(Sierra Bright Dot fly fishing report for April 12.)
Warm days are a hint of summer to come.
With the warm weather comes more insect activity particularly hatches and trout feeding on the surface. Unfortunately with the warm weather comes mosquitoes. The trout are feeding on mayflies, caddis flies and midges.
When the winds are not blowing spring in the Eastern Sierra is great. Nymphing continues to be the productive method of fly fishing Eastern Sierra waters.
Lower Owens River Wild Trout Section Due to problems with Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Haiwee Dam project increases in Lower Owens River flows will be pushed back to the end of April. This is subject to change so I would recommend checking the DWP flows on sierrabrightdot.com before heading out to the lower Owens River. Blue wing olive mayflies and caddis are hatching and the trout are feeding on the nymphs and the adults.
For dry flies fish with dark brown elk hair caddis in size 18, dark brown X-caddis in size 18, dark brown CDC caddis in size 18, Adams parachutes in size 18, blue wing olive parachutes in size 18 and olive sparkle duns in size 18.
For nymphs use size 16 or 18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, olive quildigons, Frenchie’s, dark brown caddis pupae, La Fontaine’s caddis pupae and Duracell nymphs.
Hot Creek Interpretive Site Warm weather has blue wing olive mayflies hatching and the trout are reacting by feeding on the nymphs and the adults. On the right days a size 20 Adams parachute, blue wing olive parachute and olive sparkle dun will fool the surface feeding trout. On the days where dry flies are not producing size 18 or 20 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, olive quilldigons, Frenchie’s, tiger midges and zebra midges are producing the nymph feeding trout.
Hot Creek Canyon Section
Spring storms can leave snow on the ground, but as soon as the sun comes out the snow melts fast. All three parking areas are vehicle accessible and offering good fishing. The blue wing olive mayflies are feeding the trout and fly fishing with nymphs and dries is producing wild browns and rainbows to 16 inches. Hot Creek is shallow and working your flies around the weed beds or in the deeper depressions or holes is going to produce trout. With a dry and dropper or indicator rig I like to be three feet above the bottom fly. To imitate the blue wing olive mayflies fish with size 20 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, size 20 olive quilldigons and size 16 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs for the nymphs. For the dry flies use size 20 Adams parachutes, size 20 blue wing olive parachutes and size 20 olive sparkle duns.
Upper Owens River Above Benton Crossing Bridge Persistent fly fishers covering lots of deep holes, deep runs and cut banks will find a few trophy trout willing to take
Michael Woodfield from Las Vegas indicator nymphing the lower Owens River at 170 CFS in the afternoon after spending the morning skiing on Mammoth Mountain. their size 12 stoner nymphs and green/gold Prince nymphs. The road is dried out and fly fishers will be able to drive right up to their favorite parking areas. The trophy cutthroat trout are expected to be in the upper Owens River from early May through Memorial day. For fly fishers looking to catch a trophy cutthroat trout Sierra Bright Dot Guides have available dates from May 5th through Memorial Day. Weekends will book up quick so book now if you want a chance at a once in life time trophy cutthroat trout from the upper Owens River.
Bishop Creek Canal Behind the Old Ford
Dealer
I expect water flows to increase in Mid-April when flows in the upper Owens River increase to unfishable wading levels. When this happens I switch over from fly fishing in the lower Owens River to fly fishing in Bishop Creek Canal. Nymphing under an indicator or with a Euro rig is the most productive method of fly fishing the canal in spring. Wild brown trout are taking fly fishers olive quilldigons, bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, Frenchie’s, and stoner nymphs.