Fly Fishing Report 11/17/2025
Welcome Winter!
Thanks for stopping by for my eastern Sierra fly fishing report! It’s been an exceptional fall season and as we head into winter things are looking promising. We had a great time this year with our fall fly fishing clinic, thanks to everyone who came out to spend the weekend with us. I have posted some highlights and recap below, we will have our spring fly fishing clinic dates announced very soon. Winter is a great time to fish the Owens river from plentiful wild brown trout on the Lower to hunting down the biggest and baddest on the Upper its a unique and for some of us favorite time of year to fly fish the Owens River. During the shoulder season and winter, the water temps stay cold, fish are actively feeding and moving, and flows come down to fishable levels in particular on the Lower. Reach out to grab a date this winter season! All levels of experience are welcomed and all gear is provided, learn how to fly fish in a fun safe and educational environment.
-Luke Kinney, Owner and Guide (858) 750 9820
Email- goldentroutguiding@gmail.com
NOW BOOKING FOR DECEMBER-APRIL
Hopefully we get a big year of snow blanketing the landscape, it’s a magical time of year to fly fish, we are truly blessed with year round’ fly fishing opportunities. Throwback to february on the Upper Owens 2022. Photo @BenDitto
Programs and Upcoming Events
2025 Fall Fly Fishing Clinic
“As I was writing this report, the McGee Creek Pack Fire Burnt Down the Elani Lodge of which we rented for our clinic, we were the last to enjoy this beautiful and historic lodge. I feel incredibly honored and grateful to have got to spend some time there, we are praying for all of those who lost their homes and livelihood in the fire. May these photos and memories honor this incredible place”
-Luke
Where to start!? This years fall fly fishing clinic was incredible. We once again had a sold out event with 8 participants over 3 days of learning, sharing in community, and time on the water. The only downside was the 40-60 MPH winds we experienced on the river each day but we made it happen! In some ways it’s a testament to fishing through all conditions, if you can battle heavy winds, you can fish most days. This year we rented the Elani Lodge for the weekend on McGee Creek, the aspens were yellow and orange, fall was peeking. Our anglers arrived on friday afternoon and got settled in to their private cottages and rooms and we shared some drinks and talked about expectations for the weekend. Most of these anglers have been out with me before but wanted to further their depth of knowledge for fly fishing, rigging, reading the stream, building confidence to go out and find success on their own future endeavors.
Each morning (Sat) (Sun) we started with a slideshow presentation highlighting what we would be focusing on for the day around the fireplace followed by a casting clinic. It was a great time to have open discussion, go over questions, and share our experiences with each other. Our fall clinic typically focuses on subsurface fly fishing techniques as that is the primary way of fishing heading into fall and winter season. Our Saturday morning presentation started with an Entomology presentation, including live samples, and learning to match the hatch.
After each mornings presentations and breakfast (which was homemade goodness by my GF Heidi) we hit the river and took what we learned and applied to real life, and conditions. The great part of a windy day and weekend is we had the river to ourselves and their were plenty of fish willing to take a well presented fly. Learning how to rig for nymphing is much more detailed than most assume and can make or break you. We spent time nymphing and streamer fishing, finding success in both.
Our group was willing to learn, listen and fish hard! Everyone was there to help net a fish, encourage each other and share in the process. Day two was more focused on the technical end of rigging, learning more about Euro Nymphing, and reading the stream. Head guide Rob Hrabik led day twos presentation, opening up the discussions. We spent some time tying knots and leader building before we hit the water. Once we hit the stream everyone was even more confident from learning that day prior putting their skills to use! We got into some good fish, even in heavy winds.
Our 2025 Fall Fly Fishing group, Ben, Barton, Joe, Kolby, Hannah and Heinz. We wish you all the fishiest of future adventures. Thanks for joining us!
Guide Rob Hrabik and angler Kolby! Back to back PB’s for Kolby over the weekend.
