The colder the night before the further upstream you should start

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


by The Trout Fitter Staff
5-20-2022
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Flow Rates and Water Conditions

Water Conditions: Good- Excellent

Flows are at 179 cfs as of 5/4

Outside of a little bit of off color coming out of Horton creek water levels are ideal

Fishing Conditions and Hatches: Good-Very Good

With the colder and windy weather the fishing has slowed down a little but still good. The BWO hatch starting times are still all over the place now, but the start is leaning more towards 12:30-1:30. This is the time to key on the riffles, ankle to knee deep. Along with the mayflies the caddis hatch is picking up and the craneflies, but that is already starting to slow down. Craneflies generally emerge mid to late morning but right now they're going into the early afternoon. If you're not familiar with them you can mistake them for PMDs, the back legs look like tails so look for the "knobby" head as they fly away. That of course includes midges all day long.

Those nice deep holes are pretty much empty except for the big backwaters, the fish seem to be holding there and feeding on midges. It's not just the water temperature that dictates fish activity. So far the water has remained clear but keep in mind that after rain or snow melt the river can be dirty below the Petroglyph parking (#9) from Horton Creek. If you're down below and it's dirty just move upstream until you find clean water. The old winter rule still applies, the colder the night before the further upstream you should start.

Recommended Flies

DRIES: Extended Body BWO #16-20 | Hi-Vis BWO #18-20 | Parachute Adams #16-20 | Stillborn Midge #20-22  | Giffith's Gnat #22-24 |CDC Transition midge #20-22 | Slvrmn Stillborn Caddis #16-18 |Elk Hair Skaddis #16 | Tan Stimulator #14-16

NYMPH:  Pheasant Tail #14-18 | Caddis Cased #12 | Zebra Midge #18-22 | Olive Hot Spot Jig #18  | Bottom Roller Phsyco Rhyco #10-14 | Juju Baetis #16-20 | Pearl & Orange #16 | Tungsten Olive Mic Drop #16-18 | TB Millers +1 Lt #16-18  | Lexi Girdle Bug Tan/Black #6, Orange/Black #10

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 Friday, May 20th, 2022

Hot Creek: Hatches are remaining unchanged, at least for a couple of weeks until runoff starts
Owens River - Section 3 - Upper (above Crowley): The dreaded early season green slime weed migration is going on

Well the flows have come up enough to make it worth a shot
East Walker River (CA)

5-16-2022
Flow Rates and Water Conditions Water Conditions:  Poor Flows are at 70 cfs as of 5/14 Fishing conditions and Hatches:Fair Well the flows have...... Read More