Here’s your Eastern Sierra Fishing Report 7-15-24. Fishing is good all over the sierra currently. The runoff has slowed way down on most creeks and most of the local lakes are putting out great numbers and good quality fish. Crowley Lake is at the top of the list. The lake has completely turned around since last year’s slow season. Fish are shallow and the are BIG! Everything from callibaetis, damselflies, and midges are working now. We are not too far away from the perch fry hatch. The East Walker River is still flowing at200 cfs, and is trending downward. Water temps are starting to rise now and the algae is established on the river bottom. Bridgeport Reservoir has been giving up some nice fish in the creek channels. The Upper Owens River has been very good for numbers of mid-sized browns and rainbows and some larger browns have been showing up too. The San Joaquin River has been good with dry dropper setups, but is only open on the weekends due to road work. Hot Creek is fishing very well, with great top water action throughout the day in both sections. The Lower Owens River flows are high at 540 cfs and the weather is blazing hot down there. All of the alpine lakes in Mammoth and June have been decent pulling streamers and hanging bugs under an indicator or a dry fly near the weed beds.
Upper Owens River flows are at 76 cfs. There have been some nice sized brown trout in the river lately hanging under the cut banks. Good numbers of mid-sized fish are loading up in the pools. Dry dropper rigs are great setups right now as the fish are feeding on the surface and just below. Some young hoppers are starting to show now and it should be a good hatch in the weeks to come. 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‘s early morning bite has been phenomenal. The hatches here have been solid on most days. This is the most fun way to fish here and smaller nymphs have also been getting into fish. The hopper hatch is not far off now and 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.
Lower Owens River flows are up and running at 540 cfs and fishing is tough down here at these flows. Weather is extremely hot so early mornings are best if you go here. Fishing will be very tough and limited going into the summer months. We won’t be doing any fishing here until the flows stabilize and lower some.
Bridgeport Reservoir is fishing well in the creek and river channel. Both Buckeye and East Walker Channel are holding some really good fish. More fish are gravitating toward these areas daily. Our Light Assassins, Copper Tigers and SD Chironomidges have been putting the hurt on some nice fish here along with Dark Assassins, Flashback PT’s and Punk Perch.
East Walker River has been fishing good still. Some large rainbows and browns are biting around the dam and deeper water. Water is warming up daily and flows are trending downward. Algae is starting to thicken so clean those flies after every few casts and check your rigs if you get hung up. Successful fly patterns have been #16 midge patterns, San Juan Worms, Crawdads, #18-20 Flashback Pheasant Tails, and #18 Copper Johns.
Crowley Lake has really come to life this month. Fish are holding in shallow water now 6 – 10′ has been really good, but there are also fish in deeper water. McGee Bay has been the main area of concentration, but the north arm is also holding fish along with some of the usual hotspots of the summer months. Midges, damselflies and callibaetis imitations have been getting the job done. You can get into some serioud numbers of big fish right now if you choose the right spot. Fish are moving along the creek channels and along the flats. Copper Tiger Midges, Mud Candy, Puff O’ Smoke, Blood Midge, Zebra Midge and Grey Water have been the successful patterns. If you fish in the late afternoons and Evenings, SD Chironomidges have been whacking the bigs!
Thanks for reading our Eastern Sierra Fishing Report 7-15-24.
Thanks for reading our Eastern Sierra Fishing Report 7-14-24.
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