Fish Report for 3-17-2023

Hot Creek Fishing Report

3-17-2023
The Trout Fitter Staff

Flow Rates and Water Conditions

Water Conditions: Poor-Fair, showing 1 cfs as of 3/15

Remember, these are the flows just below Highway 395 on Mammoth Creek and ice can make this site unreliable. Right now very unreliable.

The road into Hot Creek is closed at the Airport Road.

Fishing Conditions and Hatches: Fair-Good

 Like the Upper Owens the road in will be a mess for the near future. I think it goes without saying that the trek into Hot Creek is going to be very difficult for the foreseeable future. Fishing is picking up, midges in the morning and Baetis in the early afternoon. There is even good surface activity during the Baetis hatch. Most of the fish are concentrated in the deeper holes but they are starting to spread out.

 The Baetis are back and the surface action midday is now Baetis. Still midges, nymphs, adults and spent patterns. Generally the midges will be hatching until early afternoon and then egg laying and spent adults in the afternoon. Scuds and egg patterns will work all day. Don't forget the streamers and leeches.

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.

ALERT: Just like the Owens, if you are going to fish when the air temperatures are close to or below 0 degrees do NOT take the fish out of the water! Their eyes and gills will freeze very quickly.

Recommended Flies

DRIES:  R.P. Emerger #22 | Mother Shucker #24 | Griffith's Gnat #20-24 | Stillborn Midge Black #20-22 | No Mercy Midge Camel #20-24 | Hi-Vis Baetis #18-20 | Brook's Baetis #18-20 | Extended Body Baetis #18-22

NYMPHS:  T Midge #24 | Zebra Midge #18-22  | Medallion Midge #18-24 |  Buckskin Caddis #16-20  | JuJu Baetis #16-18 | Psycho Baetis #16-18| Scuds grey #14-18 | Tailwater Sowbug Rainbow #16-18 |  Bling Midge Brown #24 | TB Millers+1LT #16-18 | Egg Patterns | B/H Pheasant Tail #16-20 

STREAMERS: Mini Sculpin Orange #6 | Slumpbuster Natural #10 | Hornburg #10-14  



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More Reports

The Trout Fitter Reports
for Friday, March 17th, 2023
Owens River - Section 3 - Upper (above Crowley): The midges are the only hatches going on right now
Owens River - Lower: Lower Owens River Report

The Trout Fitter Reports
for Friday, February 3rd, 2023
Hot Creek: Hot Creek Fishing Report
Owens River - Section 3 - Upper (above Crowley): Upper Owens River Report
Owens River - Lower: Lower Owens River Report