07-08-2014, 06:28 PM
[font "Arial"][size 4]Thanks to [url "mailto:gary@eastermsierraguideservice.com"]gary@eastermsierraguideservice.com[/url] Lower Owens River Wild Trout Section: [/size][/font] [font "Arial"][size 4]7-July-2014[/size][/font]
It's just plain hot in the valley with the temps around the 100 degree mark. However, the fishing still remains good. As it stands now it is one of the better places to fish if you don't mind the heat. The flows are at 225 cfs. The water temps are in the low 60'sWith the lack of water I don't foresee the river coming up much throughout the season. Despite the heat when you are wading it is quite comfortable. Not many fish rising during the day except for the evening and that is on caddis. It has been primarily nymphing during the day. It seems to be better in the faster water, so concentrate there. Flies to use would be Tiger midges, micro mays, gold ribbed hares ears, ultra midges, bead head flashback pheasant tails, caddis larva and standard pheasant tails in sizes 16-18. For nymphing you will need 2 AB split shot to get the fly down. For the caddis hatch in the evening, a good pattern is an elk hair caddis or a parachute in olive or black.
[font "Arial"]If you have never tried Czech nymphing or also know as European style nymphing, the lower Owens is a great place to get to start. It takes some time to get it dialed in, but when you do, your catch rates go considerably. We also give lessons in this technique. Give me a call at 760-937-2067[/font]
[font "Arial"][size 4]Drifting the Lower Owens River: [/size] [font "Arial"][size 4]7-July-2014[/size][/font][/font]
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The browns have been eager to take nymphs. Some flies to try would be black or olive tiger midges 16-18, flashback pheasant tails 16-18, micro mayfly 16-18 and black or olive wd-40′s 18-20. For those of you wanting to tug streamers, try using wooly buggers, spruce-a-boo’s, matukas or hornburgs you will be pleasantly surprised. An excellent fly line for the is Rio’s Density Compensated 200 grain 24′ Sink Tip.
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[font "Arial"][size 4]Owens River Gorge: [/size][/font][font "Arial"] [font "Arial"][size 4]7-July-2014[/size][/font][/font]
[font "Arial"]The summer is not a bad time to fish here if you don't mind walking out in the heat. The little browns are very active this time of year. Once you are down at the bottom, it is like an oasis. For the most part these fish feed opportunistically and are eager to take just about any offering. Dries to try would be BWO’s, Adams, blue duns, cahills and any attractor pattern. Even if there is no hatch they are eager to come to the surface for just about ant dry fly. I typically use a size 16 yellow or orange stimulator with a flashback bead head pheasant tail or a tiger midge as a dropper. Your favorite fly will do nicely. The nettles are out in full force. Bring plenty of water for the toasty walk out.[/font]
[font "Arial"][size 4]East Walker River: [/size][/font][font "Arial"] [font "Arial"][size 4]7-July-2014[/size][/font][/font]
[font "Arial"]The flow rate is 90 cfs. While this is not a bad flow to fish the water temperatures are around 70 degrees. When the water gets this warm it is almost pointless to fish it and expect to catch fish. However, if you feel a need, do so early in the morning. When the water is this warm the fish become very lethargic and don't move much. The best thing to do is not fish it at all and let the fish rest until the water temps drop. Using large nymphs may increase your chances. Try using Hares ears, tiger midges, flashback pheasant tails and caddis larva in sizes 12-14. There has been a caddis hatch in the evening. Elk hair caddis and caddis emergers in sizes 16-18 will do the trick. [/font]
[font "Arial"][size 4]Crowley Lake: [/size][/font] [font "Arial"][font "Arial"][size 4]7-July-2014[/size][/font][/font]
[font "Arial"]The fishing here has picked up considerably since last report. However, some days better than others. Hilton and McGee bay have been the better spots. The fish are in about 12-16 feet. Flies to use are black or olive tiger midges, crystal midges or zebra midges. For those of you that are pulling streamers, matukas, zoo cougars, wooly buggers black or olive and leach patterns are good bets.[/font]
