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Hello! I flyfish the Sierras as often as I can get up (work, school, dying car engines,etc. have an annoying tendency to keep me home x( First off, I recommend you go online at a couple of the local shops, esepcially the Troutfly in Mammoth. I know the former owner, and a couple of the guides. They're great guys, and very helpful. Plus, they don't appear to look down their nose at spin fisherman some of the other shops in the area do. Ricks, and Performance Flyfishing across from the Troutfly in the Rite Aide center are good too. If you're in Bishop, Brocks right there on the main strip in town is great. Before you go, go onto the Troutfly website. They have the best and most up to date online reports in that area. Also, if you can, stop by and pick up a few things. I've tied flies since I began nearly a decade ago, and I still ain't got half of the local patterns for Hot Creek and Mammoth alone. Always worth a trip into the shop. BTW, the Toutfitter and Troutfly have been folded into the same shop and have the smae owners.
As for Hot Creek, it will be tough. There won't be much nymphing, unless for some reason we get a big rain or two up there. Mostly emergers, sight fishing, and most often dries. August..let's see. Most likely some late PMDS, definitely caddis in the smaller 16-20 range. Tricos usually come off at that time too. It can be tough with the tricos, so get local advice and patterns before you head out. Hoppers start kicking up then too. Not nearly as good as other places here out West, but a 8-10 Burks Spent Hopper or foam hopper with a small may or caddic dropper can do well. I'd bring a 3wt. for dries with at least a 12ft. leader, 4 or 5wt. for nymphing and larger dries,and a good 6wt. with a sink tip for lake ans streamers on the Owens, if you so chose.
But don't keep yourself to Hot Creek. The Upper Owens gets some good fish starting to come up out of Crowley around late July. Throwing a pair of tandem streamers can really do well on the fish here. Myphing bh midges in smaller sizes can kick butt here too. But the smaller creeks will be out. Water will be low in most the smaller systems, so it's best to stay with the lakes, Upper O, or Hot Creek, as they won't be as affected as say Mammoth Creek or Bishop Creek. As for the lakes, a sinking tip with streamers is always a bet. Dry droppers during a hatch, and maybe some callibaetis on the Twins or some of the smaller hike-ins. Damsels still might be coming off too. At any rate, you'll likely have few, if any company. It's dead up there between now and Labor Day. Have fun dude. Bass + Fisherman= BAASS ADDICTT!!!
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