Upper Owens Fish Report

Owens River - Section 3 - Upper (above Crowley) - Eastern Sierra, CA (Mono County)


by Tom Loe
1-25-2016
Website

Snow and ice on the roads that take you to the river. The ruts, & drifts will have more. All wheel drive, higher clearance vehicles necessary to safely take you in. Fishing has been fair/good for jumbo Crowley Steelhead. Fish have spread out recently, adding additional habitat for those bigs to hide. Flows have been bumped up a little, water remains off color; but not turbid. This condition actually helps us get closer to the fish; but deteres visual scouting. On the warmer days we are also seeing an increase in the smaller resident fish bite. A few first generation BWO’s are triggering some feeding activity around 2pm. Most popular attractor patterns will get you looks with solid drifts. SJ worms, crystal Vanderleeches, crystal soft eggs, Assassins, and Agent Orange patterns have got us into them while nymphing below an Under-cator. Size 16/18 adult Blue Winged Olive patterns, & FB PT’s will replicate the hatch, and nymph stage of this cold water mayfly. Please don’t squeeze the egg laden hens near the belly. That will cause the roe to discharge prematurely. Air temperatures below ten degrees can 'flash freeze' the gills if you keep the fish out of water for more than a minute. Look for oval depressions that appear brighter, or scraped clean on the riffles below pools. These are active spawning nests; or 'redds' and you must avoid stepping on them.



More Reports

Tom Loe Reports
for Wednesday, January 13th, 2016
Owens River - Section 3 - Upper (above Crowley): Upper Owens Fish Report
Owens River - Middle: Middle Owens River Fish Report
Hot Creek: Hot Creek Update
Pleasant Valley Reservoir: PVR Fish Report
Owens River - Gorge: Gorge Report

Tom Loe Reports
for Sunday, January 10th, 2016
Owens River - Section 3 - Upper (above Crowley): Cold Winter So Far
Owens River - Middle: Middle Owens Update
Hot Creek: Hot Creek is Up
Pleasant Valley Reservoir: Reservoir Level is Rising
Owens River - Gorge: Can be Good when Warm