Water Conditions: Good

Flows are 78 cfs as of 12/7

Click "Flows" above for up to the minute info

The stretch of river above Benton Crossing Road is artificial, barbless, catch and release only. Below the bridge is artificial barbless and closes 11/15.

The flows are up because DWP is running about 20 cfs through the tunnel from Grant Lake. The reason why the flows in the Owens don't go up and down much is that it is common for Deadman Creek to go underground up above 395 during drought years.

The water gets dirtier and has more debris the further downstream you go.

Fishing Conditions and Hatches: Fair-Good

 It is still possible to drive upstream from the bridge but here's a warning.You may make it out to the river on hard packed snow and ice but once it warms up you might not make it out to the main dirt road. Fishing is still good and should remain decent until mid January when the fall run starts moving back to the lake. There now seems to be more lake fish above the bridge and they tend to be concentrated in certain spots. Water temperatures have dropped to the point that the smaller fish aren't  active early and it might be best to start fishing below Hot Creek in the morning. The BWO and midges are it for hatches and the BWO are pretty much done until next spring. It's almost all attractor patterns from here until spring.

It's good to remember that there aren't a lot of "resident" fish in the Upper Owens, it's basically a nursery for Crowley Lake and as they get bigger most of them will move down to the lake. The fish that haven't gone to the lake yet tend to be pickier because it's their natural environment. So much for the temperature gage, it lost its funding and has been shut down. Scratch that, it may be shut down but it's still functional. There was a temperature gage on Hot Creek right above the Owens River Road bridge. Right now, the water temperature ranges between the low 80s and high 90s.  If you're not familiar with it, to get to the upper most branch of Hot Creek, go through the first drive through gate on the main road and immediately turn left. The confluence is between the first and second walk-thru gates.

Recommended Flies

DRIES: Griffiths Gnat #20-24 | Para Adams #20-24 | CDC Transition Midge #20-24 | Beck's Sulphur Emerger #16-20 |  Z Wing Real Midge #22-26 | Para Extended Body Baetis # 18-22

NYMPHS:  Zebra Midge #16-22 | Copper John #14-16 | B/H Pheasant tail #14-18 | Tung Stud Black #20 | Bling Midge #22-24 | Tungsten Olive Mic Drop #16-18 | San Juan worms assorted colors | Birds Nest Natural #16-20 | Prince Nymph #12-18 | Egg Patterns #12-16

STREAMERS: Shock Collar Leech #10 | Woolly Bugger White or Olive #6-14 | Punk Perch light or dark #10-16 | Baby Fat Minnow |

EURO Streamers: GD UV P/Jig White #12 | Kaslar M/G/S Olive #12