BY ERNIE COWAN
MAMMOTH LAKES — For years, some of the best Eastern Sierra trout fishing tips could be found at cash register seven in the local Von’s grocery store here.
A guy named Fred Rowe worked there and spent just about all his free time trout fishing and loved to share his knowledge with eager shoppers, many who just arrived in town on vacation and were buying groceries for their stay.
That’s when I first met Fred in the early 80’s and it became a regular stop when I got to town. He could ring up a cart of groceries in a flash, while providing a boatload of good information on where, when and what to be using during your stay in the high country.
Rowe retired from Vons 10 years ago and now lives in Bishop, but he’s still providing good trout advice as the owner and guide at Sierra Bright Dot Flyfishing Specialists. We thought it might be good to chat with Fred as Sierra trout fishing transitions from summer to fall and that means anglers should make some changes if they want to have late season success.
Rowe didn’t plan on becoming a trout guide. He earned a degree in Fisheries from Humboldt State and was interested in doing habitat restoration work. As a Mammoth resident then, he landed a job at Rick’s Sport Center which allowed him time on the water and ignited his passion for sharing his fishing secrets with visiting anglers.
Eventually he landed at Vons where everyone learned, “that’s where you buy groceries, but check stand seven is where Fred will answer your fishing questions.”
As a fly-fishing guide, Fred focuses on the that phase of sportfishing, but much of what he says applies to any kind of trout hunting. Rowe acknowledges the changes that come with winter approaching, but he is quick to point when people ask, “When does the season close,” that trout fishing in the Eastern Sierra never closes.
“There are just changes where and how you can fish, but fishing here is open all year,” he said.
His best advice to pay attention when fishing.
“Be on the water where insects are coming off. Right now, it’s the Upper Owens really, where dry flies will earn you lots of 6 – to 12-inch trout along with some18- to 24-inch trophies.”
Hot Creek is also phenomenal and has been for the past six weeks, according to Rowe.
“Fishing Hot Creek where it come into the Upper Owens is a good place to land some 20-inch rainbows,” he said.
If you are looking for browns, head to the higher elevations, since they are starting their fall feeding frenzy right along with the wild brook trout.
“There is nothing prettier that a spawning brookie rising to take your fly,” he said.
As hints of fall fill the air, it’s also the time when both rainbows and cutthroat trout begin spawning, so anglers should watch for them moving into the rivers at the same time.
“The cutts are more wild, so they will be spread out over the next two months until early November. Also, once you see the fish on their spawning locations, leave them alone,” he said.
This is also a good time to get away from the roads. Fall fishing will generally see less pressure, but a loop into the wild backcountry lakes will often find you all along and enjoying a non-stop bite.
Here’s a secret he whispered as we chatted.
“My favorite fall hike is the Chocolate Lake loop behind South Lake,” he said.
From the parking lot at South Lake in Bishop Creek Canyon, head south to Long Lake, then left for Ruwau Lake, on to the four Chocolate Lakes where the trail loops back to the main trail to South Lake. It’s about six miles but offers wild trout fishing in five lakes. The smallest Chocolate Lake is too shallow to support a trout population.
Long Lake is best known for wild brook trout and rainbows, along with larger browns. Ruwau is a mix of rainbows and brookies, and the Chocolates are filled primarily with wild brookies.
This is a high elevation loop, reaching to 11,000 feet, so anglers planning to do it late in the season should be prepared for any kind of weather. Rig with a dry fly and dropper and hit the trail, but he also shared a tip that once trout get bigger than about 12 inches, they become real carnivores in the fall, so rig with streamers like Woolly Buggers, Matukas or Slumpbusters.
Rowe reminds anglers that once the general seasons closes and the Eastern Sierra moves to winter fishing, there are still plenty of great places to catch trout.
“I avoid places like Hot Creek in the summer, because I might be fishing with 35 other guys. In the winter, I often have the place all to myself,” he said.
