Fly Fishing Report 9/28/2026
Welcome to my Eastern Sierra Fly Fishing Report for the coming fall season 2026! It’s been an incredible summer season, so incredible that I had to put my head down and took a while to get back on my fly fishing reports. It’s good to be back and connected with you all, learning how to balance it all, life, work, guiding, and rest. As we head into the fall season we will be switching our strategies, leaning more into nymphing and streamer fishing, and getting ready for targeting trophy trout on the Upper Owens and wild brown trout on the Lower Owens. I hope you find this fly fishing report helpful, and I look forward to all my future trips and this coming fall/winter season. I am currently booking for the new year on the Owens River and Central Gorge (Jan-March)
-Luke Kinney (858) 750 9820
email me- goldentroutguiding@gmail.com
Program Updates and Highlights
2026 Golden Trout Excursion- We had an amazing weeklong Golden Trout trip this year. This trip is a massive undertaking and it is always special when we finally hit the trail and get going. Big shout out to McGee Creek Pack Station and their crew that packed our gear and cooked incredible meals everyday, they are truly the best in the business. Also big shout out to my guiding partner Andre Nersesian for all of his dedication and time spent encouraging to move forward.
Our group of anglers hiked over 50 back country miles this year inpursuit of the Elusive and beautiful California Golden Trout. We had pretty much perfect weather and conditions as we set out on the trail and for our entire week. The group had great synergy and teamwork, encouraging each other to go one more mile, or crack a joke when it was the perfect time for a laugh. There are no words to really describe the magic of this trip, so I’ll just say well done yall and post some photos!
To get on the waitlist for next year’s trip please email me goldentroutguiding@gmail.com
New Zealand 27’ - I am so excited to be hosting some of my clients this year over in trout paradise the beautiful South Island, New Zealand. This trip is guided by two amazing local kiwi guides on some of the best sight fishing trophy trout waters in the world. I can’t wait to get over there and enjoy this special time and place. There is nothing like sight fishing for plus sized browns and watching them come up to sip a fly in gin clear water. Well see you on the other side of the world soon!
Fly Fishing Ambassador and legendary Guide Simone Chu.
27’ Winter Trophy Trout Season- I am currently booking for our 27’ winter trophy trout season on the Owens River. If you haven’t experienced winter fly fishing on the Eastern Sierra you are in for a treat. I will be only doing a few trips a week this coming season so BOOK NOW if you want a date. Come with me and learn how to target some of the Eastern Sierra’s heavy hitters in some of the most surreal fly fishing scenery in CA. This is my backyard river, let me show you around.
Email to book trophy season (limited availability) JAN-MARCH goldentroutguiding@gmail.com
Fly Fishing Report
Lower Owens River- The Lower Owens is flowing very high for this time of year close to 500 CFS. I am closely watching the flows on the Lower to drop below 300 CFS and it will be game on. October is one of the best if not the best month of fly fishing on the Lower Owens. The fish have not been pestered as people wait for flows to drop and have not touched it all summer, the water temps cool down, and the mid-day hatches of caddis and mayflies can be prolific. Nymphing, streamer fishing and some dry fly fishing will be working early season for the Lower Owens. The Lower is a shoulder season fishery and we are lucky to have year round fly fishing on the Eastern Sierra. The most productive months are typically (October-March) with October and March being PRIME TIME. There are various ways to have success on the Lower Owens river from nymphing under the indicator to tight lining some weighted nymphs or swinging smaller streamers, a well placed fly will get those wild browns fired up to take the fly. I will be on the Lower Owens as soon as the flows drop anyday. Keep an eye on the flows! You can check on my website in the header under “Current CFS/Flow Rate”
The color on the Lower Owens browns don’t get much better!
The Central Gorge- The central gorge is fishing well with mid day hatches of midges, small caddis, and blue wing olive mayflies. Both nymphing and dry fly fishing are producing beautiful wild brown trout. Flows down there are currently pretty high, but if your like me I prefer the high flows as it gives more room for the fish to move around. Make sure while exploring down in the canyon to move with caution, especially while travelling solo. October and November can be two of the most productive months for the central gorge, bringing both a nymphing rod and a dry dropper setup is recommended. Most of the trout in the central gorge are on the smaller to mediums sized range but its not uncommon to get into a lunker especially this time of year. Some recommended flies for the Central Gorge heading into fall, PT Nymphs (16-20), Various Czech Nymphs (16-18), Hares Ears both natural and with bead head (16-20), Copper John (16-18), Parachute Adams (16-20), Elk Hair Caddis (14-18), Stimulator (12-16), Blue Wing Olive (16-20).
