08-07-2010, 07:01 PM
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Lower Owens River Wild Trout Section: 3-August-10
The flows are still at 450 cfs and it is fishing very good. The water temperature is in 60’s. Due to the heat in the valley this is not the most pleasant place to fish during the day. However if you must, nymphing would be the best method. At this flow rate 3-4 'BB' size split shot is needed to get the fly down. Some flies to use would be Tiger midges, gold ribbed hares ears, ultra midges and pheasant tails in sizes 16-18. Streamers are also another good choice. A long sink tip is in order though. A 20-25 foot tip and 150-200 grains is good. Woolly buggers, spruceaboos and matukas are good choices. In the evening concentrate on the slower water. There have been fish rising to caddis.
Drifting the Lower Owens River [font "Arial"]3-August-10[/font]
Too hot!
Owens River Gorge: [font "Arial"]3-August-10[/font]
If you don't mind a hot walk out this is a good choice. Most any fly will do the trick here just keep it 16 and smaller. I typically use a size 16 yellow or orange stimulator with a flashback bead head pheasant tail or a tiger midge as a dropper. Mid morning to mid afternoon is fine. Beware of rattle snakes and take plenty of water.
East Walker River: [font "Arial"]3-August-10[/font]
The flows are at 270. The fishing here is. Mid-morning there has been a BWO hatch. Try using BWO's, Sparkle Duns and Blue Duns in sizes 16-18. Nymphing with tiger midges, pheasant tails and caddis larva in sizes 16-18. For those that want to tug streamers try using woolly buggers matukas and hornburgs size 8-10. Late afternoon and evening try using caddis in sizes 16-18.
Crowley Lake: [font "Arial"]3-August-10[/font]
The fish are in varying depths of water, 5-10 feet. For those of you that are midging, try using zebra and tiger midges in sizes 16-18, black and olive and olive crystal midges in the same size. There are a good amount of damsels hatching now. So, if you are tugging streamers damsel nymphs would be a good choice.
Pleasant Valley Reservoir: [font "Arial"]3-August-10[/font]
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. The best time to fish is early morning or evening, due to the heat.
Hot Creek: [font "Arial"]3-August-10[/font]
Fishing here is as good as it gets. Early morning and late afternoon and evening are best. Try using wd 40’s, ultra midges, tiger midges, pheasant tails on the bottom. Use a blue winged olive for the mayfly hatch. Sizes 18-20 blue winged olive should do the trick. For the caddis hatch use size 16-18 elk hair caddis, hot creek caddis. The key here is very small flies.
Upper Owens River: Above Benton Crossing Bridge [font "Arial"]3-August-10[/font]
The fishing here has been good. Nymphing with pheasant tails, hares ears, tiger midges, tiger midges and wd 40’s has been working very well. Stripping wooly buggers, matukas or zoo cougars should do the trick.
San Joaquin (Reds Meadow) [font "Arial"]3-August-10[/font]
The water is still on the high side but the fishing has been good. The fish here typically feed opportunistically, so just about any fly will work. My favorite is a yellow or orange stimulator on top and a pheasant ail, tiger midge or a crystal midge on the bottom.
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