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Eastern Sierra Fishing Report 4/22/25

| April 22, 2025
A storm cell moving in on the Upper Owens River near Mammoth Lakes, CA

Here’s your Eastern Sierra Fishing Report for 4-22-25. With opening day less than a week away, conditions are looking prime for most areas. Opening day for the general trout season falls on April 26th this year. We have been experiencing the occasional weather front coming through, bringing a few breezy or windy days and occasional rain showers. The forecast is calling for a cool down by this weekend, with a slight chance of snow in the higher elevations. Snow removal at the Mammoth Lakes Basin is off to an earlier than usual start this year. The road is scheduled for opening to foot and bike traffic by Friday. There is no date for vehicular access currently. You can check out which campgrounds will be open here. Crowley Lake will have lots of water once again at the start of the season, and we can expect the Lower Owens River flows to rise, once the LADWP starts releasing water from the lake. The Upper Owens River has been decent for smaller resident browns and rainbows, but there have been a few standout fish caught. The cutthroat trout should be arriving on the scene here soon. Hot Creek has been fishing very well in the mid to late mornings, as the fish have transitioned to spring mode and move extremely shallow to feed in both the Interpretive and Canyon sections. The Lower Owens River has had some flow increases and decreases by about 30 cfs. Water is off color, but a little more clarity can be found in the wild trout section. If you fish Crowley Lake, the Crowley Lake Fish Challenge is happening April 26th – June 29th. This is a free event that gathers information on your fish catches all from the ease of your cell phone through an app. It will get important data to the right people for helping to manage Crowley’s fish population. Here’s a link from my previous post with more information.

Rivers: Sierra Fishing Report

Upper Owens River still has a few of the larger rainbow trout stragglers hanging out. The majority of the trophy rainbows are back in the lake or far down river in the closed section. The cutthroat trout should start their migration up river in the coming days and weeks. The resident rainbows and browns, for now, have the river back to themselves. Pheasant Tails in #14-16, egg patterns, midges, leeches, and worm patterns (all variations) have been working well. Keep the nymphs in the #16 – 20 range. In the dry fly area, go with our Hi-Viz BWO’s #18 -20, Elk Caddis #16 -20, Stimulator #16 – 18, and Griffith’s Gnat #20.

Lower Owens River flows have been fluctuating over the last couple of weeks but are sitting around 100 cfs. Wading is still possible at these levels and these lower flows help concentrate the fish. Small nymphs in the Wild Trout Section have been fooling fish throughout the river, and the afternoon mayfly hatch has been a blast. Streamers launched from the drift boat have been picking up a good mix of rainbows and browns anywhere from 10 – 18″. Water clarity has been off color but the higher up river you go, the clearer it will get. The Gorge has been a good option for numbers.

Creeks: Sierra Fishing Report

Hot Creek’s access is completely open. Surface action has been really fun here as the fish move into the shallows and feed heavily on midges mid morning. A properly presented Griffith’s Gnat #22-24 will get instant takes. You have to be lighting fast with your reaction to the take, but very gentle when setting the hook. Some bigger rainbows and browns are hanging a little deeper and further out of view on the opposite banks. Both sections of the creek are fishing well. 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.

Thanks for reading our Eastern Sierra Fishing Report 4-22-25.

Check out our recent client catches:

A fly fisherman holding a giant rainbow trout on Hot Creek.

Mike fished with Two Bug Doug on Hot Creek and tied into this awesome rainbow trout.

A smiling pair fly fisherman holding a large rainbow trout on the Upper Owens River near Mammoth Lakes, CA.

Chris got this nice rainbow trout while fishing with Two Bug Doug on the Upper Owens River.

A smiling fly fisherman holding a larger rainbow trout on the Upper Owens River near Mammoth Lakes, CA.

John fished with Doug R. on the Upper Owens River and bested this hefty rainbow trout.

A smiling fly fishermen holding a rainbow trout on the Upper Owens River near Mammoth Lakes, CA.

Dave fished with Doug R. and scored some pretty nice rainbow trout on the Upper Owens River.

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Here are our flies which are working on the Upper Owens, Lower Owens River, East Walker River and Hot Creek in addition to the above patterns listed in our Eastern Sierra Fishing Report 4-22-25:

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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