Eastern Sierra Fishing Report 1/16/22

A meandering river during with snow on the ground and snow filled mountains.  
Dry weather and some cold nights have made for some really great fishing. With warmer day temperatures and more bug activity, fish of all sizes are aggressively feeding on the surface and below. Firm morning snow is giving way to softer ground conditions on the Upper Owens and some more weather like this will start to reveal dirt on the banks soon. Hot Creek continues to get better daily and the dry fly action with small midges is by far the best bite currently. The Lower Owens River continues to fish well in the Wild Trout section and the drift boat area is also producing some fish in the deeper pools now.

Hot Creek’s browns and rainbow trout are really showing some stunning fall colors. It’s been an all day surface bite here most days on small midges. Look for BWO hatches to resume once the weather stabilizes. San Juan Worms, #18-20 Flashback Pheasant tails, Bead Poxyback Brassie, Serendipity Red and Black, and Tangerine Opaque and Flamingo Otter Eggs are doing the trick.

The Upper Owens River is still going strong. Some big number days have been taking place here and with more fishing moving in, it should continue to shine. You can even find a few larger trout feeding on the surface during the right conditions. Egg patterns (all of our Otter Egg colors), #14-18 Light and Dark Assassins, #14 – 18 Flashback Pheasant Tails, midges, Pink and Purple Squirmy Worms and San Juan Worms in Red and Brown are working well now.

Lower Owens River flows now up to 100 cfs. Some good BWO hatches down here as the weather tends to be a little warmer than up the hill. The wild trout section continues to fish well, with many wild brown trout making a showing. There have been some trico, PMD, and BWO hatches occurring late morning and the streamer bite has been really good. Smaller nymphs in the Wild Trout sections have also got the fish stirred up. Water is getting clear, so careful not to spook the fish with your fly line or presence.



A smiling angler holding a giant rainbow trout on a river.

Kelly had a great day pulling on some big rainbow trout like this.

A smiling fly fisherman holding a rainbow trout on a river.

Randy had a couple of good days fighting huge rainbow trout.

A smiling fly fisherman holding a rainbow trout on a river.

Another big one for Randy.

A smiling fly fisherman holding a rainbow trout on a river.

Keith got into some really good rainbow trout on the Upper Owens.

A smiling fly fisherman holding a rainbow trout on a river.

Keith with a great rainbow trout from the river.

A smiling fly fisherman holding a rainbow trout on a river.

Kurt plucked away at some good ones like this stellar rainbow trout.

A smiling fly fisherman holding a rainbow trout on a river.

Jeff put the hurt to some real beauties like this colorful rainbow trout.

A smiling fly fisherman holding a rainbow trout on a river.

David cranked in some real bruisers like this healthy rainbow trout.

A smiling fly fisherman holding a rainbow trout on a river.

David with a real girthy rainbow trout.



Here are our flies which are working on the Upper Owens, Lower Owens River and Hot Creek in addition to the above patterns listed in our report:

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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