Trout thrive in most of the 40 river miles leading into Tinemaha Reservoir near Big Pine from its source at Pleasant Valley Dam. The heavily brushed lined banks provide habitat and cover for many species of animals and birds as well as rainbow and brown trout make the Owens River fly fishing very good. The Cal DFG plants rainbows of various sizes year around in this section and bait fishing/barbed hooks with varied catch limits depending on time of year are allowed. The Lower Owens snakes its path along the floor of the Owens Valley and becomes larger with every creek, spring, and well that flows into it on its journey to Southern California. Flows may reach near 1000 cfs in the lower sections during heavy snow years and the river is generally not easy to access or wade due to the higher flows and thick brush.

Drift boats and pontoon boats are the key to accessing the secluded sections that hold the best numbers of trout. Float tubes are not recommended by this guide for drifting. There are no formal “put in” or “take outs” (otherwise known as launch ramps) so some knowledge and scouting of the area is suggested before launching. We pioneered guided drift trips on the Lower Owens and have been drifting for 30 years. A float trip here is productive for fishing, and very relaxing with the majestic Sierras as your backdrop.

Streamer fishing can be very productive and we use an unorthodox method dubbed the “dip & strip”. The fly rod is fished at various depths below the surface in conjunction with a heavy sinking tip fly line to get the imitations down closer to the fish. This is best done from a drift boat, but one can position himself in some places to be effective while wading or walking the banks. There can be some consistent dry fly activity during fall, late winter and spring, so one should have a good selection of midges, mayflies, and caddis adults. Conventional methods of fly fishing also can be effective and nymphing with a strike indicator and weighted midge, mayfly, stone fly, and caddis patterns work well at times.

Summer in the Owens Valley and on the river can be extremely warm, and when combined with high flows as water demands increase, the Owens may not be a good choice for fly fishers. We typically guide the river from September through June and may alter this with the rivers levels. Numbers are historically the best in the fall as flows begin to decrease or stabilize, and then again in the spring as the water warms and insects start hatching before the flows begin to rise. Large trophy sized trout are caught in the winter here when flows are at their lowest. DFG brood fish and private fish brokers add to the increased odds of catching a large trout on the fly here.

Owens River Fly Fishing