EAST WALKER RIVER
9/24/26: The river has dropped to 162 cfs today. The good news is it looks like we're finally out of the the woods as far as warm water temps go. The river has dropped into the low 60's in the morning, warming to mid 60's in the afternoon. The bad news is that fish numbers in the upper 2-3 miles of river below the dam are way down from historic levels. Luckily, the river downstream in NV continues to fish well and still has plenty of healthy browns and rainbows. Most action has come subsurface with both nymphs and streamers. Midges, Tricos, caddis and small BWO's are all on the menu. If you decide to give the river a shot, do yourself a favor, pick up a Nevada license and head down to either the Sceirine or Rosaschi ranch.
RECOMMENDED FLIES: Thread Frenchie 16-20, Perdigons 16-20, Blowtorch 14-18, Sexy Walt 14-18, Duracell 14-18, G.T.I. 12-16, Egans Poacher 8-10, Tim's Dead Drift Crawdad 10, WD's 18-22, Trout Crack 18-20, Black Beauty 18-20, JuJu Midge 18-24, Sunken Trico 18-20, Mercer's Poxyback Trico 18-20, San Juan Worm 10-12, Squirmy Wormy 10-12, Lil' Bit 20-22, Juju Baetis 20-22, Barr's BWO emerger 20-22, Micro Mayfly 18-20, P.T.'s 20-22, Pearl Caddis 14-18, Graphic Caddis 14-18, Fox's Poopah 14-18, Sparkle Pupae 14-18, Nori's Caddis 16-18, Z Wing Caddis 14-18, Nitro Caddis 14-18, Rubberlegs 8-10, Upright Organza Trico Spinner 18-20, Para Adams 16-20, Sparkle Dun 16-20, BWO Thorax Dun 16-20, Missing Link 14-18, E/C Caddis 14-18, Baby Gonga 8, Sculpzilla 8-10, Zuddler 6-8, Hornburg 6-8.
HOT CREEK
9/24/26: Fishing on the creek continues to be tricky thanks to the heavy weed growth and low flows. We're mostly seeing hatches and spinner falls of Trico's and BWO's along with a caddis emergence and egg laying activity early and late in the day. If you're into technical dry fly fishing this is your spot. During non hatch periods a well placed ant, beetle or hopper will also get a few grabs. Concentrate on making short and clean drifts along the banks, weed lanes and pockets and be ready. These fish won't hang onto your fly for long! As always, please avoid wading in this unique and fragile stream environment.
RECOMMENDED FLIES: W.D. 18-22, JuJu Midge 18-24, Zebra Midge 18-22, Lil' Bit 18-20, Slim Shady 18-20, Barr's BWO Emerger 18-20, Darth Baetis 18-22, Mercer's Poxyback Trico 18-20, Shop Vac 16-18, Graphic Caddis 16-18, Pearl Caddis 16-18, Z Wing Caddis 16-18, Fox's Poopah 18-20, Sunken Trico 20-22, Trico Compara Dun 18-20, Organza Trico Spinner 18-22, Para Adams 18-20, BWO Sparkle Dun 18-20, Missing Link 16-20, E/C Caddis 16-20, Para Caddis 16-20, Stubby Chubby 14-18, Bionic Ant 10-12, Foam Beetle 12-16, Morrish Hopper 10, Parachute Hopper 10.
SAN JOAQUIN RIVER
9/24/26: It's looking like the window for the best fishing on the middle fork is over for the season. Flows are low and it's getting pretty bony. It's probably not worth the effort.
RECOMMENDED FLIES: Gold Ribbed Hares Ear 12-20, Prince Nymph 16-20, Pheasant Tail 16-20, Copper John 16-20, Poxyback Stone 10-12, Micro Mayfly 16-20, Stimulator 14-18, Elk Hair Caddis 14-18, E/C caddis 14-18, Corn Fed Caddis 14-18, Missing Link 14-20, Yellow Humpy 14-20, Royal Wulff 14-20, Stubby Chubby 14-16, Para Hopper 10-14, Para Adams 12-20.
UPPER OWENS
9/24/26: The upper river is flowing low, clear and cool. Fishing has picked up over the last month and the word is out so don't expect to have much solitude. The best fishing has been between Benton Crossing and Crowley lake with a good mix of hatchery and wild fish. You can still find some fish willing to come up for dries but most of the bigger fish will stay on the bottom eating streamers and nymphs. The trout tend to be podded up so keep moving until you get some action.
RECOMMENDED FLIES: Zebra Midge 18-20, Disco Midge 18-20, W.D. 18-22, Shop Vac 16-18, Psycho Prince 16-18, Hotwire Prince 16-18, Fox's Poopah 16-20, Sparkle Pupae 16-20, Nitro Caddis 16-18, Lil' Bit 16-20, Micro Mayfly 18-20, Juju Baetis 18-20, Mop 10-12, Slush Egg 12-16, Glo Bug 14-18, San Juan Worm 10-12, Squirmy Wormy 10-12, Para Hopper 12-14, Baby Boy Hopper 12-14, Morrish Hopper 12-14, Foam Beetle 10-14, Para Ant 14-18, Ant Acid 14-18, Para Adams 18-20, Sparkle Dun 18-20, Parachute Caddis 16-20, E/C Caddis 16-20, Missing Link 16-20, Organza Trico Spinner 18-22, Sunken Trico Spinner 20-22, Zuddler 6-8, Home Invader 6-8, Gonga 6-8, Mini Dungeon 8.
LOWER OWENS
10/8/26: The river has finally started dropping although it's still running higher than normal for this time of year. The fishing has been good. Wading the river can be difficult at the current flows but you can get into plenty of trout just fishing off the bank. The edges are where most of the soft water and fish are anyways. Lots of bugs flying around but not much in the way of surface activity yet. You'll get the most grabs concentrating on subsurface presentations like nymphs under an indicator or euro nymphing. The fishing and conditions should continue to improve as we get further into October.
RECOMMENDED FLIES: Perdigons 16-20, Thread Frenchie 16-20, Duracell 14-18, Blowtorch 14-18, Sexy Walt 14-18, G.T.I. Caddis 12-16, Zebra Midge 18-22, Blindside Midge 18-22, Lil' Bit 18-20, JuJu Midge 18-24, Rainbow Warrior 18-22, Disco Midge 18-22, Micro Mayfly 18-20, Juju Baetis 18-20, Jedi Master Baetis 18-20, Slim Shady 18-20, Fox's Poopah 16-20, Sparkle Pupa 16-20, Nitro Caddis 16-18, Sprout Midge 18-22, Griffith's Gnat 16-22, Mole Fly 18-20, Timmy 18-20, BWO CDC Emerger 18-20, Sparkle Dun 18-20, Para Adams 18-20, BWO Thorax Dun 18-20, E/C Caddis 16-20, Missing Link 16-20, Parachute Caddis 16-20.
