Eastern Sierra Fly Fishing Report

Mmmm….. October. THE best month of the year. If you enjoy Indian summer and the low angle light streaking across the Eastern Sierra, pack your bags and get here quick. The autumn glow in the cottonwoods, willow, and grasses is spectacular and the fishing ain’t too shabby either. 

Happy October! The river has been running about 125 cfs, which is perfect. It is easy wading and the river is “grabby” again. The drop in flows along with the onset of autumn temperatures has made this a blue ribbon fishery once again. Look around for the quiet water in the evenings if you want to catch the trout looking up for some dry fly action. There are a potpourri of aquatic bugs cruising around. Huck out an elk hair caddis or Kaufmann’s stimmulator and see what happens! One of my favorite mayfly patterns, the hackle stacker, works like a charm. For indicator nymphing, tie on black zebra midges in the mornings then make a bug adjustment as the temperatures rise. The browns have been sucking down BWO’s like there’s no tomorrow. Mercer’s micro mayflies are killer along with small PT’s. Don’t ignore the shallow riffles, there are still lots of nice fish hanging out, sucking oxygenated water, soaking some rays, and eating. Try tying on a caddis pupae, casting across and down, perhaps throwing in a mend, and let your fly swing across the deeper grooves. When you get the grab, hang on! Because the river is so shallow in the riffles, the trout explode off the bottom seeking freedom. There’s no place for them to go except up. Enjoy the aerial displays!