The crowds have gone to the normal fall pattern

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


by The Trout Fitter Staff
9-26-2024
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Flows & Water Conditions- Good

Clarity- So-so below Hot Creek, but good above

CFS- 69

Click Here For Upper Owens Flow Rates

Fishing Report & Conditions: Fair- Good

Something to be aware of - They are starting to put cows inside the fences. This is a normal occurrence, as grazing (historically done by Deer and Antelope) is an important part of the ecosystem. They move the cows every week or so, so it can affect water clarity and the amount of drifting weeds - Be on the lookout. The drifting slime weed problem is clearing up quickly, so fishing below the Hot Creek confluences has become more pleasant.

Well, the results are in. The Tricos are inconsistent but there are still some days with big hatches but the caddis activity has tapered off. The hatches are still about an hour later and Craneflies and Aquatic Moths are back. Craneflies appear midmorning and the moths appear early and late. The Tricos should be winding down pretty soon and the next mayfly hatch will probably be the BWO’s and they won’t show up until at least late September.


The crowds have gone to the normal fall pattern; midweek the pressure is light but weekends go from crowded to brutal. The tough thing is that with all of the pressure from this summer, the actively feeding fish have gotten super picky. If you are looking for bigger fish, getting your flies down in the big holes and back under the banks will improve your odds.

Hopper-droppers are still working well with small #20-24 mayfly nymphs. The stocked Rainbows are now spread throughout the public water while the migratory browns are either under the cut banks or up in the private ranches. Caddis migration starts around 8 AM. The Trico emergence is less consistent now, starting around 9 AM. The Tiny BWO is becoming more abundant, hatching midday - Hence the Hopper-Dropper rig. Even the PMDs are showing up occasionally. We are also seeing minnows and fry hanging out in the drowned grass on the inside of the river bends. Evenings are good for male Tricos, Caddis hatches, and Caddis egg-laying.

Flies:

  • Dries: Spider Variant Trico #20-22 | Parachute Caddis #16-22 | Spent Partridge Caddis #16-22 | Parachute Kicking Hopper #10-14 | Assorted Foam Hoppers #8-12 for Hopper Dropper Rigs 
  • Nymphs: Drowned Trico Spinner #18-22 | Bead Head Flashback Pheasant Tail #14-22 | HDA Fav Variant #12-16 | Translucent Pupa Olive or Tan #16-18 | Chamois Caddis #16-20 | Spring Creek Hopper #12-16 | M/Pardi F/B Olive or Brown #18-20 | Weiss BP Light #18-20 | Slush Egg Apricot #14 | EZ Fl. S/Burst #20 | Squirmy Wormy #12-14 |
  • Streamers: Keslars H/B/G Olive | Punk Perch #16 | Crostons MRS Natural #12 |



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