The warmer temperatures should help the fishing considerably

Hot Creek - Mammoth Lakes, CA (Mono County)


by The Trout Fitter Staff
3-17-2024
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Flow Rates and Water Conditions

Water Conditions: Good, showing 7 cfs as of 3/17, that should be going up this week.

 

 

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 being spring fed.

 

 

Fishing Conditions and Hatches

Fishing Conditions and Hatches: Good-Very Good

Access to the Interpretive was walk in but you could drive all the way to the paved parking lot.

The warmer temperatures should help the fishing considerably. 

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

There's been very good dry fly action, Interpretive Site 9-11 on midges and the BWOs hatches have come roaring back, 12-2. With the returning of the BWOs the fish are starting to eat bigger (16-18) mayfly patterns. The canyon is like the Interpretive but an hour or so later and a lot more subsurface on mayfly nymphs, midges and scuds. We are seeing an increase in dry fly action in the canyon, primarily upstream from the upper parking lot.

I still tell my clients that a 4 second drift is average and 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 grey #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 | Hogan's S&M Nymph #18-20

STREAMERS: Mini Sculpin Orange #6 | Slumpbuster Natural #10    

 




More Reports

The Trout Fitter Reports
for Sunday, March 17th
Owens River - Section 3 - Upper (above Crowley): The spring run is in the river, Both fall and spring fish are being caught
Owens River - Lower: The Grannom caddis have arrived

The Trout Fitter Reports
for Sunday, November 12th, 2023
Hot Creek: The water temperature may be less affected by the cold snap than other streams
Owens River - Section 3 - Upper (above Crowley): Over the weekend the hatches came back....and so did the crowds
Owens River - Lower: Flow rates are on the rise and are expected to reach 700cfs soon