Eastern Sierra Fishing Report 7/10/25

Here’s your Eastern Sierra Fishing Report for 7-10-25. The weather is heating up this week with highs in the upper 80’s to around 90 in areas of Mono County. Down the hill in Bishop, we are seeing temps over the 100 degree mark. Fishing has been excellent on Crowley Lake this past week, with fish making their transition from deep to shallow water and eating up the damselfly nymphs in the shallows along with the mayflies and midges. Algae is more pronounced in specific areas around the lake depending on the wind direction. Good quality fish of all 3 species are in the mix. The Upper Owens River is also producing some really nice fish above the bridge with hatchery fish mainly below. Brown trout in the 18″ plus range are stashing themselves along the undercut banks and pools. Flashback pheasant tails and euronymphs are getting the bites drifted in the correct areas. Hot Creek has really turned on with good dry fly fishing and nymphing. The water has cleared and the fish are visible in the Interpretive Site and in the canyon. The San Joaquin River remains closed this year due to construction on Red’s Meadow Road. East Walker flows are at 134 cfs but water temps are climbing in the river and the algae is building. Fishing below the bridge seems to be best still or right at the dam. Lower Owens flows have dropped to 350 cfs. Fishing will start improving here now especially along the wild trout section. Seek out the riffle water mid-afternoon and go deeper in the early morning hours with nymphs.

Lakes: Sierra Fishing Report

Crowley Lake has been on fire on certain days. The fish have finally moved into shallow water and are destroying any damselfly nymphs that wander into their crosshairs. The stripping streamer bite has been ok, with a few getting caught and lots of casts, but this will pick up daily. The midge bite has been insane! It has been an all day bite at times with good numbers and quality daily. The McGee channel is narrow but holding fish and it can be a bit of a challenge to locate a good spot amongst the heavy weeds. The north arm channel is a bit more defined and roomier. SD Chironomidges and Blood Midges #14-18 have been doing it for us.

Bridgeport Reservoir’s water level is dropping now since the East Walker River flows have come down and the runoff is starting to slow down some. The fish are in the channels of the East Walker and Robinson and Buckeys. There are still fish holding deeper by Rainbow Pt. and the dam. Light and Dark Assassins and midges are best now with perch fry patterns getting some attention. Midges are still a great bet, especially with some copper heads to match the hatches.

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, some damselflies are now showing in the mix so the streamer bite is getting better.

Rivers: Sierra Fishing Report

Upper Owens River flows have reached 108 cfs and fishing is good here for quality rather than quantity. The first juvenile hoppers have shown up and water clarity has been good above the Hot Creek confluence and even a few larger model browns and rainbows are holding in the deeper sections and undercut banks. The stocking continues downstream of the Benton Crossing Bridge every 2 weeks.

East Walker River flows have have risen to 134 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 dropped to 350 cfs, and fishing is picking up here some. Access to the Gorge is open once again. Fishing has been getting better daily in the wild trout section.

Creeks: Sierra Fishing Report

Hot Creek has been clearing up nicely and the water level is stabilizing. Target the open weed lanes with smaller nymphs and midges and throw dry flies during the mid day hatches. Dry droppers are good bets too this time of year. Mayflies or Caddis as the dry fly and small bead head flies in 16-20 are great from sinking your offering to the fish.

Thanks for reading our Eastern Sierra Fishing Report 7-10-25.

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

Cooper stuck some nice brown trout on Crowley Lake while fishing with Two Bug Doug.

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

Cooper with a great rainbow trout.

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

Donnell got into some good rainbow trout like this one while fishing with Doug R.

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

Doug R. guided Patrick this fine rainbow trout while fishing on Crowley Lake.

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

Cooper with another nice brown trout while fishing with Two Bug Doug.

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

Donnell got a nice rainbow trout while fishing with Doug R.

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

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

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

Donnell had a fun day fishing with Doug R. and shows off this healthy rainbow trout.

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

Preslie got this nice brown trout with Doug R. on Crowley Lake.

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

Nick got some nice rainbow trout with Doug R.

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

Kanan fished the Upper Owens with Doug R. and got some really nice brown trout.

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

Kanan with another nice brown trout.

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

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

An algae bloom on Crowley Lake near Mammoth Lakes, CA

Izzy put the hooks to some great brown trout on Crowley Lake fishing with Doug R.

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

Izzy caught this 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

Izzy with a nice cutthroat trout.

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

Jenny fished with Doug R. and scored this healthy rainbow trout.

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

Cathy got some nice rainbow trout while fishing with Doug R.

A fly fisherman holding a large rainbow trout on East Walker River near Bridgeport, CA

Debbie also got in the mix with this fat rainbow trout.

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

Brian scored 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.

Tony fished with Doug R. and scored this awesome rainbow trout on Crowley Lake.

A fly fisherman holding a large rainbow trout on Crowley Lake.

Tony, Maleesa and Shalise perfected this triple hookup on Crowley Lake.

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

Maleesa with an nice cutthroat trout.

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

Tony displays a great brown trout.

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

Shalise with a nice rainbow trout.

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

And another brown trout.

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

Rainbow trout doubles.

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

Grant got into some good cutthroat trout like this one while fishing with Two Bug Doug.

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

Grant with a nice brown trout.

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

And a nice rainbow trout.

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

Dax fished with Doug Dolan and got this stellar rainbow trout.



Get your “Sierra Drifters Logo Mesh Snapback hats” delivered to your door.

Click here to check out our entire fly fishing trout videos collection on our YouTube Channel. Please “Like” and “Subscribe” when you get there.



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 7-10-25:

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

Purchase our flies and other fly fishing items

Check out our great summer Sierra Drifters T-shirts and Hats