Flow Rates and Water Conditions

Water Conditions: Good, showing 4 cfs as of 2/3

Remember, these are the flows just below Highway 395 on Mammoth Creek.

With nighttime temperatures as low as they've been the ice buildup has made the gauge unreliable.

Fishing Conditions and Hatches: Good      

I guess I took my cautionary tale about the spawning fish down to early. There are still lots of fish on the Redd's and people are hammering them. I'm seeing more and more pictures on the internet, rainbows in full spawning colors being held in a death grip and away from the bank. There's a term for this but I'm not sure the age of the people reading this report, so I'll stick with Ego or Glory Shot. 

We may be seeing a change in hatches, besides the midges we're seeing a few BWOs and with warmer days providing dirtier water means adding scuds and steamers to the mix.  Right now the Interpretive is fishing well with the primary hatch being the midges but they will eat BWO imitations as well. The canyon has the same hatches and is also fishing well, all the way until dusk. If you're looking for dry fly action the Interpretive is a lot better. One benefit of spring fed besides being a reliable water source, the water temperature stays fairly consistent throughout the winter.

A bit of advice, now that access is getting a lot more limited if you go to the Interpretive Site and find more than a few cars head on downstream into the canyon, on to the Owens or call it a day. With the colder water the weeds are starting to die off but I still tell my clients that a 4 second drift is average and finish with an aggressive pickup, you will hook fish you never knew existed.

Recommended Flies

DRIES:  R.P. Emerger #22 | Parachute Adams # 18-20  | Mother Shucker #24 | CDC Baetis Dun #18-24 | Griffith's Gnat #20-24 | Stillborn Midge Black #20-22 | Hi-Vis Baetis #18-22

NYMPHS:  T Midge #24 | Zebra Midge #18-22  |Juju Baetis #16-20  | Medallion Midge #18-24 |  Buckskin #16-20  |  Barr's Emerger #16-22 | RS-2 Gray #16-22 | CDC Transition Midge #18-22 | Scuds grey or olive/grey #14-18

STREAMERS: BH Bopp SlumpBuster | Perfection Perch #4-8 | Punk Perch #10-16 | Hornburg #10-14   Mice