Here’s your Eastern Sierra Fishing Report 1-4-24. Happy New Year to all you fishermen and women. We are looking forward to a great 2024 season of fishing. The first snow has now fallen on the Upper Owens River and Hot Creek. This one wasn’t measured in feet, but it is a good start to hopefully more storms to come. The Upper Owens River received a couple of inches of snow, while Mammoth and June Lake saw closer to 6 -8″.
Another storm is on the schedule for this weekend which should bring a bit more snow than the last one. We would like to see this weather pattern continue for the winter. Access is still good by vehicle for Hot Creek and the Upper Owens and the holiday crowds have made the exodus back home. The Lower Owens River has returned to fishable levels again. Still high for wading at 230 cfs, but we are once again floating the river with our drift boats. Good fishing has been taking place in all 3 of these locations.
Upper Owens River flows still holding at 75 cfs. The section below the bridge is now closed to fishing. You can fish above the Benton Crossing Bridge. Most of the deeper pools and undercut banks are holding trout. You may have to cover some water though as the fish seem to be moving every few days to weeks. Snow has finally hit the river, but vehicle access is still good. This next storm will be colder and may bring some higher snow amounts to the river. The river looks to be in great shape and every fish we have been getting looks strong and healthy. We will be breaking out the snowmobiles if needed soon. Best nymphs have been Pheasant Tails in sized #16 -18, Copper Johns, Bead Prince Nymphs, Hare’s Ears, SD Crawlers in Red, #16 San Juan Worms, and various midges in #14 -20..
Hot Creek is fishing very well in both sections. Snow has hit the ground here but driving conditions are still great. There is less pressure from other anglers here, so it’s a great place to get away from people at times and get after some nice fish. The fish are responding very well to small midges in the mornings and afternoons and the BWO mayflies have been showing up on the milder weather days. #18-22 Pheasant tails, midges, assassins, caddis pupa, and serendipity have been getting the job done. The canyon section will be less pressured then the Interpretive Site. SJ worms #14 – 16, #18 Blood Midge, #18 – 20 Tungsten Zebra, #20 Bead Prince Nymph Tungsten, Broken Black and Blue Midge, #18 -20 Crystal Caddis Larva Green Black, #18 – 20 Crystal Copper Zebra Midge, #18 Flashback Hare’s Ear, #22 -24 Griffith’s Gnat, #20 Serendipity Black.
Lower Owens River flows have come down to the 250 cfs mark and we are back to fishing here from the drift boats. Most of the fish we are catching are in the deepest pools with a few along the deeper undercut banks. Streamer patterns have been working the best and then switching over to dry flies mid-day allows us to take advantage of the surface action. The fish we have been catching are ranging from 8 – 21″ in length.
Thanks for reading our Eastern Sierra Fishing Report 1-4-24.
Kyle fished with Two Bug Doug and bagged this huge rainbow trout on the Upper Owens River.
Carver fished with Doug R. and got this nice rainbow trout on the Upper Owens River.
Levi with another nice rainbow trout while fishing with Doug R.
Mike fished with Doug R. and got this great rainbow trout from the Upper Owens River.
Michael scored this bright and colorful rainbow trout fishing with Doug R. on the Upper Owens River.
Garrett fished with Doug R. for this colorful rainbow trout on the Upper Owens River.
Garrett with another nice Upper Owens River rainbow trout.
Jon fished with Doug Dolan and displays a magnificent rainbow trout from the Upper Owens River.
Justin always scores the nice rainbow trout on the Upper Owens river when he fishes with Doug Dolan.
And Justin with another nice rainbow trout.
Another fine rainbow trout from Justin.
Kevin displays a hefty rainbow trout while fishing with Doug R.
Patrick shows off a nice class rainbow trout from the Upper Owens River while fishing with Doug R. and Matt.
Kyle scored this big time rainbow trout while fishing with Doug Dolan on the Upper Owens.
Thanks for reading our Eastern Sierra Fishing Report 11-6-23.