Fly Fishing Report 5/18/2026
Welcome to my Eastern Sierra fly fishing report for the middle of May. This spring has been an incredible start to the fishing season and the warmer months are ahead. Spring runoff has come early, which is a good thing in the present moment making our mountain tributaries already productive and fishable but will be a challenge for the heat of summer. We are expecting some potential lower flows come late july through september, which means hot in the valley, in particular on the Owens River, Crowley Lake, and the East Walker. That being said april was good to us with late season storms and provided some much needed water and snowpack, which definitely improved the overall situation. Its time to bust out those hiking shoes, lightweight rods, float tubes, and bug spray! Summer is fast approaching. I love the warm mornings, waking up to the birds chirping, long days on the water and dry fly eats in the mountains.
Enjoy the report and reach out to line up a guided fly fishing trip for you or a small group today. I am currently booking now-october with more open availability starting in August-October. Learn how to fly fish in a fun, safe, and educational environment. All levels of experience are welcomed and all gear is provided.
Call me (Luke Kinney) 858 750 9820
Email Me- goldentroutguiding@gmail.com
Follow me!! Day to day updates and reports @goldentroutguidingco
Upcoming Clinics and Programs
26’ Fall Fly Fishing Clinic (Euro Nymphing Masterclass)
Join us this fall for a full weekend on the Upper Owens learning the in’s and out’s of Euro Nymphing AKA tightlining from two of the best in the business, Rob Hrabik and Luke Kinney. Euro Nymphing is one of the most effective ways to nymph and maximize your time on the water, if you are serious about stepping up your nymphing game and getting dialed in, this clinic is for you. There are only 5 spots left as of now. Price $900/Angler. For full details visit our webpage 26’ Fall Euro Nymphing Clinic.
2026 Golden Trout Excursion (The Search For Pure Gold)
We are getting prepared for our 2026 Golden Trout Excursion (July 26th-Aug 1st) and there is only 1 spot left. Join us for a 35 mile epic adventure in the pristine backcountry for the Illusive and beautiful native Golden Trout. This is a once in a lifetime trip, and we can’t wait to hit the trail. This excursion is all inclusive starting on the day we meet with a private backcountry chef, camp crew, packers, and professional guides allowing each angler to fish as much as possible and enjoy the backcountry at their own pace. To reserve the last spot or read more about the week long trip visit our web page 26’ Golden Trout Excursion. Price is $4500/angler
26’ Socal Syndicate Speaker Tour (Going Further)
Excited to announce that I’ll be heading on a speaker tour titled (Going Further) this June. This is my first speaker tour and I am excited to share with the California fly fishing clubs, meet new fishy friends, and share some insight. Here are the dates, I would love to meet you, so find a club near by and come join us! 🤙
Dates and clubs;
@santabarbaraflyfishers Tuesday, June 9th
@pasadenacastingclub Wednesday, June 10th
@flyfisherscluborangecounty Thursday, June 11th
@goldenstateflycasters Monday, June 15th
@wilderness_fly_fishers Tuesday, June 16th
@sespeflyfishers Wednesday, June 17th
@spffsocialmedia Thursday, June 18th.
This presentation will highlight, Backcountry Travel and Prep, Advanced Wading Techniques, The Power Of The Fly Change. My passion has always been exploration and learning as much as possible along the way, I look forward to sharing with you all.
Fly Fishing Report
Lower Owens River- The Lower Owens is currently flowing high at 390 CFS above Bishop and 457 CFS below. This is the time of year when I step away from the Lower Owens as flows come up high, making wading dangerous and zones hard to reach, and water and air temperatures in the valley spike heading into summer. The Lower Owens can still be fished, but as far as quality of experience and fishing quality it greatly diminishes. Right now if you are to fish the Lower Owens get an early start and work the banks and long straight runs. Tightlining some heavier czech or bead head nymphs like Perdigon’s, FB Pheasant Tails, Hare’s Ears, and any thing heavy and flashy should get the job done. Look for those early morning hatches of mayflies and caddis, running a double dry fly rig is my preferred option on the Lower Owens and working the soft water on the bank edge for those rising trout is a good move. Get it in while you can! I will be back on the Lower Owens early fall which is PRIME TIME when the flows drop and things start cooling down starting typically in October. The shoulder seasons are in my opinion the best months for the Lower Owens. I am already booking for fall on the Lower Owens, and October is one of my busiest and most productive months, reach out to book a trip!