[font "Arial"][size 4]Pleasant Valley Reservoir: [/size][/font] [font "Arial"][font "Arial"][size 4]7-July-2014[/size][/font][/font]
[font "Arial"]Tubing near the inlet has been very productive using wooly buggers and matukas in olive and black. Most of what is being caught is the stockers. A 15′ type III sink tip will do the trick.[/font]
[font "Arial"][size 4]Hot Creek: [/size][/font][font "Arial"] [font "Arial"][size 4]7-July-2014[/size][/font][/font]
[font "Arial"]Despite the weeds, the fishing has been good. With the lack of water the weeds are on the surface making it challenging to get good drifts. Find some weed free lanes and you will do well. There has been a blue winged olive hatch mid-morning and caddis later in the afternoon especially in the evening. Flies to use for the respective hatch are parachute BWO’s, elk hair caddis, parachute caddis and cdc caddis emerger. Patterns to use for nymphing are wd-40′s, flashback pt’s, bead head redemption, olive RS-2 and hares ears in sizes 18-22.[/font]
[font "Arial"][size 4]Upper Owens River: Above Benton Crossing Bridge [/size][/font] [font "Arial"][font "Arial"][size 4]7-July-2014[/size][/font][/font]
[font "Arial"]The flow rate is 60 cfs below the confluence of Hot Creek. The fishing has been ok, nothing to jump up and down about though. The water above the Hot Creek is clearer and cleaner than below. The green goo is subsiding and is not much of a problem. Not much surface action to speak of, so nymphing or streamers is the better bet. Stripping wooly buggers, matukas or zoo cougars and hornbergs would also be worth a shot. At this flow rate try using a type 1 sink rate, with a 10 foot sink tip. Flies to use for nymphing are flash back pheasant tails, tiger midges, bead head hares ears and pheasant tails. You will need #4 size split shot to get the fly down[/font]
[font "Arial"][size 4]San Joaquin (Reds Meadow) [/size][/font][font "Arial"] [font "Arial"][size 4]7-July-2014[/size][/font][/font]
[font "Arial"]The flows here are great for fishing right now. That will not be the case latter in the summer though. For the most part the fish here feed opportunistically. This means that they will take just about anything. Adams, blue winged olives, elk hair caddis or parachute caddis and attractor patterns in sizes 16-18 would be good bets for surface action. For nymphs, try using tiger midges, pheasant tails, gold ribbed hairs ears and prince nymphs in sizes 18-20. My favorite is a dry dropper method with a yellow or orange stimulator for a dry and a tiger midge for a dropper.[/font]
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It's just plain hot in the valley with the temps around the 100 degree mark. However, the fishing still remains good. As it stands now it is one of the better places to fish if you don't mind the heat. The flows are at 225 cfs. The water temps are in the low 60'sWith the lack of water I don't foresee the river coming up much throughout the season. Despite the heat when you are wading it is quite comfortable. Not many fish rising during the day except for the evening and that is on caddis. It has been primarily nymphing during the day. It seems to be better in the faster water, so concentrate there. Flies to use would be Tiger midges, micro mays, gold ribbed hares ears, ultra midges, bead head flashback pheasant tails, caddis larva and standard pheasant tails in sizes 16-18. For nymphing you will need 2 AB split shot to get the fly down. For the caddis hatch in the evening, a good pattern is an elk hair caddis or a parachute in olive or black.
[font "Arial"]If you have never tried Czech nymphing or also know as European style nymphing, the lower Owens is a great place to get to start. It takes some time to get it dialed in, but when you do, your catch rates go considerably. We also give lessons in this technique. Give me a call at 760-937-2067[/font]
[font "Arial"][size 4]Drifting the Lower Owens River: [/size] [font "Arial"][size 4]7-July-2014[/size][/font][/font]
[font "Arial"]
The browns have been eager to take nymphs. Some flies to try would be black or olive tiger midges 16-18, flashback pheasant tails 16-18, micro mayfly 16-18 and black or olive wd-40′s 18-20. For those of you wanting to tug streamers, try using wooly buggers, spruce-a-boo’s, matukas or hornburgs you will be pleasantly surprised. An excellent fly line for the is Rio’s Density Compensated 200 grain 24′ Sink Tip.
