Fly Fishing Report 7/03/2025
Golden Trout Guiding Co. LLC
Hey Y’all! Welcome to me Eastern Sierra Fly Fishing Report for July. Summer is here which means hatches of mayflies, caddis, small streams, lake fishing, golden trout, and higher elevation adventures. It is a wonderful time of the year as our water options open up and we can get out to so many beautiful areas. Certain waters have slowed down while others are heating up, which is the nature of things as we head into our warmest time of year. I am currently booking for July-October as of now and my schedule is filling up quick. Reach out to grab a date and let’s line up an outing that sounds exciting for you, whether we fish for trophy browns, rainbows, and cutthroat trout on Crowley Lake or for beautiful goldens or brookies up high in our mountains streams we got you covered. I look forward to chatting with you and getting out there! Enjoy the report and I hope it gets you into some good ones.
-Luke Kinney, Owner and Guide. Read Reviews Here.
Call to chat more (858) 750 9820
Programs and Events
Our 2025 Fall Fly Fishing Clinic (Oct 24-27th) registration is now open! Every year we host two clinics on the shoulder seasons, one in spring and one in fall. Our clinics are the best way to learn now just how to get on the fish but why. After years of running these clinics we have dialed in the fundamentals to leave each angler feeling confident to approach the stream and prepare for more success on their future angling endeavors. Outside of all the learning our clinics are FUN, as we start in the morning with a classroom setting and then head to the river to apply the knowledge. This Fall we will be covering the fundamentals of fly fishing and preparing our anglers for the colder season which is the best time to be fishing the Owens River. Our fall clinic is all inclusive , lodging, food, and gear! Arrive friday and check into the cabin on McGee Creek to a cookout and fish the small stream running through the property as you prepare for a weekend of learning, meeting new friends, and learning to fish like a guide. We have 8 total positions and only 4 left as of now. $1200/Angler
2025 Golden Trout Excursion (July 27th-Aug 3rd) is currently SOLD OUT for this year but we are already adding folks onto the waiting list for next season. We are finishing up the final touches for this years weeklong Golden Trout Trip and we can’t wait to hit the trail. Enjoy a week of guided fly fishing in some of the most beautiful and remote Golden Trout waters in their native range. There is nothing like this heritage trout trip on the planet.. bucket list material for any serious angler. There is nothing like waking up next to a remote small stream full or Golden Trout and the hardest decision of your morning will be choosing a fly to start the day off with. Enjoy the pristine wilderness with the comfort of Rock Creek Packstation preparing your meals, and carrying your heavy gear along the way allowing you to fish freely the entire time. Reach out to talk more about out 2026 Golden Trout Excursions. We are planning to do multiple trips next year so we will have slots open for those who are ready for the adventure.
International Hosted Trips- New Zealand 2026 is SOLD OUT and I am excited to get out on some of the worlds best sight fishing for trophy brown trout on the planet. I am currently working on an incredible Iceland hosted trip for sea run brown trout and will have those dates announced in the next few months. Our international hosted trips put you in the best hands with the best fly fishing guides across the globe. Feel free to reach out to learn more about our International hosted trips or if you are curious about the Iceland 2026 trip package. Pretty much we love big brown trout and will travel to get em’… join us!
FLY FISHING REPORT
Lower Owens River- The Lower Owens river is flowing high and hot around 450 CFS/68-70 degrees. I give the Lower Owens a rest during peak summer as flows are high making wading very dangerous. This little reset is much needed for the Lower Owens, which has just been improving over the last 5 years into an incredible shoulder season and winter fly fishing destination. I usually get on the water around Oct/November and am already booking fall trips for the Lower Owens as we speak. If you are into healthy wild brown trout ranging from 10-20 inches the Lower Owens is the spot. The Lower Owens is close to my heart and one of the beat gems in CA, we patiently await this fall to get back on it.
