Middle Owens River Fishing Report

Owens River - Middle - Bishop, CA (Inyo County)

Kim Sparber had a great day of drifting getting into many rainbows and browns using a Spruce-A-Bu streamer. That blimp was Kim’s first trout on the fly!

by Tom Loe
3-26-2018
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After a major spike up in flows, the MO has stabilized and is once again fishing well on our drift trips. Flows are currently at 125cfs. These are near optimum levels for all sections of the river. We have  having consistent success using streamers. The blue winged olive mayfly hatch has been consistent. We are also observing some large brown drake mayflies coming off on the warmer days. The stone fly emergence is just beginning. Golden stones are like filet mignon to the trout! The BWO hatch begins most days around 12:30, and lasts for about ninety minutes. Use Assassins, flashback pheasant tails (large ones for the drakes), hares ear, or small punk perch patterns for nymphing below an Under-Cator. Adding weight is crucial to keeping those nymphs near the feeding lanes on the bottom. Midge activity can accelerate as high pressure sets in. It is wise to have smaller olive larva, and pupa patterns this time of year if the barometric pressure rises. Para-midge adults can also get grabs in the larger soft eddies.Water temps will increase this week triggering a solid bite if flows remain stable. Crystal tiger, and olive zebra midges, small gillies, crystal midge emergers, and pupa patterns #20/22 will get you grabs in the deeper pools while fishing properly weighted, tandem rigs fished below an Under-Cator. Adult blue winged olives in #16 & 18, para midge adults, & Stimulators when the stone flies pop. Drift boat trips have picked up with the improved flows. Good numbers of planted rainbows, and browns showing each trip. A few large rainbows are also smashing our streamers most days. The sections we float are well downstream from the fire, and I am happy to report that water clarity remains only slightly off color; with no ash concentrations I have observed. We are primarily pulling streamers using the “dip & strip” method with sinking tip lines. There are opportunities to dry fly fish during the BWO hatch some days, & the fish are focusing on this emergence. Spruce-A-Bu’s, Loebergs, & smaller Punk Perch patterns have all been fooling the trout. 



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for Tuesday, March 20th, 2018

: Eastern Sierra Fishing Report
Owens River - Middle: Middle Owens River Fishing Report
Owens River - Section 3 - Upper (above Crowley): Upper Owens Fishing Report
Hot Creek: Hot Creek Fishing Report
Pleasant Valley Reservoir: Pleaseant Valley Reservoir Fishing Report
Owens River - Gorge: The Gorge Fishing Report
East Walker River (CA): East Walker River Fishing Report