Here’s your Eastern Sierra Fishing Report for 5-8-26. Opening weekend was a big success for fish catching in all locations of the eastern sierra. While not so nice weather was a concern this year, the daylight hours provided calm wind and great conditions for fishing. Most of the areas accessible lakes produced quality catches for fisherman and creek and river fishing also produced well. Crowley Lake gave up great fishing once again this year and there was no snow to deal with like last year on opening day. Browns, rainbows and cutthroat trout all made a showing in good numbers and good quality. We had a little rainy weather to deal with after the weekend, but high pressure has set it and it is getting warm for the next few days and into the weekend. The midge hatches are good and the fish are responding well. They are deeper this year in the 24′ range. The Upper Owens River has cutthroat trout in now getting ready for the spring spawn. You can find small pods of fish vying for position and taking flies more so out of aggression than hunger. Hot Creek is experiencing some great BWO hatches as is the Lower Owens River. Flows are great in both locations and the fish are very active. The East Walker River has also produced some pretty nice brown and rainbow trout. The mile section is still not loaded with fish, but the ones that are being caught are all of solid quality.
Creeks: Sierra Fishing Report
Hot Creek The fish are transitioning into spring feeding mode now. They are really keying in on buggy patterns like midges, mayflies, scuds, etc. The hatch in the afternoon has really picked up in the last couple of weeks. With the recent warm weather, the bug hatches and the fish taking advantage of the hatches has really turned the corner. There is still run off coming from Mammoth Creek, but it is much slower than in recent years. It’s site fishing in the Interpretive Site and the canyon section is also producing well with less fishing pressure. Small midges and various nymphs are getting the fish’s attention now and #18 BWO’s are picking them off in the afternoon.
Rivers: Sierra Fishing Report
Upper Owens River has started its migration of the cutthroat trout. If you chose to fish to these pre-spawn fish, please avoid fishing to pairs of fish that are already spawning. The pods of fish you’ll see in packs of 3 to 6 that are fighting and with each other are the ones to fish for, or you can always target the deeper pools where they stage prior to moving into the shallows as a safe bet. Please release these fish back to the same area where you hook them so they may go back to what they were doing. Some nicer rainbows are also in the river as well. Any larger nymphs with some color or egg patterns can be effective.
Lower Owens River flows have really stabilized and the BWO hatch is going strong now. Some of the best fishing can be had on dry flies exclusively in the afternoons and some larger models are showing up. Check the undercutts, tailouts, and riffle water in the afternoons. Wading can be tough at 230 cfs, but fishing from the banks has been good.
East Walker River is coming back slowly but surely. There aren’t the normal amount of smaller and mid-sized fish we are used to getting in the miracle mile yet, but there are some really nice big fish here. Below the bridge is also producing some quality fish. Eggs, nymphs and dry flies in the afternoons are getting takes. Fish everything now, as these springtime fish can be anywhere.
Crowley Lake is producing solid numbers and quality now. The algae bloom has started already, but the fish are still on the chew in deep water. Best depths are around 24′ using a sliding or breakaway indicator rig. Sometime the fish are tight to the bottom, and sometimes they are a few feet off. There are still a lot of fish utilizing the shallower sections of the water columns, so streamers can get them good right now as well. #16-18 SD Chironomidge, Blood Midge, Puff O’ Smoke, Copper Tiger, Copper Zebra, and Mud Candy have been very effective along with Light and Dark Assassins #14 and 16. Look for the bite to peak mid-morning and then settle into slow and steady action through the rest of the day.
Chad fished with Two Bug Doug on the Upper Owens River and bested this healthy cutthroat trout.
Brian got into some nice rainbow trout like this one while fishing with Doug R.
Bruce with a nice rainbow trout on Hot Creek with Doug R.
Bruce and Brian hit Crowley Lake on opening day with Doug R.
Nelson hit some great fish with Doug Dolan on the East Walker.
Nelson with another nice fish from the EW with Two Bug.
Nelson with another nice brown on the EW with Two Bug Doug.
Jim also fished with Two Bug Doug on the EW and got some good trout.
Jim with another great EW fish.
