West Walker River Fly Fishing Report: 11/13/23 (Bottom of page)
Fly and Gear ordering and delivery: We can get flies to you within two to three business days from the time you place your order via Priority Mail. If you provide a budget for flies, we will select them to match the budget and get them to you on time for your trip. Please see the bottom of this column for ordering options.
We also have custom Perfect Fly selections in 3 different price ranges for this stream that come with or without fly boxes. They make excellent gifts. Click Here To Order or Call us at 800 594 4726 or email us at sales@perfectflystore.com.
Type of Stream
Freestone Stream
Species
Rainbow Trout
Brown Trout
Brook Trout
Lahontan Cutthroat (Few)
(Most all the trout are Stocked)
Size
Small
Location
Eastern Sierra
Nearest Towns
Walker
Bridgeport
Season
April 25 to November 15
Access:
Good
Non-Resident License
State of California
Seasons:
The West Walker River starts fishing good about the time the other local waters are slowing down.
Spring:
The river is usually high and very dingy to muddy.
Summer:
Late Summer is a prime time to fish the West Walker
Fall:
Early Fall is also a prime time for fly fishing the West Walker River. The water is low and clear and the stream is easy to fish.
Recommended Tackle & Gear
Fly Line:
4, 5 or 6 weight
Leaders:
Dry fly: 9 to 12 ft., 5 or 6X Nymphing:
71/2 ft., 3 or 4X, Streamers 0-2X
Tippets:
Dry fly: 5 or 6X, Nymphing: 3 or 4X,
Streamer 0-2X
Best Fly Rods:
Perfect Fly Supreme Four, Superb Five
or Ultimate Six
Fly Reels:
For 4/5/6 fly line
Fly Floatants and Misc Items:
Floatants, KISS Strike Indicators
Tools & Accessories:
Nippers, forceps, retractors, etc.
Fly and Gear ordering and delivery:
Email us at (sales@perfectflystore.com) with the dates you will be fishing and we will send you a list of our fly recommendations. We can get flies and gear to you within two to three business days from the time you place your order via Priority Mail. If you provide a budget for flies, we will select them to match the budget and get them to you on time for your trip. Your can also call us at 800-594-4726 and we will help you decide what flies and gear to use. All orders are shipped free in the U.S. If under a $100 order requiring Priority mail is a charge of only $8.10. Orders over a $100 are shipped free via Priority Mail.
Copyright 2016 James Marsh
Fly Fishing West Walker River California
The West Walker River forms in the Eastern Sierras near Yosemite at around 11,000 feet elevation in the Emigrant Wilderness. Lahontan cutthroat trout were the native trout but the stream has mostly brown trout, brook trout and rainbow trout. It is a heavily stocked stream. There are also some Mountain Whitefish. It’s water flows into Topaz Lake and is used for irrigation. It eventually flows into the East Fork in Mason Valley and the water from both streams end at Walker Lake. Much of the river is in a road-less area. Leavitt Meadows, off California highway #108, is the closest road to the headwaters. This is a good area to fish with pocket water consisting of riffles connecting large pools. There’s also a public access at Pickle Meadows, located a mile off of highway #108. There is parking and a trail that leads to the river. There’s a mile long public access to the river in Hoye Canyon. Another access exist in Wilson Canyon and the BLM Rest Area. Access south of the town of Walker is fairly easy. The river flows along highway #395 for several miles and all of the above public places can be easily reached from there. The river flows through private property for much of its length. This is a pure freestone stream that depends on rain and melting snow for its water. The levels can vary drastically. It’s usually late June before the river falls into a normal flow. It can become very low and clear in the late summer and early fall. Either situation, high or low water, can make it difficult to fish.
Stream Reports:
07/10/19 The stream is still turning out plenty
of trout. There are multiple hatches taking
place in clear water.
07/17/19 Levels are okay and lots of trout
are being caught. Some are backpacking into
the higher elevations.
