Here’s your Eastern Sierra Fishing Report for 7-20-26. It’s summer in full swing in the eastern sierra. Warm days, pleasant nights, and afternoon thundershowers here and there. Fishing has remained good in most locations. Crowley Lake is finally fishing well in the shallows with big rainbow trout taking over currently. The west side creeks are drawing the fish into McGee Bay and the other tributaries. The Upper Owens River and Hot Creek are giving up some solid dry fly fishing in the mornings. The lakes around Mammoth and June Lake are also producing some quality trout right now for streamer tuggers and indicator fisherman. East Walker flows are holding around 145 cfs currently so no major drop in flow rates yet. Bridgeport Reservoir, The Twins, and the West Walker recently received a shot of Oregon trophy trout as did Crowley Lake.
Creeks: Sierra Fishing Report
Hot Creek Pretty hot topwater bite on tricos in the mornings here. Caddis are also picking off a few fish. The canyon section is getting heavy on the weeds, so dry fly fishing is best when they are popping. The Interpretive Site has been getting a lot of fishing pressure, so sometimes evenings can be better to fish to avoid the crowds.
Rivers: Sierra Fishing Report
Upper Owens River Fish all the fishy looking spots here to find the fish. Many fingerlings are feeding on dry flies and midges. Some larger fish are holding in undercutts and deeper water and have been hooked recently. #18 Flashback PT’s, #18 Green Copper John’s, and #16-18 midge patterns are getting takes.
Lower Owens River flows are around 416 cfs, so wading isn’t really an option here anymore, it’s been scorching hot air temps down here with not much cooling in sight which is typical for Bishop. Best times to fish here now are early and late in the day to avoid the heat and get into the better fishing window.
East Walker River is still kicking out some large browns and rainbows. You have to cover some ground to find them, but most of the fish you hook here will be big. Flows are ideal currently at 140 cfs, but we should start seeing a jump soon with Bridgeport Res being so full.
Crowley Lake The transition from deep to shallow water is happening now. As the food sources expand for the fish, more fish are making their way to shallow water on the west side daily. The north arm has a few trout in the channel as well and as the perch fry begin dispersing along the weeds it’s only going to get better. Midges are the main food currently, some days small midges #20’s and others #16-18. Callibaetis mayflies have also been on the menu over the past couple of weeks. When the wind picks up switch over the our light assassins in #16-18 for some stellar action on 20″ plus rainbows. The west side is holding most of the trout currently as the freestone creeks continue to bring in cool water. #16-20 SD Chironomidge, Tiger Midge both Copper and Dark bead head, Zebra Midges short and long, Mud Candy, Blood Midge, Assassins #16-18 both parallel and regular in both light and dark, and Punk Perch light and dark in #16 are all hot patterns right now. Grab them online.
Bridgeport Reservoir is very full this year. Like Crowley Lake, the fish here are moving into the cooler water of the channels. The same story here with the same fly patterns doing a good number on the fish.
