Fish Report - December 30th 2025
Fish Report - 12.30.2025
General Report for Eastern Sierra
Mammoth Yosemite Airport:
Mammoth Lakes Airport Weather Forecast
Bishop:
Pleasant Valley Campground Weather Forecast
Hot Creek:
Conditions:Good
Report: You now have to park at the Hot Creek Ranch/end of pavement and walk in from there. BIG HEADS UP! There are people living at the ranch so when you are parking please leave plenty of room for access to the driveway.
Due to the flows dropping, bird predation has once again become a problem. The result is that the fish will be out in the feeding lanes during the stronger hatches but once they are over they will move back to cover. When that happens you need to fish tight to the banks/ weeds or swing streamers under the banks or weed beds.
With winter the midge hatch is about it but on warmer days we’re seeing very sporadic BWO and even a few caddis midday. If you’re not seeing hatches don’t forget the scuds or throw some streamer patterns.
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 | E-Z Spot Trico #18-22 | 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 | Chamois Caddis #14-18 (Cranefly imitation) |
| Streamers | Kesslars H/B/S Olive & Natural (#12) |
Upper Owens:
Conditions: Good
Upper Owens River Flows Click Here:
Report:With 4wd and good clearance it’s still driveable, 6-8 inches of snow in most places and for now the crowds aren’t bad.
The flows coming out of Grant Lake have come back up to 54 cfs. The water temperatures are dropping, now in the mid 40’s and with the weather changes it should drop lower. The hatches have slowed way down, besides the ever present midges the BWO’s hatches are weak and will probably end soon, returning February-March. The Rainbows are now spread throughout the system but they’ve been hit hard and have gotten very spooky. Midge patterns may work, otherwise attractor patterns like eggs and worms. And now it’s time for the broken record part of the report. The winter spawning Rainbows are the Coleman strain and they are no longer stocked so what we have is entirely by natural reproduction. Everytime you wade through the tailouts, lay them in the grass or hold them out of the water for more than a few seconds you are affecting the future of this winter fishery. 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 | Sparkle Flag Trico #20-22 | |
| Nymphs | Bead Head Flashback Pheasant Tail #14-22 | HDA Fav Variant #12-16 | Chamois Caddis #16-20 | Slush Egg Apricot #14 |Drowned Trico Spinner #18-22 | 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: Improving
Lower Owens River Flows Click Here:
Report:Despite the hatches being inconsistent the fishing is picking up. Even though the BWO are only hatching sporadically, but the expected series of storms midweek and the overcast that goes with it could give us more midday action. Otherwise it’s lots of midges with an occasional caddis on warm days. Most of the pressure is on the Wild Trout section but the fishing does seem to be picking up lower down. One thing I’ve noticed this time of year is people stopping for lunch in the middle of the day. Just remember the trout really appreciate your leaving them alone while they too are enjoying their midday meal.
| 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: Closed for the season
| Fly Type | Flies |
|---|---|
| Dries | Leave |
| Nymphs | Them |
| Streamers | Alone! |
Crowley Lake:
Conditions: Lake is clear and cold.
Crowley Lake Surface Elevation Click Here:
Report: Fish Camp is closed for the season as of last weekend. Float tubing and shore fishing is still allowed until November 15th though. Water is cold, so not much midge activity. Stripping baitfish and leech patterns on a slow sink line is the way to go now.
| Fly Type | Flies |
|---|---|
| Dries | n/a |
| Nymphs | n/a |
| 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 |