Where’s our snow? It is winter now and it has been a dry one. With a few storms here and there that have not brought us much snow, we continue to wait patiently. Nothing is in the forecast for the next few weeks for any major storms. The mountain at Mammoth can sure use it as can the rest of the state. We still have a few months of winter to go so we will see if things turn around.
In the meantime, we are taking advantage of the mild winter weather and fishing all of our usual locations like crazy. The nighttime temperatures are in the teens with nice weather during the day in the 40’s and 50’s. Some large fish are being caught daily, and the trophy trout will continue to move into areas like the Upper Owens as the weeks go on.
The Lower Owens River in Bishop is remaining steady with flows that have stabilized around 91 cfs. These fish are now holding in shallower water along the sand to gravel transitions as well as the deeper pools. There have been some solid BWO hatches in the afternoons and the bite window for dry fly fishing can last 30 mins some days and 1.5 hours the next. Smaller streamer patterns like our #16 Punk Perch Dark and Light have been great flies prior to and during this hatch. Around those times in the mornings and evenings an assortment of Loebergs, #14 Agent Orange, and Spruce-a-Bu Dark and Light have been doing the trick.
Jim fished with Doug Dolan for this nice brown trout.
Aidan fished with Doug Rodricks for this nice rainbow trout.
The Upper Owens River has been continuing to produce large rainbow and brown trout. We are getting a decent mix of males and females all in the 19 – 24″ range and in the weight class of 3 – 6 lbs. These fish are strong and healthier than ever this year and are spread out around the river. We have large fish moving into the river out of Crowley Lake daily, and the cold nights are keeping them on the move. Egg patterns and #14-16 nymphs like Flashback Pheasant Tails and Dark Assassins are the ticket. More fish will begin to move into the river as the weather gets colder. If you would like to be guided to some of these awesome fish click here.
Terry fished with Doug Rodricks and scored this big rainbow trout.
Tina fished with Seth Cline and scored this big rainbow trout.
Tina with another nice rainbow trout.
Drew fished with Seth Cline and scored this big rainbow trout.
Derrick also fished with Seth for this great rainbow trout.
Jim fished with Doug Dolan for this big rainbow trout.
James fished with Doug Dolan and scored this big rainbow trout.
Joe fished with Doug Dolan and scored this big rainbow trout.
Justin fished with Doug Dolan and scored this big rainbow trout.
Jon fished with Seth Cline and scored this big rainbow trout.
Skip fished with Seth Cline and scored this big rainbow trout.
Hunter fished with Devin Preston and scored this big brown trout.
Hunter with another big rainbow trout.
Skip also fished with Devin and scored this big rainbow trout.
Jason fished with Doug Rodricks and scored this big rainbow trout.
Jason with another big rainbow trout.
Noel fished with Doug Dolan and scored this big rainbow trout.
Noel with another big rainbow trout.
Yee fished with Doug Dolan and got this big rainbow trout.
Yee with another big rainbow trout.
Yee and Chris with a double hookup on big rainbow trout.
Brad fished with Seth Cline and scored this big rainbow trout.
Christian fished with Doug Rodricks and scored this big rainbow trout.
Tony fished with Doug Rodricks and scored this big rainbow trout.
Hot Creek has been a blast with the mild weather. Excellent bug hatches here with some great trico mayfly fishing and a few BWO’s showing up too. You will find fish moving into extremely shallow riffle water to taking advantage of this great hatch. Keep your dry flies floating high and those fly lines mended to fool these fish. Although Hot Creek can seem challenging at times it can also work the other way. These fish are used to people as they seem them everyday along the banks. This can work in your favor as the fish aren’t as spooky. Focus more on their feeding behavior and how they react to your presentation. This will quickly indicate to you if the fish is remotely interested in your offering. Egg patterns are a good change up from the aquatic insects they are used to daily. The midges these fish are feeding on all day long are “micro”. They are difficult to imitate, but patterns like our #22 Parachute Midge will fool them provided you keep the drag off your line.
The East Walker River is running at extremely low flows of 16 cfs. At this level it is best to fish elsewhere. Flows should rise slightly later on in the winter months, but for now it is too low for any sustained and decent fishing.
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