Report Date:
http://www.thetroutfitter.com/fshreport.htmlThe Trout Fly Fish Report
UPPER OWENS
Water Conditions:GOOD
Water is low and clear flowing at 58 c.f.s. below East Portal Gauging Station. Currently, minimal water is being diverted from Grant Lake (tunnel on Arc Ranch) into to Upper Owens so the river is lower than usual for August and is totally fed by the springs and the water that comes in from Hot Creek mid-way down.
Fishing Conditions and Hatches:GOOD
Fishing has been pretty good most days with a lot of rainbow planters making up the bulk of the catch. Midges, tricos and caddis are the mainstays. Female trico emergence and trico spinnerfall has been a little weaker lately, but the fish are still on them and some days you can have decent numbers of spinners landing on the water around 9-10 am. Lots of small egg laying caddis in the late morning with good afternoon hatches too. Evening can be really good, especially after an afternoon thundershower. Look at all the little fish fry in the river! The bugs of late summer/fall are getting tiny!!!! If you are indicator nymphing, set on every hesitation, bump or twitch. Don't wait for the yarn to go under?Ķit mostly will not. These fish have been pressured into "sip-and-spit" mode.
Recommended Flies:
Dries- #22 trico spinner patterns, black WD-40 #22, #20 tan Loop Wing Caddis Emergers, #20 CDC Caddis Emg. #12 Tan/brown hoppers, #18 Elk Hair Caddis.
Nymphs- #22 Barr's Female Trico emergers, #20-24 Zebra Midges, #18-20 tan Loop Wing Caddis, CDC Caddis Emergers, #16-18 Copper John's, #18 Hares Ear's (bait fish fry), Attractor Nymphs #14-18.
Guide's Hint:Stealth is key on the Upper Owens. Walk softly and carry a big grin when you see that elusive large shallow feeding trout! Cover water until you find the deeper runs and pools, especially the ones deep enough that you can't see the bottom clearly?Ķall locations like that will be holding fish.
