CAL EXPO January 18-21 , 2024
8 January 12 , 2024 VOL . 43 • ISS . 1
Year Round Fishing Opportunities in the Owens Valley
Bishop is the southern gateway to the Eastern Sierra . The Owens Valleys offers lots of yearround fishing opportunities for trout , Sacramento perch , bass , bluegill and carp . Here ’ s a quick guide to fishing in the Bishop Area . The Owens River Gorge , a yearround fishery stretching from Crowley Lake to Pleasant Valley Reservoir has an abundance of wild brown trout . Access requires a strenuous hike into and out of the gorge . Stream side vegetation and instream boulders make fly casting very technical for an abundance of wild brown trout ready to take a fly or lure . While fishing in the gorge is good year round , fall to spring offers the best weather and fishing opportunities . Mid-summer heat makes the hike uncomfortable . Anglers can expect wild brown trout from 8 to 14 inches . This is a great spot for fly fishers and spin fishers throwing lures . The power plant section of the Owens River flows into Pleasant Valley Reservoir . Two to three miles of flooded river channel forms the reservoir . This section is planted by California Department of Fish and Wildlife ( CDFW ) at the boat ramp , which is in the middle from the two access points , the Owens Gorge Power Plant on the upstream side , and Pleasant Valley dam on the downstream side . There is a paved
road along the length of the reservoir allowing bicycle access to the entire reservoir . Wild and planted trout are in the reservoir and will take a number of baits , flies and lures . The reservoir fishes best from fall to spring . In March , the Bishop Chamber of Commerce offers the Blake Jones tournament , which is a blind bogey format . Don ’ t miss this family fun tradition on March 23 , 2024 with a chance to win up to $ 10K in prizes .
The Owens River flows out of Pleasant Valley Reservoir . From Pleasant Valley Dam to Five Bridges Road the river is managed as a wild trout stream . There are special regulations in this section of the river . Fly fishers flock to the catch and release section , from the walking bridge at the bottom of Pleasant Valley Reservoir to Five Bridges Road . The lower Owens River in the wild trout section offers great winter fly
CAL EXPO January 18-21 , 2024
fishing for wild brown and rainbow trout . The river flows mandate the fishing in this section of the lower Owens River . In the summer time DWP flows water through the river channel on its way to residents in Los Angeles . These flows average 400 to 600 CFS depending on the winter ’ s snow pack . Flows over 300 CFS are too high to safely wade the river . There are good hatches of little yellow stones and caddis for fly fishers to imitate if the flows are safe to fish . Spin fishers with lures ply the waters of the catch and release section first thing in the morning and last thing at night . By early February consistent hatches allow fly fishers the opportunity to catch wild brown trout and rainbow trout through April . While greatly outnumbered by fly fishers there are spin fishers successfully throwing lures , and plastics to the wild trout . The lower Owens River from Five Bridges to Collins Road is open to anglers fishing bait , lures or flies . This section of the river is planted with trout in the winter months offering anglers an opportunity to catch trout . Winter time is the best time to be fishing this section of the river . This section is heavily overgrown with willows and tules . Anglers need to explore the river to find hidden spots to fish . Summer high temperatures keeps most trout anglers off the river except for first thing in the morning and last thing at night .
Bishop Creek Canal offers yearround fishing opportunities . In the winter time it is catch and release fishing only . Bishop Creek Canal starts from the lower Owens River in the area of the Happy Boulders . The canal is a microcosm of the Owens River . There are good hatches of mayflies , caddis and stone flies for the fly fisher . The canal offers anglers easy access to the water and good fishing in the spring and fall . The Owens Valley offers trout fishing opportunities in the rivers , streams , canals , and reservoirs of the Owens Valley . There are year round trout fishing opportunities in the Owens Valley . Fall winter and spring offer the best trout fishing of the year . Explore the waters of the Owens Valley any time of the year for great trout fishing .