Owens River

California·Eastern Sierra·37.55° N, 118.65° W

The Owens is really three rivers in one, and which section you fish depends on what kind of angler you are. The Upper Owens from Big Springs to Crowley Lake is a classic spring-creek meadow, meandering through open rangeland at about 7,000 feet elevation -- beginner-friendly water with wild rainbows and browns in the 10-16 inch range. The Owens River Gorge below Crowley Dam is a steep, boulder-choked freestone canyon that requires scrambling down 400-foot walls to reach trout nobody else bothers with. The Lower Owens Wild Trout section below Pleasant Valley Dam is the main event: a tailwater running through high desert outside Bishop, holding a thriving population of wild brown trout that average 10-18 inches with some fish pushing past 24.

The Lower Owens Wild Trout section fishes well year-round, which is one of its best qualities. Fall is prime time -- October and November bring low flows, aggressive pre-spawn browns, October Caddis, and fall BWO hatches all at once. Late winter through early spring offers midge and early BWO activity with few other anglers on the water. Chalk Bluff Road parallels the Wild Trout section with excellent access points every few hundred yards. The water is wadeable at normal flows of 100-250 CFS and fishes well with both nymphs and streamers. Above 350 CFS, wading becomes difficult.

The Owens Valley's water history is inseparable from the Los Angeles Aqueduct, but restoration efforts including the Lower Owens River Project and CalTrout's grazing reform on the Upper Owens have genuinely improved the fishery. Bishop is the hub town, with two fly shops and multiple guides who know every bend. Wind is a daily reality in the Owens Valley -- mornings are calmer. Summer temperatures push into the 90s. The Gorge has rattlesnakes and no easy way out if something goes wrong, so fish it with a partner. From Bishop, you're also within easy range of Hot Creek, the East Walker, and Crowley Lake, which makes the Owens Valley one of the densest concentrations of quality fly water in the West.

Species

Species	Abundance	Best Season	Size	Notes
Brown Trout	Abundant	Oct-Mar	10-24"	Dominant species in Lower Owens Wild Trout section and Gorge. Wild, self-sustaining. Best targeted with streamers and nymphs in fall/winter.
Rainbow Trout	Common	Apr-Oct	10-18"	Present in all sections. Wild fish in Upper Owens are progeny of Crowley Lake spawners.
Cutthroat Trout	Occasional	Jun-Sep	8-14"	Present in upper reaches. Less common than browns and rainbows.

Ideal wading flow100–250 CFS

Blow-out>350 CFS

Ideal water temp48–58°F

Fall (Oct-Nov) for low flows, brown trout aggression during pre-spawn, October Caddis and fall BWO hatches. Late winter/early spring (Feb-Mar) for midge and early BWO activity. Spring (Apr-May) for Crowley Lake spawning runs on the Upper Owens.

Sections

3 sections on this river

Upper Owens

WadeBrown Trout · Rainbow Trout

Classic spring-creek meadow stream from Big Springs to Crowley Lake. Clear, slow-moving water with undercut banks, deep pools, and gentle riffles. Sandy/gravel bottom with 15+ miles of sinuous meadow stream. High-desert setting framed by Sierra Nevada and White Mountains.

Best for: Rainbow and brown trout. Dry fly and sight nymphing in meadow sections. Crowley Lake spawning runs (spring and fall) bring large fish into the river.

Owens River Gorge

WadeBrown Trout · Rainbow Trout

Steep-walled volcanic gorge (300-700 feet deep), approximately 19 miles long. Boulder-strewn freestone with pocket water, plunge pools, and fast riffles. Wild brown trout naturally recolonized after flows were restored in 1991.

Best for: Wild brown trout. Aggressive nymphing, dry-dropper rigs, and small streamers in pocket water. Solitude in a dramatic volcanic canyon.

Lower Owens Wild Trout

WadeBrown Trout · Rainbow Trout · Shad

Tailwater below Pleasant Valley Dam. Designated Wild Trout Stream since 1972 with exceptional wild brown trout densities. Upper portion has riffles and deeper runs; below the footbridge becomes more meadow-like with undercut banks. Cottonwood-lined banks provide shade.

Best for: Wild brown trout year-round. BWO hatches are the signature dry fly opportunity. Streamer fishing in fall when browns become aggressive pre-spawn. Best fishing Oct-Nov and Feb-Mar.

Regulations

Current fishing rules and restrictions

Regulations vary significantly by section. Lower Owens Wild Trout Section is catch-and-release only with artificial barbless hooks year-round. Owens River Gorge is 2 trout, artificial barbless only.

Lower Owens Wild Trout Section (Campground Footbridge to Five Bridges Rd): Catch and release only, artificial barbless hooks, year-round
Owens River Gorge: 2 trout, artificial lures with barbless hooks only, year-round
Pleasant Valley Dam to Footbridge: Catch and release Oct-May, 2 trout Jun-Sep
Upper Owens: General season (last Sat in Apr - Nov 15), winter catch-and-release with barbless artificial
Below Five Bridges Rd: 5 trout, general regulations, year-round

The Lower Owens Wild Trout section was designated in 1972 and is the crown jewel of the CDFW Wild Trout Program. LADWP controls flows via dam releases.

Source: California DFW 2026 Freshwater Sport Fishing Regulations. Regulations change annually — verify before fishing.

Access & Logistics

Getting there, fly shops, and lodging

Getting There

Bishop, CA

4.5 hrs from Los Angeles, 3.5 hrs from Reno, 6 hrs from San Francisco

Fly Shops

Sierra Trout Magnet (Bishop)
The Troutfitter (Mammoth Lakes)

Guide Services

Sierra Drifters (Mammoth Lakes)
Sierra Bright Dot (Mammoth Lakes)

Camping & Lodging

Pleasant Valley Campground at the dam. Big Springs Campground near Upper Owens. Numerous dispersed camping. Multiple motels in Bishop and Mammoth Lakes.

Chalk Bluff Road parallels the Wild Trout section with excellent access. Wind is common in the Owens Valley -- mornings are calmer. Hot in summer (high desert, 90+ degrees). Rattlesnakes in the Gorge.

Fishing data compiled from state wildlife agency regulations, USGS water data, NOAA, and regional fly fishing resources. Regulations change annually — always verify current rules with your state fish & wildlife agency before fishing.