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Upper Owens River Fishing Map

Inyo County

Map of the upper part of the Owens River (above Crowley Lake), Inyo County, California


Area Camping

Big Springs Campground

  • 26 camping sites
  • No piped water
  • No fee
  • No reservations taken

Sherwin Creek Campground

  • 85 camping sites
  • Piped water, Flush Toilets
  • $28 per night
  • Reservations available

Convict Lake Campground

  • 85 camping sites
  • Piped water, Flush Toilets
  • $30 per night
  • Reservations available

McGee Creek Campground

  • 28 camping sites
  • Vault toilets
  • $30 per night
  • Piped water
  • Reservations available

Lake Crowley Campground (BLM)

  • 47 RV/tent camping sites
  • vault toilets
  • $5 per night
  • No piped water
  • No reservations taken
  • Treeless, windy
  • Open end of April to Nov. 1

Crowley Lake Fish Camp

  • Full RV hookup
  • Dry camping

Convict Lake Resort

  • Housekeeping cabins
  • Marina
  • Store
  • Restaurant
  • Bait and fishing tackle

Fishing Supplies

  • Brock's Fishing Supplies, Ltd., Bishop
  • Crowley Lake Fish Camp, South Landing Road
  • The Trout Fly and Troutfitter, Mammoth Lakes
  • Tom's Place
  • Convict Lake Resort

Best Fishing Locations

Check
California Fish and Wildlife Fishing Regulations for any changes in fishing rules for this area.


Photo of fishing the Owens River, California

Owens River

Upper Owens River

  • Mostly browns and some rainbow, up to 14"
  • Fish from Big Springs one mile downstream
  • Fish from Long Ears down to Lake Crowley
  • No fishing on private land from one mile below Big Springs to Long Ears.
  • Best fishing early spring and fall
  • Big Springs to Benton Bridge:
    • Barbless artificial lures and flies
    • 2 trout limit, total length of two fish not to exceed 16"
    • catch and release fishing allowed Nov 16 thru April
  • Benton Bridge to Crowley Lake: no special regulations, except Aug 31 to Oct 31:
    • 1/4 mile up from lake, barbless artificial lures and flies
    • 2 fish limit not greater than 18" total


    Hot Creek

    • Below Hatchery, open to fishing all year
    • Catch and release
    • Single, barbless hooks on lures or flies
    • Big rainbow and brown
    • Fish on mile section that begins two miles below hatchery
    • Heavily fished, challenging
    • 10" - 12" rainbow trout
    • Downstream from Highway 395, Last Sat. in April to Memorial Day and Oct. 1 to Nov. 1 :
      • limit 2, total size 18"
      • barbless, artificial lures only
    • Otherwise, normal regulations

    Convict Creek

    • Posted UC study area (1/2 mile above 395) closed to all fishing
    • Downstream from UC study area, Last Sat. in April to Memorial Day and Oct. 1 to Nov. 1:
      • limit 2, total size 18"
      • barbless, artificial lures only
    • Otherwise, normal regulations above and below UC study area

    Convict Lake

    • Brook, rainbow and brown trout
    • Weekly plantings of rainbow
    • Occasional planting of Alpers rainbows, up to 7 lbs. each