Bishop Creek/Rock Creek- Bishop Creek and Rock Creek are coming into their peak fishing months July/August as the spring flows mellow down, hatches of mayflies, caddis and mosquitos are in full swing. Dry fly fishing has been incredible on Bishop Creek and Rock Creek. This time of year I prefer to get up higher in elevation towards these beautiful mountain tributaries as the water stays cold, the fish are actively feeding and it’s just plain gorgeous. I love fishing small streams and creeks, sight fishing for rising trout and watching trout behavior. You can tell alot about a fish just by the way its acting in the water. What depth is the fish holding, is it feeding just below the surface, is it feeding on the surface, what is it feeding on? All of these factors come into play when fly fishing our higher elevation mountain creeks. These trout tend to see a lot of anglers over the summer so getting off the beaten path and fishing zones less travelled are recommended. Having a guide who knows the area… even better. Although the fish are typically smaller in our spring fed creeks, catching these guys is an accomplishment as everything usually needs to be perfect for them to eat, a soft landing, the right fly, the right leader length and line diameter. The flows are still high enough to get right on top of the fish, as we move into early fall and late summer water levels will come down requiring better presentation, smaller flies, and perfect presentation. My go to fly as of now is a Parachute Adams (18) Elk Hair Caddis (16) and Pale Morning Dun (18). Right now fish are more than willing to take a dry fly, so running a dry dropper will work but stick with a dry unless they get picky and running a small dropper comes into play. My go to combination for our high elevation creeks is a Elk Hair Caddis (16) to a Red Copper John (18-20) with about a 12-18 inch spacing between the flies. If you want to experience a fun and beautiful day fly fishing on the Eastern Sierra I highly recommend Bishop or Rock Creek. I am one of very few guides with the legitimate permits to guide on this water through the forest service. It’s a great time and a fantastic place to learn how to fly fish, not to mention a diverse species of trout including, brook, brown, and rainbow all available. Reach out to line up a guided trip for Bishop or Rock Creek.
Central Gorge- The Central Gorge is fishing well, but its peak summer which means hot hot days, stinging nettle and the potential for rattlesnakes. Although the water stays relatively cold all year down there is can be a quest to venture into the gorge peak summer, again I like to wait for things to cool down. October and November, I’ll start getting down into the central gorge and exploring the canyon. If you decide to head down to the central gorge, go early and fish some dry flies or the dry dropper. Tight lining or Euro Nymphing will also produce some good trout down there. Recommended flies for the central gorge as of now, Parachute Adams (16-20), Elk or Deer Hair Caddis (14-20), Purple Haze (16-18), Blue Wing Olive (16-20), Pale Morning Dun (16-20). For nymphs I would recommend Hares Ears (16-18), Flashback Pheasant Tail (14-18), Czech Nymphs (16-18), Perdigons (16-18) will all get into em’. I will not be guiding the central gorge until this fall. Please use caution if fishing the central gorge during summer, it gets over 100 degrees down there and can get serious quick. In early out by 10am…
Crowley Lake- Crowley Lake has picked up speed after a few weeks of very slow fishing. We got spoiled with an incredible start to the season this year so when things slowed down and we had to really work for the fish it got back to some serious grinding. That being said two of my biggest fish ever caught on my boat made it to the net in the last few weeks one massive brown and one hefty cutthroat. You never know what will be on the other side of that bobber when it drops, so being ready for the hookset is EVERYTHING especially on those slower days. Certain areas are better than others, and for the sake of all of us guides who spent countless hours chasing these trout around no locations will be shared in the fishing report. That being said, fish are everywhere and spread out so getting the right depth, presentation and time of day will help you hook up with some beautiful ones. Right now fish are feeding between 14-20+ feet and have moved into some shallower water. Trout are keying in on midges, and the occasional perch fry as our perch come out of spawn and the bigger trout start to feed on the juvenile perch. I like running a 3 fly rig usually fishing a leech or perch fry, and two midges below that. Just like working the river finding the drop offs, holes and structures are key to locating schools of trout. Hopefully as the water warms up the fish will continue to move into the shallower water closer to the inlets with the cooler water sources. Most if not all the fish we are getting into right now have been quality. Crowley Lake is totally worth the dull moments as it remains one of the most beautiful places to enjoy the eastern sierra with a chance to target trophy brown, rainbow and cutthroat trout all in one day! Reach out to grab a date on Crowley Lake.
