Jim Stimson reports on 7.15.15

The thunderstorms and weather instability have cleared out for now and we are fishing under a dome of blue skies. Bring sunscreen, shorts, and flip flops. Enjoy.

San Joaquin

The road to Devil’s Postpile is open. If you enjoy fishing in a pristine wilderness setting, then the San Joaquin is for you. There will be clusters of visitors heading to Rainbow Falls or...

Jim Stimson Reports on 7.8.15

Thunderstorms, dramatic skies, and intense pockets of rain have been gracing the Sierra the past week. It looks like an additional week of showers until the weather begins to dry out. Beware of the afternoon buildup and the charged air. Remember that your fly rod not only catches fish but also conducts electricity, especially if you are standing in water. Storm cells...

Jim Stimson Report on 7/1/15:

The Sierra is falling into another cycle of thunderstorms and dramatic skies. Beware of the afternoon buildup and the charged air. Remember that your fly rod not only catches fish but also conducts electricity, especially if you are standing in water. Storm cells pass quickly… be prudent. Head to your car and wait out the lightning. Get a snack, crack open a Sierra...

Jim Stimson Reports on 6.24.2015

So there we were on the San Joaquin, casting carefully and methodically into a set of cascades, watching intently as our mayfly patterns drifted through the seams. The rainbows and browns were stacked along these tail outs and we hooked several nice fish. The sun was warm and the water felt great as we wet waded across the river. There had not been a soul on the...

Jim Stimson Reports on 6/16/2015

Here’s a prudent tip: add a thermometer to your fishing gear, and use it. During the summer months as the sun bakes the water, the temps start climbing. As the water warms, there is less dissolved oxygen in the river system. Have you ever wondered why more fish can be found in the riffles on a hot day? They are starving for oxygen and can find it in the agitated,...

There’s gold in them thar hills…..see photo. I made a quick trip into the backcountry for goldens. I had several grabs but only one solid hookup. There was a nice calibaetis hatch going on and I got some grabs on the surface with dries via a hackle stacker. I finally got my fish slowly stripping in a Bird’s Nest. While we fished it spit snow off and on the entire day. The point being, be prepared...

Jim Stimson Reports:
The thermometer and barometer are on the rise, June looks to be a great month for fishing. Memorial Weekend was fantastic fishing. Where else can you catch rainbows, browns, and cuttys on the same stream? Most of the backcountry lakes below 11 grand are ice free. The fish are hungry perhaps a lethargic with the colder water temperatures. They are readily taking nymphs down...

Jim Stimson, Jim Stimson Fly Fishing 

All of the trans-Sierra passes have reopened, but stay tuned, May has been an unsettled month for weather, the wettest May recorded in Bishop, ever…. 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
The thermometer and barometer are on the rise, June...

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...

Jim Stimson, Jim Stimson Fly Fishing

More unsettled weather is on tap for mid-May. All of the passes have closed in anticipation of snow this week. Be prepared if you are traveling.

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. Try small pheasant tails,...