Upper Owens River Fishing Report

The Trout Fitter Staff

Report Date:

http://www.thetroutfitter.com/fshreport.html

Water Conditions: Good

Flows are  61 cfs as of  6/10

With the cooler weather water clarity has improved but with next weeks warming it may color up again.

Fishing Conditions and Hatches: Fair-Good

Water has cleared up but with next week's warming trend that may change.  The Cutthroat spawn is winding down as the fish head back to the lake but I'm still going to leave the following information. If you like the idea of quality fishing with increasing numbers of fish, there are some very important facts to consider. 1) Unlike the rainbows the cutthroat spawn below the ranches. 2) They also spawn later so they are actively moving up after opening day. Actively spawning fish are in the shallow tailouts between the holes so any fish in these areas should be left alone. You should also refrain from wading through these areas, try to stay at least knee deep and preferably waist deep to avoid crushing the eggs. One of the big problems is that fish hooked on the redds will quite often release their eggs/ sperm during the fight or while being released. If you're going to fish during those times the best place to fish is the drop-offs below the shallow tailouts. A lot of fish will be sitting there picking of the food dislodged by the spawners digging out the redds.

Conditions are already changing to more of a post runoff state. This is generally the slowest part of the season, with migratory fish gone and the water still cold. Fishing is usually slow until later in the month but right now the crowds are gone, and the fishing is good enough to be worthwhile. We are starting to see a few more Tricos early along with the midges and some bigger caddis in the morning. A mixture of small and larger mayflies (PMD's) with caddis midday and then caddis and midges in the afternoon. That and the river below the bridge has opened with good but vague reports about good nymphing and slow on dry flies. The resident fish have been keying into the mayflies and midges, so we suggest trailing a midge (#18-24) or mayfly (#16-22) behind an attractor nymph. On calm afternoons the dry fly fishing can be productive but be ready to throw size 18 through 22 dry flies. Streamer fishing has been OK.

DRIES: Griffiths Gnat #20-24 | Parachute Extended Body BWO #18-22 | Elk Hair Caddis #20-22 | Para Caddis #16-22 | Missing Link #16-20

NYMPHS:  Zebra Midge #16-22 | Prince Nymph #12-16 | Copper John #14-16 |Tungsten Jig Baetis #18-20 | Black Beauty #22 | Roza Pink Tag Jig #16d | Clearwater Emerger #18-20 | S&M Nymph #20-22 | Medalion Midge #20-24 |Bling Midge #22-24 | OCD Caddis #14-18|

STREAMERS: Shock Collar Leech #10 | Woolly Bugger White, Olive, or Brown #6-14 | Punk Perch light or dark #10-16

More Reports


The Trout Fitter Reports
for Thursday, June 10th, 2021
The Trout Fitter Reports
for Thursday, June 3rd, 2021


ABOUT US

Fly Fishing Reports is the newest member of the SportfishingReportsTM Network of fish reports, boats, landings, guides, locations and more. We open our doors to the Fly Fishing outdoor enthusiasts who have a passion for the sport.