Flow rates are on the rise and are expected to reach 700cfs soon

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


by The Trout Fitter Staff
11-12-2023
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Flow Rates and Water Conditions

Water Conditions: Poor

Flows are 574 cfs as of 11/12

Flow rates are on the rise and are expected to reach 700cfs soon and hold there for the rest of the year.

There is Gorge access to the middle and upper power plants as well as the reservoir. Pleasant Valley Dam Road and Chalk Bluff Road are now open but below the campground it's still a mess after all the rain.

Fishing Conditions and Hatches: Fair-Good

Flow rates are on the rise and are expected to reach 700 cfs soon and hold there for the rest of the year.

The cold weather and high winds sure made a difference, the great dry fly action went THUD, maybe with the milder weather it will come back. Don't expect the dry fly action to come back soon, the flows just came back up 100 cfs in 2 days. Midges are and will be around all winter but the Baetis hatches are getting later andTricos and caddis are on life support. On Sunday we did see a very impressive spinner fall around 1, I'm guessing Trico but not positive.

The fish have been holding in the shallower faster water and while normally a big big drop in temperature would push them into the deeper slower water quickly warming temperatures might keep them where they've been. However this plays out the hatches will probably change significantly.

A few things I've seen, the banks are very unstable and walking has gotten a lot better but be very careful around the high banks.

REALLY

DRIES: Stillborn Midge #20-22  | Giffith's Gnat #22-24 |CDC Transition midge #20-22 | No Mercy Midge #18-24 | Boroff F/Homie #20, 24 | Para CDC Baetis #16-22 | Para Adams #14-22 | Stimulators #10-14 | Hi-Vis Baetis #18-22

NYMPH:  Pheasant Tail #14-22 | Hares Ear #16-22 |Caddis Cased #12 | Zebra Midge #18-22 |Weiss BP light or dark #18-20 | Bottom Roller Phsyco Rhyco #10-14 | Chamois caddis #16-20 | TB Millers +1 Lt #16-18  | Lexi Girdle Bug Tan/Black #6 | HDA Fav. Variant #12

STREAMERS: Wooly Bugger Olive & Black #10-12 | Mini Sculpin Olive & Black #10-12

Guides Hint: Lesson learned the hard way, don't ignore the fish rising in the shallow water on the inside of the bends. They're usually a lot bigger than you thought.



More Reports

The Trout Fitter Reports
for Sunday, November 12th, 2023

Hot Creek: The water temperature may be less affected by the cold snap than other streams
Owens River - Section 3 - Upper (above Crowley): Over the weekend the hatches came back....and so did the crowds

The Trout Fitter Reports
for Sunday, November 5th, 2023

Hot Creek: Hot Creek Fishing Report
Owens River - Section 3 - Upper (above Crowley): Over the weekend the hatches came back....and so did the crowds
Owens River - Lower: With the dropping flows the surface action has gone off
East Walker River (CA): Good news is the flows are still double the normal for this time of year