Fishing has been streaky day to day

Hot Creek - Mammoth Lakes, CA (Mono County)


by The Trout Fitter Staff
5-31-2024
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Flow Rates and Water Conditions

Water Conditions: Poor-Good, Showing 81 cfs as of 5/29

Remember, these are the flows just below Highway 395 on Mammoth Creek.

Hot Creek is the least affected stream by big temperature drops due to it being spring-fed.

Fishing Conditions and Hatches: Good

The warmer temperatures have the flows coming back up.

Fishing has been streaky day to day, with A LOT of small fish - A good sign for the future.

The hatches have tapered off, which is normal during runoff, but the fishing is still decent. The Interpretive Site has a caddis migration around 9 followed by BWOs from around 10-12. Afternoon-evening is the caddis hatch and the Tricos are starting to show up as well. The canyon is like the Interpretive Site, but hatches occur an hour or so later with a lot more subsurface on mayfly nymphs, midges, and scuds. We had been seeing an increase in dry fly action in the canyon, but the increase in flows and dirty water has slowed it down. With the water clarity dropping due to runoff, it's a good time to try Scuds, worms, and streamers.

I still tell my clients that a 4-second drift is average and to finish with an aggressive pickup - You will hook fish you never knew existed.

Recommended Flies

DRIES:  R.P. Emerger #22 | Mother Shucker #24 | Griffith's Gnat #20-24 | Stillborn Midge Black #20-22 | Miller's Caddis #16-18 | Spider Varient #18-20 | Brooks CDC Baetis #20-24 | Stimulators #8-10 | Hi-Vis Para BWO #16-18

NYMPHS:  T Midge #24 | Zebra Midge #18-22  | Buckskin Caddis #16-20  | Scuds #14-18 | Tailwater Sowbug Rainbow #16-18 |  Bling Midge Brown #24 | TB Millers+1LT #16-18 | B/H Pheasant Tail #16-20 | San Juan Worms #12-14 

STREAMERS: Take your pick   





More Reports

The Trout Fitter Reports
for Friday, May 31st
Owens River - Section 3 - Upper (above Crowley): Upper Owens River Report
Owens River - Lower: Huge jump in flows and lots of other options to fish now
East Walker River (CA): Water temperatures are already in the upper 50s and the flows are ideal

The Trout Fitter Reports
for Monday, May 27th
Hot Creek: Fishing has been streaky day to day with A LOT of small fish, a good sign for the future
Owens River - Section 3 - Upper (above Crowley): Upper Owens River Report
Owens River - Lower: Lower Owens River Report
East Walker River (CA): East Walker River Report