Upper Owens River California Hatch Chart
Eastern Sierra Nevada, California. The Upper Owens River flows south from its headwaters near Mammoth Lakes through the Long Valley Caldera and Owens Valley floor before entering Crowley Lake. One of California's finest and most accessible wild trout fisheries - a spring creek-influenced meadow river with exceptional populations of wild brown and rainbow trout in a stunning high-elevation Eastern Sierra setting at 7,000 feet. The combination of spring-fed consistent flows, rich aquatic insect life, and wild fish in open meadow terrain makes the Upper Owens one of the most rewarding dry-fly destinations in California.
Check current California Department of Fish and Wildlife regulations before you go. The Upper Owens has special regulations on certain sections including artificial lures and flies only and catch-and-release requirements on designated stretches. The river flows through a mix of public and private land - the Benton Crossing Road corridor and the reach above Crowley Lake provide the primary public access. Verify current regulations and access for your target section before every trip.
Shop by type: dry flies, nymphs, Euro nymphs, hoppers and terrestrials, streamers.
The river
The Upper Owens flows through one of the most geologically dramatic settings in California - the Long Valley Caldera, a massive volcanic depression that provides the spring-fed groundwater inputs that give the river its consistent flows and exceptional water quality. The meadow character of the upper river is immediately apparent: flat, clear water over a sandy and weedy bottom with wild trout that have full view of everything approaching from above the surface. This is technical dry-fly water that rewards careful approach, fine tippet, and accurate presentation.
Brown trout are the dominant species throughout the upper river, with rainbow trout present in good numbers particularly in the lower reaches toward Crowley Lake. The Upper Owens is known for producing large wild browns - fish over 20 inches are caught regularly by anglers who fish the evening caddis hatches and early morning BWO windows carefully. The river's meadow character concentrates fish in predictable feeding lanes during hatches, which rewards the observant angler who takes time to locate rising fish before casting.
The Benton Crossing section is the most famous and most productive public water - a reach of open meadow river with excellent access, good fish density, and the kind of consistent hatches that make it worth returning to multiple times through the season. The upper sections above the caldera floor are smaller and more brushy but hold wild fish with less pressure. The reach above Crowley Lake fishes well in fall as fish stage before the lake.
The Upper Owens is an easy drive from Mammoth Mountain - the combination of world-class skiing in winter and exceptional spring creek fishing from spring through fall makes Mammoth one of the finest outdoor destination towns in the American West. The river is also excellent for the traveling angler based in the Eastern Sierra for a broader trip that might include Hot Creek, the Lower Owens, and the surrounding high-elevation lakes.
Year at a glance
| Month | Primary hatches | Also carry | Typical sizes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | Midges, BWO | Small nymphs | Midge 20-26, BWO 18-22 |
| Feb | Midges, BWO | Small nymphs | Midge 20-26, BWO 18-22 |
| Mar | BWO, midges | Early caddis, small nymphs | BWO 16-20, midge 20-24 |
| Apr | BWO, caddis, midges | PMD start, small nymphs | BWO 16-20, caddis 14-16 |
| May | PMD, caddis, BWO | Yellow sally, midges | PMD 16-18, caddis 14-16 |
| Jun | PMD, caddis, BWO | Yellow sally, ants | PMD 16-18, caddis 14-16 |
| Jul | PMD, caddis, hoppers | Ants, beetles, yellow sally | PMD 16-18, hopper 10-14 |
| Aug | Caddis, hoppers, PMD | Ants, beetles, trico | Hopper 10-14, caddis 14-16 |
| Sep | BWO, caddis, hoppers | Mahogany dun, trico | BWO 16-20, hopper 10-14 |
| Oct | BWO, midges, caddis | Mahogany dun, small nymphs | BWO 16-20, midge 20-24 |
| Nov | BWO, midges | Small nymphs | BWO 18-22, midge 20-26 |
| Dec | Midges, BWO | Small nymphs | Midge 20-26, BWO 18-22 |
January - February
The spring-fed flows of the Upper Owens keep the river open and fishable year-round. January and February are midge and BWO months - the caldera setting moderates temperatures relative to the surrounding Sierra, and overcast winter afternoons can produce surprisingly good surface activity. Midges throughout in sizes 20-26. BWO on overcast afternoons in sizes 18-22. Small nymphs subsurface in the deeper meadow pools and undercut banks. The winter upper Owens with rising fish and no other anglers is a genuine Eastern Sierra experience.
- Midges - 20-26 throughout. Subsurface in the deeper pools; cluster or spent midge dry when fish are dimpling.
- BWO - 18-22 on overcast afternoons. Parachute or comparadun style. Fine tippet on the flat meadow water.
- Small nymphs subsurface - soft hackles and slim nymph patterns in the deeper pools and runs.