08/03/19 Conditions are very good with lots
of trout being caught. There are lots of
insects hatching.
08/13/19 We are still getting some good
reports from customers. Good hatches
continue and terrestrials like our Japanese
beetle and carpenter ants are working good.
08/21/19 The stream is still turning out some
good catches. Most customers are fishing the
upper/backcountry sections of the stream.
09/06/19 The stream levels are a little low
but stay hidden and you should catch lots of
trout. We continue to get good reports from
customers.
09/16/19 We received more good reports. All
sections of the stream are turning out good
numbers of trout.
09/28/19 Snow and colder weather will slow
it down today, otherwise you should be able
to continue to catch good numbers of trout.
10/12/19 The stream levels are good and
good numbers and sizes of trout are being
caught by our customers. Good midge and
BWO hatches amoung others.
10/24/19 Still getting good reports from
customers. Good hatches and good stream
conditions.
04/27/20 The season was to open 4/25. We
understand it is now closed.
06/04/20 The stream is in okay shape and
we are getting reports that some trout are
being caught in the lower sections of the river.
96/15/20 Lots of hatches are taking place
and good numbers of trout are being caught
by our customers.
06/27/20 The upper sections of the river
are starting to produce as well as the lower
section. Good hatches are taking place.
07/09/20 The stream levels are a little low
and you need to use caution to stay
hidden. Good hatches are taking place.
07/23/20 The stream levels are a little low
but our customers are reporting good
numbers of fish being caught.
08/06/20 Still getting good reports from
customers. There are good hatches and
terrestrials are working.
08/28/20 The stream is very low but we
are getting some good reports from the
uppermost sections.
10/28/20 The stream is low but we are
getting some good reports from
customers. BWOs, midges, spotted
sedge caddis, sculpin streamers.
11/12/20 Season ends in three more
days. Conditions are currently good
05/19/21 The stream levels are low and you will need to stay hidden from the trout as much as possible. Good hatches are taking place.
06/04/21 The stream levels are still very low as the rain helped very little. You can catch plenty trout if you stay low, dress to match the background and as hidden from the trout as possible. There are good hatches.
06/16/21 The levels are still very low but we continue to get good reports from customers. There are some very good hatches taking place.
06/28/21 The stream is very low and warm on the lower end. Fish the upper middle and higher elevations where the water is cooler. There are good hatches and terrestrials like carpenter ants, beetles and hoppers are working.
07/09/21 The stream is in good shape in the higher elevations. It is a little too warm to fish in the lowest elevations.
07/17/21 We are getting some good reports from customers fishing the higher elevations. There are good hatches and our terrestrial patterns are working.
07/24/21 It is producing well for those that fish the upper middle and higher elevations. Good hatches and dry fly fishing is good.
08/01/21 Low water levels exist but we continue to get good reports from the upper sections of the stream.
08/10/21 Same story second verse. You can catch trout in the headwaters or upper most sections of the stream. The water level is low and you have use extra caution to stay hidden.
08/17/21 Conditions remain about the same. Low water levels still exist. Fish the uppermost sections of the stream.
08/25/21 We receive a couple of good reports from customers hiking into the uppermost sections of the stream. It is low but stay hidden and you can catch trout.
09/02/21 The headwater sections are in okay shape and we continue to get good reports from those fishing the upper sections.
09/18/21 The stream is still very low. We didn’t receive any reports the past ten days.
11/16/21 The season closed the 15th of November. Let us help you plan that next season trip. Send us an email- see address below.
01/29/22 Let us help you plan that next trip with what you need to know about flies and gear as well as conditions of the stream at certain times.
04/19/22 The season opens the 25th of this month, 5 days from now. Now is the time to get your flies and gear in order. Let us help you do that.
04/27/22 The season is open but we haven’t received any reports yet. Stream levels are low.
05/13/22 The river is in okay shape and warm enough in the lower elevations that there are some good hatches starting to take place. Let us hear from you.
