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Lower Owens River

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FISHING REPORT
Updated - 5/5/23
Scroll down for links to information about Lodging,
Maps and up to the minute Stream Flows.
Current Conditions: 738 CFS and blown out. Chalk Bluff Rd is again closed between the campground and the cement plant. The campground is expected to flood shortly (scroll down for a link to up to the minute flow report).
If planning on traveling to the Mammoth Lakes area from points to the north, check with the following state transportation departments regarding ongoing road closures before you go:
CALIFORNIA/CALTRANS (https://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/) for information about road closures.
NEVADA/NDOT (https://www.nvroads.com/) for information about closures.
Fishing Conditions - Poor: Nothing new this week. Otis at the Troutfitter reports the following "ALERT: The gauges coming out of PVR are not accurate, see report above. The hatches have been very weak, midges just about the only ones coming off. I did get a report that there's an okay baetis hatch down towards Warm Springs Road in the early afternoon. Yesterday at 2 pm the water temperature at Line Street Bridge was 46. If you are coming up be very careful, respect the closures and be happily surprised if you catch a fish. At least until things quiet down."
For detailed regulations click here: https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Regulations
Generally Recommended Patterns
Click here to go to our Fly Catalog
Dry Flies:
Griffith's Gnat #20, Extended Body BWO #20, Parachute Adams #18-20, Elk Hair Caddis #16-20, Parachute Caddis #16-18, Yellow and tan Stimulators #14-16
Nymphs:
Zebra Midge #18-20, Baetis B/H $18-20, Tungsten Caddis #14-18, Vinci's Depth Charge Birds Nest Olive or Natural #12-18, Stonefly nymphs #14-16
See Hatch Chart Below
BOOK YOUR OWENS GUIDE BEFORE YOU GO
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to see video showing how
Insta-Set Indicators work
HATCH CHART - LOWER OWENS RIVER
About the Lower Owens River
The most upstream section of the lower Owens is reached by turning onto Pleasant Valley Dam Rd off of Hwy 395 which is located about 6.8 mi north of Bishop. Go north east for about 1.3 mi to the campground located on the banks of the river. After you cross the bridge you can turn right or left on Chalk Bluffs Rd that runs alongside the river for several miles.
Below Pleasant Valley Dam, the river runs through a short freestone section and then meanders through the sagebrush and rabbit brush flats, very much like a spring creek. There are several dirt roads that intersect with Chalk Bluffs Rd that will allow you to drive right up to the river. Those access roads can get mucky after a rain so be aware that what looks like a shallow puddle can be a quagmire. Once you reach the area known as Five Points (see map) floating the river in a watercraft is the best strategy as the stream side vegetation is too thick to access the water from the bank. Since there is no actual boat launch, it would be advised to hire a guide to provide watercraft transportation. Guide information can be contacted through fly shops in Bishop or Mammoth Lakes. Information about guides is available by clicking the Guide link on this page.
The banks of the upper section are very steep which make wading difficult except during the lowest flows that occur in the winter. Be aware that regulations vary depending upon which section of the river you are fishing. The section between the dam and the footbridge at the lower end of Pleasant Valley Campground has different regulations than the three mile section from the footbridge down to the redwood sport fishing regulations sign. See the Stream Facts section at the end of this chapter for specifics.
Fishing the lower Owens has similarities to fishing any spring creek, except the fish in most cases are not quite as finicky. Another difference is that the flows can change day to day and season to season due to power generation needs at dam. When flows change the fish will re distribute themselves which will require some sleuthing on the fisherman’s part. Flow change can cause the fish to go off bite too. The lowest flows are in the winter which is fortunate as the river is open to fishing year round. The fact that the river is located at a relatively low elevation, the water stays relatively warm and rarely freezes.
Upstream from Five Points most of the fish are Browns that vary in length from ten to fifteen inches, and there are a lot of them. Some big bruisers hang out in the undercut banks. The river downstream from Five Points gets regular plants of Rainbows.