Fish Report

Recent Photos of our Clients and Customers

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Click here for archived pics from previous reports.

Dave just got back from his winter

Trinity Steelhead guiding and sent

this cool pic of one of my Crowley

breathren, Dave Caranza, with this

great lookin' fish!

Dorian sent a couple of pics from trips he

has taken for us lately. Lower O looks

about perfect for wading.

Dorian's client on the Upper Owens.

'Would have needed a snowmobile to

get her last year this time.

Sunbathing area is just to right of cars!

Jim's latest from the Interpretive Center

section at Hot Creek. Customers are

raving about quality fish there too.

Pat has been drifting the Lower O daily

and sent some pics of clients in action.

Chubby Lower O denizen.

Pat says slow water is the secret.

See fish report.

Bendo on the "O"

Jim trumped himself with this 27", 5lb+

fish nabbed 50 ft from the parking lot

at the Interpretive Center on #22 midge

of his own design. I'll show you what it

looks like if you come into shop.

I kiss and tell. -k

The Fish Report - February 3, 2012

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*Click here for instructions on using the Pinpoint weather forecastor and additional info on interpreting weather reports in the Mammoth Lakes and Long Valley areas (Hot Creek, Upper Owens, Crowley Lake)

Weather Forecasts*

Stream Flows

Web Cams

Note that the flow shown for Hot Creek is the flow into Hot Creek from Mammoth Creek, which is in addition to the normal flow from the springs that feed this primarily spring creek. Estimated actual flow is shown below in the fish report for Hot Creek.

Pinpoint Weather Presets

We only report first-hand info from our sixteen guides (five in winter) on the water daily.

If you read it here, it is the "right stuff"!

Consult the DFG Regulations for specifics.

MAMMOTH LAKES BASIN - CLOSED TO ALL FISHING UNTIL APRIL28, 2012

Water Conditions:

Fishing Conditions and hatches:

Recommended Flies:

Guides Hint:

HOT CREEK

Water Conditions: Great

Flows constant at 22 cfs as of 2/3

THE SNOW IS LONG GONE BUT THE USFS HAS KEPT THE GATE CLOSED. IT IS A SHORT WALK FROM THERE TO THE CANYON SECTION. YOU CAN DRIVE RIGHT OUT TO THE INTERPRETIVE SITE.

Fishing conditions and Hatches:

Good to Excellent

For the canyon section, it is fishing similar to summer with smaller midges and baetis patterns suburface all day and moderate hatches midday.

Once the water temp comes up about two degrees the food bell rings and it is downright good for 3-4 hours daily.

Interpretive section has been worked and they are getting a little wiser - go real small.

Recommended Flies:

DRIES: CDC Baetis DUN #20-22, Extended Body BWO #20-22, Brook's Sprout Baetis #20-22, CDC Emerger Baetis #20-22, Stalcup Emerger Parachute Midge #22, CDC Emerging Midge 22-24, Real Midge 24 (dry or wet)

NYMPHS: Copper Zebra #22, Yankee Buzzer #22, Micracle Nymph #20, BH FB Pheasant Tail #16-#20, #22-24 Black Beauty, #22 Furimsky's Epoxy Midge, WD Flashy Black #22, #16 Hare's Ear midday, Barr's Flashback 18-20,

STREAMERS:#12 Bead Head Doc's Twin Lake Special Black/Brown/Olive, Burnt Orange Marabou Leech

Guides Hint:

SAN JOAQUIN RIVER CLOSED TO ALL FISHING UNTIL APRIL28, 2012

Forest Service Visitor Center Info (760) 924-5500

Water Conditions:

Fishing conditions and Hatches:

Recommended Flies:

Guides Hint:

CROWLEY LAKE CLOSED TO ALL FISHING UNTIL APRIL28, 2012

Crowley Lake Fish Camp Marina Info

Water Conditions:

The lake is full to the brim and looks like mid-summer with zero ice except some thin stuff around the marina. Maybe I'll crash the gate, launch my boat and go out in a blaze of DFG gunfire.

Back to reality . . . turn left and go to work again.

Fishing Conditions and Hatches:

Recommended Flies:

Guides Hint: No ice . . . daily hatches . . . feeding fish . . . bigger fish . . . could be epic this year.

UPPER OWENS

Water Conditions: Good to Excellent

As of 2/3 flows have come up a little to 96 cfs.