Overall it was an awesome weekend together and we all made some new friends. We have been running these clinics for the last five years and each time we get a little better and tighter on how we teach and learn from each other. We are always growing and always learning in life and the world of fly fishing. Our 2026 Spring Clinic Dates will be announced soon, there are 8 total positions, to get on the waiting list please email us here! If you are looking to up your game, think like a guide and make each visit to the river as productive as possible these clinics are a great way to cross that bridge. Great for brand new to intermediate anglers.
SIGN UP FOR 2026 SPRING CLINIC WAITLIST (DATES TBA)
2026 Golden Trout Trip
We are so close to opening the books for our 2026 Golden Trout Expedition. We have the dates set and we are finalizing out crew as we speak. This coming year we will be joining forces with McGee Creek Pack Station, the best in the business. This is our 3rd time running this trip and it has become a very popular and incredible experience. Join us for a weeklong backcountry trip in the pristine Golden Trout Wilderness fly fishing for some of the purest strain of Goldens on the planet. There is no other trip like this, and we look forward to it every season. It’s amazing to be able to wake up next to a small stream with breakfast and coffee prepared for you and the hardest decision of the day is which dry fly you are going to start your morning with. This trip requires a certain level of physical ability as we will be hiking to our location but the rest of the trip is mule supported, 5 star backcountry cooking, professional guides and crew, and 6 full days of exploration enjoying California’s most prized possession and state freshwater fish. To get on the waitlist for this trip please send us an email, the list is long already but once books open there are only 10 spots available. Those on the waitlist will be notified first in order of which they were received. This trip will sell out! Get on the list if you are hoping to reserve a position.
Please feel free to call us and discuss more in detail and if this is the right trip for you (858) 750 9820
2026 DATES JULY 26th-AUG 1
2026 Golden Trout Expedition Waitlist
Fly Fishing Report
Lower Owens River- The flows on the Lower Owens River are around 90 CFS, perfect for wading and getting into tight zones that typically are un fishable at any higher flows. This is the time to fish the Lower Owens and explore new zones. Plenty of wild brown trout and the occasional rainbow trout mixed in to be caught on the Lower Owens. Nymphing under and indicator, smaller the better, and I like using light green or white bobbers. With the lower flows everything becomes more visible to the fish, the flies, yourself, and ofcourse your bobber. Sizing down your bobber to small or medium is a good call, big colored bobbers will spook fish and they make a lot of wake. Work the river upstream if possible, staying as far back as you can to make a cast. Euro Nymphing or tightlining these runs and pocket water will also lead to some nice hookups. Look for that more oxygenated water and pools, the big bends are holding fish for sure, but your going to find more actively feeding trout in the faster water coming in and out of the feeding lane. Fish sizes on the Lower range from 8-14 inches with the occasional 16+ inch trout being caught. The fish on the Lower Owens are mostly brown trout that are very healthy, well fed and hard fighting fish. It’s not uncommon if you are fishing it right to pull 5 or 6 fish out of a hole or zone while working the stream. The weather has been warm and perfect during the day but as we move into the colder months Jan-March, fish will start keying in on smaller bugs and nymphs. Downsizing your tippet size to 5X while nymphing is also a good way to have more subtle presentation. Some recommended subsurface flies for the Lower Owens right now, flashback pheasant tail (16-18), perdigon (16-18), zebra midge black or olive (16-18), bead head hare’s ears (16-18), duracell (18-18). As far as top water you might be a mid day hatch of small midges and the occasional mayfly or caddis so if you see fish rising you can try a small parachute adams (18-20) or elk hair caddis (16-20). Fishing streamers is always fun on the Lower Owens, especially in the smaller range (10-12) wooly buggers, balanced leeches, and mini sculpin. It’s always nice to work streamers on the lower owens where getting a good cast or drift is impossible. There have been some nice browns and rainbows being caught daily on the Lower Owens and it’s going to be way less crowded then the Upper, so great place to score some water for yourself. Weekends are still busy but there’s plenty of river to fish. The Lower Owens season is now-march, we are truly blessed to have an incredible winter fly fishing destination with plentiful and healthy fish. Reach out to line up a guided this trip winter on the Lower Owens and see what it all about!
