EAST WALKER RIVER
5/4/25: The river is running around 110 cfs and continues to fish very well. The Miracle Mile still has some trout swimming around but they tend to be pretty few and far between. Most anglers are focusing on the lower stretches of river in CA and NV and it's been fairly busy down there. That's a bit of a change seeing as how the Mile has historically seen the bulk of the fishing pressure. The BWO hatch has been a little hit or miss but if you can get on the river during one of the drizzly/overcast days we've been experiencing recently it can be heavy. Even when the hatches aren't strong the fish are still keying on the nymphs especially late morning into the afternoon. A dry/dropper set up will put you on plenty of trout with the low flows. Euro nymphing or nymphing under an indicator will work if you happen to be fishing in any of the deeper pools. Streamer fishing is another great technique to put more fish in the net. On breezy warm afternoons the resident rainbows and browns are looking up for Skwalas that get blown into the river. Target the fishy looking areas just downstream or underneath overhanging vegetation and don't be surprised when a snout pokes up and inhales your big dry!
RECOMMENDED FLIES: Thread Frenchie 16-20, Perdigons 16-20, Jigged Majic 16-20, GTI Caddis 12-16, San Juan Worm 10-12, Squirmy Wormy 10-12, WD's 18-22, Black Beauty 18-22, Trout Crack 18-22, Rainbow Warrior 18-20, Jedi Master Baetis 16-20, Juju Baetis 16-20, Slim Shady 16-20, Micro Mayfly 16-20, Barr's BWO Emerger 18-20, CDC Loopwing Emerger 16-18, Foam Wing BWO Emerger 16-20, Poxyback Stone 10-12, Mercer's Skwala 10-12, Rubberlegs 8-12, Para Adams 16-20, Sparkle Dun 16-20, CDC Baetis Dun 16-20, Chubby Chernobyl 8-12, Designated Hitter 10-12, Olive Stimulator 10-12, Baby Gonga, Sculpzilla, Zuddler, Baby Fat Minnow.
HOT CREEK
5/4/25: The creek is absolutely on fire and fishing great although most fish are only running 8-12 inches. The flows have come up a little thanks to a bump in Mammoth Creek but the water clarity has been fine. The best fishing has been from mid morning through the early afternoon when the BWO's are most active. You can find fish eating a variety of bugs besides the mayflies such as caddis, midges, scuds and worms but the BWO's are the main event. A dry/dropper set up is perfect for this shallow spring creek and make sure to keep your nymphs close to your dry, no more than a foot or two. These trout are incredibly quick to spit a fly and you want to register the grabs as soon as possible. If the water clarity deteriorates later this month then an indicator or euro nymph rig will be the way to go.
RECOMMENDED FLIES: Thread Frenchie 16-20, Perdigons 16-20, BP Weiss Nymph 18-20, Jigged Magic 16-18, San Juan Worm 10-12, Squirmy Wormy 10-12, Epoxy Scud 12-16, BH Scud 12-16, Fox's Poopah 16-20, Graphic Caddis 16-20, Z Wing Caddis 16-18, Zebra Midge 18-22, WD's 20-22, Brassie 18-22, Micro Mayfly 16-20, Juju Baetis 16-20, Slim Shady 16-20, Poxyback Baetis 16-20, Barr's BWO Emerger 16-20, CDC Baetis Emerger 16-20, CDC Loopwing Emerger 16-20, Foam Wing Emerger 16-20, BWO Sparkle Dun 16-20, Para Adams 16-20, Brooks CDC Dun 16-20, Missing Link 16-20, E/C Caddis 16-20, Para Caddis 16-20.
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SAN JOAQUIN RIVER
4/16/25: Reds Meadow road is closed.
UPPER OWENS
4/16/25: The fishing on the upper river is good for small fish and the hordes of fisherman have all disappeared. There is a decent caddis hatch that will bring some fish to surface most days along with a few BWO's and midges, otherwise it's a nymphing game. We are looking forward to the Cutties that should start to show in early to mid May.
RECOMMENDED FLIES: Deep Blue Poison Tung 18-20, Zebra Midge 18-20, Disco Midge 18-20, Micro Mayfly 16-20, Juju Baetis 18-20, Pheasant Tail 16-20, Darth Baetis 18-20, Fox's Poopah 18-20, Graphic Caddis 18-20, Pearl Caddis 18-20, Deep Sparkle Pupae 18-20, Hotwire Prince 14-18, Amber Wing Prince 14-18, Glo Bug 14-18, San Juan Worm 10-12, Para Adams 16-20, Sparkle Dun 18-20, X Caddis 18-20, E/C Caddis 16-20, Elk Hair Caddis 16-20, Missing Link 16-20, Zuddler 6-8, Home Invader 6-8, Gonga 6-8, Mini Dungeon 8.
LOWER OWENS
4/16/25: The lower river is fishing great right now with fish focusing on emerging BWO's, midges, stones and caddis. The flows are perfect for accessing the entire river so there is plenty of room to spread out and not feel crowded. Remember, the fish don't disappear below the Wild Trout Section border. The dry fly fishing hasn't quite been what we're used to seeing this time of year but the fish are chowing big time subsurface. The bug activity should get better and better over the next few months with Yellow Sallies and PMD's just around the corner.
RECOMMENDED FLIES: Perdigons 16-20, Frenchie 16-20, Duracell 14-18, Sexy Walt 14-18, G.T.I. Caddis 12-16, Zebra Midge 18-22, Rainbow Warrior 18-22, Disco Midge 18-22, Micro Mayfly 18-20, Juju Baetis 16-20, Jedi Master Baetis 16-20, Poxyback Baetis 16-20, Slim Shady 16-20, Graphic Caddis 16-18, Fox's Poopah 16-18, Deep Sparkle Pupae 16-18, Poxyback Stone 10-14, CDC Loopwing Emerger 16-20, CDC Baetis Emerger 16-20, Sprout Baetis 16-20, Sparkle Pupae Emerger 16-18, Para Adams 16-20, BWO Sparkle Dun 16-20, CDC BWO Dun 16-20, Missing Link 16-20, E/C Caddis 16-18, Elk Hair Caddis 16-18.
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