The best access to this area is by taking Hwy. 395, near the Mammoth Lakes area, then turning east on Benton Crossing Road.  There is a little green church on the east side of the road.  Convict Creek runs close by here.  If you are coming from the south, be on the look out for the turn-off after you pass up Crowley Lake and the Cal-trans sub station.  If you are coming from the north you will pass the Mammoth Lakes airport on your east or left side.  Turn here and you will continue until you cross a bridge at the Owens River, it's about 5 miles.  Take the first dirt road turn-off, north, or left, past the bridge, and continue along this road until you come to a series of gates.  The dirt road, (it is not 4 wheel drive, but I would NOT suggest low ground clearance vehicles), parallels the river for the most part for several miles.

This area upstream from the bridge is under special regulations, only BARBLESS artificial flies and lures may be used.   This section is currently open year round .   There are special seasonal closures in the section below the Benton Bridge during the regular season, and this area is not open to year round fishing currently so check the regs carefully here before you fish!

There are many turn-outs leading to the river along this dirt road,  and each area has its own unique features.  I prefer the upper regions at the very end of the road.  Here the road ends at a small parking area near an irrigation canal and a fence crosses the river, letting you know that private waters lie upstream.

A barbed wire fence spans both sides of the river, there are very few entry points, but enough to allow good access.  This fence was erected in large part, with help by Trout Unlimited, and Cal Trout, to keep cattle out of the watershed, thus improving habitat.

You will find deep undercut banks, perfect for pulling a streamer along side and large deep pools that need careful approach.  You must properly weight nymphs to get the fly down to the big resident and migrant spawning trout that inhabit this area.

The water here is very clean most of the season except for a brief run-off period.  Careful and methodical approaches are needed if you wish to fool these fish.  The spring spawn, which runs from April until early June and the fall run, which can start in September and run through the closing at the end of October, are the best times to fish this area.  There are resident fish here year round and good dry fly action can be found during the mid-summer months, but you will encounter many more opportunities during the spawning periods.  These fish migrate upstream from Crowley Lake during these periods.

A variety of patterns work well here.  Hare's ear and caddis imitations work well under a San Juan Worm and strike indicator.  Roe patterns during spawning periods will produce also.  One of my favorite methods of fishing this area is pulling a streamer under the cut banks.  Keep your rod tip under water along the deep side of the river and hang on!  2X and 3X tippet will get bit when tugging the streamers.

This is a beautiful small river, in a panoramic valley that can be highly productive.  It is a must do if you are in the Eastern Sierra.