BOOK THE LOWER OWENS
There are beautiful and big trout in the Lower Owens, yes its mostly healthy 8-14 inch fish but if you know where to look and the right time of year you can get into these magnificent browns. Keep em wet!
Check out the gorgeous coloration on this male.
We spotted this fish by moving snow, snugged between two boulders and tight lined for him. Bam! Took us a good 100 yards downstream.
Central Gorge- The Central Gorge is the canyon section that connects the Lower Owens to Crowley Lake Dam and is best fished this time of year. The CG is a technical and slightly dangerous area to travel, with loose rock, slopes, and hard to heavy bush so travel smart and with a friend if possible. I have done a few trips down there this month and we put up some serious numbers averaging around 20+ fish in a half day while nymphing. These fish are mostly fun sized but locals including myself would say some of the most beautiful brown and rainbows on the East Side! The central gorge is vast with lots of untapped potential for the angler willing to explore and get off the beaten path. I have had some pushback from locals about doing reports on the Canyon Section but to be honest it spreads out the pressure on the Upper and Lower Owens and there is so much water down there that having your own stretch or even seeing another angler is unlikely. Some of the easier access to the CG will get more pressure but even then nothing close to the Upper Owens this time of year. The CG is pocket water, riffled water, bouldery runs, where tight lining or Euro Nymphing is by far the most productive way to fish it. As winter arrives flows typically lower in the CG and you have to be more sneaky as you approach holes, which is usually from the high bank making the angler more visible. A good technique for a potential zone you want to work is approach from a decent ways down stream to the targeted area, the bigger fish down there are not stupid and they constantly on the lookout for birds form above and anglers so if they see you shadow they are hiding under the bush or the rock and chances are slim your getting em to bite. We have had some low cloud cover, rain and snow over the last few days creating some epic hatches of mayflies and caddis so bringing two rods are always wise when trying to be as productive as possible. The CG is one of those places where mid day dry fly fishing can be good all season! Running a dry dropper is also a great option down there when you are seeing more surface action. Some recommended dry flies for the CG during winter, tiny tiny tiny, parachute adams (20), Blue Wing Olive (20), Trico (20), And Small Caddis (18-20). As far as nymphs go they aren’t too picky but there is a size that they are more prone to feed on from (16-18) usually. Your classic Perdigon, Rainbow Warrior, Pheasant Tails, and really any good looking bead head nymph will do the trick. If they are being picky go in the box and try something new, winter has fish getting a bit more selective as the adult hatches slow down. I love the CG and going on an adventure day! This time of year I will only do half days when the sun is highest and over the canyon. Reach out to grab a guided trip for the CG, especially if your the type who likes to explore, catch a lot of fish and get away from the crowds.
BOOK THE CENTRAL GORGE
Upper Owens- The Upper Owens is currently flowing above normal levels due to the recent rain, which at this point is not affecting the quality of the fly fishing although rigging might require some variations to get those flies deep. The Upper Owens is fishing very well with a good amount of crowley fish in the system right now, it seems to be one of the most productive falls and early winters I’ve experienced in years. That being said the crowds on the Upper are reflecting that with some weekends being absolutely insane. If you are looking to get more space to yourself I recommend a week day. As these storms fill in and hopefully we get blasted with snow, the crowds will thin as fair weather anglers fade out and wait for warmer days. The road is currently muddy and classic crowley lake mud, be very careful when driving in to sections that are muddy, this time of year through winter I see cars getting stuck all the time. Leave room for folks while fishing, talk to others about which direction you are heading, usually if you ask someone if you can fish above or below you can save yourself the trouble of tension on the river. Plenty of fish out there, be kind! One of the coolest acts of kindness is to give someone a fly out there that’s been working for ya, and creates an environment we all desire. As far as fly fishing goes there’s plenty of nice sized rainbows to be caught from 16-24” hard hitting ane mostly muscle, some of CA’s best. Here’s a pro tip for all you anglers doing the Upper solo and without a guide… stop walking the bank, you are spooking fish. I see folks just blasting up river walking the bank looking over, which