Hot Creek Fishing

Hot Creek is one of the most popular rivers to fish on the West Coast. Near to Mammoth Lakes, it is easy to reach by road. There is only a short section available to fish below the hatchery and then another slightly longer section below the private ranch and above the hot springs. Below the hot springs the water is too hot for trout. I fished the section above the hot springs and below the private ranch. 

Perfect Fall day for fishing in late October. Cold in the morning but slowly warmed up and the midges & bwo's were out, including some micro caddis. 

Weeds were prevalent but the fishing was manageable for Euro Nymphing. Fished with a #16 black Frenchie and a #20 chartreuse Pure Midge Larva. At times I also had on a #12 Rubber Legs.  

Didn't see any large fish like I have seen in the past near the hatchery. Hard to see any fish as they seemed to hike in the weeds mainly with the low clear water and sunshine. 

I somehow managed to hike and fish most of the canyon from the hot springs to the private ranch boundary though there were around a dozen other fishermen out. Doesn't take too long as this stretch of fishable/open water is very short. 

Upper Owens, Fall River, Hat Creek & Hot Creek are the 4 main spring creeks in California. At the moment I can't think of any other spring creeks that have good fishing in them, which is remarkable considering how large California is. Pennsylvania has a ton for instance--I think it is something about the West in general where spring creeks are much less common than in the East. 

I managed to get this nice brown right at the private ranch boundary at the end of the fishing day (around 1pm). Before I fished here, a quest at the ranch sheepishly walked back over the fence after fishing this same stretch as there were some fish rising. The private ranch is dry fly only I believe. The brown had dove into the weeds and I had to pull him out with the leader in my hand.

I would like to come back and fish here in the Spring before the fish have been worked over all season and when the water is a little higher with less weeds.