Eastern Sierra Fishing Report 6/7/23

A big blue lake with mountains in the background and cumulus clouds in the sky.  

Here’s your Eastern Sierra Fishing Report 6-7-23. Weather this past week has been very pleasant with the occasional thunder shower here and there. Crowley Lake remains at a low level, but as flooding has started in the open fields and the creeks and rivers overflow we are starting to see a gradual rise in the lake level. Fishing on the lake has been very perchy some days, while other days the trout seem to be feeding like they normally would this time of year. Hot Creek, the Upper Owens, Lower Owens and East Walker are running at high levels and aren’t fishing very well currently. McGee Creek has some cutthroat moving up river now. Eagle and Pyramid Lake have been fishing very well. We got our summer wear back in stock. Check out our fine selection of Sierra Drifters Hats.


Crowley Lakeopened with a good start and as the midges started to build, so did the fishing. Currently there is a mix of perch and trout but the bite is turning more towards trout in recent days. Browns, rainbows and cutthroat are now showing and midges fished at different depths have been the key. Some hot spots have been Sandy Pt, Six Bays and the Hiltons..

Upper Owens River The river is now green as the wild grass has started to grow. Keep the mosquito repellant close as it is very buggy out there now and will continue to be this summer. Flows are high but there are a few cutthroat that have made their way up river. Other than that fishing is on the slower side here with higher than usual flows..

Hot Creek With the warmer weather, the water color turns brownish and fast by late morning early afternoon and flows are higher than we’ve seen here in quite some time at 221 cfs. Fishing will be tough here until the flows decrease. Early mornings will be best if you plan to fish here before the water level changes and the color turns. Flies to use: Egg patterns, SJ worms #14 – 16, #18 Blood Midge, #18 – 20 Tungsten Zebra, #20 Bead Prince Nymph Tungsten, Broken Black and Blue Midge, #18 -20 Crystal Caddis Larva Green Black, #18 – 20 Crystal Copper Zebra Midge, #18 Flashback Hare’s Ear, #22 -24 Griffith’s Gnat, #20 Serendipity Black.

Lower Owens River is blown out at 750cfs. We will not driftboat it at this flow nor will we wade it. This flow will continue or even increase as the spring progresses. We are writing it off here until the fall or the river stabilizes at a consistent flow rate.

East Walker River flows are high at 1160 cfs. Going to be a tough go if you fish here, but it can be done. Lots of weight to get those flies down is the key and be mindful of your safety. You’ll have to locate some slow pocket water. As we get into spring heavier flies like Crawdads and Rubber Legs are good choices.

Pyramid Lake is fishing very well right now from a boat. Shore anglers are having a tougher time despite many fish still in shallow water. Going deeper this time of year is the key, so a float tube or a boat are the ticket. The fish are feeding on tiny tui chub fry.

Eagle Lake is off to a great start. We have been getting great numbers of fish so far and they are all fat and pulling on our fly lines harder than ever. The lake is up 4 feet from last year and the amount of food in the lake is plentiful. We still have a few dates open for this month. Check out our Eagle Lake page for more information. For some moving picture action of Eagle Lake take a look at our videos.

Thanks for reading our Eastern Sierra Fishing Report 6-7-23.



A young fisherman holding a large brown trout from Crowley Lake on a boat.

Young Austin fished with Seth and bagged this nice brown trout on Crowley Lake.

A fisherman holding a large brown trout from Crowley Lake on a boat.

Seth guided Cody to some real hefty brown trout like this one.

A couple of fisherman holding a pair of large brown trout from Crowley Lake on a boat.

Cody and Rob with a double on beautiful brown trout.

A fisherman holding a large rainbow trout from Crowley Lake on a boat.

Cody with another nice rainbow trout.

A fisherman holding a large rainbow trout from Eagle Lake on a boat.

Don got this nice rainbow trout from Eagle Lake.

A woman holding a large rainbow trout from Eagle Lake on a boat.

Lisa with a nice rainbow trout from Eagle Lake.

A fisherman holding a large rainbow trout from Eagle Lake on a boat.

Chris displays a quality Eagle Lake rainbow trout.

A young woman holding a large brown trout from Crowley Lake on a boat.

Cara fished with Devin for this awesome brown trout on Crowley Lake.

A young man holding a large cutthroat trout from Crowley Lake on a boat.

Nick got some big cuthhroat trout with Seth like this one.

A young woman holding a large brown trout from Crowley Lake on a boat.

Missy fished with Devin and scored this nice brown trout.

A young woman holding a large brown trout from Crowley Lake on a boat.

Kristine fished with Seth and scored this sweet brown trout.

A fisherman holding a large brown trout from Crowley Lake on a boat.

Chase displays a colorful brown trout from Crowley Lake while fishing with Seth.

A raging river in the mountains of the eastern sierra nevada.

The West Walker River is flowing strong and muddy.

A raging river in the mountains of the eastern sierra nevada.

The West Walker River is flowing strong and muddy

A young woman holding a large brown trout from Crowley Lake on a boat.

Lisa got into some quality brown trout while fishing with Seth.

A man and a hooded woman holding a rainbow and a brown trout respectively on a boat on Crowley Lake.

Mike and Missy had a fun day with Devin on Crowley Lake and got this nice rainbow and brown trout.

A fisherman holding a large brown trout from Crowley Lake on a boat.

Matt fished with Seth and got this nice brown trout.

A young woman holding a large rainbow trout from Crowley Lake on a boat.

Cara with another fish, this time a rainbow trout.

A young woman holding a large rainbow trout from Crowley Lake on a boat.

Missy with another awesome rainbow trout.

A man and a young boy holding a larger brown trout from Crowley Lake in a boat.

Austin and Nick show off a fat brown trout while fishing with Seth.

Thanks for reading our Eastern Sierra Fishing Report 6-7-23.



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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 2-6-23:

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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