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 7/22/2010
The forecast calls for more HOT weather through Saturday then milder temps on Sunday and into next week. Afternoon thunder showers have subsided for a while.
Note that the flow shown for Hot Creek is the flow into Hot Creek from Mammoth Creek, which is in addition to the normal flow from the springs that feed this primarily spring creek.
*For Crowley Lake and Upper Owens, take average of Mammoth and Bishop temperatures.
We only report first-hand info from our sixteen guides on the water daily.
Mammoth Lakes Basin
Water Conditions: Mary and George are still quite cold, with warmer water being found in Mamie and The Twins.
Fishing Conditions and Hatches: Good. Mary, George, Mamie, and The Twins are all being stocked now.
Recommended Flies:
DRIES: #14 Elk Hair Caddis will imitate the big moths flying around. #16 Parachute Adams, #16-18 Stimi's, Loco Beetles.
NYMPHS:# 16 Prince nymph, #16 Hares Ears Natural, #14-18 Pheasant Tails.
STREAMERS:#10 BH Docs in cinnamon or olive color.
Guides Hint: Look for points or areas of cover
Hot Creek
Water Conditions: Good
Summer days are seeing 68 cfs (including the spring) as of 7/22.
Fishing Conditions and Hatches: Excellent, time dependent
Caddis have arrived in good numbers. Still seeing Midges with scattered PMD's.
The heat and overhead sun shuts down fishing in the middle of the day.
Recommended Flies:
DRIES: Parachute Adams in size 18, Brooks Sprout Trico patterns near dark. Hoppers and Chernobyl ants #10-16, CDC Caddis or Spotlight Caddis.
NYMPHS: Olive Birds nests in #18-20. #18 Stalcups Caddis. #20 Flashback Optimidge. #18-20 Zebra midges. #16-18 Flashy Scuds, all colors.
STREAMERS: Try big and dark streamers early and late, #10 Doc's BH in black
Guides Hint: Plan to get up early or stay late, lunch should include a nap
San Joaquin River
Water Conditions:
Water flows are still high. Look for pocket water or seams that offer fish some protection.
Fishing Conditions and Hatches: Fair. No stocking so far. High flows mean mostly nymphing
Recommended Flies:
DRIES:#14-16 Parachute Adams, #14-18 Stimi's, #16 Humpys, #16 Little Yellow Sallies
NYMPHS:#14 Golden Stone Flies, #16-18 Micro Mayfly Copper Beadhead, #18-20 Hares Ear Natural
STREAMERS: Try Crystal Flash buggers in all colors depending on the time of day
Guide's Hint: Carry bug spray, given a chance the mosquitos will pick you up and haul you away
Crowley Lake
Water Conditions: The algae has quickly moved into the stringy stage making for difficulty in getting a fly down through the goop.
Winds move it around daily but don't count on anywhere being immune.
Fishing Conditions and Hatches: Fair to Good
The big cordwood is stacking in McGee and Little Hilton but they are still on the Tui Chub fry and midge hatches have been weak.
They are chasing the fry just under the surface. Imitating them is easy but your fly is one of a thousand trargets so pretty tough hanging one under the indicator or stripping.
Midging is getting better late mornings after they stop chasing the fry. Fish about 2 ft off the bottom as usual in the channels between the weeds.
The good news is that the bigger fish are still on the midges and stripping small flies like even a Hare's Ear will produce if you want to jump in the tube.
Recommended Flies:
Red/Black Optimidge in size 16 is the best overall producer in the getting green environment. Red Baron early also.
If you see a Calibaetis on the surface try a Jensen's Callibaetis or ditto for Damsels with an Ultimate Damsel.
Strip anything abut size 16 and whie or with some gold flash. Tiny strips or sloooow troll.
Guide's Hint: Stillwater Classic is only about a month away . . . step up and give back to our favorite pond!
Upper Owens
Water Conditions: 7/22 is seeing flows of 70 cfs. Clear water. Water is getting quite warm in the afternoons, especially at the confluence of Hot Creek on down.
Fishing Conditions and Hatches:
Good below Benton Crossing
Most fish are being found from Benton Crossing down towards Crowley.
