Fly Fishing Report 3/25/2026
Welcome to my Eastern Sierra Fly Fishing Report for late March! I fell off a bit last month with a proper report so thanks for hanging in there with me. You can get up to date reports via my Instagram HERE. We are off to a substantially warm start for spring which is both good and bad. With an early warm spring we are seeing excellent hatches of caddis and mayflies on most of our open waters, but we might be hurting this fall for flows and looking at a particularly warm summer season. We are lucky to have permits with the USFS that allows us to fish the higher elevation creeks and small streams as things heat up into peak summer allowing for better conditions for both the fish and the anglers. Starting May 15th our permits will kick in allowing for us to fish and guide the Southern Inyo (Goldens), Bishop Creek, North Lake, Rock Creek, Rock Creek Lake, Mammoth Lakes Basin, Lake Mary and Twin Lakes, and Convict Lake/Creek. These options outside of our normal guiding areas open up a variety of waters and styles of fly fishing to get after! It’s going to be a fun summer, reach out to line up a guided trip or chat about putting something excellent together.
((OPENING DAY FOR GENERAL TROUT SEASON IS APRIL 25th))
-Luke Kinney, (858) 750 9820
Email- goldentroutguiding@gmail.com
2026 Golden Trout Trip- We have only 2 spots left for our 2026 Golden Trout Trip (July 26th-Aug 1st) Join us for a weeklong outing into the pristine Golden Trout Wilderness in search of Pure Gold. We will be embarking into the native waters and range for the California golden trout covering over 30 miles of stream and country. This year we will be joined by Mcgee Creek Pack Station, which will carry in all of our heavy gear, set up camp, and cook us delicious meals from breakfast to dinner. Wake up in your tent next to a trickling golden trout stream with the smell of coffee being prepared and your only hard decision of the day is which fly to start off the morning with. There will also be two professional guides on our trip myself and Andre Nersesian to help guide and improve your approach and skill set along the journey. At camp we will host small clinics for those looking to improve while on the trip. This experience is for all levels of anglers, and the fly fishing is mostly top water with eager fish willing to take a dry fly. We love these Goldens, their native range, the history of these fish and this trip emphasizes a true adventure and bucket list experience for most anglers. For pricing and the full Itinerary please visit my website HERE.
BOOK A FINAL SPOT NOW (2 left)
Give me a call to chat more in detail- (858) 750 9820
New Zealand 2026- We are set for New Zealand 2026, with two weeks of adventure planned! We have an amazing crew of anglers we are hosting this year and a fantastic group of guides who will be catering to us when we arrive. We will be on the south island of NZ searching primarily for trophy brown trout. NZ is the home of sight fishing, with a team style effort to spot and land fish. Outside of the exciting fly fishing opportunities NZ is a beautiful country with gin clear water, and plenty of sights to see. Flights are being booked and we will see you all this December!
For more information on our International Hosted Trips EMAIL HERE
2026 Spring Fly Fishing Clinic (RECAP)- We had an amazing spring fly fishing clinic this year hosted on the Lower Owens River and focused primarily on top water presentation, casting, and reading the stream. We had a full class of 8 anglers and throughout the weekend we watched everyone improve! We started the weekend with an In-Depth and focused casting clinic at the park, allowing us to work one on one with each individual angler. The casting clinic set us up for two days of timing the midday hatch, of which we scored great conditions. From 1pm to 4pm the trout were rising as we worked the stream and every angler was able to approach, set up, and successfully fool these trout into eating a dry fly. One of the biggest things we teach is to SLOW DOWN and watch the water as we wade, anglers will pick up on subtle eats and fish that might be right in front of us are we work the stream. After doing these clinics for the last five years we have been able to narrow down specifics making the learned information potent and digestible which directly translates to the fly fishing itself. Our next clinic will be this fall (October) and focused on Euro Nymphing for Trophy Trout AKA Tight Lining AKA Czech Nymphing… haha you get the point!!
