Hot Creek, Interpretive Site
(Sierra Bright Dot fly fishing report for June 24
A low messed up the weather with cooler temperatures and lots of winds with some gusts in the 30 to 40 mph range. When the winds not blowing the fishing has been good. I’ve been doing my best fly fishing on freestone streams like Bishop Creek and Rock Creek. Nymphing, particularly with the Euro rod has been the most productive. Have had some good dry fly days on the mountain creeks.
Freestone Streams Rock Creek:
The creek is definitely seeing the effects of runoff even if there is not much of a runoff this year. I’ve been concentrating my efforts on the edges and slow water sections about half way up the canyon. We’re catching rainbows and browns. Fly fishers fishing above the lake are finding brook trout willing to take their dry flies. I’m fishing with elk hair caddis, Adams parachutes, bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, and bead head Prince nymphs.
Bishop Creek South Fork:
The cold front slowed down the surface bite. The browns, rainbows, and brook trout were taking pheasant tail nymphs, and bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears. I’m fishing the pocket water with a dry and dropper technique. I’m suspending the nymph on three feet of 5X fluorocarbon under an Adams parachute or an elk hair caddis. The water is cold and I would wear thermals under the waders if you want to stay warm. I froze up there last weekend.
Lower Owens River Wild
Trout Section Weather has cooled down making it enjoyable to be on the river mid-day. Nymphing particularly with the Euro rig has been productive. I’m fishing with stoner nymphs, Butano nymphs, Frenchie’s, hot spot pheasant tail nymphs, and bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears. Success is getting the flies down on the bottom. With the Euro rig I’m using size 3.5 mm and 4.0 mm beads. With an indicator system I’m using one to two BB split shot to get the flies on the bottom of the river. Fly fishing pressure has been light.
Hot Creek, Canyon Section
Fishing in the canyon has been tough as the hatches of caddis and mayflies have been sporadic. Working lots of water to find the few fish that want to feed has been my method of success. I’m working a dry and dropper rig with a size 14 mini
Chernobyl ant or Adams parachute on top. For the nymphs I’ve been fishing with bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, olive scuds, and midges. Winds have been hampering the fishing in the canyon.
When the winds not blowing hatching gray bodied caddis and blue wing olive mayflies are bringing the trout to the surface. The key to success is to find pods of selectively rising trout and cast your flies over them with a drag free drift. Using 5X or 6X tippet will increase your success.
Upper Owens River, Above Benton Crossing Bridge
Pale morning dun mayflies and caddis are emerging and have the trout on the bite. Nymphing has been more consistent than fishing dry flies. Wind and gusts have been limiting the amount of time I’ve been able to fly fish on the upper Owens River. Pan sized rainbows and brown trout are providing the action. I’ve been fly fishing with bead head flash back gold ribbed hare’s ears, caddis nymphs, and caddis pupae..
Crowley Lake
The wildflowers in the Easter Sierra are so fragile. Four days after this photo the iris froze and were gone for the year.
The fishing has been better on the nonwind days. The trout have moved into deeper water and are in the 15 to 30 foot range. Black and silver, black and copper, gray, and Albino Barron’s have been the colors of preference for the midges. Fish these midges from three inches to three feet of the bottom. The boat flotilla has been in McGee Bay.
Bishop Creek Canal Behind the Ford Dealer
Euro nymphing has been very productive for me. I’m fishing with green/gold Prince nymphs, stoner nymphs, gold ribbed hare’s ears, Frenchie’s, and Butano Nymphs. I like to work my nymphs through the faster riffle sections that can be found in a few spots along the canal. Brown trout to 14 inches continue to offer lots of fun for fly fishers plying the waters of the canal.
(Fred Rowe owns Sierra Bright Dot Fly Fishing Specialty. He teaches fly fishing and fly tying, is one of the original fly fishing guides in the Eastern Sierra. When he’s not out fishing the waters of the Eastern Sierra from Bishop to Bridgeport, he is an avid hunter who loves to hunt birds, especially waterfowl. Fred can be reached at (760) 920-8325 or at roweboat5@verizon.net. His webpage is at sierrabrightdot.com)