Fly Fishing Report 6/10/2024
Tis’ the season to put those waders aside as summer is here! Time to catch those first light hatches on the Owens, venture higher up in elevation during the day and watch the alpine lakes come to life right before sunset. We have had such an amazing spring this year, with last year’s water supply plus this seasons melt we are looking at a long and steady season of fly fishing on the Eastern Sierra. I am already guiding higher up in elevation, hitting some small streams, creeks and lakes. Sight fishing and chasing around trout in clear water with either a single dry or dry dropper is my absolute favorite way to fly fish. Fly fishing is fun and summer really emphasizes the spirit of fly fishing, longer days, beautiful shared moments on the water.
Now Booking July-September Let’s get out there! Call or Email to book now.
-Luke Kinney, Orvis Endorsed Fly Fishing Guide.
Email; goldentroutguiding@gmail.com
Phone; (858) 750 9820
We are excited to announce our Fall Fly Fishing Clinic dates! This year’s two day clinic will be the last weekend of October (26th & 27th) Last years Fall Clinic was incredible and we are excited for this year. This two day clinic is great for brand new to intermediate anglers who are looking to build a strong foundation for their fly fishing. Our clinics are immersive starting in the classroom and ending on the river. From reading the water to rigging for all success we cover a lot of material while still making it simple and digestible. This year we will be focusing heavily on streamer fishing, which I’m fired up about. Our main goal with each clinic is that every angler walks away feeling confident to approach the stream. It’s always rad that by the end of the clinic we all have a group of new friends as the experience bonds us. There are 8 spots available starting today, reach out to reserve a spot today.
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Fly Fishing Report
Lower Owens- The flows on the Lower Owens have dropped to 350 CFS which is fishable, but still high. I really don’t start getting into the water or wading until the flows are below 300 CFS so use caution while fishing the Lower O. The main reason I give the Lower Owens a rest during the heat of summer is how hot it gets in the valley, we are already seeing and feeling the 100 degree temps. The water is temping around 70-72 degrees during the middle of the day so If you fish the Lower hit it early. I recommend getting on the water around sunrise 6am-9am, and in the evening 6pm-9pm. There is some solid top water water action especially in the evening, Pale Morning Dun (16-20), Blue Wing Olive (16-18), Parachute Adams (16-18), and Elk Hair Caddis (16-18) are all good options. If your looking to put more fish in the net I would go with Nymphing either Euro Nymphing or under the Indicator. When nymphing the faster water make sure you got plenty of weight on your rig to get those flies down, I like running two flies, and at least one or two split shot. Not the most fun rig to cast but it works! Bring your bug spray the mosquitoes have arrived. When fishing the Lower Owens from the bank keep an eye on the slower pools and for sipping trout, when timed right you can get into some solid fly fishing. I will be waiting to guide on the Lower Owens until early fall when temps start to cool down and we can spend more time in and on the water.
Bishop Creek/Rock Creek- Bishop and Rock Creek are slowly starting to fish well as temps warm up at higher elevation. Flows tend to be lower in the morning but by mid day the stream is getting off colored and slightly blown out due to melt. This period of melt will come and go quickly and things should stabilize by the end of the month. The trail heads are all opening up and people are getting back to their favorite alpine lakes and creeks. It’s go time for the backcountry and our mountain tributaries. I am seeing fish rise to mosquitos, midges, and tiny tiny baetis. Right now smaller flies are the ticket until we see more mayflies show up. I recommend fishing a (size 18-20 Blue Wing Olive) I order all my small mayflies with a hi vis para post so I can see the fly better in the drift. Smaller Caddis flies are working as well (Size 18) even when no caddis are around those trout love to rise to em when presented well and with patience. Small Ant Patterns are working (18-20) especially when there are no bugs out and about, when in doubt Ant it out! If the day gets warm and the hatch picks up running a dry dropper is pretty much my go to set up. I like running a size 16 Caddis to a micro mayfly Nymph (18-20) or Copper John (size 18). Those fish at this point are taking the nymph 80% of the time but why not increase your chances by putting a tasty caddis above. As spring melt slows down we are looking at an epic creek season with plenty of sight fishing and sipping trout. This type of fly fishing is in my opinion the most difficult, as trout are spooky, casting with any distance amongst the trees is hard, and you usually get one or two shots max at those bigger ones. That being said there is nothing more rewarding then when it comes together and you fool em. The skills you will learn on a small technical stream will carry into all of your future fly fishing endeavours. Good luck out there and reach out to book a trip with me of Bishop or Rock Creek!
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Going over some wading strategies while planning how we will fish the pool.
Micheal with his first brook trout! We have brook, brown, and rainbows in our higher elevation creeks.
Crowley Lake- Crowley Lake has been fishing great this last month with plenty of action in the morning. As far as fish sizes we are catching plenty of fish between 12-18 inches and the occasional 20+ inch trout. We are getting close to that time of year where the fish will start collecting in the typical spots and the size and numbers will increase. Mornings are the best on Crowley right now from sunrise to noon. By noon the wind tends to pick up and the bite substantially slows down. I am only booking for half days as of now on Crowley, and it’s more than enough time to have a fun day. Fish are feeding on midges off the bottom, Copper Tiger (16-18), Albino Wino (14-18), and most midges with a white bead head. The perch are getting ready for their spawn which will trigger the trout to feed. Small perch fry patterns and olive leeches will be in the show very soon. I’m already getting hit on them. I’m still fishing deep between 18-30ft, hopefully soon the shallow water bite will pick up which greatly increases your chances of getting fish to the net. Setting the hook at 27 ft if tough and then keeping up with the fish as it swims towards the surface can be even more challenging. Learning how to strip in the line quickly will make or break you on Crowley and it just takes some time to get good at it, that is the nature of still water fly fishing. You might get 20-30 shots during the morning but land only 6-10 fish when your learning. Now is a good time to keep exploring the lake and checking for new spots, if you have a fish finder look for those holes, drop offs and quick changes in depth. I love the pace of still water fly fishing, allows for amazing views conversations and moments. Nothing better than watching that indicator drop 4 feet and setting the hook on a solid fish! Reach out to line up a guided trip for Crowley Lake.
