Howdy friend and Sierra Drifters. Best fishes to all for this Presidential Fish Report from the Eastern High Sierra.

The weather has been great recently in sharp contrast to the winter conditions we had just a short time ago. However, the forecast is once again calling for a significant change to begin about mid-week and continue throughout much of the full moon period. The Owens Valley will not be as affected by these late winter storms, but you can plan on some windy and cooler days the next week or so down here.

Please take a look at some current pictures of the Upper Owens River and Hot Creek. The dirt access roads into these areas are closed and impassable to vehicles and blocked by snow banks. The road into the canyon at Hot Creek is a single lane only and ends abruptly in front of the HC Ranch (which is currently closed to all, please respect this.) The thirty minute hike into the canyon from here is not overly difficult as most of the snow has been packed by a good amount of anglers taking advantage of the warmer weather recently. The dirt road leading to the Interpretative Site is also closed to vehicles due to snow. One to three feet of snow with deeper drifts around HC.

The entire Owens River road loop is closed to vehicles past the "OLD" Alpers Ranch, and not accessible by the "tubs" entry. The east side dirt access road (entry is close to the Benton Crossing Bridge) to the UO is also blocked by a snow bank and is not passable. You can park near the bridge and hike upstream. A foot or two of hard packed snow around the banks here.

The East Walker is the most accessible and has less than a foot of hard packed snow on its banks. The dirt roads that lead to the parking areas and turnouts near the river are passable but muddy and icy in some spots.