Hot Creek Ranch trout fishing 'monumental' as the caddis hatch is on

The summer heat is fading, leaves are beginning to reveal brilliant colors of fall and caddis flies are hatching, which places fly fishermen in some areas of the Eastern Sierra in paradise. 

Chatsworth angler Bennett Mintz provided the accompanying photo of a 20-inch rainbow he raised, hooked, landed, photographed and released while fishing last Saturday at Hot Creek Ranch near Mammoth Lakes.

"This chunky rainbow fell victim to a size 20 Bob Brooks’ Hot Creek caddis [fly] on a 6X tippet," Mintz said via email.

The Hot Creek caddis hatch is occurring between about 9 a.m. and noon, and again from 4 p.m. until dark. That latter period, Mintz said, "is monumental."

He suggests anglers use a size 18 or 20 gray or tan elk-hair caddis, Schroeder caddis, parachute or other popular pattern.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: A 20-inch rainbow was no match for Chatsworth angler Bennet J. Mintz. Credit: Bennett J. Mintz