JULY 6, 2026

Now that we’re into July (typically the hottest month in these parts) the temps are rising this week into the mid 80s and low 90s. Depending on where we are fishing this may affect our choice of location and approach as you’ll see below. ​

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​Upper owens river above benton crossing: The Summertime temps here are usually 10 degrees give or take higher than in the June Lake Loop so it can get pretty toasty out there especially if there’s no wind. Therefore, we will pick and choose the days we fish it. 

During the last trip we were seeing and getting a few more Browns mostly with Stimulators of various sizes and colors casting upstream Hopper style or swinging and stripping Caddis patterns downstream. 

The flow in the Upper varies depending on how much water LADWP is sending from Grant Lake via a tunnel system. Now it’s at 78cfs dropping from about 120cfs a week ago so we’ll see if this results in any water temperature rise along with the higher Summer heat. We’re hopeful, like the past couple years, we see a run of bigger Browns come up sometime this month. 

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​GULL AND JUNE LAKES: We have not fished Gull since May as it was slow then but should be picking up due to recent stockings prior to the July 4th weekend and will get to it soon. It’s been slow at June also, but we expect it to improve this month. We fish floating 

baits including Powerbait, Mice Tails, and Garlic Pinch Crawlers with Salmon Peach Powerbait working the best at June. With the hotter weather and rising water temps we fish deeper, cooler water in July and August. Both lakes really do depend on consistent stocking by CDFW which so far this season has been sporadic.

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​BACKCOUNTRY: July, with its warmer weather, is when we spend more time in the backcountry where it’s cooler primarily at Mine Creek in Tioga Pass and Upper Rock Creek above Mosquito Flats in Little Lakes Valley. Since May with each trip the fish have become increasingly more active and therefore the fishing is improving. We fly fish these spots with Caddis patterns and Black Ants getting most of our grabs while stripping line in and the fly is slightly under water. Both locations offer not only creek fishing but lakes and ponds too with Mine holding small Brooks only and Rock with Brooks, Browns, and Rainbows. On a typical trip to both spots we hike upstream about an hour and fish back down towards the trailheads. 

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“Keep chuck’n and a grind’n” !!​​