evening. Nymphing has been the most productive technique along with fishing streamers.

Fly Recommendations

Nymphs: Hares Ear Flashback & Natural sz16-18, Caddis Poopah sz16-18, Pheasant Tail Flashback & Natural sz18-20, Tungsten Psycho May sz18-20, Midge Patterns sz18-20, French Dip sz14-16, Tung. Jig Faucii sz16, BH Peacock Nymph sz16, Tung. Jig Perdigon Olive May sz16

Streamers: Sculpzilla Olive, Dali Lama

Crowley Lake

With satisfying results Crowley has been doing really well if fishing on the boat or Float tube start at 20 feet and working your way to 30 feet depth, recommending trolling and using Nightcrawlers was our main success. Shore Fishing was okay for trout, but very good for perch. Micetails seem to keep having the best results when it comes to bait fishing  for trout and remember to adjust your leader wherever you are at. Mini Jigs are a great option for perch fishing. Don’t forget your bug juice as mosquitoes are coming in hot!

Lures: Tasmanian Devil ( Frog Patterns ; Bloody Ripper ; Tinker )

Needle Fish ( Cop Car , Frog ; Red Dot Frog ; Rainbow ; Copper ; Nickel Bikini )

Rapala (Rainbow ; Firetiger ; Silver )

Thomas Buoyant (Gold/Red ; Firetiger ; Watermelon ; Bleeding frog ; 

Copper ; Perch )

Kastmasters ( Gold/Red ; Firetiger ; Bronze ; Gold/Flash ; Gold )

The Mook ( Striper Red ; Rainbow ; Dotter )

Super Duper ( Rainbow ; Frog ; Fire/Silver Prism ; Copper )

Bait: Powerbait (Charteuse ; Chunky Cheese ; Rainbow ; Corn )

Micetails ( Any Color )

Gulp Pinched Crawler ( Pink ; Brown ; Yellow )

Jigs: Power Bait Atomic Tubes (Grasshopper ; Cricket ; Dark Green Pearl)

Sierra Slammers (King Crimson)

Mammoth Creek & Rock Creek

Water is clear in the creeks, and with the good amount of trout in the water they can easily be spooked so be sure to not scare them off and try to fish them with some distance up the current from where they are. Salmon Eggs, Nightcrawlers, Powerbait and some lures are the way to go and with water flowing pretty nice, it’s hard to beat river fishing before the trees and weeds get in the way.

Lures: Panther Martin ( Gold ; Yellow Spotted Red Spotted ; Hammered        Rainbow ; Silver/Black Regular )

Rooster Tails ( White ; Rainbow ; Frog ; Bleeding Frog )

Bait: Salmon Eggs

PowerBait (Red ; Corn ; Chartreuse ; Lime Green ; Flamingo )

Pinched Nightcrawlers ( Brown ; Pink )

Jigs: Power Bait Atomic Tubes (Grasshopper ; Cricket )

Sierra Slammers (King Crimson ; Fire Cracker )

Hot Creek

After a stormy few days we are finally going to see some warmer temps. 

The bug life is starting to improve and with that so has the dry fly bite. Caddis and Blue Wing Olives have been the bulk of  our hatches. Target the slots between the weed beds. Don’t forget to run a dropper off that dry fly and keep that top bug floating high on the surface. With warmer temps in our forecast flows and water clarity can change, so don’t be afraid to run some nymphs and san juan worms when this occurs.

Fly Recomendations 

Dry Fly: Elk Hair Caddis sz14-20, Elk Hair Skaddis sz16-20, Brooks Hot Creek Caddis sz18-20, Edible Emerger sz16, Para. Blue Wing sz18-20, Para Extended Body BWO sz16-20

Nymphs: Hares Ear Flashback & Natural sz16-18, Caddis Poopah sz16, Pheasant Tail Flashback & Natural sz18-20, Tungsten Psycho May sz18-20, Scud Patterns sz14-18, Midge Patterns sz18-20, San Juan Worms sz14-16, 

BH Peacock Nymph sz16

Middle Fork San Joaquin River 

Not Accessible At The Moment

Upper Owens River

The mosquitos are out! Don’t forget the bug repellent. Besides the flying vampires the scenery is at its peak with freshly snow coated mountain tops. The river is up and the Cutthroat are rounding the corner finishing up their spawn. Nymphing has been our best producer and targeting deeper water so as to not disturb the spawning Cutthroat in the shallows. Those Cutthroat have added another food source to this water so use some egg patterns. We are starting to see hatch activity increase and fish are starting to look up later in the day.

Fly Recommendations 

Dry Fly: Elk Hair Caddis sz14-20, Elk Hair Skaddis sz16-20, Para. Blue Wing sz18-20, Para Extended Body BWO sz16-20

Nymphs: Hares Ear Flashback & Natural sz16-18, Caddis Poopah sz16, Pheasant Tail Flashback & Natural sz18-20, Tungsten Psycho May sz18-20, Midge Patterns sz18-20, San Juan Worms sz14-16, Surreal Egg Lady sz12, GloBug Peach – Salmon Egg sz14, Tung Jig Gummy Worm Brow – Red sz12, 

French Dip sz14-16, BH Mini Leech Olive sz8-10

Lower Owens

With the flows at 424cfs and fluctuating in the higher range there are better options in the area. 

East Walker River

Flows are at 149cfs as of today but have been fluctuating with the weather. With the gentle flows the fish are spread out. Make sure to work the water with a fine tooth comb before moving on. Bug hatches have been amazing, but not much top water action. So using pupa and emerger patterns can sometimes be your ticket to success. Nymphing has been the most productive technique along with fishing streamers.

Fly Recommendations

Nymphs: Hares Ear Flashback & Natural sz16-18, Caddis Poopah sz16-18, Pheasant Tail Flashback & Natural sz18-20, Tungsten Psycho May sz18-20, Midge Patterns sz18-20, San Juan Worms sz14-16, Tung Jig Gummy Worm Brown – Red sz12, French Dip sz14-16, Tung. Jig Faucii sz16, BH Peacock Nymph sz16, Tung. Jig Perdigon Olive May sz16