Fly Fishing Report 12/26/2023
G.T.G.C LLC, Established 2021
Thanks for stopping by for my Eastern Sierra fly fishing report. Christmas is a time for family, friends, fly tying and if you’re lucky enough some fly fishing. Its always nice to be able to get out on the water for a quick session when available and clear the head from all the holiday madness. Luckily here in Bishop we have some quick and accessible spots to catch a few fish, but for those further away now is a great time to start planning a new years trip to the Eastern Sierra. We have had a very warm winter so far and have just received our first somewhat decent storm, but we are hoping for a lot more for us to have another good summer season.
Our 2024 Spring Clinic is a go, and will be happening April 13th & 14th. We hold two main clinics a year for a small group of anglers, one on each shoulder season. Our clinics are the highlight of my guiding season as we immerse ourselves into the world of fly fishing learning foundational skills to help us be as effective as possible while on the water. We recommend the clinic for anyone looking to take their angling to the next level and approach the river with more confidence. Our spring clinic is always special as winter fades away and the days get longer, I think our shoulder seasons are some of the best times of year to go fly fishing.
Lastly I wanted to let you all know that we will be partnering with McGee Creek Pack Station and Eastern Sierra Sport Fishing this summer season and running and amazing week long golden trout trip into the back country in pursuit of one of the worlds purest strain of golden trout to be found. We are hammering out the full details as we speak and will post the entire trip package ASAP.
Lots of exciting stuff and adventures to be had going down on the Eastern Sierra! We are in prime trophy trout season on the Upper Owens and flows have come down to fishable levels on the Lower Owens. If you are looking to catch a personal best and enjoy some amazing scenery with snow capped mountains and hard fighting rainbow trout NOW IS THE TIME. Give me a call or email and lets line something excellent up. Wishing everyone bent rods and big smiles this holiday season in whatever way you celebrate them.
Luke Kinney
Phone- (858) 750 9820
Email- goldentroutguiding@gmail.com
We are excited to announce our 2024 Spring Clinic dates! April 13th & 14th. Its going to be an amazing weekend full of learning and new community, join us!
For more details or to reserve a spot today click here.
Luke Kinney is an Orvis Endorsed Fly Fishing Guide.
Fly Fishing Report
Lower Owens- The Lower Owens is currently at 328 CFS. This is about when I start fishing the Lower, but as far as wading I wont even attempt to cross the stream until it’s below 300. Do not under estimate the flows on the Lower Owens, use extra caution while wading. Fishing from the banks or from the bends is a great way to get into some nice fish. Plenty of wild brown trout to be had on the Lower Owens right now with sizes ranging from 6-20 inches. I find myself getting into mostly brown trout, but every once a while linking into a bigger rainbow is possible. The wild trout section on chalk bluff rd. is the place to be as of now, with over 7 miles of fishable water getting away from crowds is easy. Certain sections of the wild trout will see more people than others, especially with higher flows and less accessibility. Once flows drop further more of the river will be wadable and if we get lucky enough and flows get around 200 CFS its GAME ON. With the planned release of extra water this year from DWP taking advantage of fishable flows while you can seems to be the trend this winter, as flows are much higher than our typical year. Lots of midges hatching throughout the mid morning into the early afternoon, some small mayflies mixed in but I’m not seeing too much bug action. Nymphing is going to be the most productive way to catch fish on the Lower O right now, either under an Indicator or Euro Style. For the faster water Im using my 10ft Euro Set Up, and for the bigger slower pools Im fishing under an Indicator. For both styles Im fishing some heavier tungsten bead head nymphs. Some recommended flies for the Lower Owens, Flash Back Pheasant Tail (Size 14-18), Quilldigon/Perdigon (Size 16-18), Duracell (Size 16-18), Frenchie (Size 16-18). If you are more of a dry fly purist or top water junkie you might have a real tough time getting a fish to take a fly as it is generally one of the slowest times of year for hatches, that being said its still possible! Griffiths Gnat. (Size 16), Parachute Adams (Size 18), Elk or Deer Hair Caddis (Size 16-18) are all good dry flies with the right amount of patience and presentation. Swinging some streamers through the deeper water is one of my favorite ways to get into fish on the Lower Owens and a great way to fish from the bank where getting a solid drift might be an issue. I recommend using a sinking poly leader to help get those streamers deep and closer to the bottom through your drift/swing. You can stay up to date on the current flow rate of the Lower Owens on my website here. Good luck out there, hopefully we will all be able to enjoy the Lower Owens this winter asap.
Working a slower pool with two flies under a “Airlock” Indicator. Beautiful water!
Finding a safe place to stand and Euro Nymph. Being able to read the bottom will help you have a more productive day on the water.
Look at the colors on this Lower Owens Brown Trout!
Bishop Canal- The Bishop Canal is low and clear right now but still holding some nice trout! Being stealthy and using smaller flies will help get you hooked up. Ive been guiding on the canal mostly teaching new anglers how to cast and get good presentation on the water. I have also been teaching anglers how to fish streamers as the canal is the perfect place to build a long cast with little chance of catching the trees or the bushes behind you. Not much surface action going on right now, your best chance would be getting out mid day and fishing a small mayfly pattern (BWO 20) or (Trico 20-22) you could also try fishing a Griffiths Gnat (Size 16-18) as midges are the main hatch on the water. Most of the feeding is subsurface and smaller nymphs or midges are a great fly choice. Black or Olive Zebra Midge (Size 16-20), Mercury Midge (Size 16-20), Copper John (Size 16-18), Small Prince Nymph (Size 16-18), Tail Water Assassin (Size 16-18). The Canal is pretty large and if you do some exploring you might find yourself in some better water, which is usually the case anywhere. Take your time when fishing the canal and keep your distance from your target areas. A dry dropper is going to be my method of choice as of now on the canal! Good luck out there and have fun.
