Water Conditions: Good

Flows have dropped to 52 cfs as of 1/30

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 reason for the drop in flows is due to DWP shutting off the flows through the tunnel from Grant Lake.

Fishing Conditions and Hatches: Fair-Good

 Once again the parking is at the bridge. With all the snow the parking is right at the turnoff, room for maybe for 6-7 cars maybe less depending on the number of trailers. If you plan to head upstream without a snowmobile best you have snowshoes or skis, otherwise you will be postholing in knee deep snow. The bigger fish are spread out but the spring run is starting to show up. You'll also find a smattering of smaller fish too. The midges are the only hatches going on right now. Besides midge imitations it's almost all attractor patterns from here until later in the winter. 1/30 Temperatures tonight will be 20-30 below zero with a high on the 31st in the mid 20s so remember the alert below. The rest of the week lows in the mid teens, highs in the 30s.

 ALERT: if you're going to fish in temperatures close to or below 0 degrees DO NOT take the fish out of the water! Their eyes and gills can freeze very quickly!

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.

DRIES: Griffiths Gnat #20-24 | CDC Transition Midge #20-24 |  Z Wing Real Midge #22-26 

NYMPHS:  Zebra Midge #16-22 | Copper John #14-16 | B/H Pheasant tail #14-18 | Bling Midge #22-24 | 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