Eastern Sierra Fishing Report 6/8/25

A view of Crowley Lake from the water looking toward Mammoth Mountain in the Eastern Sierra.

Here’s your Eastern Sierra Fishing Report for 6-8-25. The creeks and rivers are flowing fast now as the snow melts with the warmer days and afternoon thundershowers. Temperatures for the upcoming week will be in the 80’s for Mono County and high 90’s around the Bishop area and south. Once again the creeks and rivers will swell with the incoming snowmelt. Crowley Lake has been holding up rather well for the past week, but as we slide into the month of June, we are seeing the big concentrations of fish start to break up and head to deeper water. The algae has started to bloom on the lake, and a sonar on your boat or float tube is now mandatory if you want to find multiple fish in an area. The Upper Owens River is pretty clear above the Hot Creek confluence and some smaller resident browns and rainbows are taking smaller nymphs above the bridge. Below the bridge there are some hatchery fish to be had, but the water does start to really change in color and flow. It has been very crowded downstream of the Benton Bridge and less crowded above. The Lower Owens River is blown out and flowing at 525 cfs now which makes wading impossible and fishing not very good down here. Bridgeport Reservoir has been fishing well for larger tagged trout and the lake has come up some from the runoff and will continue to this week. The East Walker River has been decent for mid-sized brown and rainbow trout with the occasional larger fish showing up. Some days are better than other though. Flows here are currently at 175 cfs. The San Joaquin River is currently running at 340 cfs but may increase a bit this coming week with the warmer temperatures. The Alpine Lakes in the Mammoth Lakes Basin have been decent pulling streamers from a float tube. The inlets have been best on most of the basin lakes.

Lakes: Sierra Fishing Report

Crowley Lake has been fishing very well for the entire month of May. June can be a hit or miss time on the lake, as some years the fish can go deep and scatter, making for an inconsistent bite. This can slow the fishing down some for a week or so until the damselflies start to emerge and pull the fish shallow. We have been fishing in depths of around 20 ft. and have been having success with our assassin patterns and midges. Our dark and light assassins in sizes #14-16 have been good as an upper fly with our Blood Midge, Mud Candy, Copper Tiger, SD Chironomidge, and Puff O’ Smoke in sizes 16-20 as a bottom fly doing best. The north arm of the lake along with Big Hilton have been producing the best within the last day or so.

Bridgeport Reservoir has plenty of water this year and the warm week ahead will add a bit more. It is fishing similar to Crowley here, but you can catch a few fish in shallow water now in as little as 4′, but you will find more in deeper water around 20-22′. Light and Dark Assassins and midges are best now.

Mammoth Lakes Basin area lakes have been fishing well pulling streamers from a float tube. The Twin Lakes have been fairly consistent with most fish being found around the inlets, and we can expect to see some damselflies showing up here soon which should really spruce up the streamer bite.<\p>

Rivers: Sierra Fishing Report

Upper Owens River has very clear water upstream of the Hot Creek confluence. Below the bridge the water is very clouded. Hatchery fish can be found downstream of the bridge with more of the wild trout being found upstream of the bridge. After the runoff from Hot Creek subsides, the fishing should improve upstream of the bridge. We should start to see juvenile hoppers on the scene soon. In the meantime midges, mayflies and caddis are on the scene.

East Walker River flows have been very good at 172 cfs. Fishing along the mile has been hit or miss. Although some fish have moved back into this section, the fish kill has taken its toll on the numbers here. Fishing is a bit better downstream of the mile currently.

Lower Owens River flows have increased substantially and fishing is very tough now. The LADWP is currently flushing out the Gorge until late June. Access to the Gorge is closed until flows decrease.

Creeks: Sierra Fishing Report

Hot Creek has been flowing big, especially after the late morning when the runoff is peaking. Best times to fish here are early mornings and late in the afternoon. Seek out the slower water and edges, especially the undercut banks, as you will find a lot of fish taking up residence here. Flashy nymphs like flashback PT’s #16-20 and Flashback Hare’s Ears #16-20 will get noticed.

Thanks for reading our Eastern Sierra Fishing Report 6-8-25.

Check out our recent client catches:

A fly fisherman holding a large rainbow trout on Crowley Lake near Mammoth Lakes, CA

Doug fished with Doug R. and landed this stellar rainbow trout.

