Merry Fishmas! We are in a period of unsettled weather for the holiday season. The mountains in particular have received a fair amount of snow and the storms keep lining up out in the Pacific. If you are coming to the Sierra to fish, dress warmly. The Upper Owens tends to be cool and blustery but the fishing is getting better by the day. Take your time getting to the river. You can always go...

Jim Stimson Reports on Dec. 12 2015: http://flyfishing.jimstimson.com/

If you are coming to the Sierra to fish, dress warmly. We had two nice storm systems come through the area which dropped a couple feet of snow along the crest. As these frontal bands move off east into the Great Basin, that counter clockwise flow typical of low pressure systems, pulls frigid air down from Canada and spills it...

Jim Stimson Reports on 12.10.2015

Most of the weather models are coming into agreement, the Eastern Sierra by Thursday will be getting pounded by a substantial storm. Even though we are off to a good start to winter, we are still behind the Eight Ball at about 33% of normal precipitation for this time of year. Soooo, bring it on! We will need many wet storms to start erasing four years of drought.

Jim Stimson reports on 11.25.2015

A cold, blustery storm front has arrived in the Eastern Sierra. It is snowing lightly in Crowley Lake and the ski area is reporting over a foot of new snow. Mammoth Lakes will have a very nice holiday season. I spent the last few days cruising around the Reno-Truckee areas prospecting for trout. I managed to land some nice fish up in the mountains but then got...

Jim Stimson Reports on 11.19.2015:

First off, we send our thoughts and condolences to France after the horrific attacks that occurred in Paris. My heart is heavy. I just don’t understand the hatred….. 

Lower Owens River

The flows have been lowered to about 85 cfs. It is easy wading and the river is “grabby” again. The trout are transitioning from summer to winter modes. The water temperatures are...

Jim Stimson Reports on 11.10.2015:

We awoke to some new snow this morning. The roads were a little slick but not too bad. It looks like more snow tonight. The Sierra is starting to look like winter now. The trans-Sierra passes are closed for the season, Tioga, Sonora, and Monitor Passes are done for the season. To make it over here, you will have to go the lower route thru Bakersfield and up or go...

Jim Stimson Reports on 11.4.2015:

The infamous El Niño waddled down through California on Sunday and finally made an appearance in our area on Monday. With these tropical connections, it takes awhile, even at the higher elevations, for all of this moisture to turn to snow. By the time the temperatures had dropped and the clouds cleared, Mammoth Mountain Ski Area reported 12" at the base and 30" at...

Jim Stimston reports on 10.29.2015:

We awoke this morning with a fresh dusting of snow on the high peaks! The weather forecast seems to change by the hour but it looks like we’re in for a period of unsettled conditions for the next week or so. The fall colors are still great along the floor of the Owens Valley but the upper canyons are past their prime as autumn comes to a close and winter begins...

Jim Stimson reports on 10.22.2015

We actually had a wet weekend, with rain, thunder, and lightning. It was nice and soggy in the mountains. The aspen colors up high are hanging in there along the canyon walls of Rock Creek and Bishop Creeks. The cottonwoods in the Owens Valley will most likely peak in color in about a week. This is a great time of year to be fishing the Lower Owens River. The...

Jim Stimson Reports on 10.15.2015

Autumn, without a doubt is the best time of year to visit the Sierra. The colors are at their peak. The canyons are a palette of reds, yellows, and golds. The mornings are crisp, with perhaps a hint of frost on the ground, followed by warm, calm days. Concentric rings, rise forms, dot the surface of the quiet water from the noses of feeding trout. Don’t miss out,...