Your typical CG brown healthy and hard fighting wild browns and plenty of em.
Crowley Lake- Crowley Lake as of late is fishing well, with some days being very productive (10-25) fish. I think we are currently peaking and it will be slowing down as things begin to cool off and we head into deep fall/winter. Right now trout are taking a well placed midge in shallow water (4-12ft) making it quite achievable for both boaters and float tubers/kayakers. Fish are spread out around the lake but anywhere with access points to get your vessel in is a great place to fish. The North End of the lake is producing fish as well as McGee and the West Shore. Fish seem to be picking up on darker midge patterns right now, black or silver bead heads… from sizes (16-18) being the main ticket. The streamer bite has slowed down to a halt, but some folks are still managing some nice trout on the stip. Now is the best time to get into the biggest fish of the season as they have been feeding all year, hoping to get a true monster by the end of this crowley season 7lbs + yeeeehaww! Make sure you are twitching that fly.
Jerry Kuhn is a lifelong fly fishing connoisseur, with an expertise in still water. A true legend in the game and good friend.
Hot Creek- Hot Creek is a trickle coming in at all of 4CFS right now. That being said it’s pretty slow… you can get into some fish with a dry dropper or a single dry fly. As far as nymping be prepared to catch mostly weed beds. Fall is my least favorite time to fish hot creek although you can get surprised with some mide day hatches of trico mayflies and blue wing olive. The smaller the fly the better, recommended flies for Hot Creek right now, Parachute Adams (20-22), Trico (20-22), Blue Wing Olive (20-22). Hot creek is a beautiful hike and always work spending a few hours enjoying the stream but don’t expect for great fishing down there right now. Please dont wade in Hot Creek, the browns are doing their thing as we speak, and the redds are everywhere and at their most sensitive stage right now.
Hot Creek is a famous and tricky fishery, best fished during spring at higher flows.
Upper Owens River- The Upper Owens river is decent fishing right now and improving as we head into the cold season. Flows are still pretty low above the hot creek confluence and the water is clear, making the fish extremely spooky and hard to catch. The Upper is one of the most pressured rivers in CA and fall time is no exception as anglers from all over the state and country flock to catch a trophy trout migrating upstream. Weekends have been busy and weekdays tend to be a bit slower. There are not many browns in the system this year, as that fall spawn is short and spread out. I’ve been catching more small to medium sized stocker rainbows and the occasional wild trout. As we move into the colder months we should start to see the bigger rainbows moving into the system and mix in with the big browns. I will say for every 20 rainbows I might catch one big brown… it just seems to be how it is. The Upper Owens is a reflection of Crowley Lake and there are clearly more rainbows in the lake and willing to make moves up river. Temps and weather have been perfect as we head into October, bring your coat and a waterproof shell as mid day rains can happy easily this time of year. The bite seems to be best between 9-12pm, and again in the evening if it’s not crazy windy. Some recommended flies for the Upper as of now, Small Perdigon (18-20), dark bead head hare’s ears (14-18), Prince Nymph (16-18), Assassin (14-18), Duracell (16-18), PT Nymphs (14-18), Squirmy Worm (12-14), Wooly Bugger Olive (10) Balanced Leech (10-12) Micro Leech (16-18). Right now your stoked if you catch one or two bigger fish in a full day, the river should be getting better and better!
Fall on the Upper Owens, it’s still early… should be full steam by December.
Thanks for stopping by to read my Eastern Sierra Fly Fishing Report. I hope it encourages you and inspires you to get out there! It’s never a bad day on the river, some days are just better then others haha. Give me a call or email to line up a guided trip. I would love to get out with you!
If you feel alone, lost or like you can’t go on anymore I encourage you to call out to Jesus Christ. He will meet you where you are and he will comfort your pain. He took me from a place of absolute despair to life. He loves you, and I love you too. God Bless You! There are brighter days ahead.
But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night. -Psalm 1:2