Be the first on the Lower Owens this fall BOOK HERE.
Early Fall on the Lower Owens and plenty of beautiful healthy wild brown trout.
Central Gorge (Canyon Section)- The Central Gorge is fishing excellent right now but it’s getting hot down there! Just like the Lower Owens I prefer to wrap things up in the gorge until the coming fall which can be silly good starting around starting around October. As summer approaches its not uncommon for the heat to get close to 100 degrees down in the canyon, although the water stays relatively cold. Fly Fishing the gorge during summer is doable, but I personally don’t like getting cooked alive, romping through stinging nettle and avoiding rattlesnakes. The top water game right now down there is off the hook, and will continue to fish well heading into the warmer months. Fishing dry flies like the classic Parachute Adams (16-20) Elk Hair Caddis (14-20) or Stimulator (14-18) are all solid options. Running a dry dropper with some smaller baetis nymphs Darth Baetis (18-20) Copper John (18-20) Pheasant Tails (18-20) is also a great way for those trout not committing to the surface eats to take a fly. Use caution while fly fishing down in the Gorge and for those that don’t mind the heat or elements, the gorge is a great option for catching a lot of fish.
Reach out to line up a Central Gorge trip this coming fall! Book Here
The colors on the wild browns down in the Gorge are epic!
Bishop Creek- I am one of the very few guides who has the permits though the USFS to guide the higher elevations of Bishop Creek. It is one of my favorite waters and areas to guide in the heat of summer as the temperatures are perfect both in the water and in the air, the fish are healthy, and the scenery is incredible. Bishop Creek host a variety of water from small meadows, faster riffles and runs, to alpine lakes where are tactics and disciplines can be practiced and achieved. Right now Bishop Creek is at peak spring flows and still very fishable. Some areas of the creek are running a bit fast but because of the low snowpack this year it’s totally good to go. As of now tightlining nymphs through the faster pocket water is producing some nice fish, and once the day heats up I recommend switching up to either a dry fly or dry dropper. You might be surprised where fish are holding in the creek, places that look impossible, fast current, waterfalls, if there is any pool chances of trout holding are high. The softer water on the seams of the runs are the target zones for top water eats! Fish are spooky right now and will get more spooky as the pressure of anglers and vacationers make their way up into the canyon. Cast from a distance and work your way upstream. Most of the fish in Bishop Creek are in the smaller variety (6-12) inches with the occasional trophy stocker mixed in. One of the many charming elements of fishing higher up on the small streams is the variety of trout available… in one day you can bag brook, brown and rainbow trout. As far as fly recommendations for Bishop Creek, smaller is better, Parachute Adams (18-20) Purple Haze (18-20) Deer Hair Caddis (16-20) Blue Wing Olive (18-20) are all excellent choices for top water. I like running a double dry set up when the bug life gets going paring a larger Caddis (16) with a smaller Parachute Adams tailing (20) and somewhere from 10-14 inches between the two flies. Summer time is the time for fishing small mountain streams and learning the very basic fundamental skills that make fly fishing what it is.
Reach out to book an epic day in the mountains Book Here.
Spring dry fly fishing on Bishop Creek, this angler is working the soft pool just below the rock.
