Warm weather is settling into the Eastern Sierra as we approach opening of Fishing Season. Most high elevation waters continue to have snow and little to no vehicle access. Runoff has not affected the freestone creeks yet. They’re continuing to produce trout for fly fishers fishing with nymphs. Midges and blue wing olive mayflies are hatching on some Eastern Sierra waters.
Fishing the weir at plant 6 on Bishop Creek is producing wild brown trout in the clear water on nymphs.
Lower Owens River / Wild Trout Section:
The lower Owen River is up to 750 CFS and is unsafe and too high to fish right now. Chalk Bluff Road continues to be closed. Pleasant Valley Reservoir is closed for repair work to the access road along the reservoir.
Unstable banks and high flows makes the lower Owens River in the wild trout section unsafe to fly fish.
Hot Creek / Interpretive Site:
For fly fishers willing to hike out to the creek a mid-day blue wing olive hatch is bringing trout to the surface. There is still a lot of snow to contend with. This is one of the few classic fly-fishing spots accessible to fly fishers right now.
Fly fishers can drive out Hot Creek Hatchery Road to access Hot Creek at the interpretive site and park at the end of the plowed section of the road.
Hot Creek / Canyon Section:
This is the longer hike to get to the creek, but it’s the easier hike. A mid-day blue wing olive hatch has the trout actively feeding on dries and nymphs. I like to use size 20 blue wing olive parachutes or olive sparkle duns. For nymphs I’m using olive quilldigons and bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs.
Vehicles no longer have to stop at the Green Church, but now have access to the dump.
Upper Owens River / Above Benton Crossing Bridge:
Benton Crossing Road is closed at the dump. Fly fishers are finding few trophy trout as the bulk of the rainbow run is over for the season. The cutthroats should be in the river starting in early May. I start looking for the run around the 5thof May. Once the snow has melted the dirt roads will be muddy and I would drive with caution out there. I don’t want to get stuck out there again.
Mike Kavanaugh of Fullerton learned how to fish nymphs under an indicator on Bishop Creek Canal.
Bishop Creek Cana / Behind the Ford Dealer:
The water is high and off color. There are a few trout rising in the afternoons to blue wing olive mayflies. I’m fishing with nymphs on the Euro rod and I have clients fishing nymphs under an indicator. The trout are taking hot spot pheasant tail nymphs and olive quilldigons. I expect this section of the canal to get stocked between now and opening weekend.
Nymphing under an indicator on Pine Creek is producing wild brown trout.
Pine Creek Weir:
Pine Creek is flowing clear and the trout are feeding on midges and blue wing olive nymphs. Fishing under and indicator or with the Euro nymph is producing lots of fish for anglers fishing middle of the day.
