Eastern Sierra Fishing Report 11/2/21

 

Crowley Lake is season is now over for boat fishing, but the lake continues to stay open for shore and float tube fishing until November 15th. Some large and hungry trout can still be caught in the coming weeks. Fish are now starting to move into the Upper Owens River for their fall spawn. This includes browns and rainbows. Hot Creek continues to fish well and with milder weather in the forecast, we can expect some good hatches with surface feeding fish. The Lower Owens River is in prime conditions with perfect flows for drift boating, and fishing has been good. East Walker River will remain open through mid-November but flows are very low.


Hot Creek’s browns and rainbow trout are really showing some stunning fall colors. The majority of the bite is occurring below the surface but some milder weather this week will have surface activity as well. Smaller nymphs and egg patterns. San Juan Worms, #18-20 Flashback Pheasant tails, Bead Poxyback Brassie, Serendipity Red and Black, and Tangerine Opaque and Flamingo Otter Eggs are doing the trick.

The Upper Owens River fish are moving in daily with some standout brown and rainbow trout. You will have to cover some water to get into these fish as they are scattered and moving quickly in the river now. Egg patterns (all of our Otter Egg colors), #14-18 Light and Dark Assassins, #14 – 18 Flashback Pheasant Tails, midges, and squirmy worms and San Juan Worms in Red and Brown will work well now and through the winter months.

Lower Owens River flows now down to 90 cfs and we have started our drift boat trips here. There have been some trico, PMD, and BWO hatches occurring late morning and the streamer bite has been really good. Smaller nymphs in the Wild Trout sections have also got the fish stirred up. Water is getting clear, so careful not to spook the fish with your fly line or presence.

Pyramid Lake the cutthroat are now taking their attention away from the bait balls and slowly making their feeding zones closer to the shoreline. Look for more fish to move in here as the fall and winter goes on. Larger nymphs like Pheasant Tails, Midge patterns, and streamers are doing well and bringing some nice fish to the net. Most of our November is booked, but we will resume trips by boat here starting in March and going through to May.

A lady angler holding a nice cutthroat trout in a boat on a lake.

A brown trout in spawn colors from Hot Creek.

A fly fisherman on a lake in a boat holding a behemoth cutthroat trout.

Seth guided Breanne to this nice rainbow trout on the Lower Owens River.

A couple of fly fishermen holding a pair of trout on a lake.

Rob fished with Seth on the Lower Owens and caught lots of rainbow and brown trout while a praying mantis spectator took a rest on the net.

A smiling fly fisherman holding a cutthroat trout on a lake in a boat.

A beautiful brown trout from the Lower Owens River.

A couple of fly fishermen holding a pair of trout on a lake.

Perfect wading flows on the Lower Owens.

A couple of fly fishermen holding a pair of trout on a lake.

Beautiful fall weather on the drift boat.

A fly fisherman on a lake in a boat holding a behemoth cutthroat trout.

The Lower Owens clarity is very good right now.

A smiling fly fisherman holding a brown trout on a lake in a boat.

Devin got John on some nice ones like this rainbow trout on the Lower Owens River.

An angler holding a giant cutthroat trout on a lake in a boat.

John with another nice one while fishing with Devin.

A smiling fly fisherman holding a cutthroat trout on a lake in a boat.

Hans got Bill on some huge cutthroat trout from Pyramid Lake.

A couple of fly fishermen holding a pair of trout on a lake.

Chris and Backus slayed the monster cutthroat trout at Pyramid Lake with Hans.

An angler holding a giant cutthroat trout on a lake in a boat.

Kip slayed the cutthroat on Pyramid Lake with Hans.

A fly fisherman on a lake in a boat holding a behemoth cutthroat trout.

Kent stuck some real brutes while fishing with Hans on Pyramid Lake.



Here are our flies which are working on the Upper and Lower Owens River, Crowley Lake, Hot Creek, and East Walker in addition to the above patterns listed in our report:

SD Chironomidge #16, Para Midge #20, 22, Puff O’ Smoke #16, Broken Back Copper Tiger Midge #18, 20; Assassin Light #18; Assassin Dark #18; Crystal Hi-Vis Parachute Blue Wing Olive #18; Crystal Tiger Midge Long #18, 20; Crystal Midge Pupa Copper #18, 20; Gillie Chironomid Pupa Dark and Light #18, 20, 22,Otter Eggs in all colors, Bead Head San Juan Worm Red And Brown #14, 16; Squirmy Worm Tungsten purple, pink, and red; Parallel Assassin Light #14-16, Parallel Assassin Dark #16; Loeberg Mallard Silver Badger; Spruce a Bu Dark and Light

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