EAST WALKER RIVER
8/1/26: Well shoot, it's that tough time of year where we tend to see high water temps and limited insect activity. The daytime highs have been in the mid 90's and the night time lows are only getting down to the 50's. In addition, the fish have been heavily pressured by August and have seen every bug in the fly shop. If you decide to give the river a shot you'll want to be down there early or late when it's coolest and the bugs are active. We're not going to sugar coat it, the fishing is slow and the water is warm. Please don't fish during the middle of the day when the fish can become stressed due to low dissolved oxygen levels. The action should pick up by September, unfortunately, we may see low flows by then.
RECOMMENDED FLIES: Thread Frenchie 16-20, Perdigons 16-20, Blowtorch 14-18, Sexy Walt 14-18, Duracell 14-18, G.T.I. 12-16, Mop 10-12, 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 18-20, Poxyback Baetis 18-20, Juju Baetis 18-22, Micro Mayfly 18-20, P.T.'s 16-20, Mercer's Micro Stone 14-16, 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, Mercer's Poxyback Stone 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, Iris Caddis 14-18, Yellow Stimulator 14-16, Mini Chubby 14-16, Rogue Foam Stone 8-10, Foam Beetle 12-16, Bionic Ant 10-12, Baby Gonga 8, Sculpzilla 8-10, Zuddler 6-8, Baby Fat Minnow 6-8.
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HOT CREEK
8/1/26: Fishing on the creek is tricky and has definitely gotten more technical thanks to the weed growth and low flows. A small dry with a dropper or two underneath is the preferred technique in this shallow and fertile spring creek. We're mostly seeing hatches and spinner falls of Trico's along with a caddis emergence and egg laying activity. A well placed hopper, ant or beetle 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, Micro Mayfly 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, Trico Compara Dun 18-20, Organza Trico Spinner 18-22, Para Adams 18-20, BWO Thorax Dun 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.
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SAN JOAQUIN RIVER
8/1/26: The river got a quick refresh thanks to some thunderstorm activity in July but has dropped big time over the last week. It's looking like the best fishing is over for the season. If you decide to head down there, try fishing down low or up high and walk a good ways from the nearest trailhead.
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
8/1/26: Sorry to sound like a broken record but the Upper O is fishing tough as well. There are certainly some nice lake run fish up there but they're spooky as heck and there aren't a lot of 'em. If you go, you can expect to see a few small fish eating up top for dries early in the morning and evening, otherwise it's a nymphing game. It's not easy but it could be worth it if you're looking for that one shot at a big one!
RECOMMENDED FLIES: Zebra Midge 18-20, Disco Midge 18-20, Deep Blue Poison Tung 18-22, Blindside Midge 18-22, Shopt Vac 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, Pheasant Tail 18-20, Darth Baetis 18-20, Mop 10-12, Slush Egg 12-16, Glo Bug 14-18, San Juan Worm 10-12, Squirmy Wormy 10-12, 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, Zuddler 6-8, Home Invader 6-8, Gonga 6-8, Mini Dungeon 8.
LOWER OWENS
8/1/26: The river is still up over 400 cfs. Flows this high make fishing and access dificult. We'll get back down there when the river drops later this fall.
RECOMMENDED FLIES: Perdigons 16-20, Frenchie 16-20, Duracell 14-18, Sexy Walt 14-18, G.T.I. Caddis 12-16, Mop 10-12, 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, Poxyback Stone 10-12, Poxyback Little Yellow Stone 14-16, 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.
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