Lower Owens
River (Wild Trout Section):
This tail water is located below
Pleasant Valley Reservoir and can be accessed easily. There is a
campground here that is open year round. There are special angling
restrictions on this section of the river…please check with the Fish & Game and
pay heed to the signs posted throughout the area.
Lower Owens
River:
This includes all areas of the
river below the Wild Trout section and continues on for many miles to the town
of Big Pine. The Bishop Chamber of Commerce stocks Alpers Trophy Rainbows
throughout the winter between Laws and Warm Springs Road. This is a four
to one river (meaning many oxbows) with many inaccessible areas by foot or
wading. Float tubes or drift boats on your own are not
recommended due to the varying water levels, brush and inaccessible areas of the
river. The water temperature is very chilly this time of year.
Sierra Drifters Guide Service was the first guide service to offer drift boat
trips on the river and continues to offer drift trips with their exclusive
methods. This is a very comfortable way to fish the river…2 seats in the
bow (a heater for those really cold mornings), you never need to get out of the
boat…and we supply all your fishing gear/lunch for the day. We
average thirty trout per float with 3-7 lb. trout hooked up on a regular basis. Streamers are doing the trick for the most part. Nymphing with caddis
and midge larva in all sections including the wild trout area will produce good
results. During the fall and spring baetis (blue winged olive) hatches the
dry fly fishing can get "stupid" good.