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[font "Arial"][size 4]Owens River Gorge: [/size][/font][font "Arial"] [font "Arial"][size 4]7-July-2014[/size][/font][/font]
[font "Arial"]The summer is not a bad time to fish here if you don't mind walking out in the heat. The little browns are very active this time of year. Once you are down at the bottom, it is like an oasis. For the most part these fish feed opportunistically and are eager to take just about any offering. Dries to try would be BWO’s, Adams, blue duns, cahills and any attractor pattern. Even if there is no hatch they are eager to come to the surface for just about ant dry fly. I typically use a size 16 yellow or orange stimulator with a flashback bead head pheasant tail or a tiger midge as a dropper. Your favorite fly will do nicely. The nettles are out in full force. Bring plenty of water for the toasty walk out.[/font]
[font "Arial"][size 4]East Walker River: [/size][/font][font "Arial"] [font "Arial"][size 4]7-July-2014[/size][/font][/font]
[font "Arial"]The flow rate is 90 cfs. While this is not a bad flow to fish the water temperatures are around 70 degrees. When the water gets this warm it is almost pointless to fish it and expect to catch fish. However, if you feel a need, do so early in the morning. When the water is this warm the fish become very lethargic and don't move much. The best thing to do is not fish it at all and let the fish rest until the water temps drop. Using large nymphs may increase your chances. Try using Hares ears, tiger midges, flashback pheasant tails and caddis larva in sizes 12-14. There has been a caddis hatch in the evening. Elk hair caddis and caddis emergers in sizes 16-18 will do the trick. [/font]
[font "Arial"][size 4]Crowley Lake: [/size][/font] [font "Arial"][font "Arial"][size 4]7-July-2014[/size][/font][/font]
[font "Arial"]The fishing here has picked up considerably since last report. However, some days better than others. Hilton and McGee bay have been the better spots. The fish are in about 12-16 feet. Flies to use are black or olive tiger midges, crystal midges or zebra midges. For those of you that are pulling streamers, matukas, zoo cougars, wooly buggers black or olive and leach patterns are good bets.[/font]
[font "Arial"][size 4]Pleasant Valley Reservoir: [/size][/font] [font "Arial"][font "Arial"][size 4]7-July-2014[/size][/font][/font]
[font "Arial"]Tubing near the inlet has been very productive using wooly buggers and matukas in olive and black. Most of what is being caught is the stockers. A 15′ type III sink tip will do the trick.[/font]
[font "Arial"][size 4]Hot Creek: [/size][/font][font "Arial"] [font "Arial"][size 4]7-July-2014[/size][/font][/font]
[font "Arial"]Despite the weeds, the fishing has been good. With the lack of water the weeds are on the surface making it challenging to get good drifts. Find some weed free lanes and you will do well. There has been a blue winged olive hatch mid-morning and caddis later in the afternoon especially in the evening. Flies to use for the respective hatch are parachute BWO’s, elk hair caddis, parachute caddis and cdc caddis emerger. Patterns to use for nymphing are wd-40′s, flashback pt’s, bead head redemption, olive RS-2 and hares ears in sizes 18-22.[/font]
[font "Arial"][size 4]Upper Owens River: Above Benton Crossing Bridge [/size][/font] [font "Arial"][font "Arial"][size 4]7-July-2014[/size][/font][/font]
[font "Arial"]The flow rate is 60 cfs below the confluence of Hot Creek. The fishing has been ok, nothing to jump up and down about though. The water above the Hot Creek is clearer and cleaner than below. The green goo is subsiding and is not much of a problem. Not much surface action to speak of, so nymphing or streamers is the better bet. Stripping wooly buggers, matukas or zoo cougars and hornbergs would also be worth a shot. At this flow rate try using a type 1 sink rate, with a 10 foot sink tip. Flies to use for nymphing are flash back pheasant tails, tiger midges, bead head hares ears and pheasant tails. You will need #4 size split shot to get the fly down[/font]
[font "Arial"][size 4]San Joaquin (Reds Meadow) [/size][/font][font "Arial"] [font "Arial"][size 4]7-July-2014[/size][/font][/font]
[font "Arial"]The flows here are great for fishing right now. That will not be the case latter in the summer though. For the most part the fish here feed opportunistically. This means that they will take just about anything. Adams, blue winged olives, elk hair caddis or parachute caddis and attractor patterns in sizes 16-18 would be good bets for surface action. For nymphs, try using tiger midges, pheasant tails, gold ribbed hairs ears and prince nymphs in sizes 18-20. My favorite is a dry dropper method with a yellow or orange stimulator for a dry and a tiger midge for a dropper.[/font]
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