Mammoth Lakes Area

Weather Report

Don't forget your water bottles and sunscreen as you hit the lakes, rivers and creeks. The water's reflection seems to like to help the sun in its constant attempts to turn us all bright red and leave us sadly remembering the trip. Don't forget life jackets for the kids if you are fishing from a boat!

The following report courtesy The Trout Fly:

REPORT AS OF 5/10/2008

Mammoth Lakes Basin

Water Conditions: The Twin Lakes are open but has only been stocked with alpers.

Fishing Conditions and Hatches: Fishing has picked up despite cold water temps. Early and late try upper and middle in shallower water with streamers. Midday fish midges under indicator 3' to 5' down around edges of the big hole in upper and any of the deeper holes and slots in the middle lake. Have not heard any good reports from the lower lake. We have heard some anglers have been hiking up to Lake Mary and having some success.

Recommended Flies: -Streamers-Flash Buggers, Wooly Buggers, Mini Leech

-Nymph-#14-#20 B.H.Cchironomid Larva red,grizzly and black; #14-#20 Frostbite black; #14-#20 Williams Lake Wonder black and red; #14-#20 Zebra Midge assorted choices

Guides Hint: Bring lots of warm clothing layers.

Hot Creek

Water Conditions: The water is still "gin"clear and clean. The run off is still a few weeks away. So far it has been wonderful on the creek with lots of active trout being caught.

Fishing Conditions and Hatches: It has been windy in the mid afternoons but regardless, the fishing has been phenomenal. Scuds , Midges and BWOs has been the main stay for the last few weeks. Make sure to keep an eye out for Yellow Sallies and Some Caddis on the warm days. crowds have been growing each day . .....see guides hint.

Recommended Flies:

NYMPHS- #18 Miracle Midge, #18 Midging Emerger, #18 T/B Micro May, #18 Copper John in Copper or Black,#18-20 Pheasant Tail, #18 RS2 Emerger, #18 Olive or Green Caddis Pupa. #14-18 scuds and #12-16stonefly,.

DRY FLIES- For dries try a#14-16 Stimi, #20-22 Hi-Vis BWO, #20 Hatch Master Baetis, #20-24 Griffith's Gnat, #20-24 Brook's Sprout Midge in Olive or Black and #20 Parasol Midge Emerger in Black.

Guides Hint: LEAVE HOME AND GET HERE ASAP THE FISHING HAS TRULY BEEN SUPERB .!!!!!!!

San Joaquin

Water Conditions: The road to the Red's Meadow/Devil's Postpile area is closed and should remain so until about 4th of July. Call the Forest Service for updates.

Fishing Conditions and Hatches:

Recommended Flies:

Guide's Hint:

Crowley Lake

Water Conditions: Water is crystal clear and cold everywhere as in 42°F to 44°F on the bottom.

Fishing Conditions and Hatches: The fish are spread out as usual with no weeds to make one area more attractive than another. The cold water also makes for the fish suspending as much as 5 ft off the bottom.

Beaver Cove just around the corner from the Marina is loaded with small fish providing the best action on the lake. If you are willing to wait a little longer to see some size, try west side of McGee Bay, off the McGee "parking lot", and right in front of Bart's Bluff all in 10 to 12 feet of water. Also, Sandy Point was pretty good the other day.

For stripping I'd try long passes over the north end in 9 to 12 feet of water and stop when I got bit.

Recommended Flies: Very clear water makes for smaller flies and tippet. Size 18 gray and black or olive, dubbed head Optimidges, with green flashback have been best except early go to purple zebra or red/black Tiger Midges Slow strip or troll olive Wooly Buggers or good ol Matukas right on the bottom and then slow strip up to your rod tip with a Stillwater Hare's ear size 14 trailer.

Guide's Hint:

Upper Owens

Water Conditions: Very clear and clean with the runoff still a few weeks away.

Fishing Conditions and Hatches: Customers and shop guides have been agreeing that there has been less action on the water this time of the year than in previous years .

Midges and BWOs has been the main stay for the last few weeks. Make sure to keep an eye out for Yellow Sallies and some evening Caddis on the warm days. hopefully as summer kicks into full swing the fishing will improve .

Recommended Flies:

NYMPHS- #16 Copper John in Green or Copper, #16 WD-40 in Black or Olive,#14 F/B Pheasant Tail, #16 Surface Emerger, #16 Hares Ear, #20 Disco Midges in Green and #14-16 Birds Nest in Olive or Tan.

