Eastern Sierra Fly Fishing Report
Eastern Sierra Fly Fishing Report
Happy New Year to everybody out there! I hope 2019 brings new snow, lots of fish, and plenty of smiles. Tight lines and let us keep some sanity in this crazy world.
We’ve been under an umbrella of high-pressure weather for weeks now but it looks like we may be getting a series of storm systems rolling in this weekend. We need the snow!
Fishing, in general, has been on the slow side. The fish are in there but they are very lethargic. Unless you put it onto their snouts, they tend to just watch your presentation drift by. So my hint? Be patient and persistent, keep grinding away on ‘em and be thorough. Make sure you cover the water before you move onto the next hole.
As always, be careful driving around on the Upper Owens. Currently, with the cold temperatures and the lack of moisture, most of the roads are passable with a high clearance vehicle. Err on the side of caution. After these next series of storms sweep through, all bets are off. Stay tuned for next weeks report.
Cheers!
East Walker
The flows are currently at about 25 cfs. This is pretty bony water and will continue at these levels throughout the winter. Personally, I am going to wait until the irrigation district bumps up the flows again before I fish in the North County. That said, expect the trout to be more lethargic and hanging out in the deeper pools and runs. They are sitting ducks now and super spooky with the low, clear water.
Hot Creek
The creek is flowing through the canyon at 37 cfs. Target your casts to the feeding lanes between the grasses and rocks. You may not see fish, but they are there. Try a dry-dropper setup with a caddis or mayfly pattern above and a midge or Hot Creek caddis below.
Upper Owens River
The Upper O is fishing on the slow side. The flows are at 86 cfs but these are readings taken high in the river system. Once Hot Creek dumps into the mid-section the flows are closer to about 120 cfs. More and more trout are spreading out throughout the river system. If you get a hookup, the fish is usually in the 18-22” range, and fat. Try red san juans with egg patterns dropped from the hook bend.
Lower Owens River
The Lower Owens flows have come down and now sits at 90 cfs. There are some healthy midge and mayfly hatches throughout the day. I had my best success with generic fly patterns like a hare’s ear or Bird’s nest. Enjoy!
Jim Stimson Fly Fishing142 Larkspur LaneCrowley Lake, CA 93546760.209.4300 (cell)
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