Water Conditions: Improving

147 cfs 1/30

Water temperatures have dropped from upper 40's to lower 40's over the last week. And the water clarity is improving.

Fishing Conditions and Hatches: Fair-Good

ALERT, ALERT: They are running water out of Crowley now and for whatever reason it is filthy. Check out the new pictures at the top of the fish report. Word has it that the work on the power plant at the base of the dam is done so water is coming out at the power plant but I'll check it out tomorrow morning. Correction: The water is still coming out of the pipe below the culvert below PVR. Water clarity has improved dramatically but with the increased release out of Crowley we'll see what happens.

With the snow up higher the Lower Owens has been crowded, but midweek is better. With the water temperature stabilizing fishing is picking up, including finding fish in the1-2 foot riffles. Midmorning on is all midges with an occasional Cranefly, especially the further downstream you go. The Baetis have started to show again and now it's almost all #14-18, the spring hatch. 1-2 is still the best time for them. Now that the water is getting colder, you'll start finding leeches on the fish. This is quite normal, when the water gets cold enough the fish start resting on the bottom. ALERT: With the big drop in air temperature over the next few days we'll have to see how low the water temperature will get.

Recommended Flies

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 #16-22

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

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