DRY FLIES- #10-18 Stimi's, #10-16Royal Wulff, #14 Parachute Adam's, #14 Royal Coachman, #16 Elk hair caddis and #18-20 Profile Baetis.

STREAMERS-#6-10 Wooly buggers in dark colors, #8-16 Olive Matukas and #6 Olive Zonker.

Guide's Hint: PLEASE DO NOT FISH FOR SPAWNING FISH OR WADE IN THEIR REDDS!!!

Owens River Gorge

Water Conditions: The flow on this section of the Owens River is maintained at a constant 40 cfs by the LADWP as mandated by law.

Fishing Conditions and Hatches: Now that the season opener has kicked off you should expect to see fewer people fishing the gorge this time of year . Recent reports have been very good . Lots of fish are being caught using dry dropper rigs.

Recommended Flies: Try #16-18 Parachute Caddis in Brown,#16 Elk Hair Caddis, #16 Parachute Adams, #16 Stimi and #16-18 Humpy. For the dropper use a #18-20 Prince Nymph, #18-20 Zebra Midge, #16-20 Caddis Pupa in Tan, or a #18-20 Zug Bug. If you stick with these bugs you should have good success.

Guide's Hint: Do not get caught up in having a thousand different bugs. Bring your five favorite patterns, use some stealth and get a good drift. That's the beauty of the Gorge, Simplicity!

Lower Owens River

Water Conditions: The water flows have sky rocketed to 600 cfs.

There is a ton of debris floating down the Lower O.

Fishing Conditions and Hatches: I would avoid the Lower O. with the poor water conditions right now.

There was a fire 1/2 mile below the foot bridge which is located at the top of the wild trout section that burned 1200+ acres and took 700 firemen to contain near the cement plant.

They are fencing off the part of the "O" that got burned. Don't worry though, you will just have to walk a little bit farther to fish. Much like the Upper Owens.

Recommended Flies:

NYMPHS- #14-16 Prince Nymph, #18 Kyle's Super Flash PT, #18 Copper John in Red, #18-20 Barr's BWO Emerger, #18-22 Disco Midge, #12 San Juan Worm and # 16-18 CDC Caddis in Green or Tan.

DRIES-

Guide's Hint: A good place to fish when the water flow stabilizes.

East Walker River

Water Conditions: Cold. Daytime temps have been anywhere from high 50's to low 70's this last week. Check current weather on the link above.

Water temps are great! From 49 to 60 degrees, depending on where you are and time of day.

The flows are currently at 93cfs which is on the low side. We expect flows to come up soon. Best flows are from 150 to 350cfs. This allows the fish to spread out and creates more fishable water for anglers.

Fishing Conditions and Hatches: Slow. Despite the unpredictable weather patterns that we have been experiencing, the fishing has remained consistent. The crowds have been heavy on the weekends, but reasonable midweek.

Early in the morning, there has been a strong midge hatch followed by mayflies emerging around 11:00 a.m. On most days, this will last until 1-2:00 p.m. creating some exciting dry fly opportunities for those who desire a challenge.

There has been sporadic caddis emerging in the evening hours on warmer days.

Recommended Flies:

NYMPHS- #12-18 Hares Ear#14-18 Pheasant Tails, #16-20 WD40s, #16-20 Soft Hackle PT, #16-18 Surface Emerger, #18 Kyle's Super Flash PT, #16-20 Black Beauty, #14-18 Prince Nymph # 14-18 Serendipity's and #18-20 Tiger Midges

DRY FLY'S- #16-18 Parachute Adams, #12-16 Stimi, #18-20 Ext Body BWO, #18-20 BWO Sprout and #16 Parachute Caddis , #14-18 EC Caddis, #20-24 Griffiths Nat

Guide's Hint: Fishing later in the afternoon will probably produce more action than in the morning.

Bridgeport Reservoir

Water Conditions: Fairly low water level in the reservoir but the marina is in full operation for launching, etc.

Increased run-off starting soon should raise the level considerably.

Fishing Conditions and Hatches: The fish are still spread out in front of the Marina. I have also been hearing some good reports from anglers fishing near the dam.

Recommended Flies:

Midging- #18 Kyle's Midge, #12-16 Frostbite Midges, #16 Optimidges in Gray, #14 Copper John, #14 Prince Nymph and #10 Punk Perch

Streamers- Zonkers in White or Olive, Wooly Buggers in Brown or Olive, Marabou Leech in Brown, Muddler Minnow.

Guide's Hint: Start buying or tying callibaetis patterns for the up coming months it is still early in the year but definitely one hatch you won't want to miss!