December 11, 2024:
Hot Creek
Access to Hot Creek during the winter requires a 4WD vehicle with high clearance due to snow-covered roads. The effort to reach the creek is well worth it, offering excellent fishing opportunities. Most success currently comes from nymphing, but dry-and-dropper rigs are also effective to avoid spooking the trout. Reduced weed coverage makes drifting nymphs easier, and trout are actively feeding on larvae. Techniques like Euro nymphing, dry-and-dropper setups, and indicator nymphing are highly effective. Covering large areas and properly weighting your flies to bounce along the substrate are keys to success. Trico hatches are over, and Caddis hatches are nearing their end, leaving midges as the dominant activity. Focus on midge pupa, emergers, scuds, eggs, and worms to match the hatch. Monthy Fly Boxes are tested here and are working very well here right now.
Effective Flies:
Dry Flies: Adams Parachute (#16-18), Stimulator (#14-16), Chernobyl Ant (#8-12).
Nymphs: Bead Head Flash Back Pheasant Tail (#18), Olive Quilldigon (#18), Hot Spot Pheasant Tail (#16-18), Olive Scuds (#14), Zebra Midge (#20), SOS Nymph (#18).
Streamers: Woolly Bugger Olive & Black (#6-12).
Upper Owens River
The Upper Owens is snowy and cold, with tough driving conditions contributing to crowding near the bridge. Despite these challenges, the river offers opportunities to target trophy rainbow trout. Larger attractor patterns are effective, as hatches are minimal, and lake-run fish remain selective. The water is off-color but clearer than it has been recently. Focus on deep holes, runs, and cut banks where trophy trout are feeding and resting.
Fly fishing with egg patterns, worm patterns, mop flies, and streamers is productive for larger fish. Nymphing under an indicator using gold-ribbed hare’s ear variations, Copper Johns, and green/gold Prince nymphs is the go-to method for targeting trophy trout. Resident rainbows and browns can be caught with olive quilldigons, size #16-18 bead head flash back pheasant tail nymphs, and size #16-18 hot spot pheasant tail nymphs. The Winter Box and the Monthly Fly Boxes are producing very well here and they will continue to throughout the winter.
Effective Flies:
Dry Flies: Chernobyl Ant (#8-12), TRS Double Griffiths (#18-20), CDC Transition Midge (#20-22), Zelon Midge (#20-24), Stillborn Midge (#20-22).
Nymphs: Bead Head Flashback Pheasant Tail (#14-18), Chamois Caddis (#16-20), Olive Quilldigon (#18), Clown Egg (#14), , Squirmy Wormy (#12-14), Zebra Midge (#16-24).
Streamers: Woolly Bugger Olive & White (#6-10).
Lower Owens River
Flows have dropped to 125 CFS and remained steady, creating great conditions for fly fishing. The cold snap slowed activity temporarily, but warmer days have brought the trout back to feeding actively. The river holds a mix of wild trout, with most rainbows around 6 inches—small but healthy and abundant. Larger rainbows, up to 20 inches, and browns in the 8–13 inch range are also being caught.
Indicator nymphing and Euro nymphing are highly effective. Focus on deep runs and riffles, ensuring your flies are weighted correctly to reach feeding fish. Surface activity is sporadic, but in the right conditions, trout can be caught on dries. The Sierra Mix Monthly Fly Box is producing very well here and it will continue to throughout the winter.
Effective Flies:
Dry Flies: Adams Parachute (#16-20), Blue-Wing Olive Parachute (#18-20), Elk Hair Caddis (#14-20).
Nymphs: Bead Head Flash Back Pheasant Tail (#16-18), Olive Quilldigon (#18), SOS Nymph (#16-18), Zebra Midge (#20-22).
Streamers: Woolly Bugger Olive & Natural (#6-10).