Our clinics sell out quickly each year, to get on the waitlist for our fall clinic email us here;
2026 Tightline Clinic Waitlist Dates TBA(October)
Call for more info (858) 750 9820
FLY FISHING REPORT
Lower Owens River- We had a short but excellent season on the Lower Owens this year. The Lower is currently flowing at (270) CFS and (300+) further down below bishop. These flows are coming up with the release of water from DWP and will stay high as we head into summer. Any flows above 200 CFS makes the river less accessible and dangerous to wade. Not that its not fishable but as far as productivity and guiding this is when we say goodbye to the Lower Owens for now and return during fall when the flows decrease. The Lower Owens fishes best during the shoulder season of fall, winter and spring. Fall and Spring being the ideal time to get on the Lower. As summer comes into fullness the flows get high and the water gets warm, this year I wouldn’t be surprised to see temps over 70 degrees midsummer (July-Sept). As of now you can still fish the Lower from the bank or with very cautious wading, getting deeper into the river is not recommended and if you try you will quickly find out. Fishing the Lower Owens from the bank with dry flies during the hatch, or with nymphs either under an indicator or tight lines will lead into fish. Check the flows before heading to the Lower, some like the higher flows for streamers and lack of crowds… but moving up to fish some higher elevation streams and rivers will be more productive. We will be back on the Lower Owens this fall as soon as flows drop back under 200 CFS with optimal flows being around 100 CFS. Absolutely superb season on the Lower Owens while it lasted! Stay tuned for more updates as we head through summer.
Angler Carl Nelson getting the bends on the Lower Owens after a dry fly eat!
Central Gorge- The Central Gorge has been fishing well, and flows have come up slightly allowing for more oxygen and room for trout to move and feed. Like the Lower Owens the Central Gorge will start getting warm and although the water stays cooler in the canyon and can be fished all summer the canyon section can be a hassle as stinging nettle covers over the banks and rattlesnakes come out of hibernation. I don’t say this to gate keep or for any sort of fear mongering, it’s the truth, I’ve seen more rattlesnakes in that canyon in the talus than I’d like to admit. My personal favorite time to fish the Central Gorge is shoulder seasons, fall and spring. Summer Fly Fishing down there can be excellent but be prepared for very warm temps this year. Right now fishing dry flies or a dry dropper is a great way to fish the canyon. If you are able to get in the water and work upstream you can avoid the nettle and fish as you go. The wading is technical and full of boulders so having a wading staff or good balance is recommended. We are seeing hatches of larger march caddis, mayflies (blue wing olive and PMD), and midges. The trout in the canyon are very willing to feed especially if you get off the beaten path which is easy to do with an adventurous spirit! Some recommended flies for the Lower Owens are Elk Hair Caddis (16-18), Blue Wing Olive (16-20), Parachute Adams (16-20), and Stimulators (12-16). Running a small baetis nymph under your dry fly for a dry dropper is a great call as well some recommended flies would be Darth Baetis (18-20) Copper John (18-20) Pheasant Tail (18-20) Zebra Midge (18-20). Good luck down there! We will not be booking any further trips into the canyon until fall/winter 26.
Angler Paul Hokeness getting a proper cast upstream to a rising brown trout!
Upper Owens River- The Upper Owens River is currently flowing at 120 CFS below the Hot Creek Confluence and 88 CFS above. These flows are fantastic for the Upper Owens right now. Unfortunately with the extreme warm temperatures for March the spring flows are coming early, meaning they are high for now but we might be looking at low and warm flows mid summer. Time will tell and depending on potential future storms and snowpack… As far as fly fishing the Upper Owens there are still some holdover trophy rainbow trout in the system mixed in with a few larger browns. We should start to see the migration of larger cutthroat trout moving into the system at any point. Typically they start moving in April/May but I wouldn’t doubt to see them sooner. The cutthroat spawn and migration is one of the most sensitive spawns all season as these fish move in large groups and expose themselves unlike the browns and rainbows as they make they prepare their beds. The spawn last about a month and usually pairs with opening season, making these fish quite vulnerable to excessive pestering from anglers ripping them off their beds and targeting redds. Some folks know better and some need to be educated… if you see a group or pair of fish in shallow water, they are in the act of spawning. Please resist the urge to cast to them and make your way to the deeper bends and runs where they are staging and less likely to be in the act. The best way to catch trophy cutthroat is from a boat on Crowley Lake where those fish are in