OWENS RIVER

In Partnership With Brock's 

Owens River Fly Fishing

The Upper Owens is a high plains spring creek, the Middle is canyon tailwater, and the lower is valley tailwater.  The river contains abundant insect life and a dense trout population (between 7,000 to 11,000 fish per mile in some areas).  Brown trout dominate, although there are wild and stocked rainbows, with trout on the whole averaging 10 to 12 inches.  On the Upper Owens, catching these fish is no simple matter.  The water is clear and flat; the banks provide few trees behind which to hide; and conditions are often windy.  Finally, much of the water is private.  The Lower and Middle Owens present challenges of their own: water flows fluctuate, and half of the stretch resides in a 300-700 foot gorge that is difficult to access.  The Upper Owens is close to to town of Mammoth Lakes, while the Lower Owens is closer to Bishop.

Upper Owens River

Character

The Upper Owens, from Big Spring to Lake Crowley (Crowley Reservoir), stretches nearly 15 miles.  It holds larger fish than the Lower, with fish averaging 12 to 14 inches.  Hot Creek enters 5 miles upstream of Lake Crowley and is itself a productive spring creek. Just over 10 miles of the Upper Owens are public, and the rest are held by private ranches.  The public water is often crowded in the warmer months.  One of the ranches is geared toward fly-fishermen and provides river access to lodgers.  One mile of the water below Big Spring campground is public.  This is followed by 2 miles owned privately by Alper's Owens Rier Ranch but open to fishermen who lodge there.  Warning: rooms are often booked far in advance.  Following Alper's are about 7 miles of closed private water belonging to two ranches (the first, named the Arcularius Ranch, was open to lodgers until 1998).  From the end of the private water down to Lake Crowley is nearly 10 miles of public river.  The river is 5 hours from LA and 6 hours from San Francisco.  Closest fly shops are in Mammoth Lakes.

Upper Owens River

When & How to Fish

The legal fishing season is from the last Saturday in April through October 31.  On the private water, fishing is catch-and-release on barbless flies only.  On the public water below Big Springs and from the ranches down to Benton Crossing Bridge fishing is artificial flies and lures only, on barbless hooks, with a limit of two trout totaling 16 inches or less between them.  The public water below Benton Crossing Bridge to Lake Crowley has no special regulations, with one exception: from August 31 to October 31, from the lake upstream for roughly 1/4 mile (to the fishing monument) only two fish over 18 inches may be kept (fish must still be caught on artificial flies and lures only and with barbless hooks). Check out the official regulations.  Summer is warm and breezy; fall and spring are cool to mild (click here for weather).  Water flow is rather constant except in late May and early June, when snowmelt swells the river.  The biggest fish are caught in the spring when the rainbows move upstream from the lake to spawn, and in the fall when the browns (and some rainbows) do the same.  Caddisflies dominate and are the preferred pattern, but stoneflies, mayflies and midges are also prevalent.  In spring, nymphing is popular.  Fishing is generally from the banks.

Upper Owens River

Accessibility & Directions (get driving directions)

The 1 mile of public water below Big Springs camp site can be reached by taking Owens River Road for 2 miles off Highway 395.  The private ranches can be reached from Owens River Road, which parallels the river.  The public stretch above Lake Crowley can be accessed by continuing along Owens River Road and turning left on a dirt road just past a gate below the private ranches (called the Long Ears section).  Alternatively, you reach this stretch by taking 395 to Benton Crossing (a paved road), which crosses the Owens 1 mile above Lake Crowley.

Middle Owens River

Character

The Middle Owens -- sometimes called the Owens River Gorge -- runs 20 miles through a canyon between Lake Crowley and Pleasant Valley Lake.  It is small tailwater whose flows are relatively constant at 90 cubic feet per second.  Access is difficult (the gorge is 300-700 feet deep) and rattlesnakes abound.  Trout are smaller than in the Upper Owens, with browns averaging 8 to 10 inches.  

Middle Owens River

When & How to Fish

The gorge is open year-round with no special regulations.  Check out the official regulations.  Dry-fly fishing is generally more successful than nymphing.  Caddis and mayflies hatch frequently.  Although the water is not big, wading can be tricky.

Middle Owens River

Accessibility & Directions (get driving directions)

Access to the gorge is difficult.  Although highway 395, Power Plant Road and Gorge Road parallel the gorge, you'll have to walk down steep paths ("scramble" may be a more appropriate term) to approach the river.  The only exception is just above Pleasant Valley Reservoir at the power plant.  At the upper end of the gorge, you can take Toms Place road across the river and park, but you'll still have to walk a ways. 

Lower Owens River

Character

The Lower Owens begins below Pleasant Valley Lake and stretches to Tinemaha Reservoir 25 miles downstream.  The river resembles a spring creek as it flows through a valley flanked by high mountains.  Because the water is alkaline-rich (like a spring creek), insect life is rich, capable of overloading the angler with hatches.  This section includes 3.3 miles of Wild Trout water (mostly browns) not far below Pleasant Valley dam.  Below this section warm-water species such as bass become more common though trout fishing still occurs.  Flows in this stretch can fluctuate often due to the water needs of Los Angeles.

Lower Owens River

When & How to Fish

From Pleasant Valley Lake down to the campground's footbridge, the season is January 1 to September 30.  Fishing must be done with artificial lures and flies, and there is a two fish limit.  Below the footbridge is a 3.3-mile catch-and-release Wild Trout section.  Below this section, fishing is open year-round with no special restrictions on technique and a five fish limit.  Check out the official regulations.  Water flow can fluctuate on a daily basis; general flow varies by season, with peaks in the spring and summer (due to runoff, power generation and and Los Angeles' water needs).  Some of the best fishing occurs during high water.  Dry-fly fishing is generally more successful than nymphing, except in summer, when nymphing is the only real option due to high water conditions.  Although insect life is abundant, no one hatch in particular stands out.  Instead, various caddis hatches are so numerous that they are the fly of choice.  Streamers and mayfly hatches also work.  Wading is not difficult except during high water, when it is nearly impossible.  When wading, beware of some deep holes and sandy areas.  Some lower stretches can be floated with a small boat. 

Lower Owens River

Accessibility & Directions (get driving directions)

Access is generally easy and is achieved via turnoffs from 395, which parallels the river.  Chalk Bluffs Road provides nice access to the Wild Trout section.

Fly Shop

Guide Service

Lodging

Location

Telephone

e-mail

Fish First!

X

Albany, CA

510-526-1937

Info@fishfirst.com

Brock's Fly Fishing Specialist

X

X

Bishop, CA

760-872-3581

brocksflyfish@telis.org

Troutfitter Mammoth Lakes

X

X

Mammoth Lakes, CA

760-924-3676

steve@thetroutfitter.com

American Fly Fishing Company

X

X

Sacramento, CA

800-410-1222

Peter@americanfly.com

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