Eastern Sierra Fishing Report 6/3/21

A man holding a large cutthroat trout on a lake.  

Cruising along right into the month of June now, with a major change in the weather. Run-off is going strong now and should pass fairly quickly with the minimal snowpack this year. High pressure set in and really bumped temperatures up for late spring. We saw lots of wind for the past month, and now sunny and warm days are prevailing, and just in time for family summer vacations in the eastern sierra. The road to the lakes basin in Mammoth is now open and there is access all the way to Horseshoe Lake. Looks like some slight cooling for next week is forecasted with some wind possibilities to return. This will create dangerous fire hazards for the eastern sierra and dry areas of the state. Crowley Lake has been continuing to fish very well. The bulk of the fish are beginning to move to deeper water as the lake level drops. The Upper Owens River still has a few cutthroat trout in various areas. San Joaquin River is still inaccessible by vehicle. Hot Creek getting low and weedy, but still fishing well along the clear routes. East Walker River flows are low again. A drought year is upon us!

The East Walker is running at 58 cfs now, and fishing here is limited to deeper runs again. Some larger fish are being caught on bigger streamers and crawdads. #16-18 various Midges, #16-18 Prince Nymphs, Rubber Legs, and Squirmy Worms in all colors have also been producing.

Hot Creek can fish well in the first few hours of the morning. Late mornings and into the afternoon will now show some stained water and slow down the hatches some as Mammoth Creek brings in cold snow melt. Smaller caddis larva patterns, SJ Worms, and midges, assassins light, and Pheasant tails can get you into fish.

The Upper Owens River has a few cutthroat now showing throughout the river but you will have to do some looking to find the pods. Some fish have died from the spawn and others have returned to the lake. They are in one spot one day and in another the next. Please do not fish to the cutthroat that run in a pair as they are established on their redds and have already started the spawn. The pods of fish that are vying for position are the ones that will bite your flies. Be careful to keep an eye out for lighter colored depressions in the gravel as these are holding eggs and fry that are very fragile, so please take extreme care if you are crossing or wading here.

Crowley Lake has been the best game in town. Great number of cutthroat, rainbow, and brown trout and good size too. Enormous midge hatches during the warmer days have continued to grow, and some afternoon moisture can be on tap for the afternoons. Most days have remained pleasant with a light breeze, creating the perfect conditions for fishing. The fish are hungry and feeding heavily on midges in the 16 – 22 size range. Weed growth has already started on the bottom and the sandy areas between them are giving up some terrific fish. Best patterns have been the #16 – #18 SD Chironomidge, #16 – 20 Tungsten Zebra, #16 Midge Larva, #12 -18 Blood Midge, #14 -18 Grey Water, #16 – 20 Red Butt Midge Dark Head and Glass Head, #16 -20 Red Rib Midge Glass Head, #18 Gillie Light and Dark, #16 – 20 Copper Tiger midge, #16 Broken Back Copper Tiger Midge, #14 – 16 Blood Midge, and #16 -18 Mud Candy.

Lower Owens River flows have ramped up to 325cfs range which is now tough for fishing. Warmer days in the Bishop area have set in now, but wading at this flow is tough with all the brush on the banks. There has been an explosion of ticks down here, so take care not to let your pets run around on the banks and make sure to check yourself after walking around here. Fish are spreading out and holding along the edges now.

The San Joaquin River access is still closed to vehicle access but Caltrans is making good progress in clearing the road. We may get an earlier season here than normal due to the lighter snowpack and earlier run-off. We will let you know when access is open.



A smiling fly fisherman holding a brown trout on a lake in a boat.

Ron got into some nice fish like this brown trout from Crowley Lake while fishing with Seth.

A smiling fly fisherman holding a cutthroat trout on a lake in a boat.

Seth guided Gerald to this fat cutthroat trout from Crowley Lake.

A youth girl with a blue UCLA hat holding a cutthroat trout from a lake on a boat.

Hans put Brooklyn on some nice fish like this cutthroat trout from Crowley Lake .

A lady angler with a red hat holding a brown trout in a boat on a lake.

Seth guided Stephanie to some sweet fish like this Crowley Lake brown trout.

A young girl with blonde hair holding a trophy brown trout in a boat on a lake.

Here’s Brooklyn with another nice fish, this time a massive brown trout.

A black hooded fly fisheman with a camouflage jacket holding a brown trout.

Matt fished with Hans and got this standout brown trout.

A fly fisherman standing in a river holding a cutthroat trout in spawning colors.

Seth got Jim on some nice cutthroat trout on the Upper Owens River.

A fly fisherman standing in a river holding a cutthroat trout in spawning colors.

Jim with another nice one.

A smiling fly fisherman holding a rainbow trout on a lake in a boat.

