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 4/27/2008

Mammoth Lakes Basin

Water Conditions:

Still iced over even at lower Twin.

Hopefully the road will be open by Memorial Day weekend.

Fishing Conditions and Hatches:

Recommended Flies:

Guides Hint:

Hot Creek

Water Conditions:

The water is still clear and clean. The run off is still a few weeks away. Water Temps have been in the low to mid 50s.

Fishing Conditions and Hatches:

The fishing is still good and the crowds where light for the opener. 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.

Recommended Flies:

NYMPHS- #18 Miracle Midge, #18-20 Black Beauty Midge, #18 Midgling Emerger, #18 T/B Micro May, #18 Copper John in Copper or Black,#18-20 Trina's Present 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 for the most part located in areas that have a gradual decrease in depth, the west and north side of McGee Bay, the McGee "parking lot" and Stormy Flats. These shallower areas warm up through the day and they eventually feed. Before 11 am it is slow but a few fish can be picked up if you are patient.

A few fish are along Green Banks and spread around the water farther out towards the channel but generally slow. Slow stripping seemed to out produce midging.

The good news is that the spawn is just getting going so there are some big fish in the area staging.

Recommended Flies:

Blood worms before the bite gets going and anything very realistic with 6X tippet in the very clear water. Gray and black or olive, dubbed head Optimidges, light green Gillies in sizes 18 are doing the best.

Slow strip or troll olive Wooly Buggers right on the bottom. They won't chase much in the cold water but will grab it if pulled right in front of their nose.

Guide's Hint:

Upper Owens

Water Conditions:

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

Fishing Conditions and Hatches:

Good. The fishing is still great and the crowds where relatively light for the opener.

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.

Recommended Flies:

NYMPHS- #16 Copper John in Green or Copper, #16 WD-40 in Black or Olive,#14 F/B Pheasant Tail, #16 Barr's BWO Emerger, #16 prince nymph, #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:

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.

Check Bishop for weather report, add 10 degrees.

Fishing Conditions and Hatches:

Good. The fish are becoming more active as the water temps start to come up. Midges, Mayflies and Caddis are the main hatches right now. Do watch out the raising air temps. Make sure bring lots of water and a good hat.

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 are at 250cfs. The water flow is fast but still fishable. Water temps are in the low 50s and the water is clear (for the Lower O).

Fishing Conditions and Hatches:

The fishing has been good for the most part. We are still having good BWO and Caddis hatches everyday on the O.

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 walked a little bit farther to fish. Much like the Upper O.

Recommended Flies:

NYMPHS- #14-16 Prince Nymph, #18-20 Pheasant Tail, #18-20 Copper John in Green, #18 Wonder Baetis , #18-20 Barr's BWO Emerger, #18-22 Biot Midge and # 16-18 Bubble Back Caddis in Green or Tan.

DRIES- #16-18 Elk hair caddis #18-24 Parachute Adams, #18-20 Last Chance BWO, #18-20 Comparadun BWO, #18-20 Brooks Sprout Baetis and #18-22 Griffith's Gnat.

Guide's Hint:

A good place to run from the crowd in Mammoth

East Walker River

Water Conditions:

Cold. Daytime temps have increased to the 70's in the last few days.

Water temps have finally hit the 50 degree mark and is clear. The flows are still in the low at 50 cfs.

Fishing Conditions and Hatches:

Slow. The fish are sluggish with the cold nights and the water from the reservoir is very cold. Look for deeper holes and slow runs for the fish to hide.

Baetis and Midges are a main stay for the fish on the Walker. There are a few Stones moving in the lower parts of the river. Make sure to have a few on hand.

Recommended Flies:

NYMPHS- #12-18 Hares Ear, #18 Frostbite Chironomidae, #18-16 Micro May, #16-20 Soft Hackle PT, #16-18 Surface Emerger, #18 Kyle's Super Flash PT, #16-20 WD-40 in Olive or Black, #14-18 Prince Nymph # 14-18 Serendipity's and #18-20 Tiger Midges

DRY FLY'S- #16-18 Parachute Adams, #12-16 Madam X,#18-20 Ext Body BWO, #18-20 BWO Sprout and #16 Parachute Caddis

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:

Fish are spread out but tubers did well right infront of the marina area both stripping and midging.

Recommended Flies:

Zebra midges in gray and silver as well as blood midges early were doing the best. Matukas did the best for strippers.

Guide's Hint: