Fish Report - May 7, 2026
Fish Report - 5.7.2026
General Report for Eastern Sierra
Mammoth Yosemite Airport:
Mammoth Lakes Airport Weather Forecast
Bishop:
Pleasant Valley Campground Weather Forecast
Hot Creek:
Conditions:Good
Report: Early season the midge hatch has been the most consistent but on warmer days we’re seeing sporadic BWO and the caddis hatch is definitely improving. On the warmer days the hatches will start earlier and last longer while colder days the hatches will be midday and much shorter. The surface bite is picking up as well. If you’re not seeing hatches don’t forget the scuds or throw some streamer patterns.
As far as hatches go its mostly BWO and midges right now, with some caddis making a showing on the warmer days.
Two guide tips: 1) When casting, if you’re looking at the weed beds, you will hit them, so look at the clear lanes. 2) Your drifts should be 4 seconds or less followed by a smooth but aggressive backcast - You will be amazed by the number of hookups you didn’t even know were there.
| Fly Type | Flies |
|---|---|
| Dries | Brooks CDC Baetis #18-20 | Caviar Midge #22 | Spent Partridge #16-22 | Missing Link #16-22 |
| Nymphs | HDA Fav #14-16 | Expecting Scud #16-18 | Glass Bead Micro May Olive or Brown #20-22 | Weiss BP Light #18-20 | Zebra Midge #22-24 | T-Midge #22-24 | Real Midge #22-24 | Olive midge patterns #20-24 |
| Streamers | Kesslars H/B/S Olive & Natural (#12) |
Upper Owens:
Conditions: Good
Upper Owens River Flows Click Here:
Report: The main dirt road above the bridge is mostly dry at this point, but there still might be some pockets of mud out there on the side roads, especially after this small storm cycle mid week.
The flows coming out of Grant Lake are up to 56 cfs. Most of the spawning Rainbows are headed back to the lake but there are a fair number Cutthroats still up there, with a fair number still staging. Having said that , for the sake of the fishery do not wade in the tailouts and only fish the bigger fish in the deep holes. Not a lot of hatches going on outside of the ever present midges, the BWO’s and Caddis hatches are pretty weak. The usual egg and worm patterns are still working but the fish are turning more and more to midge patterns. It’s still important to avoid wading and stay in water waist deep if possible, so as to avoid trampling the eggs. If size is not important you can pick up some 6”-8” browns on dry flies.
| Fly Type | Flies |
|---|---|
| Dries | Para Caddis #16-22 | Adult Midge Patterns #20-24 | Parachute Adams #18-22 | Rubber Leg Stimulator #12-16 | Juicy Hopper #10-14 | Missing Link #18-22 | |
| Nymphs | Bead Head Flashback Pheasant Tail #14-22 | HDA Fav Variant #12-16 | Chamois Caddis #16-20 | Slush Egg Apricot #14 | Squirmy Wormy #12-14 | Zebra Midges #16-24 | Flying Circus Caddis Orange #12-14 | Tung Stud Black #18-22 |
| Streamers | Keslars H/B/G Olive | Punk Perch #16 | Crostons MRS Natural #12 | |
Lower Owens:
Conditions: ok
Lower Owens River Flows Click Here:
Report: Well it looks like spring activity is starting with the bigger Mayflies, #16 . Otherwise it’s lots of midges with an occasional caddis on warm days. With the increase in flows the dry fly action has slowed and the nymphing has become less consistent. Most of the pressure is on the Wild Trout section but the fishing does seem to be picking up lower down and this trend could pick up with nighttime temperatures expected to be in the 30’s and daytime in the low 70’s.
| Fly Type | Flies |
|---|---|
| Dries | Para Caddis #16-22 | Mimic May Johnson BWO #16-20 | No See Um Baetis Hi-Vis #16 | Parachute Extended BWO #16-20 | Roy’s Special Emerger #20-22 | Caviar Midge #20-24 |
| Nymphs | Tungsten Jig Baetis #14-18 | Tungsten Phase II #14-18 | Zebra Midge #18-22 | Tungstud Olive #16-18 | Smples B/Emerger #18-20 | Assorted Perdigon Patterns #14-18 |
| Streamers | Try 'em all |
East Walker River:
Conditions: .
East Walker River Flows Click Here:
Report:Not much in the way of hatches, Midges and a few Baetis, there are a lot of Caddis crawlers as well. Water temperatures are starting out in the low 50’s and getting into the mid 50’s by early afternoon. Don’t expect to get more than a couple of fish in a hole, it’s best to keep moving.
| Fly Type | Flies |
|---|---|
| Dries | Chernobyl OJ #6-10 | Adult Cranefly | TR’s Double Griffiths #16-20 | Zelon Midge Improved Matthews #20-24 | Z-Wing Real Midge Black #20-26 | Brooks CDC Baetis #18-20 | | No See Um Baetis Hi-Vis #16 | |
| Nymphs | San Juan Worm Red | GB FB Pheasant Tail #14-20 | HDA Fav #12-16 | Tung Stud Black #20-22 | Keslar’s Iggy Olive #14 | Zebra Midge #20-22 | Copper Tiger #S-L | Albino Baron #S-L | Double Bead Zebra #S-L | Monroe Leech | Assorted Perdigons #14-18 | Free Living Larvae #16 | Caddy Shack #14 |
| Streamers | Try ‘Em All |
Crowley Lake:
Conditions: Lake is clear and cold.
Crowley Lake Surface Elevation Click Here:
Report: TAs is normal, water clarity is as good as it gets. With the improved weather and an expected extended stretch of good weather, fishing has picked up and should continue to improve. As is usual in the early season most of the fish are in deeper water, 20’ to 35’. Dropoffs and any changes in bottom structure could be holding fish, you will find fish close to shore along the steeper shoreline but those fish will move out midday . Most of the pressure has been in the Sandy-Christmas- Alligator areas but don’t be afraid to wander away from the fleet, everybody seems to gather in particular spots but there are concentrations of fish all over the place. Something to keep an eye out for, the Tui Chub are early spawners and as we get into May keep an eye out for fish chasing the fry, especially early in the day.
| Fly Type | Flies |
|---|---|
| Dries | n/a |
| Nymphs | Copper Tiger #S-L | Albino Baron #S-L | Hanging With My Chromies #14-16 | Marabou Leech Brown and Wine | Shaft #S-L | Copper Clown #S-L | Optimidge Gray-Grey/Black #18-20 | |
| Streamers | Punk Perch Light #10 | Balanced Punk Perch Light or Dark #16 | Baby Fat Minnow| Dark Leeches (Black, Brown, Wine) #10 |
San Joaquin River:
Conditions: not great, low flows
San Joaquin River Flows Click Here:
Report: Road closed for season.
| Fly Type | Flies |
|---|---|
| Dries | n/a |
| Nymphs | n/a |
| Streamers | n/a |