The Owens River Gorge is difficult to get to, Pleasant Valley Res & the Lower Gorge are better

Owens River - CA


by Tom Loe
1-4-2013
Website

It appears that the high water level will be a constant this winter. We are still flooded into the trees. The short river section below the power house has good numbers of rainbows right now and is fishing well. Dry/dropper bead head combos are best in my opinion. I have a hard time trying to beat a dark tiger midge #18-16, or a dark Assassin birds nest right now suspended under a Stimulator or high vis para BWO #14-16. "Freeze tubing" from the launch ramp towards the inlet can also be productive, however it is damn cold people and you need a full sinking #5 to get those flies down 15 feet quickly. Streamers with red or orange built into them are good choices.

The Gorge has ice and snow along the canyon walls so be careful hiking down. The further up you go, the more you will find. Lower G is much better and has less snow. Not much surface action so hit the deepest holes and plunge pools with a tungsten head midge or mayfly nymph imitation below a high riding well lubed dry as your indicator.