I can only recall a few January's as pleasant as this one in the forty years I have been visiting the Upper Owens. High fives to the DFG Commissioners and biologists. The verdict is a good one on allowing year around fishing here and Hot Creek.

There is very little snow on the ground, especially along the banks. You will potentially encounter poor two track dirt road conditions after the ground thaws in the afternoons leading to the river. The walk along the river upstream from the Benton Bridge is easy and beautiful, and way more fun than digging out your vehicle to save thirty minutes!

Fishing has been very good most days and there is an above average amount of fish stacked in most of the larger pools. Fish streamers in the mornings, late afternoons, or when it becomes cloudy or windy for trophy sized rainbows. Loebergs and Punk Perch used with a moderate sinking tip will get you into the big bows.

Dry dropper combos with a #12/14 Stimulator three feet above a #18-20 crystal pupa or emerger have been deadly in the eddies and soft water on the larger pools. Small tiger midges #18-22 have also been hot patterns. The bwo's are just beginning to show and are not consistently emerging.

Crowds have been moderate to heavy on the warm weekends, but it is almost lonely during the mid-weeks. The winds are light this time of year between disturbances as we do not experience the diurnal conditions of spring and summer.

A new tradition is being established. Ski in the morning, fish HC in the afternoon. The conditions are perfect for this "play plan" You will see a good jag of SUV's with boards, skis, and fly rods at the interpretive site most weekend afternoons. Hike into the canyon to get some open water.

With the mild winter it is pretty much business as usual on HC. The flows are good for this time of year and although the weeds can still be an issue on some runs they are not so much of the equation as in the late fall, or when it gets really cold. Midge and mayfly imitations for surface and nymphing. I enjoy casting midge cluster patterns #22 to the rising trout here after the frost melts in the morning.