Copyright 2010 James Marsh
Fly Fishing the Upper Owens River
California
The Owens River begins at Big Springs and meanders
down Long Valley some into Crowley Lake. It provides
twenty miles of excellent trout fishing. This is a picture
perfect meadow stream with deep, undercut grass lined
banks. Some very large trout migrate out of Crowley
Lake up into the river to spawn making it a big fish small
stream fishery at times. The water is clear and smooth,
the banks provide few trees and the wind blows often.
The trout probably average about 12 inches but are not
easy to catch.
One problem with many anglers is that the river has
quite a bit of private property. There are two miles of
private waters on the Alpers' Owens River Ranch in the
upper end of Long Valley. It has a fish hatchery on the
ranch that produces trout for stocking at other locations.
This section is catch and release only, barbless flies
only. It also has a man-constructed two mile creek that
flows through the ranch that is stocked with large
rainbow trout for children and meals for the guest.
Another five miles of the river that flows through the
Arcularius Ranch and is for guest only. There are two
other privately owned sections of the upper river.
The public has access to about ten miles of the lower
section of the Upper Owens River off Owens River Road.
There's a small parking area where anglers can park
and fish up or downstream. The Big Springs Camp
provides access to a mile of public access water. It is
located on Owens River Road about 2 miles from state
highway #395.
There are several tributary streams that enter the Upper
Owens River. Hilton Creek is a small mountain stream
that flows down into the valley into Convict Creek.
Near state highway #395, Convict Creek is a good little
meadow stream to fish. It flows into McGee Creek just
above Crowley Lake, which is yet another meadow
stream with trout.
The river has lots of aquatic and terrestrial insects to
feed the trout, as well as lots of crustaceans. Your best
bet is to match what is hatching or better, what is about
to hatch with specific imitations of the insects.
Seasons:
Year-round but area restrictions
Spring:
Fishing is okay except during Spring runoff which last
almost a month. Rainbows move upstream from the lake
to spawn.
Summer:
Sumertime is by far the best time to fish the Lower
Owens River.
Fall:
Early Fall is great and the time large brown trout move
out of Crowley Lake into the Upper Owens River to
spawn.
Fly Fishing Gear, Tackle and Flies
California
The Owens River begins at Big Springs and meanders
down Long Valley some into Crowley Lake. It provides
twenty miles of excellent trout fishing. This is a picture
perfect meadow stream with deep, undercut grass lined
banks. Some very large trout migrate out of Crowley
Lake up into the river to spawn making it a big fish small
stream fishery at times. The water is clear and smooth,
the banks provide few trees and the wind blows often.
The trout probably average about 12 inches but are not
easy to catch.
One problem with many anglers is that the river has
quite a bit of private property. There are two miles of
private waters on the Alpers' Owens River Ranch in the
upper end of Long Valley. It has a fish hatchery on the
ranch that produces trout for stocking at other locations.
This section is catch and release only, barbless flies
only. It also has a man-constructed two mile creek that
flows through the ranch that is stocked with large
rainbow trout for children and meals for the guest.
Another five miles of the river that flows through the
Arcularius Ranch and is for guest only. There are two
other privately owned sections of the upper river.
The public has access to about ten miles of the lower
section of the Upper Owens River off Owens River Road.
There's a small parking area where anglers can park
and fish up or downstream. The Big Springs Camp
provides access to a mile of public access water. It is
located on Owens River Road about 2 miles from state
highway #395.
There are several tributary streams that enter the Upper
Owens River. Hilton Creek is a small mountain stream
that flows down into the valley into Convict Creek.
Near state highway #395, Convict Creek is a good little
meadow stream to fish. It flows into McGee Creek just
above Crowley Lake, which is yet another meadow
stream with trout.
The river has lots of aquatic and terrestrial insects to
feed the trout, as well as lots of crustaceans. Your best
bet is to match what is hatching or better, what is about
to hatch with specific imitations of the insects.
Seasons:
Year-round but area restrictions
Spring:
Fishing is okay except during Spring runoff which last
almost a month. Rainbows move upstream from the lake
to spawn.
Summer:
Sumertime is by far the best time to fish the Lower
Owens River.
Fall:
Early Fall is great and the time large brown trout move
out of Crowley Lake into the Upper Owens River to
spawn.
Fly Fishing Gear, Tackle and Flies
| Type of Stream Spring Creek Species Rainbow Trout (wild) Brown Trout (wild) Cutthroat Trout (native) Kamloops Size Medium, 25 miles long Location Eastern Sierra California Nearest Towns Mammoth Lakes Season Year-round with area restrictions Access: Good to Fair, depending on the Fork and location Non-Resident License State of California Weather National Weather Service Link Hatch Chart Perfect Fly Hatch Chart (Coming) Fly Fishing Gear, Tackle and Flies |
 | |  | |  |
Free Shipping Continental U. S.
100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
Upper Owens River California
Photo Courtesy Steven Lamb
| Options For Selecting Flies: 1. Email us with the dates you will be fishing this stream and we will send you a list of our fly suggestions. Please allow up to 24 hours for a response. 2. Call us 800-594-4726 and we will help you decide which flies you need. 3. Call or email us with a budget for flies and we will select them and get them to you in time for your trip. Shipping is free in the U. S. Orders over $50 are shipped Priority Mail. |