Eastern Sierra Fly Fishing Report

Jim Stimson, Jim Stimson Fly Fishing

More unsettled weather is on tap for late May. All of the passes have opened for the time being, but stay tuned…. check the latest road and weather reports. Be prepared if you are traveling. Here is a link to the CalTrans site:   http://www.dot.ca.gov/cgi-bin/roads.cgi

Upper Owens River

The flows have stabilized on the Upper Owens and fishing has picked up again. Nice rainbows and cutthroats can be found in the deeper pools throughout the river system. If you see pods of trout (the cutthroats) on their redds, please don’t cast to them and be careful where you wade. Try small pheasant tails, about a sized 18. Make sure you are getting your nymph rigs deep enough. A combination of enough split shot and setting your indicator deep enough will do the trick.

Lower Owens River

The DWP has been ramping up the flows lately. The river is cruising right along at 200 cfs. The lower Owens has been fishing particularly well, mornings to afternoons. It is still fairly easy to navigate around in your waders. The river is forgiving, just make sure every foot placement is solid. Nymphing has been very productive using midges, loop winged emergers, Barr emergers, PT’s, green caddis worms, etc…. just about anything buggy will work if presented well. There have been stoneflies and caddis cruising through as well. Try using a golden stone as an attractor then drop a caddis worm off the hook bend. Huck this combo into the shallower, faster moving water and watch what happens. Voilàl!  Enjoy.  

East Walker

The flows have been pulsing up and down from about 20 cfs to 115 cfs for the last week and a half. Currently the river is running at rock bottom, about 20 cfs. If you can hit the timing right (higher flows), you have a chance at some great fishing. Small baetis patterns are the key….