Fishing Report 10/3/20

Looking west to Mammoth Mountain from Crowley Lake while wildfire smoke blows in from the west.  


We have finally had a major break in the smoke for most days now. Most of the time if we do see smoke it doesn’t come in now until the late afternoons. The skies have been blue and the fish have been biting very well over the past few days. The good news that came today is that the Inyo National forest has re-opened. Most campgrounds are now open again, but some will remain closed due to the late period of the season, as most start to close once October comes around. This also opens access to the June and Mammoth Lakes as well as Hot Creek. We can consider this as another mini-opener for these areas as the fish have had a short break from any angler pressure.

Temperatures have started to cool off at night now, and mornings are getting colder. No need to get out at the crack of dawn to start fishing now as the bug activity doesn’t really start going until after 8 am now. Daytime temperatures have been very pleasant in the low to high 70’s from Mammoth down to Crowley Lake. Bishop is still seeing daytime temps in the low 90’s to high 80’s.

Crowley Lake now has fish all over the lake once again, as they transition into their fall mode of moving into the areas around the north end of the lake. The channel areas in both areas of the lake are attracting fish now as they start to prepare for the fall spawn. We will see more fish moving into these areas over the coming weeks, but don’t overlook the other ends of the lake as fish will continue to feed and fatten up in all of the bays this time of year. Most of our fish have been caught in water ranging from 8-12′ feet in various areas of the lake. Getting away from the fleet of boats can be nice now where you can have areas of the lake all to yourself while catching some nice fish. Trying different depths is a good strategy as fish are up and down in the water column now. Larger streamer patterns are working for the fish which are chasing the juvenile perch and the fry around.


A brown trout from Crowley Lake with Sierra Drifters

Brad displays a beautiful brown trout while fishing with Doug Rodricks.


A rainbow trout from Crowley Lake with Sierra Drifters

Dave fished with Doug Dolan for this great brown trout.


A brown trout from Crowley Lake with Sierra Drifters

Dave’s son Matt with a nice brown while fishing with Doug Dolan.


A rainbow trout from Crowley Lake with Sierra Drifters

Stan fished with Jerry Gilpin and got this nice rainbow trout.


A brown trout from Crowley Lake with Sierra Drifters

Jim fished with Seth Cline and displays a nice brown trout.


A cutthroat trout from Crowley Lake with Sierra Drifters.

Todd fished with Doug Dolan for this large cutthroat trout.


A rainbow trout from Crowley Lake with Sierra Drifters

S.L fished with Seth Cline for this nice rainbow trout.


A brown trout from Crowley Lake with Sierra Drifters

Ed shows off a huge brown trout while fishing with Jerry Gilpin.


A brown trout from Crowley Lake with Sierra Drifters

Ken fished with Seth Cline and scored a nice brown trout.


A rainbow trout from Crowley Lake with Sierra Drifters

Dave fished with Doug Dolan and got this nice rainbow trout.


A brown trout from Crowley Lake with Sierra Drifters

Dave with another fish, this time a large brown trout.


A brown trout from Crowley Lake with Sierra Drifters

Ken with another monster brown trout.


A rainbow trout from Crowley Lake with Sierra Drifters

Rich fished with Doug Rodricks for this nice rainbow trout.

Flies working on Crowley Lake:

SD Chironomidge #16, Mud Candy #16, Puff O’ Smoke #16, Broken Back Copper Tiger Midge #16, 18; Assassin Light #14, 16; Assassin Dark #14, 16; Parallel Assassin Light #16, Parallel Assassin Dark #16, Crystal Copper Zebra Midge #16, 18; Crystal Tiger Midge Long #18, 20; Crystal Midge Pupa Copper #18, 20; Gillie Chironomid Pupa Dark and Light #18, 20, 22,

Click HERE to purchase.

Upper Owens River is fishing well with fish scattered around. The hopper hatch has come to a close for the most part now, so nymphing has been the preferred method of fishing. Look for fish in the deep sections and around the undercut banks. Flows have come up some since last week, but water remains clear. A few fish have moved up from the lake here and there, but no big numbers yet. As the weather gets cooler, we may see an early move of fish this season.


A rainbow trout from the Upper Owens River with Sierra Drifters

Brian fished with Seth Cline for this nice rainbow trout.


A rainbow trout from the Upper Owens River with Sierra Drifters

Brian with another nice rainbow trout.


A rainbow trout from the Upper Owens River with Sierra Drifters

Another nice rainbow trout for Brian.


A brown trout from the Upper Owens River with Sierra Drifters

Daniel also fished with Seth Cline for this nice brown trout.

Flies working on the Upper Owens River:

SD Chironomidge #16, Bead San Juan Worm #16, San Juan Worm #16, Broken Back Copper Tiger Midge #16, 18; Assassin Light #14, 16; Assassin Dark #14, 16; Parallel Assassin Light #16, Parallel Assassin Dark #16, Crystal Copper Zebra Midge #16, 18; Crystal Tiger Midge Long #18, 20; Crystal Midge Pupa Copper #18, 20; Gillie Chironomid Pupa Dark and Light #18, 20, 22;Punk Perch Light and Dark #16, Elk Hair Caddis #18,20; Blue Wing Olive #20, Para Midge #20, 22

Click HERE to purchase.