California Fishing Reports ยท Eastern Sierra Region
Below Pleasant Valley Reservoir, the Lower Owens near Bishop is a year-round tailwater with wild browns and rainbows in brushy banks.
Looking for the latest Lower Owens River report? This page is updated by the AvidMax fly shop team with live flows, current conditions, hatches and the flies working now on the Lower Owens River (Bishop).
Current flows
There is no live gauge on this stretch. Check nearby gauges on the California fishing reports page.
Wind forecast
Lower Owens River fishing report
Updated November 7, 2026.
There is no live gauge on this stretch. Flows are steady and clear.
Small nymphs and midges under an indicator, and BWOs on cloudy afternoons.
Load your fly box
Before you head to Lower Owens, bring: Zebra Midge #18-20, Pheasant Tail Nymph #16-18, JuJu Baetis #18-20, Parachute Adams #18-20, RS2 Emerger #18-22, Black Beauty #20-24, Egg #14-16, Squirmy Wormie #12-14, Scud Bomb #14-16.
Flies working right now
The flies above that we have in stock right now.
Lower Owens River details
| Access | Access along Pleasant Valley Dam Road and roads north of Bishop. |
|---|---|
| Elevation | About 4,200 ft |
| Nearest town | Bishop, California |
| Best season | Year-round |
| Fish | Wild brown and rainbow trout |
| Regulations | Statewide trout rules apply unless posted, and some waters have special seasons. Check the California Department of Fish and Wildlife regulations for the current rules. A California sport fishing license is required for anglers 16 and older. |
| Leaders and tippet | 9 ft leaders, 5X tippet |
| Camping | Pleasant Valley campground |
| Kids | Partly. |
| Good to know | Tules and brush make some banks tough to reach. |
Fishing by season
Winter
Steady and fishable.
Spring
BWOs and caddis.
Summer
Warm and weedy.
Fall
BWOs.
How to get there
From Bishop, take US-395 north to Pleasant Valley Dam Road.