05/28/22 Stream levels are okay and good hatches are taking place. We received one good report from a customer fishing this past week.
06/06/22 Conditions are fair. Runoff is nearing its end and you should be getting ready for some very good fly fishing opportunity.
06/13/22 Get ready for some good high country fly fishing. The stream is in okay shape and we are getting reports that trout are being caught in the lower sections of the river.
06/20/22 The stream is flowing at a good level and mostly clear. We received a good report from a customer fishing yesterday.
06/27/22 Conditions are better. Good stream levels and clearer water exist. We received two more good reports from customers. Good hatches of BWOs, PMDs, Spotted and Green Sedge caddis, little Yellow stoneflies and others are taking place.
07/04/22 Conditions remain very good.
07/11/22 The stream is low but okay. You have to make effort to stay hidden from the trout as best you can. Good hatches are taking place.
07/18/22 We are getting some good reports. All sections of the stream are in okay shape except the levels are low. Use extra caution to stay low and as hidden as possible.
07/25/22 Stream levels are still low. Good hatches are taking place, especially in the higher elevations of the stream. We received one good report from a customer this past week.
08/01/22 Stream levels are still low but okay. Good hatches continue and we continue to get a few good reports. The middle and upper sections are the best.
08/08/22 The stream is still low but as it has been all season, trout are being caught. The higher elevation you fish, the better.
08/15/22 We didn’t get any reports from anyone fishing this past week but it should still be good in the higher elevations.
08/30/22 Still no reports from anyone fishing it. It should be okay in the upper locations where the water is cooler.
09/14/22 The stream is still low but we did receive a couple of good reports from customers fishing it this past week. Good late summer hatches are taking place.
09/21/22 Two more good reports come in from this past week. Good hatches continue to take place.
10/05/22 The stream is still in good shape flowing a little below normal levels. We received a good report from a customer this past week.
10/18/22 The stream is low but we are getting some good reports from
customers. BWOs, midges, spotted sedge caddis are hatching and our sculpin streamers are working.
11/07/15 Conditions remain okay but it is snowing. The season closes the 15th of this month.
01/01/23 conditions remain the same with the stream doing good.
04/28/23 The season is open but the water is very high, too high and stained to fish well. Check back with us as we will keep you posted.
07/15/23 The stream is down a lot but still high. It can be fished in places but will be better when it drops down a little more.
07/23/23 The stream levels are near normal and the water mostly clear. Our customers are catching lots of trout. Some are backpacking into
the higher elevations.
08/02/23 Good hatches are taking place and the stream is in good shape. We received another good report from a customer.
08/08/23 The stream is still in good shape. Good hatches are occurring. You should be able to catch good numbers of trout.
08/18/23 The stream is still turning out some good catches for our customers. Trout are now being caught in all sections. Backpacking in to higher elevations increase your odds of success.
08/25/23 The stream is still in good enough shape to catch good numbers of trout. There is a lot of water that it rarely fished if you back pack in.
09/01/23 The stream is still turning out some nice catches for those that want to to a little hiking to reach good water that is not fished for the most part.
09/08/23 Conditions are still very good. The higher you go, the better the fishing but it is good throughout the stream.
09/15/23 The stream is still in good shape. We received two more good reports from customers fishing it this past week.
09/29/23 Conditions are fairly good, especially in the higher elevations.
10/06/23 We received two more good reports from customers fishing it this past week.
10/15/23 The stream is still turning out some good catches for our customers.
10/27/23 More good reports came in from the past week. The water is getting colder and the lower sections are now turning out the fish.
11/06/23 The stream is still in good shape with Midges and little BWOs hatching. You should be able to catch good numbers of fish.
11/13/23 The stream continues to produce some good catches.
Email us at (sales@perfectflystore.com) with the dates you will be fishing and we will send you a list of our fly and gear recommendations.