Fishing Conditions and Hatches: Fair- Good

UPDATE: Flows on the upper Owens dropped yesterday to 57 cfs (spring fed only) from the previous level of 75 cfs, I will have more tomorrow.

Parking is still limited to right at the bridge and if you get lucky some days have seen 1 or 2 cars, but the next there might be 10-15. With the melting snow it won't be long until snowmobiles can't travel up river so the better fishing will go to the hardy hikers. It also means that it will be a bonanza for the tow trucks, if you know what I mean.

It's good to remember that there aren't a lot of "resident" fish in the Upper Owens, it's basically a nursery for Crowley Lake and as they get bigger most of them will move down to the lake. The fish that haven't gone to the lake yet tend to be pickier because it's their natural environment. Right now they are getting more active as their metabolism picks up with the water warming so look for insect activity, especially the Baetis and some caddis. Mayflies are the more dominate #16-20.  As the water warms up the resident fish are getting more active, they will not be as interested in the attractor flies and they definitely require better presentations than the migratory fish do.

The spring spawners are now throughout the system and they've been around long enough to be really tired of the barrage of gear landing on their heads. Even though they tend to favor the same types of water as they move upstream, with the heavy pressure they are starting to hold in different spots. Instead of working the same "money" spots start exploring different terrain. Some of the guides are doing well on mop flies otherwise the same flies such as eggs, worms, and other attractor patterns.  You still want to key in on the deeper water but the spring spawners tend to spend more time in shallower, faster water also.

With longer days and the weather warming up water clarity down by the bridge is worse but as you move upstream it improves every branch Hot Creek that you move above. Luckily with colder water temperatures the warmer Hot Creek water is beneficial and the dirty water coming out of Hot Creek makes the fish a lot less spooky. The difference between above and below Hot Creek is at least 10 degrees so if you get out there early it might be better to start out closer to the bridge. This helps trigger the fish in Crowley to move up into colder, cleaner water of the river.

So much for the temperature gauge, it lost it's funding and has been shut down. There is a temperature gauge on Hot Creek right above the Owens River Road bridge. You can tell winter is here because instead of 97-112 temperature range of summer it's all the way down to 94-107 degrees.  If you're not familiar with it, to get to the upper most branch of Hot Creek, go through the first drive through gate on the main road and immediately turn left. The confluence is between the first and second walk-thru gates.

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