Jordan Romney Reports on 9.12.19

The creek is currently running out of 400cfs. That is still a bit high for the time of year but that has more to do with the hot weather. Look for the flows to start dropping a bit in the next few days to weeks. It’s still fishing pretty well, last weeks trips out there produced some solid hookups and a few quality fish. There is a good grab on bwo nymphs size 18 or 20. I really like slim profile with out a lot of color or flash. They tend to get grabbed more then the normal pheasant tails or generic. I am also not a believer in gold bead head flies on the creek. The fish see so many of them that they are more of a deterrent then an attractor. The midge bite is on too, look past the zebra midge. Do some research on patterns to either tie up or head to Lost Coast Outfitters

Don’t be afraid do drown a dry fly midge. Those are usually my “go to” patterns. Make sure to bring some cash with you if you plan to park at the main access. The iron rangers are back out and they cost $10 for the day. You can get an annual pass if you plan on fishing there regularly. The pressure will start to increase as the flows start to drop. Keep an open mind and communicate with other anglers while out there. Ask before you tread if you see someone fishing ahead of you.

Bryce Tedford Reports on 9.12.19

Prime Striper fishing is just around the corner. September 15-December 15 is typically very, very good! Striper fishing is beginning to pickup, schools of smaller fish are throughout the Delta feeding on Threadfin Shad. I like to use crease flies on top when I find feeding schools of fish, super fun on light rods! In addition, some Large Stripers can be found here & there if you are willing to work for them. For large Striper hunting I like Intermediate or type 3 lines with Steve Adachi style Rattle Clouser type flies. Topwater Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass has begun to slow down. You can still get a good bite but warm evenings are your best bet. 

East Walker

The East Walker is cruising along at 265 cfs and the water temps are dropping with the frigid nights. Game on!

West Walker

San Joaquin

Hot Creek

The creek is flowing through the canyon at 60 cfs. Target your casts to the feeding lanes between the weeds and rocks, plus the overhanging grasses along the margins. There are some nice fish lying in ambush for hoppers falling into the creek. You may not see fish, but they are there. Try a dry-dropper setup with a hopper above and midges or caddis below.

The flows are 111 cfs but these are readings taken high in the river system. Once Hot Creek dumps into the mid-section the flows are closer to over 170 cfs. More and more trout are pushing up into the river system from the reservoir. There are some really nice fish to be had with hoppers and Chernobyl ants. The grasshopper infestation is still happening but as the mornings temps are in the 30’s, I cannot imagine the hoppers to be around much longer.

Lower Owens River

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is doing a flushing / scouring purge of the Gorge and the lower river, mandated by Fish and Wildlife. The Lower Owens flows have been bumped up to above 650 cfs. I would avoid these sections of the river until normal flows are reestablished. These high flows will be good for the health of the river down the line as it cleans out years of sediment and debris.

Jim Stimson reports on 8.29.2019

Here it is, the Dog Days of Summer…… September is just around the corner. Most of the families | tourists visiting the area have gone home for the summer. Normally crowded water such as the Upper Owens River or Hot Creek has thinned out. There is plenty of breathing room AND, fishing is pretty good. Speaking of Hot Creek and the Upper O, if you like hucking large dry flies like hoppers, now is the time. The afternoons are particularly rewarding with the rainbows and browns gorging themselves on the bounty. The hoppers have been almost Biblical in numbers….. it is REALLY fun.

it is that time of year to carry an important and often overlooked piece of equipment to the river, a thermometer. The tailwater fisheries, in particular the East Walker, are getting on the warm side. I tend to draw the line at 68º F….. anything warmer is putting too much stress on the trout. The mortality rates start sky rocketing when the water is too warm as they cannot get as much oxygen as they need to recover. Even though a trout seems to swim away fine, it does not mean that they don’t “belly up” sometime after their release.

East Walker

The temps are starting to get too high, even in the morning, so err on the side of respect for the fishery and trout. Give the fish a break for a few weeks until the water cools off. Thanks.

West Walker

The river has dropped considerably thru the canyon and is at 122 cfs. Try patterns like San Juans or Prince Nymphs, big attractors, and fish the margins. Dry droppers work really well at these flows.

San Joaquin

The road is open and the flows are 86. If you poke around, you can find lots of soft water stacked with trout. Bring your waders as the water temperatures are frigid. The San Joaquin has been a great place to fish during the hot days.

Hot Creek

The creek is flowing through the canyon at 68 cfs. Target your casts to the feeding lanes between the weeds and rocks, plus the overhanging grasses along the margins. There are some nice fish lying in ambush for hoppers falling into the creek. You may not see fish, but they are there. Try a dry-dropper setup with a hopper above and midges or caddis below.

Upper Owens River

The flows are 111 cfs but these are readings taken high in the river system. Once Hot Creek dumps into the mid-section the flows are closer to over 180 cfs. The better fishing has been above the confluence where the water has better clarity. More and more trout are spreading out throughout the river system. You may see the odd cutthroat here and there leftover form their spawn but for the most part, the trout have left to head downstream to the reservoir, leaving rainbows and browns for the summer months. Hoppers are invading the river system and the trout are loving them. Hoppers, hoppers, and more hoppers….

Lower Owens River

The Lower Owens flows have been bumped up to above 542 cfs. This is on the high side for this section of the river so exercise some caution when you fish. You can easily go for am impromptu swim and end up flushed downstream if you are not careful. Most trout are in that 10-12” range but if you poke around and get lucky, you can hook into some browns in the 15-16” category. There are some healthy midge and mayfly hatches throughout the day. You can find nice dry fly action along the foam lines and quiet water in the morning and evenings. Midges, tricos, mayflies and caddis are all working.

Matt "Gilligan" Koles Reports on 8.29.2019

Last big weekend of the summer on the Truckee River.

After this weekend, and after the burners leave, we’ll have the place to ourselves for awhile. Burners, ugh.

Pretty warm out still in the afternoons, and looking like that for the next week. Typical late summer weather pattern for us. Cool too cold at night, and hot in the afternoons. Hirschdale is less than 15 miles from Nevada, and it gets hot later in the day. If you go fish anywhere in the canyons, you get a nasty downslope wind early, and you better dress accordingly.

Good fishing mid-morning all over the river. Flows are pretty great, and the fish are chowing on big golden, or nocturnal stones, and molting crayfish. Not on top, down on bottom. Caddis are still out, but less bugs now than a few months ago. I’d fish something big and small. Good to get the streamers rolling again. It’s still too early for good streamer fishing, but if you get out early you’ll get a few whacks on sculpin and crayfish colors.