Rock Creek- Rock Creek is really nice right now, seems to be a bit more melt going on so some higher flows but by no means unfishable. It’s really fun to fish rock creek prior to memorial day, as the campgrounds aren’t open just yet and some of the better fishing spots see way less people. Rock Creek and Bishop Creek fish very similarly, clear water, spooky fish, and you wanna work upstream. The water on the meadow sections of Rock Creek is gin clear and the fish will see you from a mile away so its a great place to practice getting those longer cast in, 20-30 ft and sizing down that leader diameter to (5X or 6X). I also prefer to run a bit of a longer leader at Rock Creek 10-14ft leader allowing less visible line on the water, especially in the slower pools. Fishing that faster riffles and pocket water in the trees you can get away with being closer to the fish and shorter leaders. Fishing a single dry, dry dropper or double dry are my preferred method for Rock Creek, and fishing the more oxygenated water will lead to better hookups. There are plenty of birds also trying to catch some fish in Rock Creek so finding pocket water, in particular those little micro pools are great spots to land a dry fly. There aren’t many hatches going on now but that could change any day! Right now the mosquitos are starting to come out, hatches of midges, and mid day caddis are present. Soon we will see more mayflies and caddis as the temps warm up. Recommended flies for Rock Creek this month and into next month, Elk Hair Caddis with Olive Body (14-18), Dark Caddis (14-18), Caddis Stimulator (14-16), Blue Wing Olive (16-20), Parachute Adams (16-22), Emergers (16-22) and really any variety of smaller dry flies will get a fish to rise. The fish are so spooky in some sections of rock creek that even running a nymph or dry dropper will spook them, if you do fish a dropper nymph keep it tiny with NO BEAD HEAD (baetis nymph 20-22) natural flies do much better on Rock Creek. I love guiding and fly fishing Rock Creek as I consider it very playful and just good ol’ fun!! Reach out to book a day on Rock Creek, my calendar is quickly filling up so don’t miss your chance to get out.
Reach out to book a day on Rock Creek Book Here
Working an upstream cast on Rock Creek in the pocket water, learning to retrieve and watch the fly at the same time is a challenge!
Getting a long cast prepared to fish upstream.
Crowley Lake- Crowley Lake is full of water and fish are in deep water, between 20-30 ft. You can absolutely catch some fish in the shallower water but most of the action is out deep. There are multiple hot spots on the lake right now, fish are spread out so I wont be blowing up spots by giving some general recommendations. Places like McGee Bay, Christmas, Sandy Point, Crooked Creek, and Alligator have all been producing fish. Sometimes one spot is slow and the next day it’s pretty damn off the hook, really need to find the right depth have the right fly, and get on top of what I call the fish freeway haha. Crowley Lake has been awesome this season so far with both quality and quantity days. Not everyday is all time and we are having slower days on the water but we are catching fish every time at this point. The bite picks up depending on the water temperature and air temperature but being on the lake by 8am and keeping flies wet into the mid morning is really the golden hour for the bite, although I have seen that late morning afternoon bite go off as well. I’ve already netted fish from 2-10lbs with a healthy amount of 3-5lb trout on the daily, can’t complain. As far as midges and fly selection us guides hold those patterns pretty close to the chest, but some classics are the albino wino, zebra midge, or blood midge. That’s a good place to start! These are hard fighting fish and the best place to hook up with trophy trout during the spring/summer/fall season on the Eastern Sierra hands down. It is not uncommon to catch all three species over 20 inches in one session, browns, rainbows, and cutthroat. Crowley Lake requires patience but rewards are high and it’s always a beautiful day on the water. Reach out to grab a date for Crowley Lake!
Come get bent on some of the Eastern Sierras finest fish Book Here
Upper Owens-The Upper Owens is flowing around 130 CFS above the Hot Creek confluence which is typical for spring time and will remain a bit higher until snowpack melts out. Below the Hot Creek confluence there is quite a bit more water 170+ CFS. We are in peak spawning season for the Cutthroat trout that haved moved from Crowley lake into the river. I typically avoid this entire spawn as its the shortest and most sensitive of all the spawning fish, not to mention we can catch multiple trophy cutthroat trout from my boat on the lake. If you decide to fish the Upper Owens please stick to the deep holes and bends and resist the urge to cast to the spawning cutthroat trout on their redds. I do believe you can responsibly fish the Upper Owens during the spawning season, but unfortunately I really don’t see many folks doing it well. If you see fish in shallow water especially in pairs or even bigger groups, they are spawning. We are getting towards the tail end of the spawn and I will for sure be making my way back to the Upper Owens, especially for some morning dry fly fishing and nymphing! I am hoping that this year we actually have a proper hopper hatch which would be epic, typically that can get started up late August-September. I am currently booking for the Upper Owens and know that water very intimately, reach out to line up a guided trip!
Enjoy a beautiful summer morning on the Upper Owens Book Now
A residential rainbow trout on the Upper Owens! Beautiful fish.
A spring morning on the Upper Owens, higher flows and plenty of nice cold water.