DFG continues to stock the Upper O from the bridge at Benton Crossing down towards Crowley.
Midges, some PMD's, then Caddis on warmer days. Seeing Hoppers with the hot weather.
Recommended Flies:
DRIES: Parachute Adams and Elk Hair Caddis in #18-22, Hoppers and Chernobyl Ants sizes 12-16. Stimulators in sizes 18-20
NYMPHS: #18 BWO, #16-18 Prince Nymphs or Pheasant Tails, #18 Hairs Ears, #18 Olive Birds Nests, #18-22 Red Or Black Zebra Midges
STREAMERS: Big dark Wooly Buggers sizes #8-#12 right against the bank .
Guide's Hint: Early morning and late evening mean more mosquitos but more fish
Owens River Gorge
Water Conditions: Great
Flow: 45 CFS. This is a permanent flow required to be maintained by LADWP
Water is clear and looking good.
Fishing Conditions and Hatches: Good
The bite starts about 8:00 and goes until about 7 pm. Same bugs are working but have your dry flies ready for the baetis hatch around 12:00-2:00 followed by a nice Caddis hatch.
Recommended Flies:
DRIES: Elk hair caddis, parachute caddis, e/c caddis, hot creek caddis (olives, tans, browns) #18-#20s Tricos- spinners/emergers #18-#22s. Medium size hoppers still working well (lighter tans and brown w/red)
NYMPHS: poxy back baetis, wd-40s, kyles super flash p/t, beerhead baetis, Two Bit Hookers
STREAMERS: Wooley buggers and leeches(small) Lots of little white frogs,try some lighter colors.
Guide's Hint: Be prepared for killer temps
Lower Owens River
Water Conditions:
Seeing flows of 314 cfs as of 7/22.
Clear water.
Fishing Conditions and Hatches: Good
Bishop's forcast is between 91 to 104 degrees for the high of the day, over the next week. Fishing early and late will help avoid the high temps and generally have better bug hatches
Hatches will change throughout the day. Typically midges, then PMD, then Caddis
Recommended Flies:
NYMPHS: Size 18 green or red/black midges and Copper Johns, size 16-18. #16 Pheasant Tail on top and midges on bottom will produce nicely. Add a Glo Ball or San Juan Worm up top to get seen.
DRIES: Para-Adams and Hi Vis BWOs, size 16-20. Elk hair caddis, spent caddis,e/c caddis, ( tans and greys) #18-#20s, Brook's Sprout BWO's in 18-22.
STREAMERS: BH Purple or Rust color 'Buggers, short strips do well in the afternoon
Guides Hint: With high temps look for deeper bends and cooler waters
Bridgeport Reservoir
Water Conditions: Water is clear and getting up in temp as runoff slows. Lots of weeds and well-defined channels.
Fishing Conditions and Hatches: Excellent
As the water in the resevoir warms continue to target the cold water channels of the inlets, especially Buckeye. Pull steamers with a dropper near the weed lanes for hunting Brown's.
Recommended Flies:
NYMPHS:Large Callibaetis patterns are a go to setup. Damsel patterns and PT's under the indicator have been good in the channels. Zebra Midges in black and gray.
STREAMERS: Small perch fry patterns
Guide's Hint:
East Walker River
Water Conditions: Flows dropped over the last week and are now at 290 cfs as of 7/22.
Fishing Conditions and Hatches:
Its the Walker, expect to see people.
Midges right at sunrise and sunset, PMD's and Caddis spread throughout the day. Look for damsels or perch fry that have come out of the res.
Fishing has been varying depending on the day. Somedays its best early, other days a bit later. The only way to know for certain is to fish it.
Recommended Flies:
Egg Laying Caddis patterns, Parachute Adams, Hopper and Chernobyl Ant patterns. #16 PMD dunns have worked well
NYMPHS: #14-16 Caddis Pupa, #16 PT's, Hare's ears, Tan Birds Nests, Frontier Damsels
STREAMERS: With water warming keep an eye out for perch fry. Perfection perch or Doc's Twin lake specials near t
Guide's Hint: Smaller isn't, always better on the Walker these days. If having trouble go bigger.