Seth guided Brett to some good fish like this beautiful rainbow trout from Crowley Lake.

A young girl with a grey hat holding a large cutthroat trout in a boat on a lake.

Hans guided Don and granddaughter Jaycee to some amazing fish like this awesome cutthroat trout.

A smiling fly fisherman holding a cutthroat trout on a lake in a boat.

Two Bug Doug guided Aiden to this fat cutthroat trout from Crowley .

A smiling fly fisherman holding a cutthroat trout on a lake in a boat.

Jim fished with Two Bug Doug and got this nice cutthroat trout from Crowley Lake.

A fly fisheman holding a big rainbow trout in a boat on a lake.

Hans guided Don to this nice rainbow trout.

A smiling fly fisherman holding a cutthroat trout on a lake in a boat.

Devin guided Kevin to some great fish like this stunning cutthroat trout from Crowley Lake.

A smiling fly fisherman holding a rainbow trout on a lake in a boat.

Brett with another nice rainbow trout guided by Seth.

A young girl with a grey hat holding a large cutthroat trout in a boat on a lake.

Jaycee got an massive brown trout with Hans as her guide.

A smiling fly fisherman holding a rainbow trout on a lake in a boat.

Bob fished with Devin and whacked some nice fish like this rainbow trout from Crowley Lake.

A smiling fly fisherman holding a rainbow trout on a lake in a boat.

Kyle also fished with Devin and got this outstanding rainbow trout.

A smiling fly fisherman holding a cutthroat trout on a lake in a boat.

Kyle with another nice fish, a cutthroat trout.

A fly fisherman standing in a river holding a cutthroat trout in spawning colors.

Hans guided JoseAntonio to this nice cutthroat trout.

A lady angler with a grey hat holding a giant cutthroat trout in a boat on a lake.

Doug Dolan guided Anne to this blimp of a cutthroat trout on Crowley Lake.

A smiling fly fisherman holding a brown trout on a lake in a boat.

Bill is back on Crowley Lake with Hans and sports a stellar brown trout.

A lady angler with a purple hooded jacket holding a cutthroat trout on a lake in stormy weather.

Two Bug guided Terry to some great fish like this cutthroat trout from Crowley Lake.

A masked fly fisherman holding a rainbow trout on a lake in a boat.

Bill with another nice rainbow trout.

A fly fisherman holding a rainbow trout on a lake in a boat.

Brian fished with Hans for this sweet rainbow trout.

Two men holding a long cutthroat trout on a lake.

Ray and Bob fished with Doug R. and display a nice cutthroat trout from Crowley Lake.

A trio of people holding a large rainbow trout on a lake.

Seth guided Spencer, Maddox, and grandpa Jim to this awesome rainbow trout.

A man holding a large rainbow trout on a lake.

Doug R. guided Bob to this strong rainbow trout from Crowley Lake.

A man holding a large rainbow trout on a lake.

Jerry guided Dave to some big ones like this rainbow trout from Crowley Lake.

A pair of men wearing wide brim hats and holding two trout on a lake.

A double hook up on a brown and a rainbow trout for Steve and Dave while fishing with Jerry.

A man holding a large brown trout on a lake.

John got into the action while fishing with Jerry with some nice fish like this brown trout.

A young boy holding a brown trout on a lake.

Maddox displays a nice brown trout from Crowley Lake while fishing with Seth.

A man holding a large cutthroat trout on a lake.

Another nice cutthroat trout for Steve.

A man holding a large rainbow trout on a lake.

Aaron shows a late afternoon bite rainbow trout while fishing Doug R.

An elderly man hugging a young boy holding a rainbow trout on a river.

Maddox and grandpa Jim hit the East Walker River with Seth.

A man holding a large brown trout on a lake.

Spencer with another nice brown trout with Seth.

A man holding a large rainbow trout on a lake.

Spencer with another stunning rainbow trout from Crowley Lake.

A man holding a large rainbow trout on a lake.

Kurt fished with Jerry and got this great rainbow from Crowley Lake.

A man holding a large rainbow trout on a lake.

Jerry guided Tom to some big fish like this hefty rainbow trout from Crowley Lake.

A smiling fly fisherman holding a cutthroat trout on a lake in a boat.

Cory Barnett guided AJ to some great fish like this nice cutthroat trout from Crowley Lake.

A smiling fly fisherman holding a rainbow trout on a lake in a boat.

Brian got into some great fish like this rainbow trout while fishing with Cory.

A smiling fly fisherman holding a cutthroat trout on a lake in a boat.

Cory put Colin on some real nice ones like this solid cutthroat trout.



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; Parallel Assassin Light #14-16, Parallel Assassin Dark #16; Loeberg Mallard Silver Badger; Spuce a Bu Dark and Light

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