A fly fisherman holding a large brown trout on Crowley Lake near Mammoth Lakes, CA

John got this nice rainbow trout while fishing with Doug R. on Crowley Lake.

A fly fisherman holding a large rainbow trout on Crowley Lake near Mammoth Lakes, CA

Brian with a large rainbow trout from Crowley Lake while fishing Doug R.

A pair of fly fisherman holding  large rainbow trout on Crowley Lake near Mammoth Lakes, CA

Brian and Jim display an awesome pair of rainbow trout while fishing with Doug R. on Crowley Lake.

A fly fisherman holding a large rainbow trout on Crowley Lake near Mammoth Lakes, CA

Brian with a fine Crowley Lake rainbow trout while fishing with Doug R.

A fly fisherman holding a large rainbow trout on Crowley Lake near Mammoth Lakes, CA

Brian with another great rainbow trout.

A trio of fly fishermen holding 2 rainbow trout and one brown trout in a boat on Crowley Lake near Mammoth Lakes, CA

The Ulibarri family got into some amazing fishing on Crowley Lake with Doug R.

A fly fisherman holding a large cutthroat trout on Crowley Lake near Mammoth Lakes, CA

Some more amazing fish from the Ulibarris.

A fly fisherman holding a large rainbow trout on Crowley Lake near Mammoth Lakes, CA

Brian just kept catching the big rainbow trout.

A fly fisherman holding a large brown trout on Crowley Lake near Mammoth Lakes, CA.

Mike fished with Two Bug Doug and scored this awesome brown trout.

A fly fisherman holding a large brown trout on the East Walker River.

Two Bug Doug took Andy to the East Walker River and they got into some nice brown trout.

A fly fisherman holding a large rainbow trout on Crowley Lake near Mammoth Lakes, CA

Andy fished with Two Bug Doug on Crowley Lake and got this hefty rainbow trout.

A fly fisherman holding a large rainbow trout on Crowley Lake near Mammoth Lakes, CA

Kent fished with Two Bug Doug on Crowley Lake and got this bulky rainbow trout.

A fly fisherman holding a large rainbow trout on Crowley Lake near Mammoth Lakes, CA

Scott and Chiara fished with Doug R. and got this pair of lengthy trout.

A smiling fly fisherman holding a large cutthroat trout on the Crowley Lake near Mammoth Lakes, CA.

Chiara with a fat cutthroat trout.

A fly fisherman holding a large rainbow trout on Crowley Lake near Mammoth Lakes, CA

Marty fished with Doug R. and got this nice rainbow trout.

A fly fisherman holding a large rainbow trout on Crowley Lake near Mammoth Lakes, CA

Desiree got into some good rainbow trout like this one while fishing with Two Bug Doug.

A fly fisherman holding a large rainbow trout on Crowley Lake near Mammoth Lakes, CA

Jason displays a nice rainbow trout from Crowley Lake while fishing with Doug R.

A fly fisherwoman holding a large cutthroat trout on Crowley Lake near Mammoth Lakes, CA

Desiree got this large cutthroat trout while fishing with Two Bug Doug on Crowley Lake.

A smiling fly fisherman holding a large brown trout on the Crowley Lake near Mammoth Lakes, CA.

Chris fished with Doug R. and scored this hefty brown trout.

A fly fisherman holding a large rainbow trout on Crowley Lake near Mammoth Lakes, CA

Al fished with Doug R. and got this nice rainbow trout.

A fly fisherman holding a large rainbow trout on Crowley Lake near Mammoth Lakes, CA

Todd fished with Doug R. and stuck some nice rainbow trout on Crowley Lake.

A pair of fly fisherman holding a pair of large brown trout on Crowley Lake near Mammoth Lakes, CA

Jake and John fished with Doug R. and scored some nice brown trout.

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

Jake got rainbow trout while fishing with Doug R. on the Upper Owens River.

A fly fisherman holding a large rainbow trout on Crowley Lake near Mammoth Lakes, CA

John fished with Doug R. on Crowley Lake and got this nice rainbow trout to the net.

Looking at the Upper Owens River near Mammoth Lakes, CA

A view of the Upper Owens River as of 6-8-25.



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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 6-8-25:

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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