The Canal is the perfect place to learn how to Fly Fish. Im offering a discounted half day (Introduction to fly fishing) trip for $250. All gear is included and I welcome anyone who wants to learn the basics to book a half day with me on the canal.
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Maria wanted to learn more about streamer fishing. We worked on building a longer cast with a single haul and retrieving the fly. She hooked up with some nice rainbow trout while retrieving a size 8 Wolly Bugger.
We love meat eaters! There is nothing like a fish taking a streamer on the retrieve.
Swinging a streamer through the tailwater of this small run. Trout love to sit on the seam where the fast water comes in and meets the slower pool. Getting a cast downstream and across allows for a better drift and presentation while maintaining tension to your fly.
Central Gorge- The flows in the central gorge are fluctuating daily right now, so use caution while navigating the canyon. Even with some higher flows there are nice pools and runs to be had in the central gorge but the approach can be tricky. All of the stinging nettle has died off making more of the river accessible and this is the time of year I start to adventure into new areas. My favorite way to fish the central gorge is with my Euro Rod and work the technical small pools looking for those larger brown trout taking shelter in hard to reach areas. The water is pretty clear right now in the central gorge so finding some faster moving water with more oxygen will help you link up with trout that are feeding and spook less fish. It is surprising some of the places good fish will hold in, areas that seem impossible might just be the spot! Be prepared to loose some flies haha. Having a guide in the central gorge is recommended, and I enjoy an adventurous day in the canyon. This is your best chance and location to get into some top water action, but don’t expect a very productive day at temps have cooled down. My favorite time to fish dry flies is when the sun is directly over the canyon and insect life starts to pick up. Look for the slower pools and eddy’s to present a fly. Its hard to beat the classic (Elk Hair Caddis, Size 16) as a dry fly choice. Although there aren’t many caddis hatching this time of year down there the fish are keen take a familiar protein source. A dry dropper rig is also a solid option, running a (Caddis Stimulator, Size 8) to a (Mercury Midge, Size 18-20) wont let you down. Fish are more likely to take the dry on the first cast so get set up and prepared before casting and make it count. Im running a two bug nymph rig on my Euro Rod, (Duracell, Size 18) and a (Perdigon, Size 18) gives me the weight I need to get down deep and target the bottom. Euro Nymphing allows for technical drifts where you can “lift and drop” your flies over or around boulder to where trout are hiding. Always a blast to play those bigger browns down there in small pools where they can easily break you off. Running 3/4x tippit will increase your chances for landing fish. Now is the time to line up a trip in the Central Gorge! Reach out to chat about putting a canyon adventure together for the new year.
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Heather Euro Nymphing a beautiful section of water. The small waterfalls offer well oxygenated water, prime location for trout.
A well fed wild brown trout!
Upper Owens- The Upper Owens has nice flows 76 CFS above the Hot Creek Confluence and 97 CFS below. Trophy trout have moved into the system but are spread out and require some solid work and effort to get into the action. We have had a warm winter so far with little to no precipitation on the caldera floor. Usually we are in snow shoes this time of year but as of now they are not necessary. This is good for access, but use caution while driving upstream from the Benton Crossing Bridge as any rain will turn the road into mud and getting stuck is a possibility. My last few trips on Upper Owens have been successful when hunting down trophy trout but with its fair share of time, effort and presentation. These migrating trout come in waves and hopefully we will see more trout making their way upstream. The Water is consistently temping around 49 degrees right now which means the trout are feeding but are slow to move and take a fly. Having patience and taking more cast than usual will help you hook up with a nice trophy trout. I would set on anything suspicious, as these takes are subtle. I like using a medium sized white Airlock indicator when nymphing. The white color matches the foam line and to me that makes a difference. Plenty of juvenile trout feeding on midges and small mayflies on the surface, the occasional trophy will rise but almost all of our big hook ups are subsurface. If you see the trout in shallow water paired up, avoid the urge to cast to them as they are spawning. Stick to the deep pools and cut banks where trout moving or resting between locations. Good catch and release ethics this time of year is best practiced with keeping those fish wet and in the water, as their gills can freeze with exposure to the air. Fish look just as good in the net, and just as big. Recommended nymphs for the Upper Owens right now, Large Prince Nymph (Size 10-12), Hares Ears (Size 12-16), Gummy Worm (Size 10-12), Perdigon (Size 14-18), Duracell (Size 16-18) are all solid options. If you like to fish with egg patterns now is the time to try some patterns out. Its always fun to fish streamers, especially if its slow out as you can cover more water especially the bigger pools where getting a good drift with an Indicator is impossible. The Upper Owens can turn on at any moment and you can find yourself having the best day of your life so its always worth the effort. I have spent a good amount of time learning this river and where the fish hold. Having a guides knowledge when hunting down trophy trout will maximize your time on the water and get you into the bigger fish. Its my favorite time of year on the Upper Owens, less crowds, more walking and hard fighting trophy trout! Reach out to line up a guided trip.
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These fish are beautiful, caught on a size 16 Hares Ears.
Large and in charge! This 21’ rainbow took a Gummy Worm.
Thanks for reading my Eastern Sierra Fly Fishing Report for the Owens River! We are lucky to have great fly fishing year round’. I love teaching new anglers and helping more experienced anglers improve their skills and techniques. Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions on the report or would like to let me know what you are seeing on the water. Merry Christmas and happy holidays to you all!
-Luke Kinney