His other tip? Hire a guide to learn about how fish behavior changes with the seasons and the techniques that will give you the best shot and landing fish.
Does Rowe have a weather prediction for this winter with all the talk of El Nino?
“I can say with 100 percent certainty that there will be snow in 2027,” he boldly predicted.
So, let’s check out current conditions on Eastern Sierra trout waters.
Bishop area waters and Lower Owens River—Daytime temperatures on the Lower Owens are coming down, with nights into the low 50’s. Anglers should be aware that the Owens River Gorge will be closed to public access until Sept. 24 due to the release of higher-than-normal flows to improve fishery and wildlife habitat along a 10-mile section from the Upper Gorge Power Plant to Pleasant Valley Reservoir. Flows around Bishop and south are also high and unsafe for wading. Crowds are growing in Bishop Creek Basin as fall colors begin to emerge, but fishing pressure is light and daytime temperatures have been mild. Anglers have little competition on the lakes and along the forks of Bishop Creek. South Lake and Lake Sabrina are well stocked, and anglers are reporting plenty of limits. All services still available. Lake Sabrina has been kicking out some bigger fish for anglers drifting down the middle of the lake and dunking nightcrawlers at 40 to 60 feet.
Rock Creek, Convict, Crowley and Mammoth Lakes area—Rock Creek Canyon is another prime location for a magnificent fall color display and late season trout fishing. The lake has been well stocked with both DFW and trophy trout, and cooler temperatures mean anglers are having good luck fishing from shore as fish become more active.
The wild lakes beyond road’s end have also come alive as fish sense the coming of winter and begin feeding aggressively.
Larger rainbows are biting at Convict Lake with the arrival of cooler weather. The biggest checked last week topped 5 pounds. Larger browns were also chewing on bigger Rapalas and jerkbaits often used for bass. The lake received 600 pounds of trophy fish last week, averaging 4.5 pounds each, along with a load of DFW stockers.
Crowley Lake is now operating under a no-bait period until the season closes, limiting anglers to unscented, barbless lures or flies only and a daily limit of two trout, 18-inches or larger. Water temperatures are now down to 60 degrees and dropping and the water is clear. Hot spots include the North Arm around Greenbank and North Landing, McGee Bay, Sandy Point, Six Bays and the near-shore channels.
Cooler fall weather has energized the bite at Mammoth Lakes. Lakes Mary and George are the current hot spots, but don’t overlook a tube on Twin Lakes for some larger brookies.
June Lakes, Lee Vining, Lundy Lake—The four lakes of June Loop have been fishing incredibly well, and things should only get better as summer crowds begin to dwindle. The June Loop Trophy Trout Program has stocked June, Gull, Silver and Grant lakes with loads of big rainbows and they have started their fall fishing frenzy.
June Loop is also one of the Eastern Sierra’s prime color canyons as autumn aspens take on brilliant hues of yellow, gold and orange.
Highway 168 into Yosemite from Lee Vining is still open, allowing anglers good access to Saddlebag, Tioga, Ellery and the many nearby back country lakes. Services at Saddlebag Lake are now closed for the season. Be prepared for chilly weather at those altitudes.
When the bears become more active, so do the fall trout, and that’s happening at Lundy Lake. Water level at the lake is still good, and both boat and shore anglers are finding trout to 4 pounds-plus included in their limits.
Virginia Lakes, Bridgeport area—Virginia Lakes continues to fish very well, as water temperatures cool at the higher elevations. Spin anglers are flipping Mini jigs and having success drifting nightcrawlers and Mice Tails.
Bridgeport Reservoir is also benefiting from cooler temperatures, with anglers have the most success up in the channels and reporting 10 to 20 hook ups per day on traditional baits. Trolling and shore fishing has been slow.
This is prime time for both Upper and Lower Twin lakes. Some bigger browns are showing up in deep water, but as temperatures cool, look for them to become more active in shallow water.