Owens River

The Owens River is a river in eastern California in the United States, approximately 120 miles (193.1 km) long. It drains into an arid ranching basin, called the Owens Valley, on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada mountains.

The river rises in the Sierra Nevada in southwestern Mono County, approximately 20 miles (32.2 km) south of Mono Lake and 25 miles (40.2 km) east of Yosemite Village. It flows southeast across the Long Valley Caldera, through Lake Crowley reservoir, then descends through the 10 miles (16.1 km) Owens River Gorge, emerging at the north end of the Owens Valley north of Bishop. In the area around Bishop, it is diverted through many ditches to irrigate the surrounding farming region. It flows south-southeast through the Owens Valley between the Sierra Nevada on the west and the White and Inyo mountains on the east, past Big Pine. Approximately 10 miles (16.1 km) south-southeast of Big Pine, most of the remaining river is diverted into the Los Angeles Aqueduct, completed in 1913 to supply drinking water to Los Angeles. The remaining river flows in a trickle through the southern valley, flanked by the Los Angeles Aqueduct, past Lone Pine, entering the lake bed of now-dry Owens Lake at the southern end of the valley.

The Upper Owens is a high plains spring creek, the Middle is canyon tailwater, and the lower is valley tailwater. The river contains abundant insect life and a dense trout population (between 7,000 to 11,000 fish per mile in some areas). Brown trout dominate, although there are wild and stocked rainbows, with trout on the whole averaging 10 to 12 inches. On the Upper Owens, catching these fish is no simple matter. The water is clear and flat; the banks provide few trees behind which to hide; and conditions are often windy. Finally, much of the water is private. The Lower and Middle Owens present challenges of their own: water flows fluctuate, and half of the stretch resides in a 300-700 foot gorge that is difficult to access. The Upper Owens is close to to town of Mammoth Lakes, while the Lower Owens is closer to Bishop.

The Upper Owens, from Big Spring to Lake Crowley (Crowley Reservoir), stretches nearly 15 miles. It holds larger fish than the Lower, with fish averaging 12 to 14 inches. Hot Creek enters 5 miles upstream of Lake Crowley and is itself a productive spring creek. Just over 10 miles of the Upper Owens are public, and the rest are held by private ranches. The public water is often crowded in the warmer months. One of the ranches is geared toward fly-fishermen and provides river access to lodgers. One mile of the water below Big Spring campground is public. This is followed by 2 miles owned privately by Alper's Owens Rier Ranch but open to fishermen who lodge there. Warning: rooms are often booked far in advance. Following Alper's are about 7 miles of closed private water belonging to two ranches (the first, named the Arcularius Ranch, was open to lodgers until 1998). From the end of the private water down to Lake Crowley is nearly 10 miles of public river. The river is 5 hours from LA and 6 hours from San Francisco. Closest fly shops are in Mammoth Lakes.

Middle Owens River

Character

The Middle Owens -- sometimes called the Owens River Gorge -- runs 20 miles through a canyon between Lake Crowley and Pleasant Valley Lake. It is small tailwater whose flows are relatively constant at 90 cubic feet per second. Access is difficult (the gorge is 300-700 feet deep) and rattlesnakes abound. Trout are smaller than in the Upper Owens, with browns averaging 8 to 10 inches.

Lower Owens River

Character

The Lower Owens begins below Pleasant Valley Lake and stretches to Tinemaha Reservoir 25 miles downstream. The river resembles a spring creek as it flows through a valley flanked by high mountains. Because the water is alkaline-rich (like a spring creek), insect life is rich, capable of overloading the angler with hatches. This section includes 3.3 miles of Wild Trout water (mostly browns) not far below Pleasant Valley dam. Below this section warm-water species such as bass become more common though trout fishing still occurs. Flows in this stretch can fluctuate often due to the water needs of Los Angeles.

Deep holes, gravel bars, riffles, coves.

Upper Owens River

When & How to Fish

The legal fishing season is from the last Saturday in April through October 31. On the private water, fishing is catch-and-release on barbless flies only. On the public water below Big Springs and from the ranches down to Benton Crossing Bridge fishing is artificial flies and lures only, on barbless hooks, with a limit of two trout totaling 16 inches or less between them. The public water below Benton Crossing Bridge to Lake Crowley has no special regulations, with one exception: from August 31 to October 31, from the lake upstream for roughly 1/4 mile (to the fishing monument) only two fish over 18 inches may be kept (fish must still be caught on artificial flies and lures only and with barbless hooks).

Middle Owens River

When & How to Fish

The gorge is open year-round with no special regulations. Check out the official regulations. Dry-fly fishing is generally more successful than nymphing. Caddis and mayflies hatch frequently. Although the water is not big, wading can be tricky.

Lower Owens River

When & How to Fish

From Pleasant Valley Lake down to the campground's footbridge, the season is January 1 to September 30. Fishing must be done with artificial lures and flies, and there is a two fish limit. Below the footbridge is a 3.3-mile catch-and-release Wild Trout section. Below this section, fishing is open year-round with no special restrictions on technique and a five fish limit.

Water flow can fluctuate on a daily basis; general flow varies by season, with peaks in the spring and summer (due to runoff, power generation and and Los Angeles' water needs). Some of the best fishing occurs during high water. Dry-fly fishing is generally more successful than nymphing, except in summer, when nymphing is the only real option due to high water conditions. Although insect life is abundant, no one hatch in particular stands out. Instead, various caddis hatches are so numerous that they are the fly of choice. Streamers and mayfly hatches also work. Wading is not difficult except during high water, when it is nearly impossible. When wading, beware of some deep holes and sandy areas. Some lower stretches can be floated with a small boat.