MARCH 31, 2025

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This month we’ve had complete access to the Upper Owens so have not and probably will not fish the Lower Owens for quite some time. It’s snowing a bit here in June Lake which should not affect that access to the Upper. As usual, refer to the ways and means for how we’re going about it. We’ll be adding additional locations as Opener approaches.

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upper owens: 

Most of the big Rainbows have vacated the premises but we have been doing well fishing the Yellow Spot nymph and Caddis pattern dries for a mix of Rainbows and Browns up to 18”. The Longears section has seen less action but improves the closer we get to the North Branch of Hot Creek. Definitely more fish about and more Caddisfly activity there and below. 

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what's next: 

Looking forward a bit, the general season Opener (“Merry Fishmas”) is April 26th and one of my favorite seasons of all, the May Cutthroat Run at the Upper Owens. Last year’s run was about the best in a decade. We may begin spotting early arrivals later in April. 

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ways and means

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upper owens river

Above Benton Crossing the Upper is open all year, barbless flies and lures, no scented products, catch and release. 

We fly fish here only with either nymphs under an indicator, streamers, or dry flies depending on conditions and where fish are located. 

Nymphs: Size 12 or 14 Yellow Spots, Flashback Pheasant Tails, Egg Patterns, Hare’s Ears working upstream hitting the deep bends and deeper cut banks. Streamers: Primarily size 6 Wooly Buggers fished downstream in all water and moving just about every cast to cover more water. 

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Dries: Mostly size 12 or 14 Caddis and Mayfly patterns with some Sheep Creek Specials fishing downstream wet fly style or an upstream drift during hatches. 

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lower owens river

Below Pleasant Valley Campground the Lower is open all year, barbless flies and lures, no scented products, catch and release. 

Here we fly and lure fish, more often with lures for a change of pace. Lures: Panther Martins, Thomas Buoyants, Rapalas with the belly hooks removed. 

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Flies: We use the same flies and methods as at the Upper.

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