Hot Creek
Perhaps the most popular fly fishing area we have
in the Eastern Sierra this small geo thermally warmed spring fed creek has
the perfect habitat for hosting large numbers of subsidized and wild
rainbow, brown, and cutthroat trout. The Hot Creek Hatchery Facility is
located at the headwaters and main feeds to the creek. The confluence of
Mammoth Creek (a freestone type creek) flows into Hot Creek just below the
hatchery boundaries and provides a cooler more oxygenated source of water
along with the advantages of a flushing flow during spring run-off periods
that remove silt and provide spawning habitat.
There is a small section of private land (the
ranch) along the river that is available to the public for a fee. The
majority of the public section is located in a gorgeous canyon that has
excellent, however steep trails leading down to the creek. If you have
bad “wheels” it may not be for you. There is a small section of Hot Creek
that is open to the public just downstream from the hatchery and upstream
from a well marked fence line to the ranch.
Hot Creek has a zero limit barbless hook
regulation and is currently open year round.
Blanket hatches of caddis flies, mayflies, and
midges are common and with the water temperatures remaining on the warmer
side due to the geo- thermal heating of the water the trout feed all year
and the bugs come off even during winter months.
The majority of the fish in Hot Creek are in the
9-12 inch range but the larger pools will hold huge fish you would not
believe could exist in such a small creek. Under ideal conditions the
“crick” is a great place for novice and expert fly fishers alike. It has
a reputation when the flows of Mammoth Creek begin to recede and the weeds
start to protrude above the surface of being a “difficult” place to fish.
Truer words have never been spoken. The spring and early summer months
are best here especially during average snow pack seasons. The fall and
winter months can be extremely challenging to even the most skilled of fly
fishers.
The fly patterns and techniques vary greatly with
the seasonal flows from Mammoth Creek. You can experience great streamer
fishing at times when the flows are higher, and struggle to get a decent
presentation with a 14 foot 7X leader during the late summer months. Hot
Creek rates as one of the top fly fisheries in the west and is well worth
the time to check it out if you are visiting the east side of the
Sierra’s.
Take the Hot Creek Airport/Hatchery road exit off
Hwy 395 which is a few miles south of the Hwy 203 junction to the town of
Mammoth Lakes. Follow the well marked signs. You will have a combination
of paved and improved dirt roads after passing the ranch and they are not
plowed for snow in the winter. There are several good parking areas
located on the top of the “rim”. You may also wish to visit the geologic
site which is a major attraction and can at times provide you with a free
hot tub bath!