Hot Creek- Hot Creek is currently flowing at 40 CFS which I prefer to fish! I love higher flows (between 40-70 CFS+) at hot creek during spring before the weed beds have time to really get established. I believe we are at peak melt so I don’t think the river will come up anymore, so now is a great time to go fish Hot Creek or get guided in the canyon section. There have been some fantastic hatches of Caddis and Mayflies mixed in with the early morning midges allowing for decent nymphing and decent top water action. I say decent because Hot Creek is notoriously challenging as far as matching the hatch and getting those fish the flies they actually want to eat. I’ve had days on Hot Creek where this fish are rising everywhere and I dial in the fly and absolutely crush em’ and other days where I couldn’t pay a fish to eat and end up fishing something outrageously small (22 parachute adams). Right now it’s a bit of a mixed bag down in hot creek with nymphing being the most productive method in the morning, but mid day those fish are keying in on small emergers and dry flies, especially in the faster shallower pocket water. I love teaching and guiding down in Hot Creek as its the perfect place to really learn how to cast, learn how to read the stream, and try a variety of techniques to get into fish. Some recommended flies as of now for Hot Creek Quilldigon (16-18) Pheasant Tail Nymph, Natural or Bead Head (18-20), Mini Prince Nymph (18), Small Baetis Nymph (18-20) Parachute Adams (18-22), Elk Hair Caddis (16-20), Blue Wing Olive (16-20).
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Hot Creek in all its beauty! An excellent place for beginners and advanced anglers to hone their skills.
East Walker River- The East Walker is currently flowing at 170+ CFS which is excellent flows for this time of year, anything below 80 CFS is very shallow and I don’t like fishing or guiding it then. I personally love when the flows are raging on the East Walker but that rarely happens unless we have a massive year with supreme snowpack and runoff. The river itself has greatly improved from last season as far as quantity of fish, the East Walker had a massive die off close to 2 years ago, so that is awesome to see. There are some healthy sized browns in the system from 14-20+ inches, and a fair amount of nice rainbows as well. There is also plenty of white fish to get excited about, when you haven’t caught “the one” yet and you end with a whitefish haha. The East Walker is definitely worth fishing right now especially before it gets too warm which will happen in late June…July as that water can easily reach 70+ degrees on those hot days. The best way to fish the EW is to cover plenty of water and work the runs and pools that are worthy of holding fish for longer than you normally think you should. Wading the EW is not easy and getting into zones less travelled is a good call, but use caution, I often take a dive into the water trekking into hard to reach zones. Changing flies on the East Walker can be a game changer as those fish can be picky and sometimes going bigger on your flies might surprise you. It can also go the other way, when fishing really small midges (in particular on the miracle mile) can make a big difference. My point is don’t hesitate to dig through the fly box and give them something new to look at. Mini Balanced Leeches (12-14) Rubber Legs (10-14) Squirmy Worm (12-14) and Prince Nymphs (12-14) are all bigger flies that I’ve has success with. I’m also a very big fan of buggier flies on that river especially mid morning, Hares Ears (16-18) FB Pheasant Tails (14-18) Duracell (16-18) are all solid options. Last but not least you go to perdigon (16-18) in the faster water is a great choice. I have had some solid top water eats as well you can try Elk Hair Caddis (14-18) Blue or Purple Beetle (14-16) and Larger Blue Wing Olive (12-14) if there are not many bugs visible and fish still rising which happens often you can try a very small Parachute Adams (20-22). Good luck out there and reach out to talk about lining up an EW trip. I don’t have many dates left open in the next few months so we will have to see how the flows and water temperatures look in a few months.
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A classic East Walker stud!
Another chunky EW brown, the psyche is high.
Thanks for reading my Eastern Sierra Fly FIshing report! I do my best to give the most accurate and honest reports possible. I hope you find it helpful and it leads you into some good days on the water. California gets busy, especially on the water… talk to each other on the river, offer a fly that’s working when passing someone, and spread the stoke. Not every day is lights out, and some days are downright work, thats fly fishing, enjoy the process and take time to look around. God loves you and there is hope, always.
-Luke Kinney, Owner and Guide.
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you so you must love each other.” John 13:34