deeper water, in larger numbers. There are plenty of guides on the Eastern Sierra who can put you on big beautiful browns, cutthroats, and rainbows in one half day on Crowley Lake, then having to deal with the madness on the Upper Owens. I will be guiding the Upper Owens until opening day (April 25th) then I will focus my efforts to catching trophy trout from the boat, avoiding the cutthroat spawn on the river. As far as the current conditions on the Upper Owens the bug life is booming and there are plenty of fish feeding. If you are looking to put up some numbers fishing dry flies… Parachute Adams (16-22) Elk Hair Caddis (14-18) and Blue Wing Olive (16-22) for smaller juvenile’s is a blast! These smaller fish need to feed every 30 seconds to a min to survive so come the hatch you can have a great time targeting 6-12 inchers on top water. If you are looking to get into some bigger units, nymphing the deep holes or cutbanks is the call. Either fishing under a strike indicator or Euro Nymphing will get the job done. Right now as the season changes quickly getting the right flies and nymphs is key to success. Don’t be afraid to change flies often, and to experiment with your depth! Some recommended nymphs as of now for the Upper Owens… Bead Head Hare’s Ears (16-18), Midges (16-20), Small Perdigon (18), Pheasant Tail (16-18), Rubber Legs (12-14), and the Squirmy Worm (12-14) are all good options. The Upper Owens is a pressured and challenging river, of which you need to fish thoughtfully to have productive days. I can’t tell you how many anglers I’ve had come for a guided trip after getting skunked multiple times over and over again. Keep in mind the fish are use to lots of people, and easily spooked. Learning how to sight fish and hiring a good guide for the Upper Owens will help you learn the river, and show you how to approach the stream. Reach out to line up a guided trip for the Upper Owens, it’s a great time to fish it and be on the water with enjoyable spring temps and conditions.
Angler Milo Torres with a beautiful spring rainbow trout.
Hot Creek- Hot Creek is currently flowing at 33 CFS which is decent for the spring run off, and I consider this the best time to enjoy fishing Hot Creek both the interpretive site and the Canyon Section. With the higher spring flows you can get better presentation over the weed beds that make for a challenging drift. We are also seeing increase hatches of Caddis and Mayflies allowing for some fun top water action from mid morning lasting through the late afternoon. Be prepared for crowds at Hot Creek as it’s no secret and a favorite to many anglers all over California not only for its playful fishing but beautiful scenic views. We also encourage that anglers avoid wading in the creek as it disturbs the fragile ecosystem and ongoing spawning territories of the creek. Hot Creek is a world class fishery because of this effort and as anglers and guides we are responsible to look after it. Be kind to others down there, allow plenty of room, and say hello if walking past anglers up or downstream. Nobody likes to be high holed or low holed, pretty much that means walking past someone and fishing directly above or below them. Just communicate with folks and that usually solves the problem. Hot Creek is public water, it does not belong to anyone including the Guides… everyone has a right to fish it, we must learn to share it well. As far as flies and fly selection I’m running a single dry during the mid day hatch and covering every inch of water including the shallow zones as there are many fish that go unseen. When fishing Hot Creek I like to focus on my casting as it’s a great place to learn how to present a dry fly or build a proper 20 ft cast. For the deeper water I am running a dry dropper or small nymph under a strike indicator. I also like to Euro Nymph hot creek with a thin leader (5x) between the weed beds. Some recommended flies for Hot Creek… Parachute Adams (20-22) Elk Hair Caddis (18-20) Blue Wing Olive (18-22) Copper Join (18) FB Pheasant Tail (18-20) Baetis Nymph (18-22) Midges (18-22). I prefer to work upstream at Hot Creek, take my time, and looks for those little channels and breaks in the weed beds. Sometimes rises can be subtle or changing your flies down in size to smaller units can really improve the day! I love Hot Creek, reach out to set up a guided trip.
Teaching my niece Ivy how to fish a dry fly on a beautiful spring day at Hot Creek!
More Report To Come!! Once opening day arrives, I will be reporting on Bishop Creek, Rock Creek, East Walker and the Mammoth Lakes Basin. Thanks for reading and I wish you all a fantastic warm season!
Life is a journey and at times it’s a struggle just to go on. Fly Fishing is a beautiful escape, and has been a healthy outlet for my life over the years. There have been times in my life where depression and lack of self worth brought me to dark and low places. There is hope and God loves you. There is no heart too hard or any amount of darkness that cannot be met with his light and his love. You are not alone and it’s ok to not be ok.
Matthew 5: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”
