Eastern Sierra Fly Fishing Report

Jarett Coons reports on January 18th, 2025

SMTGS Report for Owens River:

After an unusually warm December, the nights have
finally gotten cold. Water temps on most our streams
are hovering around 40F*. No need to get out early,
most surface action gets going late morning to
midday. The best advice for this time of year is to get
it on the bottom and watch for VERY subtle takes.

Upper Owens- 89 cfs:

The pressure has eased a bit up here as the holiday
crowds have gone. Fish have been a little picky and
aren’t being fooled as easily with the egg and bacon
combo. Try nymphing with small attractors and
midge patterns. Look for surface activity around
midday on days that get warm enough. Make sure
you are barbless above Benton Crossing
Bridge! It gets cold up here, be ready to crack ice
out of your guides.

Patterns:
Parachute Adams #18-24, Parachute Midge
Emerger #20-24, San Juan Worms #14-12 
Orange, light pink, champagne egg patterns #12-
16
Black and olive Tiger Midge/ Zebra Midge #18-22
Jig Flashback Hares Ears #14-18
Mercer's Micro May #16-18

Lower Owens-75 cfs:

It’s a good time for dry flies on the Lower O. The
midge hatches get going late morning and the big
baetis should start showing up any day. Hatches
aren’t always river wide and can be isolated to
certain places, so if you don’t see them at hatch time,
you may have to go hunt. Fish are hugging tight to
bottom and cover. It’s not uncommon for them to
have leeches attached this time of year. So again,
get it down and watch for subtle takes. The nymph
bite has been a little tricky, try stripping a streamer if
you get frustrated.

Patterns:
Parachute Adams #18-24, Parachute Midge,
Emerger #20-24, Olive Sparkle Dun #16-18, Last Chance Cripple #16-18
BWO Dun #16-18, E/C Caddis #16-18
Black and olive Tiger Midge/ Zebra Midge #18-22, Jig Flashback Hares Ears #14-18
Grey-olive Soft Hackles #18-22, Mercer's Micro May #16-18
Olive, black, white Wooley Bugger Variations #10-6