Here’s your Eastern Sierra Fishing Report 4-11-24. Spring like weather has finally arrived in the eastern sierra this week. With cold temperatures and some late winter storms lingering around the past week; the transition to spring is finally happening. Crowley Lake is full to the brim and the LADWP has started releasing water. The flows on the Lower Owens River will continue to rise from this point on. As of this report the flows are at 175 cfs and the river is still fishable. The browns and rainbows have been on the chew here and the mayfly hatch in the afternoons has been going strong. Hot Creek has been fishing very well in both sections. Some good size browns have been on the chew along with some decent rainbows. The Upper Owens River is trying to keep its grip on all but the last few larger rainbows from Crowley Lake. The cutthroat trout should be moving into the rivers and creeks soon. There was a meeting with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and some good discussion among locals and the department on management plans for the region. It looks like things are starting to move in a positive direction for the trophy still waters like Crowley and Bridgeport Reservoir, and better management of the numerous rivers, creeks and lakes in the area. Eagle Lake is primed for the season with good numbers of fish in Pine Creek and a good amount of water again.
Upper Owens River flows are steady at 73 cfs. Most of the larger model fish are back in the lake. The cutthroat trout should be making their way into the river soon. School sized and resident wild trout are feeding on smaller nymphs in the morning and early afternoons. Once the BWO mayfly hatch starts around 12 – 2pm most days, switching over to dry flies will get you into the fish. The river is accessible in all locations and road conditions are good in most areas. 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.The canyon and interpretive site have both been producing good sized browns and rainbows. The mayfly hatch is also present here, and the afternoon dry fly action can be phenomenal. Target the weed channels and undercut banks in the mornings and late evenings. When the fish switch to surface action, throw on a #18 BWO pattern and have some fun. #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 bumped up to the 173 cfs and the drift boat sections have been fishing great. There will be a major increase here very soon, but in the meantime we are enjoying the good drift boat fishing. Fishing has been very good through most of the Wild Trout area as well. The BWO hatch has been coming off strong on most days typically around 12:30 to 2 pm. Most of the fish we are catching are in the deepest pools with a few along the deeper undercut banks. The softer and slower water has been drawing most of the fish to hold here. Streamer patterns from the drift boat 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 in the drift sections and more of a mid-size grade of fish in the wading sections.
Thanks for reading our Eastern Sierra Fishing Report 4-11-24.
Travis fished with Doug R. and bagged this nice rainbow trout on the Lower Owens River.
Andy fished with Doug R. and got this nice rainbow trout on the Lower Owens River.
Nathan bested this nice rainbow trout while fishing with Doug R. on the Lower Owens River.
Traeger got this rainbow while fishing with Doug R. on the Lower Owens River.
Kyle and family display a couple of rainbows from the Lower Owens River while fishing with Doug R.
Vicky got some nice rainbows while fishing with Doug R on the Lower Owens River.
Tyler displays a nice one from the Lower Owens River while fishing with Two Bug Doug.
Rod had a great morning on the Lower Owens River while fishing with Doug R.
Tyler with another nice rainbow trout from the Upper Owens River with Doug Dolan as his guide.
Jime got into some good ones like this large Upper Owens River rainbow trout while fishing with Two Bug Doug.
Todd and Ken show off a pair of sweet trout ( brown and rainbow trout ) from the Upper Owens River while fishing with Doug R.
Ken fished with Doug R. and bagged this huge rainbow trout on the Upper Owens River.
Andy fished with Doug R. and got this nice rainbow trout on the Lower Owens River.
Chris bested this nice rainbow trout while fishing with Two Bug Doug on the Upper Owens River.
Check out this awesome rainbow trout diplayed by Gino who fished with Two Bug Doug on the Upper Owens River.
Gino displays another nice rainbow on the Upper Owens River.
Thanks for reading our Eastern Sierra Fishing Report 4-11-24.