Water Conditions: Dirty But Fishable

Flows are up to 108 cfs as of 6/10

Even with the flows coming up Hot creek is clearing up some, but the river is still much cleaner above the confluences.

The stretch of river above Benton Crossing Road is artificial, barbless, catch and release only. Below the bridge is now open. Flows are back up and a little dirtier.

Fishing Conditions and Hatches: Fair to ??????

The good news is the Cutthroat spawn is winding down, the bad news is the eggs/Redds are very vulnerable and hard to see so the best advice is DON'T WADE ANYWHERE NEAR WHERE THEY WERE SPAWNING. Midges and Tricos emerge first thing. Trico spinners fall mid-morning. BWOs hatch has slowed down but The PMD hatch is picking up nicely 9-12  and caddis are scattered in the afternoon. Lots of 6-16-inch fish to play with. They also stocked heavily for this weekend down below the bridge, so go have some fun.

Water clarity coming out of Hot Creek has gotten worse and the river below is now down to only 2-3 feet of visibility. The upside is that the fish are a lot less spookable. With the higher and dirtier conditions, the hatches have become more scattered. This is early for the runoff so it may come and go with the weather changes.

Above the Hot Creek confluence the fish are a lot spookier, so move slowly and stay away from the high banks on the outside of bends. 

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. Not to say there aren't big resident fish, but they tend to spend their entire adult life far back under the cut banks, venturing out to eat a 12-incher every once in a while.

 If you're not familiar with it, to get to the uppermost 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:   Parachute Adams #18-22 | Hippie Stomper and Rubberleg Stimulator #12-16 |  Hi-Vis BWO #20-22 | Elk Hair Caddis #14-20 | Grffiths Gnat #22-24

NYMPHS:  Zebra Midge #16-22 | Copper John #14-16 | Bling Midge #22-24 | San Juan worms assorted colors | Birds Nest Natural #16-20 | Prince Nymph #12-18 | F/B Hares Ear #16-18 | Pheasant Tail #18-22 combo flash and or bead | Egg Patterns

STREAMERS: Shock Collar Leech #10 | Woolly Bugger White, Olive and Brown for the Tadpoles #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