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River guide · California

Fly Fishing the East Walker River

The East Walker below Bridgeport Reservoir is one of the Eastern Sierra's best-kept secrets: a cold, clear tailwater that produces wild trophy brown and rainbow trout in a high-desert sagebrush canyon. Midge and BWO presentations dominate much of the year, but summer brings hoppers along the grassy banks and the evening hatch on the Miracle Mile can be exceptional.

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When to fish

Open year-round

Best months: year-round

  • Best

Midges: year-round, dominant winter–spring. Blue-winged Olive / Baetis: fall–spring.

Today's conditions

Where to fish

Along the East Walker River

From Bridgeport, CA take Highway 182 toward Hawthorne, NV. The river runs along Hwy 182 with numerous turnouts providing easy access along most of the fishable length. The 'Miracle Mile' (the first mile below Bridgeport Reservoir) has deep pools and long flats holding the biggest fish, including evening dry-fly fishing during hatches. Access is generally excellent.

The water

Tailwater

Key hatches

  • Midges
  • Blue-winged Olive / Baetis
  • Little Brown Stonefly / Little Black Stonefly
  • March Brown
  • Caddis
Hatch calendar

Conditions

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6-day forecast

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Forecast from the National Weather Service ↗

Key hatches

  • Midges (year-round, dominant winter–spring)
  • Blue-winged Olive / Baetis (fall–spring)
  • Little Brown Stonefly / Little Black Stonefly (late winter–spring)
  • March Brown (spring)
  • Caddis — Little Black (spring); Hoppers / Terrestrials (summer–fall)

Fly shops near the East Walker River

Shops and guides that fish the East Walker River. See all 47 California shops →

5 fly shops shownEast Walker River

Species on this water

Trout

Nearby towns

Mammoth LakesSouth Lake TahoeBishop

Rivers nearby

Truckee RiverOwyhee RiverProvo RiverWeber River
From The Fly Bench

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Gear up on the East Walker River

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The flies that work on the East Walker River

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