Road is open but muddy all the way up. 4X4 a good idea.

Fishing Conditions and Hatches:

Good to Excellent

A mix of fish from dinks to Crowley pigs. Everyone doing well from 10 am until as late as 3:30 daily.

Mostly nymphing but a 45 min hatch midday is typical.

Go to very small or pull streamers for the big guys.

Recommended Flies:

DRIES:
Parachute Adams #20, Brook's CDC Baetis #22-24, Extended Body BWO #18-22, Brook's Sprout Baetis #22, Stalcup Emerger Midge

NYMPHS: Western Coachmen #12-14, Tungsten Zebra Midge #16-18, Tungsten Psycho #20, Copper Zebra Midge #18-20, , BH Flashback Pheasant Tail #16, Olive WD-40 #18, San Juan Worms, Egg Patterns, Red Copper John #18,

STREAMERS: Meat Whistles, Olive Black and Brown Wooly Buggers, Slump Busters, Perfection Perch, Punk Perch, Stinging Sculpin

Guide's Hint:

OWENS RIVER GORGE

Water conditions: Great

Flow: 45 CFS. This is a permanent flow required to be maintained by LADWP

Fishing Conditions and Hatches:

Excellent and nice and warm on cool sunny days this time of year.

Beautiful these days and lots of hungry fish to greet you!

Recommended Flies:

DRIES: Rubber Leg Stimulator, Yellow Humpy 18, Kaufman Stimulator 16, Yellow Humpy #16

NYMPHS: Red Copper John #18, Green Copper John #18, BH Prince Nymph #18, Western Coachman # 16, Stocker's BH Lightning Bug #18.

Guides Hint:

LOWER OWENS RIVER

Water Conditions: Excellent

The flows are holding steady at 256 cfs as of 2/3.

Crowley is jugged so little chance of it going down in near future.

Chalk Bluff Road seems better than down lower.

Fishing Conditions and Hatches:

Stupid hatches like don't blink or you'll have to pick up and cast again to tell which one of those little dots is yours.

Fish merrily sipping away in slower water. Only caveat is that you will have to play around a little to find a fly that stands out.

Subsurface produces with midges and baetis nymphs all day like to 4pm.

Recommended Flies:

NYMPH: Micromayfly Brown #18, Headlight Yellow Sally #18, BH Flashback Pheasant Tail #16-20, Zebra Midge #18-22, Medallion Midge #20, Fox's Caddis Poopah Tan #18, San Juan Worm, Miracle Nymph 18-20, Real Midge 20(Dry or wet)

DRIES: Brook's Sprout Trico #22-24, Upright Organza Spinner #22-24, Elk Hair Caddis Tan #14-20, Parachute Caddis Grey #18-20, Parachute Adams #18-20, Renegade #20, Brooks Sprout PMD #18-22, Brook's Sprout Baetis #18-22, Bear's HiVis Parachute 18-20

STREAMERS: Pop's Bugger, Flashabou Buggers

Guides Hint: Try skating to get their attention like is was Caddis time.

BRIDGEPORT RESERVOIR CLOSED TO ALL FISHING UNTIL APRIL28, 2012 Last day of season is Nov 15

Water Conditions:

Fishing Conditions and Hatches:

RECOMMENDED FLIES:

Guides Hint:

EAST WALKER RIVER

Water Conditions: Good

Flat at 25 cfs forever as of 2/4.

Snow is not a problem for access.

Fishing Conditions and Hatches: Excellent.

Water is still cold but midday bite is strong to wide open!

Averagre report is a dozen fish in 4-5 hours with guides and clients 2x that.

Midges in the 18-20 range producing all day and decent hatch midday for an hour or two.

RECOMMENDED FLIES:

DRIES:Extended Body BWO #18-20, CDC Emerger Baetis #20-22, CDC Baetis Dun #18-22, Brook's Sprout Baetis #18-22

NYMPHS: Zebra Midge #20-22, BH Flashback Pheasant Tail #16-18, Red Copper John #20, Pheasant Tail #18-22, Tungsten Psycho #18-22, Yankee Buzzer #22, Black Beauty #22-24, #20 Copper Tiger Midge

STREAMERS: Perfection Perch #10, Punk Perch #10, Black Wooly Bugger #8, Leeches

Guides Hint :