Eastern Sierra Fishing Report 8/11/25

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

Here’s your Eastern Sierra Fishing Report for 8-11-25. Crowley, Crowley, Crowley Lake! What can I say, other than the lake has been the most consistent bite for numbers and absolute amazing quality of trout. Most days the fish are on the chew like crazy. The trout menu now consist of midges, mayflies, damselfly nymphs and perch fry. Fish can now be found in all areas of the lake in shallow water and along the weeds. Daytime temperatures have been hot and this week looks to be warm. Water surface temps are reaching near 70 degrees by mid-day so reviving those fish before they get released is important. McGee Bay and the North arm of the lake have been popular spots. The Upper Owens River is producing some fun fish on dry flies and nymphs in both sections (above and below the bridge). It’s mostly smaller rainbows and browns here. Hot Creek has had some fun dry fly fishing throughout the day. The Interpretive Site has been crowded but the canyon section, not as much. Pretty weedy in the canyon, and a bit more water and deeper pools to fish up above. Regular trout stocking has been going on in Mammoth and June Lake, so pulling streamers or indicator fishing from the float tubes can be a good way to spend the evenings. The East Walker River flows are sitting at 132 cfs. Water clarity is getting a little less clear with some algae present. Not much to report on here, but fishing may improve with some cooler nights.

Lakes: Sierra Fishing Report

Crowley Lake is giving up an all day bite now as the fish feed on everything in sight. Perch fry, midges, damselfly nymphs, and callibaetis mayflies are hot right now. Every day is different as far as what’s working best, but midges have definitely been working daily. Sometimes perch fry are keeping the rods bent, so mixing it up when the bite slows down and moving around can keep you on the bite. Fish are holding from 5 – 14 ft currently.

Mammoth Lakes Basin area lakes have been fishing well pulling streamers from a float tube. Lots of fish have been planted here recently so pressure is heavy from other anglers. The Twin Lakes have been fairly consistent with most fish being found around the inlets, damselflies are everywhere so this is a great pattern to pull from a float tube now.

Creeks: Sierra Fishing Report

Hot Creek flows are have really dropped low in the canyon section. There’s a decent caddis hatch coming off in the evenings, and the fish are taking advantage of the situation. The last hour has been good. In the mornings midges and mayflies have been working on the surface with smaller nymphs and even the occasional well placed hopper getting some of the large fish to rise.

Rivers: Sierra Fishing Report

Upper Owens River flows have come down to 64 cfs and fishing is decent for smaller hatchery sized trout. The 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 hoppers aren’t thick yet, but the fish will recognize them now. The stocking continues downstream of the Benton Crossing Bridge every 2 weeks.

East Walker River flows are holding at 130 cfs. Water clarity is changing with a bit of algae now present. Fishing is still slow to fair depending on where you fish along the river. Fishing may improve here with some colder nights as long as the flows don’t drop too low.

Thanks for reading our Eastern Sierra Fishing Report 8-11-25.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

An algae bloom on Crowley Lake near Mammoth Lakes, CA

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

An algae bloom on Crowley Lake near Mammoth Lakes, CA

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



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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 8-11-25:

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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