Eastern Sierra Fishing Report 12/2/21

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

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Not much snow fell for the month of November, but there is some hope in the coming weeks. Hopefully we get some good storms to come through to bring some snow and move more fish into the Upper Owens River. Hot Creek is still fishing well throughout the day with some BWO hatches in the afternoons and midge hatches earlier in the day. The Lower Owens Wild Trout section has been good with smaller nymphs and dry flies while the drift boat sections have slowed down and flows are low.


Hot Creek’s browns and rainbow trout are really showing some stunning fall colors. The fish will feed on the surface during certain times of the day. If you are there during these dry fly windows of opportunity, you can get into some great fishing when you can match the hatch. Smaller nymphs and egg patterns. 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 has some nice browns and rainbows in the river now, but it is getting tougher here and you have to cover some water to find them. If we get some new storms, more fish will move up river as there are probably quite a few fish that are stuck below the bridge. Egg patterns (all of our Otter Egg colors), #14-18 Light and Dark Assassins, #14 – 18 Flashback Pheasant Tails, midges, and squirmy worms in pink and San Juan Worms in Red and Brown will work well now and through the winter months.

Lower Owens River flows now down to 80 cfs and fishing has slowed a bit on the drift boat sections. The wild trout section has been fishing very well this year. 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 fly fisherman holding a rainbow trout on a river.

Matthew fished with Two Bug Doug and got into some great fish like this rainbow trout.

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

Dan got onto some good rainbow trout with Two Bug .

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

Dan with another nice rainbow trout on the Upper Owens River.

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

Tim fished with Two Bug Doug and got this awesome rainbow trout.

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

Paul fished the Upper Owens River and had a great day with Two Bug Doug.

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

Seth took Brad on the Upper Owens River for some nice ones like this healthy rainbow trout.

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

Rick fished with Two Bug Doug and got some great rainbow trout like this one.

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

Rick with another nice rainbow trout.

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

Kory whacked this nice rainbow trout on the Upper Owens River while fishing with Seth.



Here are our flies which are working on the Upper and Lower Owens River, Crowley Lake, Hot Creek, and East Walker 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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