Water Conditions:  Fair

Flows are 50 cfs as of 6/3

The stretch of river above Benton Crossing Road is artificial, barbless, catch and release only.

The reason why the flows on the Owens don't go up and down much is that it is common for Deadman Creek to go underground up above 395 during drought years.

The water gets dirtier and has more debris the further downstream you go.

Fishing Conditions and Hatches: Poor-Fair

Below the bridge the slime weed rules. There are some nice fish down there but they are spread out with some big spawners heading back to the lake. The best flies are attractor patterns, not much in the way of hatches going on.This is the time of year that the Upper Owens is at it's slowest. The spawning fish are headed back to the lake, the water is cold from runoff and the hatches are in transition. Don't fear though, we're only a few weeks away from the fishing picking back up.

Yes, the Cutthroats are up spawning and yes you can tell where they are spawning, just look for the masses of cars, but here's some friendly advice. Unlike the Rainbows the Cutthroats spawn anywhere from the bridge up into the lower private ranches making them far more vulnerable to fishing pressure. We suggest that if you are going to fish near the spawning fish make sure to cast below the fish in the shallow tailouts (that's where they spawn) and work the fish  in the deeper holes right below the drop-offs. The fish that haven't started spawning yet will sit at the head of the pools picking off food from the safety of deeper water. If you're going to cross the river stay deeper than your knees and away from the tailouts.

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 and the PMDs are starting to emerge.  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.

So much for the temperature gage, it lost its funding and has been shut down. Scratch that, it may be shut down but it's still functional. There was a temperature gage 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.

Recommended Flies

DRIES: Griffiths Gnat #20-24 | Para Adams #20-24 | CDC Transition Midge #20-24 | Extended PMD #16-18

NYMPHS:  Zebra Midge #16-22 | B/H Prince Nymph #12-16 | Copper John #14-16 | Tungsten Jig Baetis #18-20 | B/H Pheasant tail #14-18 |  Mop Fly assorted colors #10-16 | Bling Midge #22-24 | Tungsten Olive Mic Drop #16-18 | San Juan worms assorted colors | Egg Patterns assorted colors | Western Coachman #12-16 | Hogan's S & M Nymph #18-22

STREAMERS: Shock Collar Leech #10 | Woolly Bugger White or Olive #6-14 | Punk Perch light or dark #10-16