is fine if you are trying to see where they live by spooking them out but your chances of catching em are slim to none. When there is good light on the Upper and its mid day with a pair of polarized sunglasses and some patience as you work upstream move slow and really watch the water, fish are everywhere if you slow it down. I sight fish on the Upper the whole time I am guiding or fishing for myself. Part of the reason I love streamer fishing on the Upper is I can work the entire stream without ever having to spook fish by getting a cast far enough away and letting my fly ride the cutbank. Streamer fishing is definitely slower then nymphing but as far as style hard to beat a 22 inch fish blasting a leech. This time of year fly selection is key and for the sake of us guides and my job I’m going to hold those specific patterns close to the chest, but I won’t leave you empty handed. Bead head nymphs will get fish to eat, more importantly getting them in the right position and in front of that fish making it an easy eat is even more important. You can also try fishing some junk food like worms or eggs patterns. Guides that work year round’ on this river work extremely hard to dial it in and paying us to take you out is worth years of knowledge. Book us and were happy to share all the goods! As far as adults the last few days during this cloud cover and low pressure system I’ve been seeing lots of juveniles and medium sized fish rising for mayflies. As much as I love getting on those trophy trout, I also love fishing dry flies on the Upper Owens and keeping my casting skills up to date. The Upper Owens is such a beautiful river and well worth spending the day exploring, if you spend the time fishing with methodically and slowly you will hook up with a nice one, then playing that fish well is the next crux! I often say getting the bite is the easy part, getting those fish to the net is the true challenge. It’s not uncommon for the bigger units to run you 2 bends before landing em, we LOVE IT. The Upper is a challenging and rewarding river and its great to see it healthy, let’s keep it that way by keeping those fish wet and practicing good catch and release ethics. Reach out to line up a guided trip on the Upper Owens this winter! I will doing a fair bit of travelling so my time is somewhat limited. Id reach out sooner then later to secure a date and look at the calendar.
BOOK THE UPPER OWENS
Hot Creek- The flows on Hot Creek are up to 15 CFS with this most recent rain, and that’s a good thing! I Like to fish Hot Creek when the flows are higher and the weed beds are less established. As winter rolls in access into hot creek just like the Upper Owens will be limited. If you are willing to hike into Hot Creek is that time of year going into winter when you might have the canyon all to yourself. Hot Creek is one of the most famous and beautiful stretches of water on the Eastern Sierra and a great place for the top water enthusiast to practice his or her art. mid day hatches of mayflies primarily blue wing olive and smaller tico’s are a great way to get into some fun fly fishing. I Like to show up to hot creek mid day, especially if there’s no wind and its overcast, those hatches can really pick up. Some recommended flies for Hot Creek as of now, Blue Wing Olive (16-22), Parachute Adams (18-22), Small Stimulator (14-16), and your classic Elk or Deer Hair Caddis (16-18) are all good options. Running a dry dropper down there is a safe bet with about a 12-16 inch drop from the dry fly just deep enough to get those nymphs under the surface film. Recommended nymphs for Hot Creek as of late, Small Baetis Nymph (18-20) Small Copper John (18-20) Small Prince Nymph (18). There are times at hot creek when you feel like you can’t miss and other times when you can’t buy a bite, watch the water and look to see what the fish are doing. Are they rising? Are they feeding on Emergers? Are they holding the bottom between the weed edges… maybe check a small streamer in front of em. Hot Creek is classic and a fun river to figure out because it is constantly changing. Matching the hatch down there goes a LONG WAY.
Hot Creek during early winter sure is beautiful!
Thanks for stopping by for my fly fishing report and newsletter! It’s been an incredible journey being able guide so many awesome folks on the river, in the backcountry and in the classroom. Im grateful for my job and being able to share my passion. There was a time in my life when I was hopeless and at the point of no return when God met me and changed my heart. His name is Jesus Christ and if he could do it for me he can do it for you. There is hope in this dark world and you are not alone, you are loved. Call upon him and he will meet you where you are.
Mark 11:22-25
“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. Truthfully I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, Go throw yourself into the sea, and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