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Pops on a a big Eagle Lake Bow! These fish are epic fighters.
This is it! What Crowley Lake is all about. Love this shot
Upper Owens- The Upper Owens is currently flowing at 200+ CFS below the Hot Creek Confluence and around 111 CFS above. This is due to the spring melt of but still very fishable. The color of the water below the confluence is muddy but fish are still feeding to a well presented nymph or dry fly. Early morning hatches of mayflies are getting trout to rise for a dry fly, especially in the shallower pocket water where they can easily pick off an adult. Plenty of smaller juvenile trout willing to take a dry fly or nymph, and still some bigger residential trout hanging around. As the water gets warmer fishing early or late in the evening is recommended. The mid day bit is lethargic at best, so get there early. Best time to be on the water is sunrise to noon. I recommended carrying two rods with you one with a light presentation like a dry fly or dry dropper and a nymphing set up either Euro or under the indicator. Some of the bigger holes lend themselves better to being under the indicator for sure. Water is getting close to 70 degrees during the head of the day so Im only booking half day trips for the early morning on the Upper Owens. This is the best time of year to really work on your dry fly fishing, casting, mending and overall presentation. Getting fish to rise on the Upper Owens requires solid presentation. If you see fish rising, really work that area keep that drift short and take advantage of that specific zone as much as possible. Feeding fish will generally stay in there lane, sometimes they chase the fly but that’s not as common. Make each cast count when you get to a new area and work those runs and zones methodically. Dry fly recommendations for the Upper Owens as of now, Stimulator (14-16), Parachute Adams (16-18), Pale Morning Dun (16-18), Olive Foam Caddis (16-18) are all good options. You can also try fishing a bigger Black Ant as there are plenty of em up there, especially if they won’t take a mayfly. As far as nymphs going with a buggier fly seems to be the ticket, Hares Ears (16-18), Duracell, Purple or Olive (16-18), Flashback Pheasant Tail (14-18) are all good flies. Fishing smaller midges or perdigons under a dry fly are great options as well! Its a downright beautiful way to spend your morning on the Upper Owens this time of year. Don’t expect to get it to yourself, most anglers are great at communicating and sharing advice so chat with your fellow fly fishers.
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Mike with a nice Upper Owens Rainbow caught while learning hot to tightline aka Euro Nymph.
Big Mike enjoying a nice cigar and view while nymphing the Upper Owens
East Walker River- The East Walker is holding steady at 225 CFS which is right in the money for that river. The East Walker has been fishing well but slowing down due to the amount of angling pressure this season. That being said changing up your flies, trying new things, fishing streamers, going smaller and lighter will help you out. They get use to looking and seeing the same old flies so I’ve been throwing some wild patterns at em, and finding success. The top water game in the early morning has been so so good, how long it will last we will have to see. Our hatches in California are quick and short compared to the western rivers so get it while you can! Sunrise hatches of Pale Morning Dun (16-20) Blue Wing Olive (16-20) and tiny Caddis (18) are great opportunities to get a nice trout to rise. The thing I love about dry fly fishing on the East Walker is the big ones will come up for a dry fly. I have spent hours chasing big browns around trying to get them to come up and feed on my fly haha, time well spent in my opinion. The miracle mile has been BUSY this year, so if you plan on fishing your favorite run or bend get there early. Plenty of good water to fly fish if you are up to exploring. Use caution while wading the EW as the rock bottom will take you out, happens all the time, wading staff is recommended. Euro Nymphing is my favorite way to nymph the EW until the wind picks up then I switch out to the Indicator rig. I also love streamer fishing with my 6 weight, mini sculpin, dali lama’s, wolly buggers, sex dungeon are all good options, especially in those big pools. The EW this time of year requires patience and really covering water, every inch of it, especially if you are trophy hunting. Browns are particularly stubborn to feed might be 100 cast before you get your shot. Look for the seams, and well oxygenated pools, especially as the water warms up. I took a temp closer to the nevada side and it was 70 degrees in the middle of the day so be cautious of how long you are playing those fish or just give them a rest during the middle of the day. Fishing closer to the outlet from the lake is going to have colder water and easier on the fish. Reach out to line up a guided trip on the East Walker, I know this river well and love watching anglers catch a lifetime fish almost everytime we go out.
Ted with a perfect 14” brown trout caught while fishing a size 20 Blue Wing Olive dry fly
Jason with an absolute slab of a rainbow caught while nymphing on the EW biggest one of the season just last week.
Thanks for stopping by for my Eastern Sierra Fly Fishing Report for early June. Sharing my passion for fly fishing with y’all is such a blessing and I’m grateful for it. I wish you all an amazing summer full of bent rods. Please feel free to email me if you have any questions on the report or would like to line something up. There are no bad days on the water.
-Luke Kinney
Joshua 1:9 “This is my command- be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go”.
