Jarett Coons of Sierra Mountain Trout Guides reports on August 22nd, 2025

Crowley lake

Lake Elev.- 6766.8 Surface Temp. 66+-

It’s a great time to be on Crowley! We’ve made it through the heat of summer and things
should be gradually cooling as we get closer to fall. The lake is fishing great right now
and any day the trout will start to really look to the perch fry. They are showing up, but the trout have not been crushing them yet. There are also a lot of juvenile chubs hanging
close to shore. Trolling a chub and perch fry combo is a great way to get your strip on!
There are still quite a few damsels and Callibaetis hatching.

The lake has been dropping quickly and the bite has moved shallow. We’ve been
hanging in 8-11’, but on occasion have been going out to 18’. Mcgee has been producing fish and the north arm is getting better every day, Hilton has also been holding fish, but has been a little hit or miss. The bite isn’t super early either, 9-11am has been pretty good and afternoons have been great on days the wind is tame.

Flies-
When it comes to the midge it’s all about size, appearance and color. You will want to
have larva and pupa patterns in a variety of color combos. Every day can be a game of
cycling through colors until you find what they want.

Bloodmidge #14-12, Albino Baron #16-18, Black/Red #16-18, Grey/Copper #16-18,
Maroon/Copper #16-18, Balanced Perch, Natural, Dark Olive, Chocolate #16-14, Callibaetis Larva #16-18, Damsel Larva #12-14

Jarret Coons of Sierra Mountain Trout Guide Service Reports on June 25th, 2025

Eastern Sierra Backcountry

Summer is here and that means backcountry fly fishing!! Many places are ice free and
accessible, such as Mosquito Flats and the Little Lakes Valley. The Cottonwood road is
open to Horseshoe Meadows. There is still a lot of snow out there, major drifts still cover
the trail in many places where the sun doesn’t reach. Take extreme care as it is easy to
lose the trail and take a nasty fall down an icy slope.

The fishing has been pretty good, considering how low water temps are. Cool temps
hung on into late spring this year, we have just seen the summer heat arrive. Some
lakes still seem cold, dormant and asleep and others are getting active. We’re seeing
fish near shore taking dries on the flats and off the ledges. Rainbows are still spawning
and are concentrated in the inlet and outlet streams. Take care not to wade through their
redds!

The Eastern Sierra Backcountry is an incredible place with a lifetime of fishing, just
make sure to be smart, be safe and pack it out!!

Flies- Missing Link Caddis #16-18, E/C Caddis #16-18, Adams #14-18, Sierra Bright
Dot #16-18, Royal Wulff #12-16.

CDC Flashback P.T. #16-18, Midge Larva #16-22, egg patterns, Micro May #16-18,
Scuds #14-18, Telico Nymphs #12-18.

Jarrett Coons of Sierra Mountain Trout Guide Service reports on March 28th, 2025

Lower Owens:

Flow-125cfs

Flows have come up, but fishing is still good. We’ve had a week of warmer air temps which will get that water temp up and closer to optimum. Rumor is we will be fishing here into April before summer flows go into effect. The BWO’s are still hatching from about 11:30AM-1 P.M. If you aren’t seeing fish coming up for them, hunt around, they aren’t always eating them everywhere. We’re also seeing more caddis showing up, small buckskin larva, Amiocentrus and Brachycentrus have been found in recent samples. Brachy’s make a square tube case and Amio’s will make a tube that looks like an ice cream cone. Trailing a soft hackle, adult or diving caddis behind your BWO isn’t a bad idea. Look for hatching caddis after the BWO’s around 3pm. This is a super fun hatch!

Streamers in the early AM and evening can be a lot of fun!! Call me to learn more about the complexities of streamer fishing! There is more than one streamer tactic that gets fish on the Lower O!! 760-920-0659

Flies:

Flashback Tiger/ Zebra Midge #22-18, Micro May #18-16, CDC Flashback Pheasant Tail #16- 18, Buckskin Caddis #18-20, CDC Flashback Hares Ear #12-16, Olive and Tan Soft Hackles #16-18, Peeking Caddis #14-18, Kings River Caddis #18-14, Partridge Caddis #14-18, Diving Caddis #18-16, Sparkle Dun BWO #18-16, BWO Dun #16-18, Rusty Spinner #16-18, E/C Caddis #14-18, Woolley Buggers #6-10, Zoo Cougar #6-8, Rabbit Strip Zonker #4-6.

Owens Valley Warmwater:

Bass
We’ve had several days of warming, a couple reached 80F! If it keeps up, look for bass to start their pre-spawn mode, as they get active more places to fish will turn on! It’s a good time of year to look for the places that warm quickly and carry a thermometer. Water temps can vary depending on where you are - look for temps closer to 55 or higher. A slow jig or retrieve seems to be the key. Flies fished under a bobber is also a great way to go.

Flies:

Wooley Bugger Variations #6-8, Baby Fat Minnow #6-8, Bunny Muddler #4-8, SMTGS, Articulated Craw #1/0, Gonga Craw # 4-6.

Carp 
We’ve been getting into them in the ditches. Flows are still low and the sun warms things quickly, getting the water-boatmen and other insects going. Water clarity is pretty bad where we’ve been fishing so take it slow, a fleeting glance or small ripple may be all you get to see of them. Look for muds that look different than the already muddy water and get your fly in the top end. The feeders have been aggressive and are chasing and pouncing on our flies! If it keeps warming, we can get out on the flats!

Flies:
Carp Coachman #8, SMT Jig Carp Damsel #12-14, Water Boatman #12-14, Sparkle Pupa #10-12, B.H. Hares Ear #12-14, Jig Pine Squirrel Leech #12-14.