March - April
BWO hatches strengthen significantly through March and April as the caldera warms toward spring. The spring olive hatches on the flat upper Owens with wild browns rising in the meadow feeding lanes are some of the finest technical dry-fly fishing in California. Caddis begin in April. PMDs begin on the warmer afternoons by late April. The pre-runoff spring window on the upper Owens can be outstanding - strong hatches, fish in prime condition, and minimal pressure before the Memorial Day crowds arrive from Southern California.
- BWO - 16-20. The dominant spring hatch. Overcast afternoons produce the best surface activity. Parachute and CDC emerger styles. 5X-6X tippet on the flat water.
- Midges throughout. Subsurface and surface in sizes 20-24.
- April: caddis - 14-16 afternoons and evenings. Elk hair and soft hackle emergers.
- Late April: first PMD - 16-18 on the warmest afternoons on the lower Benton Crossing sections.
May - June
Prime season. PMDs build through May and June on the Benton Crossing meadow sections - wild browns and rainbows rising in the flat feeding lanes to consistent morning hatches. The flat spring creek surface of the upper Owens in a PMD hatch demands the same precision approach as Hot Creek - fine tippet, accurate presentation, and a good match to what the fish are keying on. Caddis evenings throughout. Yellow sallies in the faster inlet sections. The combination of PMD mornings and caddis evenings in June makes it one of the most complete dry-fly months on the river.
- PMD - 16-18 mornings and midday. Parachute and CDC styles. 5X tippet minimum on the flat sections.
- Caddis - 14-16 evenings. Elk hair and soft hackle emergers.
- BWO - 16-20 on overcast days. Still relevant through June on cloudy afternoons.
- Yellow sally - 14-16 in the faster sections and inlet areas.
- Ants beginning mid-June along the meadow margins.
July - August
Summer on the upper Owens is caddis and hopper fishing with continuing PMDs through July mornings. The open meadow character of the Benton Crossing section concentrates wind-blown hoppers along the cut banks and the wild browns respond well - smaller sizes than most western rivers given the spring creek character of the water. Caddis evenings remain strong through August. Ants and beetles midday in the meadow sections. Trico spinner falls begin in August on the slower, flatter reaches - worth investigating early morning on the widest meadow sections.
- PMD - 16-18 mornings through July. Continuing but tapering.
- Caddis - 14-16 evenings throughout July and August. Reliable evening hatch.
- Hoppers - 10-14. Smaller sizes than most western rivers - the flat spring creek water demands a more refined presentation. Along the cut banks and meadow margins.
- Ants and beetles midday - 16-18. Worth carrying throughout summer.
- August: trico - 20-24 early morning on the slower flat sections.
September - October
Fall is the finest season on the upper Owens. BWO return strongly with the cooling temperatures and the caldera setting produces excellent fall olive hatches on overcast afternoons. Hoppers continue through mid-September. Mahogany duns on overcast days. Caddis evenings through September. The browns begin staging toward Crowley Lake in October - the lower Benton Crossing sections fish exceptionally well as large fish move through. Crowds drop sharply after Labor Day and the Eastern Sierra in fall color with rising fish is one of the finest settings in California fly fishing.
- Hoppers through mid-September - 10-14 along the cut banks and meadow margins.
- BWO - 16-20 on overcast afternoons. The dominant fall hatch. Parachute and CDC emerger. Fine tippet on the flat water.
- Mahogany dun - 14-16 on overcast afternoons in September and October.
- Caddis evenings through September - 14-16.
- Trico - 20-24 early morning through mid-September on the slower reaches.
- October: large browns staging toward Crowley - fish the lower Benton Crossing sections carefully.
November - December
BWO and midges as the season closes. The caldera setting and spring-fed flows keep the upper Owens fishable well into November - strong BWO hatches on overcast afternoons with virtually no pressure. The Eastern Sierra in November with the Sierra Nevada capped in early snow and rising fish on a warm afternoon is one of California's most beautiful fly fishing experiences. December fishing is available for the committed angler willing to deal with cold Mammoth temperatures.
- BWO - 18-22 on overcast afternoons through November. Parachute and CDC emerger styles.
- Midges - 20-26 throughout. Subsurface and surface when fish are dimpling.
- Small nymphs subsurface in the deeper meadow pools and undercut banks.
A western dry and nymph assortment covers the core season - supplement with dedicated PMD and BWO patterns in smaller sizes and fine tippet down to 6X. The Upper Owens River is California's finest meadow spring creek - consistent flows, exceptional insect life, and large wild browns in a volcanic caldera setting that is unlike anything else in the American West. Fish it alongside Hot Creek for a complete Eastern Sierra dry-fly experience. See also the Lower Owens River for the Bishop area tailwater hatch chart.