Middle Owens River Fishing Report

Owens River - Middle - Bishop, CA (Inyo County)


by Tom Loe
1-10-2017
Website

The gauge has finally gotten a repair from LADWP. Flows have dropped to 116cfs. Water color should start showing some improvement above Bishop Creek. Many creeks in the area have reached flood stage with the abundance of snow combined with rain recently. More rain is in the forecast for the week with the possibility of snow at the tail end of these storms. Roads will become slick with massive puddling in some areas. Care must be taken when navigating by vehicle down here to avoid getting stuck in the mud. Smaller streamers like Loebergs and Punk Perch working well in clear water and larger flies like Spruce A Bu’s are better for off color water. These bigger fish can be pretty wild once they are hooked. There are more exposed structure areas for these fish to head for when they are trying to spit a hook, so using the rod to control the fish is important. Keeping these fish out of the reeds and submerged wood is crucial and a lower rod angle will pull them out of the main current and into the net. Look for some school sized rainbows podded up in the depressions around the transition zones. BWO hatches have been coming off daily, and #18 Mayfly patterns will get the job done. We have seen some bigger fish chasing these down all the way back to the boat, so being ready for a last minute take may tie you into something special.

This fishery remains open year around. Special regs from the footbridge at Pleasant Valley campground to the fishing monument 4.7 miles downstream.


The section upstream from the Benton Bridge is open year around with special regulations. Seasonal closures, and angling restrictions apply downstream from the bridge, check regulations before fishing in this section.


< Previous Report Next Report >




< Previous Report Next Report >


More Reports


1-10-2017
A decent amount of snow has been received here from the latest storms. Most of it got washed out by...... Read More


1-10-2017
Guided fly fishing trips for Crowley Lake, Grant & Silver Lakes, the San Joaquin, Upper and Middle Owens Rivers, East...... Read More