Tailwater · Volcanic · Eastern Sierra

Owens River Gorge / Pleasant Valley

Owens River Gorge / Pleasant Valley terrain map
Terrain map

The Owens River Gorge is the wild card that completes the Owens picture — a steep volcanic canyon between Crowley and Pleasant Valley Reservoir where the river was dewatered for decades and has been brought back to a startling head of small, eager wild browns and rainbows.

Species

A proper day on the water

Low and clear — careful approach country. Stay small, stay accurate.

75% confidence in this read
Water temperature for brown trout
Cool — slow
9°C est.ideal 10–16°C
0°14°28°
Why this score · for brown trout
  • Temperature8228% weight
  • Flow8022% weight
  • Clarity9518% weight
  • Feeding Time5013% weight
  • Pressure807% weight
  • Insect activity6212% weight
Conditions
Level
Dry recently
No gauge reading
Water temp
9.0°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
29°C
Wind
NE 11 km/h
Light breeze
Pressure
1012 hPa
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Rain · ahead
0.0 mm
No meaningful rain · next 48h

Live readings — water temperature is an estimate where the gauge does not record it.

How to fish it · for brown trout
When
Nymphing can work through most of the day.
Where
Cover mixed depths.
Method
Start with tight-line nymphs and adjust if fish rise or drift higher.
Kit
9 ft #4 rod, floating line, 12 ft tapered leader to 4–5 lb fluoro tippet.
Why this works
Good — water clarity is right today, though time of day could be better.
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Freshwater ShrimpHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Western Blue-Winged OliveHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Pale Morning DunHatch
2
3
3
2

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Verify exact public access, current flow source and reach rules against CDFW and LADWP
  • SAFETY: the canyon descent and footing are the main risk — steep volcanic terrain
  • Flow is LADWP-managed and the gorge can see maintenance/flood diversions; not a turn-up-anytime river.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
About this water

The Owens River Gorge is the wild card that completes the Owens picture — a steep volcanic canyon between Crowley and Pleasant Valley Reservoir where the river was dewatered for decades and has been brought back to a startling head of small, eager wild browns and rainbows. It's a hike-in canyon fishery: get down to the water and the fishing is busy and fun, attractors and dry-droppers to fish that don't see much pressure. Two cautions. First, the canyon itself — the descent and the footing are the real risk here, more than the fishing. Second, the flow is managed by LADWP and the gorge channel can see maintenance or flood diversions, so it's not a 'just turn up' river. Pair it with the Pleasant Valley reach for a full day of Owens-watershed variety.

  • Volcanic
Seasons & zones
  • Trout1 January → 31 December
Other water nearby · 5