We're starting to see the midsummer consistency in hatches

Hot Creek - Mammoth Lakes, CA (Mono County)


by The Trout Fitter Staff
8-25-2023
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Flow Rates and Water Conditions

Water Conditions: Good, showing 50 cfs as of 8/24

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

The flows are back down and dropping steadily

Fishing Conditions and Hatches: Fair-Good

With the water dropping and warming up the fish are starting to move out of the deep holes and into shallower holding spots.  We're starting to see the midsummer consistency in hatches. These include caddis, Tiny BWO and Tricos, which had all ready started very early. Midges in the morning plus the new foods. The Tricos are emerging fairly heavily between 8 and 9:30 with the spinner fall around an hour later.The Tricos are much more prevalent at the Interpretive Site. The best fishing seems to be 7-10 but now with the hoppers becoming more available the midday wind is giving us another reason to stick around after the wind picks up.. If you can find some calm water there's some good surface activity. Generally the midges will be hatching until early afternoon and then egg laying and spent adults in the afternoon.  Scuds and San Juan Worms will work all day.  With the decrease in flows and the increase in usage the streamer fishing has gotten tougher . It's important to key in on any slack water. Really study the water, a slick spot (flat water behind invisible rock) as small as a dinner plate might be the key to your day.

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 || Hi-Vis PMD #16-18 | Tent Wing Caddis #16-20 | Miller's Caddis #16-18 | Spider Varient #18-20 | Brooks CDC Baetis #20-24

NYMPHS:  T Midge #24 | Zebra Midge #18-22  | Buckskin Caddis #16-20  | Tung Stud Black #18-20 | 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

STREAMERS: Mini Sculpin Orange #6 | Slumpbuster Natural #10 | Hornburg #10-14  





More Reports

The Trout Fitter Reports
for Friday, August 25th, 2023
Owens River - Section 3 - Upper (above Crowley): Hatches and the fishing are starting to improve
Owens River - Lower: The river below PVR is still a little off-color but it's improving
East Walker River (CA): East Walker River Fishing Report

The Trout Fitter Reports
for Friday, August 18th, 2023
San Joaquin River - Oakley: Water still very high and road access problematic
Owens River - Section 2: The flows above Hot Creek have dropped and cleaned up
Owens River - Lower: Lower Owens Fishing Report
East Walker River (CA): Flows had dropped to around 450 cfs but have now come back up