Upper Owens River- The Upper Owens is flowing around 108 CFS above the Hot Creek Confluence and around 140 CFS below which is perfect flows heading into summer. We have had some nice cold snaps recently, keeping the water temps nice and cool. Plenty of well oxygenated pools and decent fishing on the Upper Owens right now which is refreshing. I haven’t been guiding much on the Upper Owens but have taken a few trips out the last couple of weeks and we have had fun getting into both small and large fish while covering water. You really have to cover water when trying to get into the bigger ones on the Upper Owens, as these fish tend to migrate between locations. All of the better holes get hammered day in and day out so think creatively especially as the water warms up, fish will move into shallower water to feed, including the bigger ones. The best time to fish the Upper Owens is at first light till around lunch time. After that I am usually getting off the water. August and September are typically the warmest months on the Upper Owens so I try to keep the pressure off the fish midday to protect them as the water temps get up there into the mid to high 60’s. Both dry fly fishing and nymphing are great ways to get after the trout on the Upper Owens as of now, sometimes they might be keying in on one or the other and knowing what to feed them will make or break you. Having a good guide on the Upper Owens will absolutely increase your chances of having a productive day. Don’t expect having quantity days on the Upper Owens, it is typically a quality fishery. 5-7 fish to the net on a half day is a good day on the Upper right now. The Upper Owens and Hot Creek are the most pressured fisheries on the Eastern Sierra so you really have to be patient and fish well to do well up there. Recommended flies for the Upper Owens as of now, Parachute Hopper (12-14), Elk Hair Caddis (14-16), Parachute Adams (16-20), Pale Morning Dun (18-20). For nymphs and subsurface flies squirmy worm (12), perdigon (18), Hares Ears (16-18) Rainbow Warrior (14-18) Purple Duracell (16-18), Pheasant Tails (14-18) are all good options. Reach out to line up a date for the Upper Owens! Im currently only booking half days until things cool down.
Hot Creek- Both Hot Creek and the interpretive site have been fishing well. Pressure is up on Hot Creek and the weekends are busy, week days are a little less crowded. That being said be prepared to share the water, always good to ask others which way they are heading and if it’s ok to leapfrog ect.. Most anglers are cool with sharing and caring, but there will always be those who prefer plenty of space so make sure we talk to each other out there. I have been guiding Hot Creek this season quite a bit and I notice people tend to move really quickly, when there are fish everywhere in the system. As the weed beds grow and the flows come down timing the hatch and matching the hatch are pivotal for success. Hot Creek can be really tricky, but when you dial in what the fish want to eat you can have really great days down there. Right now prime time seems to be from sunrise to 11am and will continue to be that way as we move into the heat of summer. If the winds stay down fishing hot creek in the evening and at dusk is another great time to get on the water. I’ve been primarily guiding folks on dry flies down there, and teaching how to work the top water, which is my personal favorite way to get eats. Small to medium sized Caddis are always killer down there (size 14-18), and you can’t beat tiny Parachute Adams at hot creek when the hatch is slow and they get picky (18-22). Although those tiny dry flies are hard to see the water is so clear that you can usually see the fish rise and go for the fly. Learning how to fish small dry flies is challenging and incredibly rewarding! Right now hot creek is a worthy endeavor and a beautiful place to spend some time. Reach out to line up a guided trip at Hot Creek.
Mammoth Lakes Basin- The Mammoth Lakes Basin has been windy! Mornings have typically been the time to get out but yea lots of wind the last few weeks making it harder to get on the float tubes but were still making it happen. The lakes are full, the sun is out and the trout are biting! Plenty of stocked and wild trout mixed in on the Mammoth Lakes basin with certain lakes fishing better then others but ultimately all of them producing some epic days. Fishing a few nymphs under an indicator from 7-12 ft is picking up some nice ones, dry flies in the shallower water is working, and my personal favorite trolling streamers along the drop offs although slower is picking off some of the bigger trout in the lakes. Best time to fish the Lakes Basin is around 8am and all day if the wind allows. Fish in lakes tend to move in schools so when you find a spot where you are getting eats spend a good amount of time there and work the water well. I love float tubing and guiding on float tubes! I am one of very few guides who has permits to guide on the Lakes Basin and would love to take you out on the float tubes and get you into the action. All levels of experience are welcomed and all gear is provided. Let’s get out there!
East Walker River- The East Walker River took a substantial hit last year when the lake turned and the fish died off… We are currently done guiding trips up there until this fall if flows and water temps allow. It will take a few years for the East Walker to fully recover, it will come back and we will be ready.
Thanks for stopping by for my Eastern Sierra Fly Fishing Report for July! We are so blessed to be able to share the water, enjoy some trout and build community. I appreciate all of my follower, subscribers and clients over the years. You guys and gals are awesome and its a pleasure writing these reports. I hope you find them helpful and fun to read.
-Luke Kinney
Hebrews 12:14-15 “Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the lord. Look after each other so that none of you fails to recieve the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.”
Luke Kinney, Owner and Fly Fishing Guide.
